The huge question about Brittany Higgins compensation payout trends now

Sky News Australia host Sharri Markson has questioned why the government rushed to pay Brittany Higgins 'millions of dollars' in compensation without a court hearing.

Ms Higgins settled a multi-million dollar personal injury claim against the Commonwealth over her treatment after her alleged rape, following brief mediation talks last December.

But questions are being asked about the speed of the settlement and the haste of the Labor government to finalise a deal without even hearing from key witnesses.

Explosive texts between Ms Higgins and her boyfriend David Sharaz have now revealed the pair plotted how they would 'f*** over' then-PM Scott Morrison. 

'Just wait,' Ms Higgins messaged Mr Sharaz. 'We've got him.' Mr Sharaz replied: 'I still hate the c***.'

Now Ms Markson has demanded: 'The question is why was Brittany Higgins paid millions of dollars reportedly, in relation to claims that were never proven in court?'

On her show on Wednesday, she added: 'People seem to forget this is ultimately taxpayer money that has been paid. 

'It's curious why Labour's so keen to avoid transparency here.'

Ms Higgins' former boss, ex-Coalition defence minister Linda Reynolds, has said she will demand the deal is probed by the new National Anti-Corruption Commission. 

She's accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, finance minister Katy Gallagher and attorney-general Mark Dreyfus of a serious 'potential conflict of interest' after previously voicing their support for Ms Higgins.

Ms Reynolds said she would be 'raising serious questions about how this significant sum of public money was determined and allocated' in an 'unusually swift' manner. 

Ms Higgins was a Liberal political staffer for Ms Reynolds and alleged fellow staffer Bruce Lehrmann raped her in Ms Reynolds' office after a boozy night out in 2019. 

Mr Lehrmann has strenuously denied all the allegations and his rape trial was abandoned because of juror misconduct in October 2022.

All charges against Mr Lehrmann were later dropped completely over concerns for Ms Higgins' mental health on December 2.

Two days later it was revealed Ms Higgins was suing Ms Reynolds, former Coalition attorney-general Michaelia Cash - who she worked for after the alleged rape - and the Commonwealth for $3million.

Her lawyers said Ms Higgins had suffered sexual harassment, sex discrimination, disability discrimination, negligence and victimisation.

She was claiming $2.5 million for future economic loss, past economic loss approaching $100,000, general damages of $100,000, future assistance with domestic duties of some $200,000, and past and future out-of-pocket expenses of a further $150,000 approximately. 

Less than 10 days later, it was revealed the Commonwealth had settled the case on December 13 after the first day of mediation without a court hearing.

The final payout figure was kept confidential under the terms of the deal although Ms Higgins denies she was awarded the full $3million she had been demanding.

But now Ms Reynolds is questioning why the pay off deal was agreed without even speaking to her or including her at mediation talks.