Latest news with #NationalAnti-CorruptionCommission
Sky News AU
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Corruption watchdog clears Brittany Higgins' payout
Sky News host Chris Kenny discusses the Brittany Higgins saga as the National Anti-Corruption Commission delivers a new ruling. 'The Brittany Higgins saga is back in the news with the National Anti-Corruption Commission delivering a ruling that validates the former Liberal Party staffer's multimillion-dollar payout under the Albanese Labor government,' Mr Kenny said. 'I daresay there will be even more to come in this political, legal drama in the future, and whatever happens, it will be taxpayers picking up the bill.'
The Advertiser
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Corruption watchdog makes ruling on govt's multimillion-dollar Higgins settlement
A multimillion-dollar settlement payment between Brittany Higgins and the Commonwealth involved no corrupt conduct, the federal watchdog has declared. The National Anti-Corruption Commission on Thursday confirmed it had conducted an extensive preliminary investigation into the $2.445 million settlement following "scrutiny and speculation". It also revealed the settlement figure was less than the maximum amount recommended by external independent legal advice. The Commonwealth agreed to the settlement - without admitting any liability - with Ms Higgins following her alleged rape inside Parliament House in 2019. She received $400,000 for "hurt, distress and humiliation" and $1.48 million relating to her loss of earning capacity. In 2023, The Australian reported that former Liberal senator Linda Reynolds had raised the issue with the anti-corruption commission. Ms Higgins worked in Senator Reynolds' office at the time of the alleged rape. "There is no evidence that the settlement process, including the legal advice provided, who was present at the mediation, or the amount, was subject to any improper influence by any Commonwealth public official," the anti-corruption commission's statement reads. "To the contrary, the evidence obtained reflected a process that was based on independent external legal advice, without any inappropriate intervention by any minister of either government. "There is therefore no corruption issue." The anti-corruption watchdog has made a habit of making statements on issues that are well publicised, often finding it in the public interest to disclose findings of preliminary investigations in these cases. The commission said it had analysed thousands of documents provided by the relevant departments and considered aspects of the legal advice, mediation and settlement amount. It found that decisions made on the settlement were based on advice from independent external solicitors and experienced senior and junior counsel, and that there "was no material difference" in the initial advice provided to the Coalition government in 2022, compared to updated advice provided to Labor when it took power. The commission also found former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus approved the settlement in accordance with the departmental advice. It found that a mediation conference with Ms Higgins which was wrapped up within a day was "unexceptional". "It was the culmination of a process which took approximately 12 months," its statement reads. "None of this is unusual for a non-litigated personal injury claim." A multimillion-dollar settlement payment between Brittany Higgins and the Commonwealth involved no corrupt conduct, the federal watchdog has declared. The National Anti-Corruption Commission on Thursday confirmed it had conducted an extensive preliminary investigation into the $2.445 million settlement following "scrutiny and speculation". It also revealed the settlement figure was less than the maximum amount recommended by external independent legal advice. The Commonwealth agreed to the settlement - without admitting any liability - with Ms Higgins following her alleged rape inside Parliament House in 2019. She received $400,000 for "hurt, distress and humiliation" and $1.48 million relating to her loss of earning capacity. In 2023, The Australian reported that former Liberal senator Linda Reynolds had raised the issue with the anti-corruption commission. Ms Higgins worked in Senator Reynolds' office at the time of the alleged rape. "There is no evidence that the settlement process, including the legal advice provided, who was present at the mediation, or the amount, was subject to any improper influence by any Commonwealth public official," the anti-corruption commission's statement reads. "To the contrary, the evidence obtained reflected a process that was based on independent external legal advice, without any inappropriate intervention by any minister of either government. "There is therefore no corruption issue." The anti-corruption watchdog has made a habit of making statements on issues that are well publicised, often finding it in the public interest to disclose findings of preliminary investigations in these cases. The commission said it had analysed thousands of documents provided by the relevant departments and considered aspects of the legal advice, mediation and settlement amount. It found that decisions made on the settlement were based on advice from independent external solicitors and experienced senior and junior counsel, and that there "was no material difference" in the initial advice provided to the Coalition government in 2022, compared to updated advice provided to Labor when it took power. The commission also found former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus approved the settlement in accordance with the departmental advice. It found that a mediation conference with Ms Higgins which was wrapped up within a day was "unexceptional". "It was the culmination of a process which took approximately 12 months," its statement reads. "None of this is unusual for a non-litigated personal injury claim." A multimillion-dollar settlement payment between Brittany Higgins and the Commonwealth involved no corrupt conduct, the federal watchdog has declared. The National Anti-Corruption Commission on Thursday confirmed it had conducted an extensive preliminary investigation into the $2.445 million settlement following "scrutiny and speculation". It also revealed the settlement figure was less than the maximum amount recommended by external independent legal advice. The Commonwealth agreed to the settlement - without admitting any liability - with Ms Higgins following her alleged rape inside Parliament House in 2019. She received $400,000 for "hurt, distress and humiliation" and $1.48 million relating to her loss of earning capacity. In 2023, The Australian reported that former Liberal senator Linda Reynolds had raised the issue with the anti-corruption commission. Ms Higgins worked in Senator Reynolds' office at the time of the alleged rape. "There is no evidence that the settlement process, including the legal advice provided, who was present at the mediation, or the amount, was subject to any improper influence by any Commonwealth public official," the anti-corruption commission's statement reads. "To the contrary, the evidence obtained reflected a process that was based on independent external legal advice, without any inappropriate intervention by any minister of either government. "There is therefore no corruption issue." The anti-corruption watchdog has made a habit of making statements on issues that are well publicised, often finding it in the public interest to disclose findings of preliminary investigations in these cases. The commission said it had analysed thousands of documents provided by the relevant departments and considered aspects of the legal advice, mediation and settlement amount. It found that decisions made on the settlement were based on advice from independent external solicitors and experienced senior and junior counsel, and that there "was no material difference" in the initial advice provided to the Coalition government in 2022, compared to updated advice provided to Labor when it took power. The commission also found former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus approved the settlement in accordance with the departmental advice. It found that a mediation conference with Ms Higgins which was wrapped up within a day was "unexceptional". "It was the culmination of a process which took approximately 12 months," its statement reads. "None of this is unusual for a non-litigated personal injury claim." A multimillion-dollar settlement payment between Brittany Higgins and the Commonwealth involved no corrupt conduct, the federal watchdog has declared. The National Anti-Corruption Commission on Thursday confirmed it had conducted an extensive preliminary investigation into the $2.445 million settlement following "scrutiny and speculation". It also revealed the settlement figure was less than the maximum amount recommended by external independent legal advice. The Commonwealth agreed to the settlement - without admitting any liability - with Ms Higgins following her alleged rape inside Parliament House in 2019. She received $400,000 for "hurt, distress and humiliation" and $1.48 million relating to her loss of earning capacity. In 2023, The Australian reported that former Liberal senator Linda Reynolds had raised the issue with the anti-corruption commission. Ms Higgins worked in Senator Reynolds' office at the time of the alleged rape. "There is no evidence that the settlement process, including the legal advice provided, who was present at the mediation, or the amount, was subject to any improper influence by any Commonwealth public official," the anti-corruption commission's statement reads. "To the contrary, the evidence obtained reflected a process that was based on independent external legal advice, without any inappropriate intervention by any minister of either government. "There is therefore no corruption issue." The anti-corruption watchdog has made a habit of making statements on issues that are well publicised, often finding it in the public interest to disclose findings of preliminary investigations in these cases. The commission said it had analysed thousands of documents provided by the relevant departments and considered aspects of the legal advice, mediation and settlement amount. It found that decisions made on the settlement were based on advice from independent external solicitors and experienced senior and junior counsel, and that there "was no material difference" in the initial advice provided to the Coalition government in 2022, compared to updated advice provided to Labor when it took power. The commission also found former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus approved the settlement in accordance with the departmental advice. It found that a mediation conference with Ms Higgins which was wrapped up within a day was "unexceptional". "It was the culmination of a process which took approximately 12 months," its statement reads. "None of this is unusual for a non-litigated personal injury claim."
Sky News AU
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
'Extensive preliminary investigation': Corruption watchdog makes bombshell decision about Brittany Higgins' $2.4 million payout
The National Anti-Corruption Commission has shared a major update about Brittany Higgins' compensation payout by the Albanese government. Ms Higgins was paid about $2.4 million by the Commonwealth in compensation in 2022 after she was raped by Bruce Lehrmann in Parliament House in 2019. The multi-million dollar payout by the government was in recognition of lost earnings after she was diagnosed as 'medically unfit' to work due to the impacts of the rape. It is understood then-Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds, who employed Ms Higgins at the time of the assault, referred the payment to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. On Thursday, the NACC took the unusual step of addressing the 'scrutiny and speculation' surrounding the payout. 'The National Anti-Corruption Commission (the Commission) conducted an extensive preliminary investigation into the settlement and found no corruption issue,' the NACC said in a statement. 'During the preliminary investigation, the Commission issued multiple notices to produce to the relevant departments and legal representatives, and analysed thousands of documents tracking the claims and negotiation of the settlement.' Ultimately, the NACC said there was no evidence of corruption or any intervention by either the Coalition or Albanese governments in the mediation process. 'There is no evidence that the settlement process, including the legal advice provided, who was present at the mediation, or the amount, was subject to any improper influence by any Commonwealth public official,' the NACC said. 'To the contrary, the evidence obtained reflected a process that was based on independent external legal advice, without any inappropriate intervention by any minister of either government. 'There is therefore no corruption issue.' After receiving the payout, the ex-political staffer subsequently married longtime love David Sharaz in a lavish wedding on the Gold Coast last year and welcomed a son earlier this year. The couple also purchased a chateau in France but have listed the property for sale at a steep discount after relocating to Melbourne. It is understood that a significant portion of the multi-million dollar payout remains held in a trust managed by an entity called 'Power Blazers Pty Ltd'. Details about the trust were revealed in court during Ms Higgins' ongoing defamation lawsuit brought by her former employer Linda Reynolds. Ms Reynolds has alleged that Higgins is using the trust to shield her fortune from potential creditors that might pursue her.
Sydney Morning Herald
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Corruption watchdog bites back at claims of candidate investigation in dirty tricks campaign
The national corruption watchdog has warned against claims that a key Labor candidate is under investigation, making a rare intervention in a growing dispute in one of the dirtiest campaigns of the election. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) issued the warning after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and independent MP Dai Le raised concerns about Labor candidate Tu Le, who is seeking to reclaim the marginal western Sydney seat of Fowler for the government. The move follows a separate dispute involving the Liberal candidate for the seat, Vivek Singha, over social media posts he made that denigrated Indigenous Australians, prompting Labor to call on Dai Le to urge her supporters to put him last on their ballot papers. Labor lost Fowler to the independent MP at the last election, but is hoping to reverse that outcome on Saturday because it only lost by 2800 votes three years ago. Some Liberal volunteers appear to be handing out how-to-vote cards for Dai Le, according to photographs and internal party messages seen by this masthead, but her supporters insisted on Tuesday that she did not favour either of the major parties. Loading The Liberal volunteers include members of the Young Liberals and one member of the party's supporters at the University of NSW, according to messages exchanged on a group chat and photographs of volunteers at early voting centres. Dai Le was a local councillor and a member of the Liberal Party after a career as an ABC journalist, but she was suspended from the party in 2016 – and has formally severed ties – after she ran on an independent ticket for Fairfield Council. Her husband, Markus Lambert, who was also a former member of the party, rejected any suggestion that the independent MP's campaign was being helped by Liberals.
The Age
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Corruption watchdog bites back at claims of candidate investigation in dirty tricks campaign
The national corruption watchdog has warned against claims that a key Labor candidate is under investigation, making a rare intervention in a growing dispute in one of the dirtiest campaigns of the election. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) issued the warning after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and independent MP Dai Le raised concerns about Labor candidate Tu Le, who is seeking to reclaim the marginal western Sydney seat of Fowler for the government. The move follows a separate dispute involving the Liberal candidate for the seat, Vivek Singha, over social media posts he made that denigrated Indigenous Australians, prompting Labor to call on Dai Le to urge her supporters to put him last on their ballot papers. Labor lost Fowler to the independent MP at the last election, but is hoping to reverse that outcome on Saturday because it only lost by 2800 votes three years ago. Some Liberal volunteers appear to be handing out how-to-vote cards for Dai Le, according to photographs and internal party messages seen by this masthead, but her supporters insisted on Tuesday that she did not favour either of the major parties. Loading The Liberal volunteers include members of the Young Liberals and one member of the party's supporters at the University of NSW, according to messages exchanged on a group chat and photographs of volunteers at early voting centres. Dai Le was a local councillor and a member of the Liberal Party after a career as an ABC journalist, but she was suspended from the party in 2016 – and has formally severed ties – after she ran on an independent ticket for Fairfield Council. Her husband, Markus Lambert, who was also a former member of the party, rejected any suggestion that the independent MP's campaign was being helped by Liberals.
