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Brittany Higgins has celebrated her university graduation just days after she was awarded a multi-million dollar compensation payout over an aborted rape trial.
Ms Higgins gave a rare insight into her personal life with a series of photos from her graduation ceremony from Griffith University on the Gold Coast on Saturday.
The former Federal government staffer took to Instagram to share photos of her holding a giant teddy bear and posing with her parents and partner at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Queensland.
‘It has been a journey, but we’re finally here,’ she told her Instagram followers.
‘My university experience has been an unconventional one but I couldn’t be more proud to share this day with the people who helped me get here.
‘Thank you to everyone who lent me their time and expertise over the years – from lecturers to professional mentors.’
Brittany Higgins (pictured) has celebrated her university graduation days after being awarded a multi-million dollar compensation payout
The former Federal government staffer took to Instagram to share snaps of her with a giant teddy bear at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday
Ms Higgins thanked several organisations for providing her with opportunities, including the local MP office ‘who gave me my first real shot in politics’.
Lisa Wilkinson, who formerly hosted The Project, congratulated Ms Higgins’ for graduating, commenting: ‘You are extraordinary Britt. Huge congrats’.
Her partner David Sharaz also shared a sweet photo from the ceremony and said he was in ‘awe’ of her accomplishments.
‘Here’s to this absolute queen for graduating with her double degree today,’ he wrote.
‘Somehow she managed to start and complete four assignments during a criminal trial, snapping up distinctions along the way. I’m in awe, endlessly. Love you.’
Ms Higgins studied personal relations and business at Griffith University and was first introduced to politics through a mentorship program at the school.
Her university graduation comes just days after Ms Higgins settled her claim against the Commonwealth, receiving a confidential payment after initially seeking about $3million in damages.
Former host of The Project, Lisa Wilkinson, commented on Ms Higgins’s post celebrating her graduation, writing:’You are extraordinary Britt. Huge congrats’
Ms Higgins (pictured with her parents) said her university experience ‘has been an unconventional one’ but said she was proud to share her graduation with her supporters
Lawyer Noor Blumer, acting for Ms Higgins, issued a brief statement on Tuesday.
‘At a mediation held today, the Commonwealth and Ms Higgins settled her claims,’ Ms Blumer said.
‘At the request of Ms Higgins, the parties have agreed that the terms of the settlement are confidential.’
Earlier in December, Ms Higgins’ civil action named three respondents in her action: Senators Linda Reynolds and Michaelia Cash as well as the Commonwealth. Senator Reynolds is since believed to have been removed from the claim.
The documents set out Ms Higgins’ intention to sue for sexual harassment, sex discrimination, disability discrimination, negligence, and victimisation.
Her partner David Sharaz also shared a picture with Ms Higgins from the ceremony on Saturday saying he was in ‘awe’ of her accomplishments
Brittany Higgins (pictured) was awarded compensation from The Commonwealth on Tuesday over alleged Parliament House sexual assault in March 2019
At the time, the claim was expected to be worth about $3 million, including $2.5 million for future economic loss, past economic loss approaching $100,000 and general damages of $100,000.
None of those figures were mentioned on Tuesday.
The alleged incident was in Linda Reynolds office in Parliament (pictured together)
‘The parties welcome the fact of the settlement,’ Ms Blumer said.
Ms Higgins alleges she was raped in 2019 by Bruce Lehrmann inside Senator Reynolds’ ministerial office, for whom they both worked as staffers.
Mr Lehrmann has consistently denied the allegation.
His trial in the ACT Supreme Court was derailed by juror misconduct.
Prosecutors decided not to pursue further action.
Following the 2019 federal election, Ms Higgins moved to the office of then-employment minister Michaelia Cash to work as a media advisor.
Mr Lehrmann is also considering an insurance claim and defamation action.
The ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold has also raised concerns about ‘political and police conduct’ in the case.
ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury confirmed the matter had been referred to the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity for further investigation.
The trial against Bruce Lehrmann (pictured) was derailed by misconduct from jurors and prosecutors dropped the charges citing Ms Higgins’ health. He has denied the allegations
‘I am aware the matter has been referred… As such, it is not appropriate to comment further at this time,’ he said in a statement.
The police union has slammed Mr Drumgold’s office for criticising the Australian Federal Police and ACT Policing who investigated the matter.
In a statement, Australian Federal Police Association president Alex Caruana said the union ‘wholeheartedly’ supported a judicial inquiry into Mr Lehrmann’s trial.
But he said ‘desperate attempts’ to smear the police forces by the territory’s top prosecutor were untested and the subject of an internal investigation.
In a document revealed under freedom of information laws, Mr Drumgold wrote police had engaged in a campaign to pressure him not to prosecute Mr Lehrmann over Ms Higgins’ allegation.
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