Sharri Markson: Deep links between Brittany Higgins and Labor show how allegations were 'exploited for political purposes'
Further revelations linking the Brittany Higgins camp to the Labor Party ahead of her rape allegations airing publicly show how senior frontbenchers “exploited” the story for political gain.
Brittany Higgins’ connections to the Labor Party ran deep as more fallout from the explosive Bruce Lehrmann interview continues to unravel.
Sky News Australia host Sharri Markson has again exposed another link between the ALP and Ms Higgins and her now-fiancé David Sharaz.
Recordings played during Bruce Lehrmann’s Sunday night interview with the Seven Network showed Mr Sharaz war-gaming a potential political response to the rape allegations during a meeting with Ms Higgins and Lisa Wilkinson ahead of The Project interview in March 2021.
The former Canberra journalist asked Ms Wilkinson if she had any “friendly” Labor MPs who could grill the Morrison government on the saga.
He also boasted of his friendship with now-Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and said: “I’ve got a friend in Labor, Katy Gallagher on the Labor side, who will probe and continue it going”.
On Wednesday, Markson revealed one of Ms Higgins’ closest advisors and friends was a former “senior Labor operative”.
“The connections between David Sharaz and Brittany Higgins to the Labor Party runs even deeper,” Markson said.
Emma Webster was seen throughout the Lehrmann trial side-by-side with Ms Higgins offering her support.
Ms Higgins even described the former Labor staffer as a “wise advisor”.
While Ms Webster was mentioned throughout the trial as a close friend of Ms Higgins and a lobbyist her deep Labor connections were hardly ever revealed.
Before starting at Hawker Britton as a senior lobbyist, Ms Webster was a top advisor for former prime minister Julia Gillard, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Ms Gallagher when she was the ACT chief minister.
When asked if she was involved in formulating the media and political response for Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz, Ms Webster told Sky News Australia: "Brittany is my friend. She told me about her alleged sexual assault, and I offered my unconditional love and support."
Following The Project interview airing in March 2021, senior Labor frontbenchers launched countless attacks on then-prime minister Scott Morrison and his government over the handling of the affair.
The onslaught of questions in Parliament was led by Anthony Albanese, Tanya Plibersek and Ms Gallagher.
During The Project meeting, Ms Wilkinson pointed to both Ms Plibersek and Mr Albanese as possible MPs who could prosecute the government on the issue.
Ms Plibersek and Mr Albanese have both vehemently denied being coached by the Higgins camp.
The Finance Minister also addressed possible links with Mr Sharaz on Wednesday and refused to confirm whether the pair were friends.
“I knew Mr Sharaz from my previous role, he was a journalist here in Canberra when I was chief minister so I knew him but I have nothing further to add,” Ms Gallagher told ABC Radio National.
Markson said the latest connection to emerge between Ms Higgins and Labor fuelled further questions over the politicisation of the allegations.
“So a Labor operative who has worked for Daniel Andrews, Julia Gillard and Katy Gallagher has been a ‘wise adviser’ to Brittany Higgins,” she said.
“But it's becoming crystal clear that allegations of rape were readily exploited by Labor and the media for political purposes. To bring down the Morrison Government.”