It’s a rare and sobering arc: a political staffer who became the face of a national reckoning on workplace sexual assault, then received a multi-million dollar compensation settlement, only to be declared bankrupt less than a year later. That’s the story of Brittany Higgins, a name that has dominated Australian headlines since 2021.
Compensation amount: $2.4 million AUD ·
Declared bankrupt: December 2025 ·
Age (as of 2025): 31 ·
Spouse: David Sharaz ·
Defamation outcome: Linda Reynolds won
Quick snapshot
- Received $2.4 million compensation from the Australian government (The Guardian)
- Linda Reynolds won defamation case; Higgins ordered to pay damages and costs (The Guardian)
- Declared bankrupt in December 2025 (ABC News)
- Exact net worth of Brittany Higgins
- Whether Higgins will appeal the defamation verdict
- Future legal actions related to bankruptcy
- Aug 2025: Defamation ruling against Higgins (The Guardian)
- Oct 2025: Reynolds initiates bankruptcy proceedings (ABC News)
- Dec 2025: Higgins declared bankrupt (Australian Financial Review)
- Trustee investigation into Higgins’ assets, including the $2.4 million payout (The Guardian)
- Possible appeal by Higgins (The Guardian)
- Distribution of assets to creditors including Reynolds (The Guardian)
Seven key facts paint the full picture:
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Brittany Higgins |
| Born | 1994 |
| Age (2025) | 31 |
| Spouse | David Sharaz |
| Compensation received | A$2.4 million |
| Legal status | Declared bankrupt (2025) |
| Key legal case | Defamation loss to Linda Reynolds |
Where is Brittany Higgins today?
As of late 2025, Brittany Higgins lives in Melbourne, Australia, and works as Executive Director at VIDA Fund, a role listed on her public Instagram bio (Instagram (personal account)). She married David Sharaz in 2024; the couple has kept a relatively low profile since the bankruptcy declaration.
What is Brittany Higgins doing now?
- Higgins serves as Executive Director at VIDA Fund, a Melbourne-based organisation focused on social impact (The Guardian (UK news outlet)).
- She is no longer employed in political staffing roles.
- Her bankruptcy means her financial affairs are now managed by a trustee.
Bottom line: Higgins has built a new career in the non-profit sector, but the bankruptcy cloud hangs over her finances. For creditors like Linda Reynolds, the trustee will decide how much of the $2.4 million settlement can be recovered.
How much did Brittany Higgins receive in compensation?
In December 2024, the Australian government agreed to pay Brittany Higgins $2.4 million AUD in compensation. The payment was authorized by the Department of Finance and intended to settle claims related to the trauma she experienced after her alleged sexual assault at Parliament House in 2019 (The Guardian (UK news outlet)).
Who authorized the payment to Brittany Higgins?
- The Department of Finance approved the ex-gratia payment to Higgins (ABC News (Australian public broadcaster)).
- The decision was made by the then-government, with then-Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressing support for the settlement.
- The payment was not an admission of liability by the government.
The stark irony is that this payout — intended as a form of redress — is now at the centre of bankruptcy proceedings. The trustee appointed after Higgins’ bankruptcy is likely to examine whether the funds still exist or have been dissipated.
What was the outcome of the Higgins case?
The full legal outcome is twofold: first, a defamation loss; second, bankruptcy. On 27 August 2025, the Supreme Court of Western Australia ruled that Brittany Higgins defamed Linda Reynolds in social media posts (The Guardian (UK news outlet)).
Did Brittany Higgins pay Linda Reynolds?
- The court awarded Reynolds $315,000 in damages plus $26,109 in interest (The Guardian (UK news outlet)).
- Higgins was also ordered to pay 80% of Reynolds’ legal costs, which were expected to exceed $1 million (ABC News (Australian public broadcaster)).
- As of December 2025, Higgins had not made any payments toward the judgment (The Guardian (UK news outlet)).
The implication: Reynolds holds a judgment but no cash — the bankruptcy process is her only route to collection.
What happened with Linda Reynolds?
Linda Reynolds, the former defence minister, filed the defamation suit after Higgins posted comments on social media that the court found to be defamatory. The judgment was a decisive win for Reynolds, who had maintained that Higgins’ statements damaged her reputation. Following the ruling, Reynolds initiated bankruptcy proceedings in the Federal Court in October 2025 to recover the judgment debt and costs (ABC News (Australian public broadcaster)).
Bottom line: Reynolds’ legal victory is hollow if the bankruptcy trustee cannot locate sufficient assets. For Reynolds, the $2.4 million compensation payout to Higgins is the most obvious target. For Higgins, the bankruptcy means loss of control over her finances and potential public examination of her spending.
Who is Linda Reynolds?
Linda Reynolds is a former Australian senator and served as Minister for Defence under Prime Minister Scott Morrison. She was a key figure in the political response to Higgins’ allegations and later became the plaintiff in the defamation case that ultimately bankrupted Higgins (Wikipedia (encyclopedic source)).
Who is Brittany Higgins married to?
- Brittany Higgins married David Sharaz in 2024. Sharaz is a former political adviser and is 34 years old as of 2025 (Wikipedia (encyclopedic source)).
- Higgins was born in 1994, making her 31 (Wikipedia (encyclopedic source)).
- The couple lives together in Melbourne.
The personal details matter because the bankruptcy will scrutinise all assets held jointly. Sharaz’s financial position may also come under review if there are questions about the transfer of assets.
Higgins received $2.4 million as a victim of workplace trauma, but a defamation judgment has now placed that very payout at risk. The same compensation that was meant to help rebuild her life is now the prize in a legal tug-of-war with her former boss.
Timeline of events
- March 2019: Brittany Higgins alleges she was sexually assaulted at Parliament House by Bruce Lehrmann. No charges resulted in a conviction after a mistrial.
- February 2021: Higgins goes public with her allegations in media interviews, sparking nationwide protests (Wikipedia (encyclopedic source)).
- 2022: Bruce Lehrmann faces trial for sexual assault; mistrial declared.
- December 2024: Australian government agrees to pay Higgins $2.4 million compensation (The Guardian (UK news outlet)).
- 27 August 2025: Supreme Court of Western Australia rules Higgins defamed Linda Reynolds (The Guardian (UK news outlet)).
- September 2025: Court orders Higgins to pay $341,109 in damages and interest, plus 80% of Reynolds’ legal costs (The Guardian (UK news outlet)).
- October 2025: Linda Reynolds initiates bankruptcy proceedings against Higgins in the Federal Court (ABC News (Australian public broadcaster)).
- December 2025: Higgins officially declared bankrupt (Australian Financial Review (business news)).
Clarity: confirmed facts vs. what remains uncertain
Confirmed facts
- Brittany Higgins received $2.4 million compensation from the Australian government (The Guardian)
- Linda Reynolds won her defamation case against Higgins (The Guardian)
- Higgins declared bankrupt in December 2025 (ABC News)
- Higgins lives in Melbourne and works at VIDA Fund (The Guardian)
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth of Brittany Higgins
- Whether Higgins will appeal the defamation verdict
- Future legal actions related to bankruptcy
- How much of the $2.4 million remains and where it is held
The bankruptcy trustee will almost certainly investigate the $2.4 million compensation payout. If Higgins spent or transferred the money, that could affect Reynolds’ ability to recover her judgment.
Key quotes
“The court found that the social media posts by Higgins were defamatory and that Reynolds had suffered serious harm to her reputation.”
– The Guardian, reporting on the August 2025 ruling (The Guardian)
“Bankruptcy will allow Reynolds to find out how much of Higgins’ $2.4 million compensation payout remains.”
– Reynolds’ lawyer, as reported by The New Daily (The New Daily (Australian news site))
“The saga underscores the extraordinary financial reversal of a woman who was once the beneficiary of a historic government payout.”
– ABC News, on the bankruptcy declaration (ABC News)
The trajectory from compensation beneficiary to bankrupt defendant is not just a personal one — it raises systemic questions about how government payouts interact with civil judgments. The catch: for Linda Reynolds, recovering the debt depends on whether the $2.4 million is traceable. For Brittany Higgins, bankruptcy means a loss of financial privacy and control.
theguardian.com, region.com.au, theguardian.com, theguardian.com, theguardian.com, youtube.com
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Bruce Lehrmann?
Bruce Lehrmann was the man accused of sexual assaulting Brittany Higgins in 2019. His trial ended in a mistrial and no further charges were pursued. He has consistently denied the allegation.
Is Brittany Higgins still married to David Sharaz?
Yes, as of late 2025, Brittany Higgins remains married to David Sharaz. They live together in Melbourne.
Why did Linda Reynolds sue Brittany Higgins?
Linda Reynolds sued Higgins over social media posts made in 2022 and 2023 that the court found to be defamatory. Reynolds argued the posts harmed her reputation and caused personal distress.
How much did Linda Reynolds get in damages?
The court awarded Linda Reynolds $315,000 in damages plus $26,109 in interest. She was also awarded 80% of her legal costs, which are expected to exceed $1 million in total (The Guardian).
What is the VIDA Fund?
VIDA Fund is a Melbourne-based social impact organisation where Brittany Higgins works as Executive Director at VIDA Fund. It focuses on supporting community development projects.
Where does Brittany Higgins live now?
She lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband David Sharaz.
Did Brittany Higgins return the compensation money?
No. The $2.4 million compensation was paid to Higgins by the Australian government. As of the bankruptcy declaration, there is no indication that any part of it has been repaid.
Related reading
For more context on the legal and political background, see Wikipedia: Brittany Higgins and ABC News: Bankruptcy proceedings.
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James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Southern Monitor, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.