Brittany Higgins has revealed new details about a book she is writing to document her alleged rape and experience afterwards.

The former Liberal Party staffer also vehemently denied pretending to have organised doctor’s appointments in the week after her alleged rape to “bolster” her story. 

Ms Higgins is being cross-examined as the first witness in the criminal trial of Bruce Lehrmann, who has been accused of raping her in Parliament House.

Ms Higgins said journalist Peter FitzSimons approached her at an event and told her she should write a book about her experience and that he could act as her agent. 

“I felt like I needed to document my experience … It was a strange, full circle moment when that came to fruition,” she said on Friday.

Ms Higgins confirmed the deal she eventually secured was worth more than $320,000. 

She admitted having an outline and chapters planned some months before she reopened her complaint with police.

Ms Higgins earlier told the court she made doctor’s appointments with every intention of going but due to her depressive state she was not physically able to attend.

Defence lawyer Steven Whybrow put to Ms Higgins she did not go to the doctor because she had not had sex with anyone.

“That’s not true,” she told the ACT Supreme Court.

Mr Whybrow suggested Ms Higgins had told her former partner Ben Dillaway and chief of staff Fiona Brown about the appointments to “bolster” her rape allegation. 

“Nothing you are saying right now is true … and it’s deeply insulting,” Ms Higgins said.

She told Mr Whybrow she didn’t know if he had experienced trauma before but that it was a difficult thing to confront head on.

“I don’t know what you want from me,” she said. 

Mr Whybrow also put to Ms Higgins she did not tell Ms Brown about the alleged assault in a meeting the following week.

He suggested the meeting was rather about the security breach, which was reported to Ms Brown as a result of Ms Higgins and Lehrmann accessing a ministerial office late at night.   

“I obviously disagree with that completely,” Ms Higgins said.

She confirmed she deleted some messages and photos from her phone before handing it over to police.

The jury heard it was not her intent to keep information from the officers investigating her alleged rape.

Asked by Mr Whybrow if she remembered deleting the messages, Ms Higgins said “potentially”.

She told the court she cleared her phone of photographs showing her holding alcohol or with politicians.

“I wanted to scrub all the horrible parts of my life out of my day-to-day existence,” she said.

Ms Higgins described her phone as her life and said she didn’t want to see photos of former minister Linda Reynolds, for whom she worked when the alleged assault happened.

“I didn’t want to see her face … Sorry, she’s not a bad person. But it is what it is,” she said.

Ms Higgins sent a number of audio files to her boyfriend David Sharaz before giving her phone to police when she reopened her complaint in 2021, because she worried they would be lost.

She denied withholding the audio from the police and said she provided the recordings on a USB along with her phone. 

She became emotional as she recalled then-home affairs minister Peter Dutton knowing about her intention to reopen the case before she had given evidence to police. 

“I was seeking legal advice to know my rights because I was terrified.”

The trial continues on Monday. 

By Maeve Bannister in Canberra

Brittany Higgins’ texts to dad and ex-boss

BRITTANY HIGGINS’ TEXTS TO DAD IN DAYS AFTER ALLEGED ASSAULT

Higgins: “Hey dad. I’m fine but just wanted to give you a heads up there was an incident with someone at work being inappropriate. Can’t really talk about it at the moment but will give you the details on the weekend. Super glad you are coming down. Love you x”

Father: “I hope all is ok – I’m always here for you. You are the most important person in my life. I love you. So happy to be coming down and seeing you.”

Higgins: “Yeah, I’m okay. It’s all been a bit stressful. Needed to make sure someone outside of the party was kept in the loop in a timely manner too. Thanks dad, I know that. You are definitely the most important too.”

Father: “I’m always here. I’m a good listener and quite helpfully when needed. Make sure you look after yourself.”

CONVERSATION AFTER MEETING WITH FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF FIONA BROWN

BROWN: “Hi Brittany checking in to see how you are? I’m here if you need anything. Happy for you to work from home tomorrow or come into the office, let me know what you’d like to do. Best, Fiona”

HIGGINS: “Hi Fiona, Sorry I missed your call. I’m doing fine, just vocalising things in such a way is confronting. I’ll be in the office tomorrow – honestly I enjoy being super busy. Plus there is plenty of work to be done for campaign prep and a front desk that needs to be covered. Kind regards, Brittany”

BROWN: “Hi Brittany – I understand completely. See you tomorrow!! Call if you need to talk, kind regards Fiona”

TWO DAYS LATER

HIGGINS: “Hello Fiona, I just wanted to see if it would be okay if I took tomorrow off to go to a doctors appointment? I’m currently on top of the campaign state packs and if approved will happily still do the media monitoring throughout the day too. Kind regards, Brittany”

BROWN: “Hi Brittany of course that’s fine! And yes happy for you to do the monitoring if that’s what you’d like. Don’t hesitate to reach out if I can help in any way. Best wishes Fiona”

BROWN: “Would you like me to say you’re working from home or away sick for the day?”

HIGGINS: “Thank you so much! Working from home would be great. I’ll have my mobile on me at all times regardless in case anything pressing happens”

BROWN: “Done! See you Monday”

THREE MONTHS AFTER ALLEGED ASSAULT

HIGGINS: “Is there anything else I need to do from an HR perspective to formalise my office transition?”

BROWN: “I didn’t know you’d made a decision – when are you planning to move? You will need to return all your IT, can you see Dean?”

HIGGINS: “Of course – I’ll speak to Dean! I don’t have any defence assets.”

BROWN: “All the best with your new gig”

HIGGINS: “Thank you! I wanted to say this in person but I cannot overstate how much I’ve valued your support and advice throughout this period. You’ve been absolutely incredible and I’m so appreciative”

BROWN: “Thanks Britanny!!”