The Defence Minister called her former staffer a “lying cow” in remarks to her staff when the alleged rape became public last month. She has maintained she did not make the comment in relation to the rape allegation but in response to news reports about her handling of it.
Senator Reynoldsapologised a day after the comments were reported last week,but on Friday issued another statement saying she wanted to retract the comment and “unreservedly apologise” to Ms Higgins.
The Defence Minister has not denied she made the remark about Ms Higgins.
In a statement released on Friday afternoon,Senator Reynolds said:“I wish to further address that comment that I made. I did not mean it in the sense it may have been understood”.
“Given that the comment was made public,which I never intended,I also want to retract it and unreservedly apologise to Brittany Higgins and acknowledge the hurt and distress it caused to her.”
Ms Higgins said she was pleased her former boss had now withdrawn her comment and “I accept her apology to me”.