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Brittany Higgins blasts PM's response to rape allegation

Former Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins has condemned Scott Morrison's response to her rape allegation, claiming she needed him to act as a Prime Minister, not a father.

In an address to the National Press Club, Ms Higgins referred to comments Mr Morrison made last year when he said he understood her rape allegation in a different lens after being urged by his wife to consider how he'd feel if his daughters had been assaulted.

"I didn't want his sympathy as a father. I wanted him to use his power as Prime Minister," Ms Higgins said.

READ MORE: Grace Tame responds to formal apology to victims of harassment

Advocate for survivors of sexual assault and abuse Brittany Higgins, during their address to the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra on Wednesday 9 February 2022. fedpol Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Ms Higgins alleged she was assaulted by a fellow political staffer inside then-Defence Minister Linda Reynolds' office in 2019.

He has denied all allegations and the case is ongoing.

She said Mr Morrison "needed his wife's advice to help contextualise my rape in a way that mattered to him personally … and that's how he realised it was a bad thing".

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Ms Higgins has called for better support for victims, with a change in laws, language and national culture needing to start at the top.

"That starts with the Prime Minister – yes, some of his language last year was shocking and, at times, admittedly, a bit offensive," she said.

"But his words wouldn't matter if his actions had measured up. Then, or since."

'Too little has changed'

The former Liberal staffer proclaimed there has not been enough change since she came forward with her allegations, despite a fresh probe on workplace harassment both inside and outside the walls of parliament.

Ms Higgins said the call to action last year was a moment of national reckoning for victims of sexual assault but now she fears it may be considered a "blip on the radar".

When speaking about the March 4 Justice rally in March 2021, she described the momentum as "a raging current that would not be turned aside by tired old platitudes from fathers of daughters".

"But I stand here today fearful that this moment of transformative potential, the bravery of all those women who spoke up and stood up and said 'enough is enough' is in danger of being minimised to a flare-up, a blip on the radar, a month-long wonder in the national conversation."

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Ms Higgins emphasised that she does not "speak for all survivors", acknowledging that while all experiences are different – similarities exist.

She said she wanted to create an environment where other survivors could speak about their experiences without fear.

Tame faces attempts to 'silence her'

Ms Higgins was joined by 2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame.

Today Ms Tame claimed she received a phone call from a senior staffer of a government-funded organisation urging her not to criticise Mr Morrison in the lead-up to the 2022 Australia of the Year Awards.

"'You are an influential person. He will have a fear,' they said," Ms Tame said in her speech.

"They fear? What kind of fear – I asked myself. A fear for our nation's most vulnerable?

"A fear for the future of our plan? And then I heard the words – 'with an election coming soon.'"

Advocate for survivors of sexual assault and abuse, Grace Tame during their address to the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra on Wednesday 9 February 2022. fedpol Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Ms Tame also took aim at the federal government and referenced the photos she was widely criticised for, after refusing to smile alongside the PM last month.

"Repeatedly this year, I have seen the patterns of deception and deceit performed by predators mimicked in our halls of power. And that's just it," she said.

"The federal government's approach to social issues seems to consist of nothing but empty announcements, placatory platitudes, superficial last-minute acknowledgements, and carefully staged photo ops.

"Facades and false hope. Reviews, reports, delays, and distractions – if not downright denials.

"All deliberate spin tactics designed to satiate the press and the general public."

Independent report into workplace culture

In November last year, Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins' damning independent report into parliamentary workplace culture painted a toxic picture of sexual harassment and bullying.

Sparked by Ms Higgins' allegations, the report found one in three parliament staffers claiming to have faced sexual harassment.

Ms Higgins pointed out there are many other workplaces in Australia where women are vulnerable to sexual assault, harassment or bullying, pointing out these issues need to be addressed on a wider cultural scale.

Brittany Higgins speaks at the March 4 Justice protest

READ MORE: PM apologises to political staff who were bullied, abused, harrassed

"I'm shocked that that was not more of a flashpoint moment for people to go, 'this isn't just about parliament, this isn't just about the gallery within Parliament House'," she said.

"That was an issue that would have impacted every single working woman in the country."

Twenty-eight recommendations were made to overhaul the toxic culture – and the government said it would implement all of them – including an apology given by federal politicians yesterday.

'An important sentiment'

Ms Higgins today thanked the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese for their apologies to political staff who have suffered bullying, harassment, and abuse yesterday in the first Parliamentary sitting of the year.

However, she expressed concerns they were "just words" and called for action.

"It was encouraging, and an important sentiment, but I am cognisant that, at this point in time, they are still only words, " Ms Higgins said.

PM apologises to political staff who were bullied, abused, harrassed

"Actions are what matter."

"And what will be the true test of whether the government is committed to creating systematic change, while task forces are great, codes of conduct are important."

"But only if it's paired with institutional change."

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Grace Tame's fight to tell her story

In January 2012, Ms Tame was named Australian of the Year, beginning her tenure with a powerful speech about being groomed by her Maths teacher and losing her virginity to a paedophile.

For years Tasmania's gag laws meant she was unable to speak out, while her abuser bragged on Facebook.

Grace Tame, pictured with journalist and founder of the #LetHerSpeak campaign Nina Funnell.

Ms Tame would go on to win permission from the Supreme Court to tell her story in 2019.

She, along with 16 other survivors of the #letherspeak campaign – created by journalist Nina Funnell in partnership with Marque Lawyers and End Rape On Campus Australia – would ultimately succeed in overturning Tasmania's archaic gag law.

Though from different walks of life – Ms Higgins and Ms Tame have formed an alliance through their shared trauma.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

National Domestic Violence Service: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).

If you are in immediate danger call Triple Zero (000).