Pictured: Brittany Higgins on her first day of work at Parliament House
EXCLUSIVE
Brittany Higgins lifts the lid on the boozy culture in Parliament House in a leaked draft of her book – naming several ministers in ‘the big swinging d**ks’ group and exposing the raging Christmas party when one poured whiskey into staffers’ mouths.
Ms Higgins’ raw and unfinished manuscript, obtained exclusively by Daily Mail Australia, was supposed to outline the moment Bruce Lehrmann allegedly raped her in Parliament House in 2019. He firmly denies the allegations.
However, a series of bullet points and chapter outlines instead contain a raft of observations and pointed remarks about colleagues and federal MPs during her time as an assistant media advisor in the Liberal Party.
In draft form, the book – tentatively titled #NotJustADaughter – reads like a diary as the-then young Liberal staffer tried to get through each day in nation’s highest office.
She has an entire chapter devoted to raging Christmas parties, talks about the privileges afforded to staffers – which largely appeared to involve free drinks, Question Time rituals, and a stern warning by a former colleague not to ‘sleep around’.
While the finished book may have had no resemblance to her original manuscript – her bullet points are not contextualised in the rough draft – it still provides valuable insight into what Ms Higgins planned to cover.
The memoir was meant to hit shelves in 2022, until Penguin Random House placed it on indefinite hold due to legal issues – namely because the criminal trial against Mr Lehrmann fell over and he was never convicted.
Ms Higgins’ $325,000 book advance was brokered by author Peter FitzSimons just one month after her interview with his wife, Lisa Wilkinson, on The Project in February 2021.
Brittany Higgins first made her allegations against Bruce Lehrmann in an interview with Lisa Wilkinson (left). Her husband, Peter FitzSimons (right), brokered her book deal
‘The Big Swinging D**ks’
A bullet point outline of chapter five, called ‘the sitting week cycle’, refers to Ms Higgins’ first meeting with an ‘infamous’ group known as ‘The Big Swinging D**ks’ in former MP Steven Ciobo’s office.
Mr Ciobo was Ms Higgins’ boss when he was defence industry minister in 2019 – she described him as ‘Laissez-faire, bored… charismatic, boyish quality’.
Ms Higgins identified three federal ministers who were part of the group with Mr Ciobo, and recalled the time she was serving them drinks and was invited to a bar after work with them one Wednesday.
She also talked about how Question Time viewing is more of a ‘tribal sport’, how she would arrive at work every day at 6.45am and not leave until 8pm, and the awe-inspiring moment she was introduced to then Foreign Affairs minister, Julie Bishop.
‘Being introduced to Julie Bishop, my former idol, just being in awe of this world,’ she wrote.
Christmas Party Shenanigans
Chapter seven, titled ‘the most wonderful time of the year’, outlines alcohol-fuelled end-of-year celebrations in 2018.
One section was labelled: ‘The Team Ciobo’ Christmas party in the office’.
Ms Higgins recalled former Minister Ciobo ‘lining up his staff and pouring whiskey directly into our mouths’.
‘Charismatic’ Mr Ciobo was Ms Higgins’ boss when he was defence industry minister in 2019
She said the event had a ‘Wolf of Wall Street style about it’ – referring to the 2013 Leonardo Di Caprio film about a financial broker Jordan Belfort who was known for his wealth, salacious parties, and eventual imprisonment.
Over a number of bullet points, she claimed Mr Ciobo received Christmas cards from the Rothschild family and the Prince of Qatar, and that her position as a ministerial staffer meant she could attend the News Corp Christmas party.
At that party, she met high-profile journalists Peta Credlin, Laura Jayes and Michelle Grattan.
There were also a number of points under the subheading ‘coalition Christmas party’ – her recollections included crying about work pressures.
Ms Higgins also said there was a tradition of ‘ministers/senators/members serving drinks to staff’, and recalled Former Minister for Indigenous Australians Nigel Scullions making his ‘infamous mango daquiris’.
Passes, Privileges and Break-ups
Throughout the draft, Ms Higgins invariably spoke about the privileges afforded to people who work in Parliament House – including what she called unofficial free passes to drink with lobbyists inside the building.
She also said staffers were able to pet native Australian animals, meet with local celebrities and sports stars, hold the Melbourne Cup trophy – ‘all with canapes and drinks to “lobby” the government and staffers regarding their specific interests’.
There were also ‘post-Question Time rituals’ which involved popping bottles of champagne for the office.
Brittany Higgins said she was ‘in awe’ when she met former Liberal deputy leader Julie Bishop (pictured)
Ms Higgins also detailed severe words of wisdom from a former colleague who warned her not to get too deep into the ‘Canberra scene’ and not to ‘sleep around’.
She vaguely mentioned the moment she broke up with her long-term boyfriend on her birthday, and another when she returned home to Queensland for the first time since getting her job in parliament and realising she didn’t want to leave the ACT.
Steven Ciobo did not respond when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.
Mr Lehrmann was charged with sexual assault in August 2021, and was tried in the ACT Supreme Court in October the following year. However, the trial was vacated because a member of the jury brought banned research material into the court.
The charge against Mr Lehrmann was dropped altogether in December because prosecutors were concerned for Ms Higgins’ mental health.
In March this year, Mr Lehrmann launched defamation suits against Channel Ten and Wilkinson for broadcasting and publishing Ms Higgins’ allegations.
He is also suing the ABC for a broadcast in which Ms Higgins made the allegations.
Mr Lehrmann was not named as the alleged rapist in either broadcast, but believes he was identifiable to his former colleagues and in parliamentary circles.
A hearing has been scheduled in the Federal Court in November.
Brittany Higgins alleges Bruce Lehrmann (pictured left, with his lawyer) raped her in Parliament House. He denies the allegation