Latest news with #BrittanyHiggins
Sky News AU
5 hours ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
Brittany Higgins announces return to the workforce after four years as she seeks her 'own identity' outside of media interest
Brittany Higgins is returning to the workforce four years after the ex-political staffer quit parliament, joining the same company currently employing her husband. Ms Higgins, 30, has been appointed public affairs director at independent public relations agency Third Hemisphere, the Australian Financial Review (AFR) reported on Wednesday. It comes after the former Liberal Party media adviser's husband David Sharaz also joined the boutique Sydney agency as a director in April. Ms Higgins' will head strategic advocacy and reputation management for target clients and oversee stakeholder engagement, media relations, and public affairs initiatives aimed at moulding public perception and change. Her female-focused clients include non-profit organisations, women's advocacy and support groups, and female leaders at large organisations. The clients represent an extension of Ms Higgins' advocacy for workplace safety, gender-based violence, and cultural reform in politics. Third Hemisphere founder and CEO Hannah Moreno is also a rape survivor, and her social justice advocacy helped convince Ms Higgins to join the firm. 'There was this general feeling of 'how long do I have to be the story for?' At what point do I get to put it to rest and actually get on the tools and be a working person again, and have my own identity outside this narrative of Brittany Higgins,' the former parliamentary staffer told the AFR. 'Who I was was really founded in my work. I was the most intense person back in the day – the first one in and the last one out – I had no work-life balance, and it was exactly how I liked it. 'To lose that was really quite tough. To start to reclaim that sense of identity feels good.' Ms Higgins, who in March welcomed her first child with Mr Sharaz, a boy named Freddie, said she has a "brand reputation" to uphold and did not want to associate herself with an "untoward" new workplace corporately. Instead, the first-time mother wished to join a team she believed in and one that believed in her, too. Alongside her career in government, Ms Higgins helped advance feminism and influence national legislative reform. In 2021, she was appointed as the inaugural Visiting Fellow at The Australian National University's Global Institute for Women's Leadership. Her lobbying was key to prompting Australia's Sex Discrimination Commissioner's historic review of parliamentary workplace culture. The review led to the federal government's commitment to implement the full slate of recommendations of the Set The Standard report. Reflecting on her efforts to the AFR, Ms Higgins said she's passionate about advocacy, but "it's not forever" nor a "self-sustaining career." She said she aspires to follow in the footsteps of gender equality advocate Sam Mostyn, social activist Tanya Hosch and business executive Christine Holgate and hopes her new role is the first step. "To feel sidelined and forever be living in your trauma is really reductive,' she said. Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz, 33, will work from home full-time as they navigate being parents to three-month-old Freddie. Mr Sharaz previously worked as a journalist and media advisor and it is understood his role at Third Hemisphere entails boosting the agency's political media engagement. The ex-reporter proposed to Ms Higgins at Byron Bay on New Year's Eve in 2022, months after the former political staffer was paid compensation after Bruce Lehrmann raped her in Parliament House. Ms Higgins received a $2.4 million payout from the Commonwealth in 2022. The newlyweds were previously living in France in a home purchased by Ms Higgins to start afresh following intense media coverage in Australia. However, they listed their chateau in the south of France and returned to Australia, where they have set up a home in Melbourne.
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Brittany Higgins follows her husband and takes on a new role at his workplace - as she reveals the very personal reason she decided it was the right fit
Brittany Higgins has revealed she is returning to the workforce and joining the same company her husband is employed at. Ms Higgins is now the director of public affairs at the independent public relations agency Third Hemisphere, the Australian Financial Review reported. The announcement comes just months after her husband David Sharaz announced in March he had taken on the role of director at the independent PR agency. The pair are working from home full-time as they navigate early parenthood after welcoming their three-month-old son Freddie into the world on March 2. The role is a natural fit for Ms Higgins who worked as the Liberal Party media adviser before she was thrust into the limelight after stressful rape and defamation trials. Following the trials, Ms Higgins became an outspoken advocate for survivors of sexual assault. Ms Higgins explained her decision to join Third Hemisphere was cemented after fostering a connection with the firm's founder and CEO Hannah Moreno. The pair shared a connection as Ms Moreno was also a rape and domestic violence survivor who campaigns for gender equality and fights against sexual harassment. 'There was this general feeling of 'how long do I have to be the story for?' At what point do I get to put it to rest... and have my own identity outside this narrative of Brittany Higgins,' Ms Higgins said. 'I also have a brand reputation and I don't want to align myself in a corporate sense with someone that could be doing something untoward. I had to join a team that I fundamentally believe in and which believes in the same things that I do.' In August 2021, Bruce Lehrmann was identified as the Liberal Party staffer accused of raping Ms Higgins inside Parliament House in 2019. Ms Higgins had shared her alleged sexual assault with Channel 10 journalist Lisa Wilkinson in an interview aired on The Project. Lehrmann has always denied the allegations. Lehrmann faced the ACT Supreme Court in late 2022 but the case was dropped after a juror brought outside research into the deliberation room. A second trial was also aborted, citing concerns for Ms Higgins' mental health. In 2023, Lehrmann launched legal proceedings against Wilkinson and Channel 10, claiming he'd been defamed by The Project episode. The ruling in that lawsuit left Lehrmann in ruin with Justice Michael Lee finding that, on the balance of probabilities, he raped Ms Higgins. He has appealed the ruling with the case to go before the Federal Court of Australia in August.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Bruce Lehrmann picks up new job as live-in nanny while awaiting defamation appeal, Qld rape trial
Former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann has taken up a new job as a live-in nanny while awaiting for an appeal of his defamation case and unrelated rape trial in Queensland. Mr Lehrmann, 29, is understood to be looking after the family's children in an unpaid capacity. The Daily Telegraph – who exclusively obtained details of the role, in addition to obtaining a photo of Mr Lehrmann at the movies – reports the former Liberal staffer has been taken in by a close family friend and is living with the family, who are outside NSW. In a statement Mr Lehrmann's lawyer, Zali Burrows, said: 'Bruce really relishes the role he has in the children's lives and the family really adore him.' 'It's been a safe, happy sanctuary, away from the mental and financial turmoil he is going through,' Ms Burrows' statement continued. It is understood Mr Lehrmann is continuing to study law, taking a particular specialisation in criminal law, while working in his new role. In 2021, he was identified as the political staffer accused of raping fellow colleague Brittany Higgins inside Parliament House, following a night out in Canberra in 2019. Mr Lehrmann has consistently maintained his innocence. In 2022, he stood trial in the ACT Supreme Court after pleading not guilty to sexually assaulting Ms Higgins, but the trial was aborted due to juror misconduct. Prosecutors subsequently dropped the charges and did not pursue a retrial due to concerns about Ms Higgins' mental health. In a subsequent high-stakes civil lawsuit, Mr Lehrmann claimed he had been defamed by an interview aired on The Project, where Ms Higgins first alleged she was raped. Last year, Justice Michael Lee last year dismissed the lawsuit against Network Ten and Ms Wilkinson after he found – on the civil standard of the balance of probabilities – that Mr Lehrmann had raped Ms Higgins inside Parliament House. He found 'Mr Lehrmann was hellbent on having sex' and 'he did not care one way or another whether Ms Higgins understood or agreed to what was going on'. An appeal against Justice Lee's decision remains before the court. Mr Lehrmann is also due to stand trial in Toowoomba District Court on two counts of rape, which stem from an alleged incident in the Garden City in 2021. A date for trial has not been set and Mr Lehrmann has not yet entered a plea, but has previously indicated he will fight the charges. Ms Burrows is representing Mr Lehrman in both his civil claim and his criminal trial – after he dropped his original legal team back in March. During a call-over mention on May 22, Ms Burrows told the court there appeared to be a 'shroud of secrecy' over the investigation into her client. 'The Crown cannot confirm, at this stage, if there are any police notebook or diary entries in respect of this investigation, which is pretty concerning,' Ms Burrows said.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Bruce Lehrmann's shock new job as selfie emerges of disgraced political staffer's low-key lifestyle while he lives off Centrelink benefits
Former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann has moved interstate to become a full-time live-in nanny. Lehrmann, 29, has reportedly found his 'happy sanctuary' living with a close family friend and watching their two children, outside of NSW. The children, aged under 10, call Lehrmann 'the Manny' and 'Uncle Bruce'. It's understood Lehrmann took the unpaid role in exchange for a space in the family's home following two criminal court cases and a defamation defeat which left his reputation, and finances, in tatters. Lehrmann, who relies on Centrelink benefits, was hired by the family 18 months ago. A photo showed Lehrmann smiling directly at the camera while sitting next to one of the children at a cinema. Lehrmann was dressed in a light, blue collared shirt with a cap and sunglasses resting on his head, while the child held a Village Cinemas popcorn bucket. His lawyer Zali Burrows told the Daily Telegraph the job has been a haven for his client. 'Bruce relishes the trusted role he has in the children's lives and the family really adores him,' she said. 'It's been a safe, happy sanctuary, away from the mental and financial turmoil.' In August 2021, Lehrmann was identified as the Liberal Party staffer accused of raping Brittany Higgins inside Parliament House in 2019. Ms Higgins had shared her alleged sexual assault with Channel 10 journalist Lisa Wilkinson in an interview aired on The Project. Lehrmann has always denied the allegations. Lehrmann faced the ACT Supreme Court in late 2022 but the case was dropped after a juror brought outside research into the deliberation room. A second trial was also aborted, citing concerns for Ms Higgins' mental health. In 2023, Lehrmann launched legal proceedings against Wilkinson and Channel 10, claiming he'd been defamed by The Project episode. The ruling of the lawsuit left Lehrmann in ruin with Justice Michael Lee finding, on the balance of probabilities, he raped Ms Higgins. He has appealed the ruling with the case to go before the Federal Court of Australia in August. Lehrmann is also fighting allegations he raped a woman in Queensland in 2021. The woman alleged Lehrmann assaulted her twice on the morning of October 10, 2021, after they met in a strip club the previous night in Toowoomba, 150km west of Brisbane. She claimed she and Lehrmann ingested cocaine during the night out and had consensual sex at a house in east Toowoomba about 4am. The woman alleged she was woken about 10am by Lehrmann sexually assaulting her. Lehrmann's former defence barrister Andrew Hoare said at a prior committal hearing the alleged victim was too intoxicated to remember giving consent and Lehrmann could have mistakenly believed he had consent for further sex acts. The case is set to return to court on June 20.
Khaleej Times
7 days ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
Muslim Australian lawmaker says she was urged to drink, 'dance on table'
A Muslim lawmaker in Australia said Wednesday that she has complained to a parliamentary watchdog after a male colleague allegedly urged her to drink wine and "dance on the table". Senator Fatima Payman -- who said she does not drink alcohol -- claimed the older colleague made a series of inappropriate remarks after he "had too many drinks" at an official function. He said: "Let's get some wine into you and see you dance on the table," Payman, 30, told national broadcaster ABC. "I told this colleague, 'Hey I'm drawing a line mate', and moved on to making a formal complaint," she said. It was not clear when the alleged incident occurred or who the colleague was. Born in Afghanistan, Payman is the first senator to wear a hijab inside Australia's parliament, according to local media. Former political staffer Brittany Higgins in 2021 alleged she was raped by a colleague inside a parliamentary office, triggering protests across the country. A scathing review later found Australia's parliament was rife with heavy drinking, bullying and sexual harassment. Independent Senator Payman split from the left-leaning Labor government in 2024 after accusing it of failing to help Palestinians in Gaza.
