MEDIA RELEASE 14 November 2025
Shadow Attorney-General and Federal Member for Fisher, Andrew Wallace MP, says new revelations reported yesterday in The Australian, raise serious questions about the Albanese Government’s transparency, its adherence to model litigant obligations, and the conduct of the Attorney-General’s Department.
Mr Wallace said Australians deserve clear answers following reports of secret legal correspondence, undisclosed waivers of limitation periods, and actions taken by the Commonwealth that appear to have sidelined former Senator Linda Reynolds, a named party to the 2022 Higgins settlement.
“Every Australian has the right to expect that the Commonwealth conducts itself as a model litigant. That means acting with fairness, transparency and integrity, especially when spending taxpayers’ money,” Mr Wallace said.
“What has been reported yesterday suggests a settlement process that was rushed, opaque, and kept hidden from those directly affected. If the Commonwealth took steps without proper disclosure or acted in a way that prevented a named party from defending their reputation, that is a matter of profound concern.”
Mr Wallace said the Albanese Government has established a troubling pattern of secrecy, stonewalling and closed-door decision making.
“We have a Federal Government wanting to restrict FOI laws instead of releasing basic information. And now we have serious questions about whether the Commonwealth followed its own rules when finalising a multimillion-dollar settlement.”
“The public deserves to know what happened, why it happened, and how it happened.”
Mr Wallace called on Attorney-General Michelle Rowland to release all relevant correspondence and fully explain the basis on which the Commonwealth made its decisions in respect to the payout to Ms Higgins.
“Transparency is not optional. When taxpayers fund a settlement of $2.4 million, and when serious claims are being made about withheld documents, waived limitation periods and excluded parties, the Attorney-General has an obligation to clear the air. The Government says it believes in transparency. Here is its chance to prove it.”
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Media Contact: Brendan West – 0402 556 646 – Brendan.west@aph.gov.au