Brittany Higgins Story: There has been no response to the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins in Parliament. Really? What took place? What did they do? Brittany Higgins claims a minister’s staff member Raped her for almost a week. Many issues remain unanswered, and certain assertions are in dispute. As a result, there is a growing perception that the Federal Government and parliament botched the occasion. The opposition asserts that there is a “culture of cover-up.” Ms. Higgins felt forced to make a decision between politics and the police.
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Some of the Prime Minister’s closest and most dependable advisors are in the news, and some government backbenchers believe Linda Reynolds, the defense minister, ought to resign or be sacked. According to The Weekend Australian, the alleged rapist sexually assaulted another woman the previous year. According to the allegations from this week, the working culture in the power corridor needs to be fundamentally changed. Following a week of media attention, here are what we know and some of the key issues that remain unanswered.
What do we know about the alleged rape?
The majority of what we know about the alleged rape comes from Ms. Higgins’ memory, which occurred early on March 23, 2019. She claimed to have planned Friday night office drinks in Canberra for Channel 10. She was eager to get to know her coworkers because she had recently begun a new position as a media consultant for Senator Reynolds. Ms. Higgins recalls having her drinks purchased by a “rising figure” in Liberal Party politics. She stumbled after becoming drunk. According to Ms. Higgins, the man offered to drive her home but ended up taking her to Parliament House.
She recalled sitting on the minister’s couch when she had visited his office. Half-dressed, crying, and pleading with him to stop, she awoke “mid-rape.” Photos from the time show a bruise on Ms. Higgins’ leg that she claims was brought on by the assault.
What was the Initial Reaction?
Ms. Higgins had a formal meeting the following week. The incident was initially viewed as a security breach and a code of conduct violation because the defense industry minister’s office contains sensitive data. On that day, according to Ms. Higgins, she was informed of the alleged rapist’s discharge. Later, when she related her version of the events to Senator Reynolds, she noticed a change in attitude, as if her accusation of sexual assault were a matter of politics that needed to be handled.
The administration acknowledges that it was a mistake to hold the meeting in the same location as the alleged rape. Senator Reynolds claims that she only wanted to preserve Ms. Higgins’ privacy and that she had encouraged her to contact the police. She told the Senate last week, “I wanted Brittany to handle this. After the incident, Ms. Higgins spoke with the police, but she didn’t make a formal report.
The assertion made by Brittany Higgins prompted numerous inquiries
Four investigations have resulted from the rape allegation. Here is the skinny. Brittany Higgins and the trio are looking into her allegations. She is still unsure of what occurred at one of Australia’s most tightly guarded buildings two years later. She claimed last week that she had recently discovered crucial information about her sexual assault. I was unaware that the door to the minister Reynolds’ suite was open. I had no idea that security people frequently observed me nude. I was unaware that they were analyzing the way the circumstance was handled. I had no idea that the event had a discussion about an ambulance, Up/down arrows for volume, M for mute, and left/right arrows for seeking.
Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins at National Press Club
For a historian of the Australian women’s movement, the last two years have been particularly noteworthy. A once-in-a-century epidemic has had profoundly gendered effects, and a feminist uprising has centered our national conversation on the protection of women and the abuse of power by males. This uprising was started by Brittany Higgins, a former legislative staffer, and 2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame. They ought to have been able to trust men and institutions as both 26-year-old survivors of sexual assault.
Both resisted having their stories hushed. They have revised cultural narratives about sexual assault and abuse. Their remarkable year in the public eye was commemorated by their remarks at the National Press Club today. In an election year, it served as a call to action as well. Hearing the voices of abuse and assault survivors is important, but not sufficient, they claimed. Higgins claims that we talk about abuse far too passively. Sexual assault occurs at random. as if no one is accountable. Although grateful, Higgins expressed skepticism regarding yesterday’s formal parliamentary apology to victims of sexual harassment, assault, and bullying.
Words continue. Deeds matter
Both Tame and Higgins pushed for institutional change to stop sexual assault and abuse. To reduce Australia’s abuse and assault rates, Tame encouraged the government to take abuse seriously, revise national laws on sexual offenses, and increase funding for preventive education. Because the government prioritizes short-term, votes-based funding above long-term, needs-based investment, she came to the conclusion that the government spends 11 cents per student per year on preventative education.
People accustomed to spin, obfuscation, and high-visibility picture opportunities find Tame and Higgins’ moral clarity and bluntness fascinating. Both ruled out political careers, and the media misconstrued their social and political positions when they inquired about them. They take advantage of their access to the public to concisely and directly explain complicated topics. Tame doesn’t follow anybody else’s rules, as evidenced by the side-eye she gave the prime minister at The Lodge.
Their actions had alarmed the Morrison Administration
Their remarks demonstrated that their actions had alarmed the Morrison administration, which has reacted clumsily. The night before 2022 Australian of the Year awards, Tame claimed that a government-funded organization (which she declined to name) had asked for her “commitment” in August 2021 not to criticize the prime minister. “You’re strong. He’d fear, it was said to her. She surmised that he was afraid of losing his status or power. Later, the prime minister’s office claimed to be unaware of the conversation and demanded an apology from the caller.
After she won, Tame claimed that the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet looked into the selection process for the Australian of the Year. The government despised Tame’s fearless criticism, which was evident from their attempt to frighten her. Many in the Morrison administration saw Higgins as a political issue. The prime minister delayed a formal response to Kate Jenkins’ Respect@Work report while ordering four reviews in response to her allegations. Respect@Work, in particular, the suggested “positive duty” placed on companies to establish a secure workplace,
each and every working woman in the nation We didn’t give that moment any thought
Last year, Tame and Higgins examined the government’s gender performance. Christian Porter was criticized by Tame for utilizing a blind trust to finance his ABC defamation case. The National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children has been criticized by Higgins for its “vague and aspirational” aims, lack of targets, and hazy plans. She mentioned statistics on domestic violence.
In Australia, sexual assault and harassment are still alarmingly prevalent. By highlighting the issue of gendered power abuse, Tame and Higgins have inspired a significant number of Australian women. They inspired tens of thousands to protest and seek office. They might choose who wins the federal election this year.
