Andrew L. Urban
The Federal Police are investigating David Sharaz and the Trustee in Bankruptcy is investigating his wife Brittany Higgins. Sharaz in connection with his Get Up stunt interrupting Pauline Hanson’s National Press Club address on June 17, Higgins in connection with some $1 million missing from the Protective Trust which was set up to handle the government’s compensation payout of $2.4 million.
Higgins was declared bankrupt in December last year after failing to pay any of the more than $1m damages and costs she owes to former Liberal minister Linda Reynolds, who won a defamation case against her former staffer (over the Bruce Lehrmann rape allegations). The Trustee found that large sums were transferred overseas and to related parties, including her husband David Sharaz and others who have not been identified.
Reynolds told The Australian she was shocked that the Trustee in bankruptcy had found that complete records for the large amounts transferred had not been produced, despite a legal obligation to do so. But not too surprised …
“I was not surprised when Ms Higgins, Mr Sharaz and her financial and legal representatives failed to account for nearly half of the $2.4m she received from the Labor government, never mind from the other significant income streams received from their various employments, sponsorships and book deal,” Reynolds said.
Before buying their house in the French countryside in September 2023 to start “a fresh life”, Higgins and Sharaz embarked on a series of holidays in the Maldives, Geneva, London and Paris. The couple were married in 2024 at the luxury Gold Coast venue The Valley Estate, the bride wearing a Paolo Sebastian gown which retails for $30,000.
“Given the lavish lifestyle they enjoy, it is impossible to reconcile their claim that they are broke and have no money to pay even a cent to me in compliance with the orders of the WA Supreme Court,” Reynolds said.
Isn’t it heartwarming to see Higgins happily married, with a child, bankrupt but gainfully employed (Executive Director,* Vida Fund) after seemingly close to death following the aborted rape trial, so ill a retrial couldn’t be contemplated and her future so dark she was generously compensated by the government … conpensation as medicine?
- An undischarged bankrupt cannot act as a company director in Australia without court permission, and doing so is a criminal offence punishable by up to two years in prison and an unlimited fine.
A recent SMH story provide information on the name Vida and Higgins appointment:
“Her appointment marks a significant escalation in the political activism of the Vida Fund, named after Australian suffragist icon Vida Goldstein, which helped bankroll several teal-backed female candidates in 2025 and is preparing for state election campaigns and the next federal poll. According to Australian Electoral Commission returns, it donated more than $500,000 to several independent MPs including Monique Ryan, Kate Chaney, Helen Haines and the defeated Zoe Daniel.”
When asked several years ago about the $2.4 million tax payer compensation payment to Higgins, many of these MP offices replied that the payment was a matter for the NACC.
Very interesting to read about Vida Fund. A strange name, but also almost an anagram of the name David. Could it be a fund for …. Davi??
David may need some funds, not sure of his position at Get Up. Perhaps the Police will clarify after last week’s high school style stunt at the National Press Club.
And what did happen to Ms Higgins tax payer funded $2.4 Million Payout? The National Anti-Corruption Commission does not seem interested according to their “Preliminary Investigation” (then again, several of them seemed to have worked together on the Get Pell matters). Could some of the funds have been given to Emma Webster (ex staffer to J Gillard, D Andrew and A Barr) who spent so much time accompanying Ms Higgins at March 4 Justice, the National Press Club Address, Ms Higgins Court Appearances in Canberra, Sydney and ?Perth and her Wedding on the Gold Coast? What about the ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner who spent much time organising travel for the couple and their dog for the Canberra criminal trial, chauffeuring Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz around the city and then supplying home made cookies during the Canberra Court’s afternoon tea breaks? No, tax payers must have paid for those services!
In relation to Jo Dyer on Vida Fund, below is what AI can tell us. The ABC journo was Louise Milligan who always made the point she was not involved in Higgins matters. That story told by Samantha Maiden and Lisa Wilkinson. We can recall the March 4 Justice images in major cities prior to the 2022 election, with signs such as “No Swinging Dicks”. How interesting that Dyer and Higgins end up in some sort of organisation together?
From AI –
Jo Dyer is a close friend and advocate for Katharine (“Kate”), the deceased woman who alleged she was raped by former federal Attorney-General Christian Porter in 1988. Porter vehemently denied the allegations. The legal and public saga unfolded through highly publicized defamation cases, texts, and court battles. The connection between the three involves the following sequence of events:
The Allegations: Kate, who took her own life in 2020 before making a formal police statement, confided in a tight circle of friends that Porter had raped her when they were teenagers. Jo Dyer was one of these friends and became a vocal advocate seeking an official inquiry into Kate’s claims
Defamation Dispute: After the ABC published an article detailing the historical rape allegations against a senior cabinet minister (who was easily identifiable as Porter), Porter sued the ABC for defamation. He eventually discontinued the case, leading to a settlement in which the ABC stated it did not intend to suggest guilt.
Legal Costs: Jo Dyer actively intervened in a related spinoff lawsuit to prevent Porter’s high-profile barrister from representing him due to a conflict of interest. The court ruled in Dyer’s favor, and Porter and his lawyer were ordered to pay more than $430,000 to cover her legal costs.
Aftermath: Christian Porter left federal politics at the 2022 election and transitioned into working as a barrister. Jo Dyer ran as an independent candidate for the federal seat of Boothby in the 2022 election but was unsuccessful
Guardian story, many others online: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/may/25/friend-of-christian-porters-accuser-wanted-allegation-public-to-stunt-political-career-court-hears
The recent Parramatta ICAC Hearings have provided an insight into what can happen when there are “Jobs for the Girls”. This included the subversion of recruitment practices so the Pink Ladies cohort were not only given questions and scenarios for senior Council positions before job interviews but also the ANSWERS! We also heard evidence that the CEO forged a witness signature in order to expedite her own $500 + employment contract, that she sent an anonymous email to elected councillors and journalists in a smear campaign against a Council driver in his mid-80s (employed at the Council since 1979) and a political opponent in the 2024 Council election, that a Senior Pink Lady from Ryde Council texted friends prior to them all moving to Parramatta that they’d “Bring Those Dickheads Down” (not sure if that referred to the Parramatta Head HR woman, the 80 year male council agenda paper driver or the mainly female Events Team staff — or certain male Councillors), that deeds of settlement were used to remove and silence senior staff and that there were double standards in relation to bullying complaints with complaints via a so called Independent Hotline against the Pink Ladies being sent to the Pink Ladies themselves!
I reckon behaviour is demonstration of character, character underpins morality, morality informs political and other choices & decisions.
Yes, one of the Parramatta Council staff members who gave evidence said he had lost confidence in the moral compass of the organisation… that it was a psychologically unsafe environment as people were in fear of their jobs or retaliation by the CEO and those around her.
So what is the entity “Vida Fund”, it’s not registered as a company, association or charity. It seems donations are paid to “Vida Impact Fund Pty Ltd” of which M/s Higgins is not part of. The “Vida Fund” website says their purpose if to fund independent women political candidates. All very interesting.
Yes, “interesting” as in fake…if you present as a Pty Ltd, and you are not, that is fraudulent.
Pauline Hanson’s National Press Club address was on 17 June, not 17 May.
Aah, thanks Fiona. Now corrected.