Brittany Higgins $3million payout: 2GB's Ben Fordham demands more transparency trends now
Ben Fordham has raised two pressing questions about the million-dollar government payout Brittany Higgins received, saying the secrecy surrounding the decision 'stinks'.
The 2GB host is calling on the government to confirm the dollar figure of the settlement - believed to be up to $3million - and to clarify Finance Minister Senator Katy Gallagher's involvement in the entire case.
Ms Higgins received the money following a one-day mediation in December 2022 after launching a civil suit against her former employers Linda Reynolds and Michaelia Cash - and the well as the Commonwealth - over the handling of her sexual assault allegations during her time as a parliamentary staffer.
The man she accused, Bruce Lehrmann, strenuously denied the allegations, and the criminal charge against him was withdrawn after the trial was aborted due to juror misconduct.
On Thursday morning, Fordham said: 'We are never going to know for sure what happened inside the minister's office that night in Parliament House.
'We know that Bruce was lying to his girlfriend about what he was up to, but he's always denied he assaulted Brittany Higgins and detectives... had questions about Brittany's credibility. They described her as evasive.
'So why was she given $3million?'
Ms Higgins received up to $3million of taxpayer money following a one-day mediation in December 2022
Fordham also questioned Senator Gallagher's role in the settlement, noting it was her department which approved the payout.
When in opposition, Senator Gallagher grilled the Coalition over the handling of Ms Higgins' complaints.
Later, audio emerged from Ms Higgins' interview with Lisa Wilkinson and the project in which her boyfriend, David Sharaz, described a 'friend' within Labor who was willing to 'probe and continue it going'.
'So sitting week, story comes out, they have to answer questions in question time, it's a mess for them,' he said. That friend was later identified as Senator Gallagher.
Fordham called for further transparency, noting: 'This is the same Katy Gallagher who had heavily pursued the government... The same Katy Gallagher who David Sharaz had tipped off before the bombshell interview saying "something big was coming", the same Katy Gallagher who had a private phone call with Brittany after the allegations.
'Katy Gallagher hit Linda Reynolds with question after question... is that not a conflict of interest?'
'If all of that doesn't stink, I think you've lost your sense of smell.'
Later, audio emerged from Ms Higgins' interview with Lisa Wilkinson and the project in which her boyfriend, David Sharaz, described a 'friend' within Labor who was willing to 'probe and continue it going'
When in opposition, Senator Gallagher grilled the Coalition over the handling of Ms Higgins' complaints
Fordham noted he doesn't believe in 'blaming the players', but 'blaming the game'.
Senator Gallagher has repeatedly maintained that it was the finance department which granted the payment, not her individually as minister.
Ms Higgins has long maintained she 'loved' the
