Fiona Brown has declared she “ultimately triumphed” over those who tore her down while warning federal parliament must overhaul the way it treats staff caught in political crossfire.
The former Liberal staffer’s case brings to a close one of the final pieces of litigation arising from the Brittany Higgins affair, which has spawned multiple court cases, investigations and compensation claims since it erupted in 2021.
She received a $1.48 million settlement from the Commonwealth after reaching an agreement to end her workplace claim, she revealed in a statement tabled in the Senate on Thursday afternoon.
Brown, a former chief of staff to then-defence industry minister Linda Reynolds, launched Federal Court proceedings against the Commonwealth after becoming embroiled in the political storm surrounding Higgins’ allegation she was raped by former colleague Bruce Lehrmann inside Parliament House in 2019.
Brown said her years-long legal battle had left her with chronic PTSD and depression and accused the parliamentary system of failing to protect staff caught in political crossfire.
“The girl from Earlwood was the underdog in the race,” Brown said. “I feel I have ultimately triumphed over those who tore me down. With my reputation restored, restitution secured, I have been given a second chance at life.”
But she said the settlement should not be the end of the matter, calling for systemic reform to parliament’s workplace protections and clearer boundaries around parliamentary privilege.
Brown said parliamentary privilege – a set of powers that shield politicians from legal action – had protected politicians who spoke about her while she had no equivalent right of reply.
“Parliamentarians were protected while they spoke about me freely,” she said. “I listened, from my own workplace, to parliamentarians debating accusations and offering commentary about me. Not one of them ever asked me for my account.”
Brown said comments made under parliamentary privilege fed into a torrent of social media abuse and contributed to her isolation in both her community and workplace.
She said ministerial staff were thrust into the political “hothouse” of parliament with few rights of their own when disputes arose involving powerful political figures.
“The same institutional barriers that constrained me remain today, for the next person who finds themselves where I was,” she said. “Under the current system, I fear it will happen again.”
Her claim alleged that the Commonwealth failed to protect her after she was drawn into the political fallout, and that senior figures in then-prime minister Scott Morrison’s office failed to allow her to publicly defend herself against allegations that she had participated in a political cover-up.
The settlement avoids a trial that threatened to reopen the affair and place Morrison and senior advisers under oath.
Brown said the new Parliamentary Workplace Support Service would need to demonstrate that it was serious about resolving staff complaints, rather than simply creating another layer of legislation and bureaucracy.
“Public confidence in Parliament as a workplace — and in the new Parliamentary Workplace Support Service specifically — depends on demonstrated, not merely legislated, seriousness about resolving staff complaints,” she said.
Brown said she had made repeated attempts to resolve her claim without going to court, including seeking mediation and providing the Commonwealth with a detailed claim package. She eventually launched Federal Court proceedings in March 2025, but faced a trial that was not scheduled until April 2027.
She said she decided to settle for personal and practical reasons, including the serious illness of her husband, Ninian, who has been fighting aggressive cancer alongside heart problems for the past year. Her age was another factor.
“At 63, there is more road behind me than ahead of me,” Brown said. “I did not want to spend what remains of it fighting a case to my last breath.”
The $1.48 million settlement included $450,000 in general damages for hurt, humiliation and distress, $490,000 for lost future earning capacity and employment opportunities and $40,000 for medical and related expenses.
The Commonwealth will also contribute up to $500,000 towards her legal costs.
Brown said the settlement fell well short of fully compensating her, with an expert forensic accountant valuing her lost earnings and pension benefits at up to $2.8 million.
There was no apology and the Commonwealth denied her allegations and made no admission of liability.
Rob Harris is the national correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age based in Canberra. He is a former Europe correspondent.Connect via email.From our partners
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