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Linda Reynolds has denied understanding that Brittany Higgins was sexually assaulted previous to assembly along with her in the identical workplace, on the identical sofa, she was raped on.
In court docket on Friday, Ms Higgins’ barrister Rachael Younger SC advised to Ms Reynolds that she will need to have identified one thing sexual occurred within the early hours of March 23, 2019.
Ms Reynolds maintained she didn’t know, and she or he did not need to assume.
Ms Younger identified that Ms Reynolds knew Ms Higgins and Bruce Lehrmann had entered her workplace, drunk, within the early hours of the morning.
Previous to the assembly in her workplace with Ms Higgins on April 1, 2019, she additionally knew Ms Higgins had been discovered bare on the sofa.
Ms Reynolds additionally knew Ms Higgins had been drunk to the purpose of reminiscence loss, that safety guards have been involved about her, that she had wished to go to the physician, and instructed a senior workers member ‘I keep in mind him on high of me’.
Ms Younger requested Ms Reynolds if she actually did not know that one thing sexual might need occurred, given her information of these particulars.
Ms Reynolds mentioned she was involved about Ms Higgins, however she was ‘outdated and skilled sufficient’ to know to not soar to conclusions.
The senator instructed the court docket that she felt happy that Ms Higgins was going to a health care provider, and she or he had been given a pamphlet with counselling companies.
On March 29, 2019, Ms Reynolds’ chief-of-staff Fiona Brown instructed her that Ms Higgins’ father was travelling to Canberra from the Gold Coast to help her.
In court docket on Friday, Ms Reynolds mentioned she believed Ms Higgins’ father was coming because of the safety breach – not as a result of there was an assault.
Ms Younger then pointed to an e mail Ms Reynolds obtained on March 30, 2019, from one other worker, Lauren Barons, that mentioned Ms Higgins had been supplied with a brochure for the Worker Help Program (EAP).
She had additionally been supplied with an assault hotline, 1800RESPECT.
The e-mail referenced concern for Ms Higgins, and mentioned Ms Reynolds ought to proceed to help her and ‘present her with the help she requires to decide on whether or not she does need to take this additional’.
Ms Reynolds mentioned she noticed that e mail as ‘affirmation’ that Ms Higgins wasn’t raped as a result of there was no allegation.
Ms Younger requested Ms Reynolds if she knew that rape victims can take a very long time to make a grievance, and the senator agreed.
Nevertheless, she maintained that she didn’t know there was an assault as a result of Ms Higgins had mentioned she could not keep in mind.
Ms Reynolds mentioned she was the proper individual to take care of the safety breach, however ‘I felt effectively and actually out of my depth’ as an employer with a workers member who had been drunk.
She determined she was not the proper individual to debate any private complaints and was happy she was going to the physician and receiving companies.
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