<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>326355</docID> <postdate>2024-08-13 12:29:21</postdate> <headline>Scott Morrison to testify in Reynolds-Higgins trial</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-326363" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Morrison-and-Renolds.jpg" alt="" width="846" height="564" /></p> <caption>Scott Morrison will testify in proceedings brought by Linda Reynolds against Brittany Higgins. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Aaron Bunch</strong> in Perth</span></p> <p><strong>Former prime minister Scott Morrison is expected to explain why he removed Senator Linda Reynolds as defence minister amid a political firestorm over Brittany Higgins' alleged rape.</strong></p> <p>Senator Reynolds is suing Ms Higgins for defamation over a series of social media posts containing alleged mistruths that she believes damaged her reputation.</p> <p>Mr Morrison is scheduled to step into the witness box in the Perth court on Tuesday.</p> <p>Outside court, Sentator Reynolds' lawyer Martin Bennett said Mr Morrison's evidence would be significant.</p> <div class="wire-column__preview__text" id="preview-body"> <p>"The degree of confidence he had in her, and the reason he was forced to replace her as a minister due to her ill health," Mr Bennett told reporters.</p> <p>It follows evidence from Senator Reynolds' partner Robert Reid.</p> <p>Mr Reid told the trial on Monday the "whole saga has had an immeasurable impact on Linda, on myself".</p> <p>"It has affected every part of our life," he told the Western Australian Supreme Court.</p> <p>"I hope that one day we can get that relationship back."</p> <p>Mr Reid said the senator and his love was based on travel, politics, humour, family and spending time at the senator's Bali home.</p> <p>That all changed in 2021 when Ms Higgins went public with accusations about the senator covering up her alleged rape in 2019.</p> <p>It led to Senator Reynolds having a public breakdown and being diagnosed with serious cardiac issues, the trial has been told.</p> <p>"It has changed our lives utterly," he said.</p> <p>He said the senator's medical issues had impacted her ability to travel.</p> <p>"Linda now will have to take blood pressure monitors ... the medication she has to take," he said.</p> <p>Mr Reid said the couple's relationship with his children from his first marriage was also impacted.</p> <p>He said his daughter didn't initially believe the senator's version of events.</p> <p>"When this first erupted, in 2021, I know who she believed and it wasn't Linda to start with," he said.</p> <p>"There was reticence from my daughter to engage with Linda."</p> <p>Mr Reid also said Ms Higgins' allegations and the political firestorm that followed also impacted the senator's social life.</p> <p>"Linda's invitation list has shrunk. Just the other day, there was an event where the leader of the opposition had to ask somebody to represent him in a function," he said.</p> <p>"Now I know the people he asked, one of them accepted. I actually suggested Linda as an option and his office said 'wish her well'."</p> <p>Senator Reynolds' interaction with the public has also changed, Mr Reid told the court.</p> <p>"It has affected how people come up to her, some to sneer, the great majority of people to say 'well done, keep it going'," he said.</p> </div> </body>