Mikalia Cash says she didn’t know about Brittany Higgins’ rape allegation until two years after it allegedly happened

Coalition senator Mikalia Cash didn’t learn about Brittany Higgins’ rape accusation until two years after it allegedly happened, a jury heard.

Cash gave evidence in the ACT Supreme Court trial of Bruce Lehrman.

Lehrmann has pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent.

Higgins worked at Cash after the 2019 federal election when he served as minister of jobs and skills.

The court previously heard that Higgins had spoken to Cash several times about alleged assault during his employment.

However, Cash, who appeared via video link on Monday, said he was told there had been a security breach at the minister’s office but had not been informed of the alleged sexual assault.

She revealed that Higgins had entered the office of then-Minister of Defense Industry Linda Reynolds.

She said Higgins told her she had fallen asleep in the office.

Cash said he didn’t remember talking to Reynolds about the data breach.

When prosecutor Shane Drumgold asked whether the alleged assault among cabinet officials was “politically embarrassing,” Cash said “absolutely not.”

She said she didn’t understand the political ties, but would have to deal with the assault allegations.

When Lehrmann’s attorney Steven Whybrow suggested that the government’s attempt to cover up the sexual assault allegations would amount to “political suicide,” Cash agreed.

“Hence my confusion with the previous set of questions,” she said.

Higgins has previously told the court he was pressured not to file police charges because it could affect the Liberal Party in the federal election.

However, Cash told Higgins that he would support him “every step” when he learned about the alleged assault in 2021.

The court is scheduled to hear evidence from Reynolds on Tuesday.

During the second week of the trial, more than 20 witnesses spoke before Higgins returned to complete cross-examination.

Closing arguments in the case are set to begin this week after the witness list was cut from nearly 60 to 32.

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