In a blistering escalation of one of Australia’s most incendiary political sagas, the Coalition opposition has vowed to haul the Labor government before the Senate estimates committee over what it dubs a “gross misuse of public funds” in the $2.4 million settlement paid to Brittany Higgins in 2023. The announcement, dropped like a lit fuse on December 3, 2025, by Shadow Attorney-General Julian Leeser, ties the payout directly to fresh allegations of ministerial cover-ups and ethical lapses under then-Attorney-General Christian Porter. “This isn’t just about money—it’s about the integrity of public funds,” Leeser thundered in a presser outside Parliament House, vowing to grill Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and her department in upcoming hearings. As whispers of a broader probe into Labor’s handling of the Bruce Lehrmann rape allegations swirl, the move has ignited a firestorm in Canberra, with Labor scrambling to defend what critics call a “hush-money scandal” that’s already cost taxpayers millions and eroded trust in the justice system.

The saga traces back to March 2019, when Higgins, a junior adviser to then-Liberal Minister Linda Reynolds, alleged she was sexually assaulted in Parliament House by fellow staffer Bruce Lehrmann. Lehrmann, who denies the claims, was charged but the case collapsed in October 2022 due to prosecutorial mishandling—prompting Higgins to sue the Commonwealth for breach of duty of care, citing a toxic workplace culture that left her “re-traumatized” by leaks and scrutiny. The settlement, finalized in December 2023 under Labor’s watch, included $2.4 million for Higgins (comprising compensation, legal fees, and medical costs) and a separate $1.2 million payout to Lehrmann after he won a defamation suit against Network 10 and Lisa Wilkinson in April 2024 for their The Project interview with Higgins. Now, with Senate estimates resuming February 2026, the Coalition—led by Leeser and Senate Leader Simon Birmingham—aims to dissect the “opaque” approval process, demanding documents on how the Higgins payout was greenlit amid ongoing inquiries into Porter’s own 2021 resignation over unrelated sexual misconduct claims.

“This is Labor inheriting a mess from the Coalition but making it worse with stonewalling and selective transparency,” Leeser charged, pointing to Gallagher’s role as then-Finance Minister in signing off the settlement. Insiders reveal the probe will zero in on whether public funds were used to “silence” Higgins amid her high-profile advocacy, including her 2023 memoir Not All Heroes Wear Capes and the #LetHerSpeak movement that spotlighted Parliament’s misogyny. “Taxpayers footed the bill for a political fix—where’s the accountability?” Birmingham echoed on Sky News, slamming Labor for redacting key documents in prior FOI requests. The hearings, part of routine budget scrutiny, could unearth emails, briefings, and witness testimonies from Department of Finance officials, potentially dragging in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who in 2023 called the settlement “appropriate” but has since dodged questions on its fiscal wisdom.

Labor’s riposte was swift and scorched-earth. Gallagher, speaking to ABC Radio National Breakfast, branded the pursuit “vindictive politicking” designed to “re-traumatize a survivor.” “Brittany Higgins deserves privacy, not a Senate circus,” she fired, defending the payout as a “compassionate resolution” backed by independent legal advice. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus piled on, accusing the Coalition of “hypocrisy” given their government’s own mishandling—Reynolds’ “media circus” press conference and Porter’s “blind trust” defense. Yet cracks show: internal Labor polling reveals a 15% dip in women’s trust since the Lehrmann verdict, with feminist groups like Our Watch urging an end to the “perpetual inquest” that keeps Higgins in the headlines. Albanese’s office has circled wagons, but whispers of a preemptive review into settlement protocols hint at damage control.

The stakes? Monumental. This isn’t mere bean-counting—it’s a referendum on Parliament’s post-#MeToo reckoning, where public funds intersect with power imbalances. Higgins, now 31 and living overseas, has stayed mum, but her legal team warned in a statement: “Any probe must prioritize survivor safety over partisan point-scoring.” Social media’s ablaze: #HigginsPayout trends with 300k posts, split between #JusticeForBrittany cheers and #TaxpayerRipoff rage. Punters at TAB have Labor odds at 3/1 to face a no-confidence motion if damning docs emerge.

As estimates loom, Canberra braces for a showdown that could eclipse the Robodebt royal commission in scrutiny. The Coalition’s gambit? Force transparency or force resignations. Labor’s? Weather the storm without fracturing their slim majority. In the end, amid the ledgers and lawsuits, one truth endures: Brittany Higgins’ story isn’t just about a payout—it’s about a nation’s unfinished fight for accountability. Will the Senate deliver justice, or just more echoes in an empty chamber?