A secretive compensation payment worth up to $3m to Brittany Higgins has seen
the Federal government slammed for a lack of transparency
as officials refuse to
discuss whether legal advice was sought and claims tested.
The payout to Higgins is a settlement of a Comcover claim for sexual harassment,
sex discrimination, disability discrimination, negligence, and victimisation.
It's apparently for her future economic loss, past economic loss, general damages
of future assistance with at-home care, and past and future out-of-pocket expenses
of a further $150,000.
I note that the actual cash amount agreed to by the Commonwealth will remain a
secret after Higgins imposed that condition on her settlement. How can it be that
the taxpayers—you and me—who funded this ridiculous payout cannot be a party
to its dollar value?