Lee found that Higgins made a series of false representations in the compensation settlement, including a claim that former senator Linda Reynolds sought to cover up the sexual assault allegations.

The NACC concluded the one-day mediation was “unexceptional”, noting it was the culmination of a 12-month process and critical to “avoiding ongoing trauma to Ms Higgins”.

Former WA Liberal senator Linda Reynolds claims she had to sue her former staffer for defamation after a “deliberate” campaign against her which set in train the “longest and largest political scandal in the nation’s history”. Source: AAP

“There is no evidence that the settlement process, including the legal advice provided, who was present at the mediation, or the amount, was subject to any improper influence by any Commonwealth public official,” the statement read.

The former WA senator retired from politics earlier this year and during her final speech said “the timing had been expedited” by a “powerful lie” that she had sought to cover up the incident that occurred in her office.

Criticism over the settlement amount