LIVE BLOG: Linda Reynolds v. Brittany Higgins defamation case - day eight

Follow Daily Mail Australia's live coverage of Linda Reynolds' defamation case against Brittany Higgins. 

01:29

Scott Morrison to give evidence

Mr Morrison was the leader of the Coalition in 2019 when Ms Higgins,a Liberal staffer,was raped by her colleague Bruce Lehrmann inside Linda Reynolds' ministerial suite in Parliament House.

Ms Reynolds was the defence industry minister at the time.

The Coalition was still in government in February 2021,when Ms Higgins went public with her rape claims in an online News Corp article and a television interview on The Project.

Her claims were a disaster for the Liberal Party - Ms Reynolds was grilled over the situation for a week during Question Time,to the point where she had a complete breakdown and nearly died due to a heart condition - the court has heard.

She was accused of trying to cover up the rape,failing to support Ms Higgins,and making her choose between going to the police and her political career.

Ms Reynolds strongly denies those claims,but she didn't properly defend herself at the time because she didn't want to betray Ms Higgins' confidence.

She also didn't think a criminal allegation should be litigated under the protection of parliamentary privilege.

In court last week,Ms Reynolds told the court she left the Senate on the final day of questioning and fell apart - her knees buckled,she had terrible chest pain,and Mr Morrison consoled her.

(Pictured below: Linda Reynolds with Scott Morrison)

A month later,in March 2021,it was revealed that Ms Reynolds called Ms Higgins a 'lying cow' in an open part of her office,in front of staff,while she watched The Project broadcast.

Ms Reynolds said she was referring to Ms Higgins' claims against her,rather than the rape itself.

Mr Morrison condemned her comment and moved her out of the defence portfolio.

On March 25,2021,Mr Morrison appeared on A Current Affair and was grilled over Ms Higgins' rape claims by former host,Tracy Grimshaw.

That interview will be raised in court on Tuesday.

About a year later,in February 2022,Mr Morrison stood up in Parliament House and apologised to Ms Higgins. At that time,Lehrmann had been charged with rape and was due to face trial two months later.

He said: 'I am sorry. We are sorry. I am sorry to Ms Higgins for the terrible things that took place here.

'The place that should have been a place for safety and contribution,turned out to be a nightmare.

'I am sorry for far more than that. All of those who came before Ms Higgins.

'And enjoyed the same,but she had the courage to speak,and so here we are.'

Court will resume at 10.30am local time,12.30pm AEST.

(Pictured below: Brittany Higgins in Parliament House,watching Scott Morrison's apology in 2022)

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Brittany Higgins (pictured in black) was in Perth with her former boss Linda Reynolds (pictured with her arms in the air) when the Coalition won the federal election in 2019

Brittany HigginsChannel Seven