David Sharaz’s journey from media professional to defamation defendant illustrates how public commentary can spiral into legal & financial disaster. His defamation loss to Linda Reynolds, followed by bankruptcy proceedings, marks one of Australia’s most closely watched clashes between politics, media & the law.
Early Career & Public Emergence of David Sharaz
David Sharaz is a former ABC journalist and senior government media adviser whose career shifted dramatically after his relationship with Brittany Higgins — the former parliamentary staffer whose 2019 rape allegation against colleague Bruce Lehrmann changed Australian politics.
When Higgins went public in 2021, her claims of assault inside Senator Linda Reynolds’s office sparked a nationwide reckoning over Parliament’s workplace culture. Sharaz became one of Higgins’s closest supporters & public advocates, eventually marrying her & becoming deeply entangled in the ensuing legal & political fallout.
How David Sharaz Became Drawn into the Legal Dispute
After Higgins’s story gained national attention, Linda Reynolds-then Defence Minister-faced questions about her handling of the incident. Between January & December 2022, David Sharaz published a series of social-media posts on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram & Facebook criticising Reynolds’s conduct.
One tweet read:
“I’m aghast that despite everything you put a staffer through you’re still a minister, but we can all be surprised.”
An Instagram story captioned “Linda, I see you” was later found by Justice Paul Tottle to carry “intimidatory overtones” & to be a “seriously aggravating feature” of the case.
The posts accused Reynolds of bullying Higgins, mishandling her complaint, and leaking privileged information-imputations the court later ruled defamatory.
The Defamation Case and Sharaz’s Withdrawal
Linda Reynolds filed two related defamation suits-one against Brittany Higgins and one against David Sharaz-heard together in the WA Supreme Court. She was represented by Bennett Lawyers & barrister Martin Bennett.
The five-week trial ran through 2024. In April 2024, Sharaz withdrew from active defence, saying he could not afford legal representation.
The August 2025 Verdict Against David Sharaz
Justice Paul Tottle’s August 2025 ruling found both defendants had defamed Linda Reynolds. He rejected Higgins’s defences of truth, honest opinion & qualified privilege & said Sharaz’s publications were “indefensible.”
The court also rejected Reynolds’s claim that Higgins & Sharaz had conspired to end her career.
Damages Breakdown for David Sharaz
| Publication | Amount (AUD) |
| Tweet + Instagram story | $30 000 |
| Facebook comment (3 Dec 2022) | $20 000 |
| Tweet (4 Dec 2022) | $35 000 |
| Subtotal | $85 000 + interest (3 %) ≈ $7 008.55 |
| Joint liability with Higgins | $135 000 (shared once) |
Justice Tottle applied 3 per cent interest from the date of each publication. Sharaz was also ordered to pay Reynolds’s legal costs on an indemnity basis-covering all reasonable expenses.
His total debt reached $700 000 – $750 000.
Brittany Higgins’s Orders
- $315 000 damages + $26 109 interest (≈ $341 000)
- 80 % of Reynolds’s legal costs (> $1 million)
The Rejected Settlement Offer
Before trial, Higgins offered to settle by having her parents pay $200 000 & personally donating $10 000 to a women’s shelter. Justice Tottle ruled the proposal unreasonable because it was open for only three days & lacked an apology. The decision cemented the indemnity-costs order.
Linda Reynolds’s Legal Costs & Career Impact
Reynolds’s legal bill exceeded $1 million, forcing her to re-mortgage her home to fund the case. She had sought either a $490 000 lump sum, a special-costs order, or indemnity costs-the court granted the latter.
The emotional toll was heavy. She said the defamatory posts caused “immense distress following a period of ill health.”
The controversy, she added, pushed her out of politics & she did not recontest the 2025 federal election.
September 2025-Appeals & Judgment Details
- 17 September 2025: Higgins filed an appeal against the orders.
- 18 September 2025: Sharaz’s damages judgment published.
- 19 September 2025: Financial liabilities confirmed.
Justice Tottle reiterated that “a settlement or apology should have been made.” He called the publications “indefensible.”
October 2025-Bankruptcy Proceedings Begin
By October, Linda Reynolds moved to recover the judgment debts.
- 6 October 2025: Application for substituted service of a bankruptcy notice after Sharaz refused personal service.
- 7 October 2025: Bankruptcy application lodged in the Federal Court (WA Registry)
- 10 October 2025: Sharaz accepted service after court orders.
Reynolds said through Bennett Lawyers:
“Mr Sharaz today agreed to accept service of the bankruptcy notice I had issued to him several weeks ago, but not before forcing me to incur further legal expenses in applying for substituted service orders.”
She added:
“Again, this is predictable conduct that I have unfortunately become accustomed to in the pursuit of justice.”
Sharaz was given 21 days to pay or face formal bankruptcy.
He is expected to apply for voluntary bankruptcy through the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA).
A web hearing before Registrar Russell Trott was scheduled for 15 October 2025, but no public order had been issued by the end of October 2025.
Reynolds also served Higgins with a bankruptcy notice via her solicitors.
Financial Context and Asset Sales
Combined liabilities for Higgins and Sharaz exceeded $1 million. The couple reportedly sold their French château for about $700 000 after the judgment but remained deep in debt.
What Bankruptcy Means for David Sharaz
If declared bankrupt, a trustee would control Sharaz’s finances for three years and one day. That trustee could:
- Sell his real estate, vehicles and bank balances.
- Garnish 50 % of after-tax income above $90 000 a year.
- Require written permission for any overseas travel (breach penalty up to three years’ jail).
- Ban him from managing or directing a company.
- List him on the National Personal Insolvency Index permanently.
As Sharaz’s current employment status is unknown, Reynolds’s ability to recover funds through income garnishing remains unclear.
Brittany Higgins Withdraws Her Appeal
On 20 October 2025, Higgins withdrew her appeal, ending all litigation. The next day, both she and Sharaz remained subject to bankruptcy actions. She said she was “grateful the matter had concluded,” acknowledging that Reynolds’s feelings were hurt & expressing hope to “heal & rebuild our lives.”
Linda Reynolds’s Vindication
Reynolds called the decision a “great relief” She stated:
“There was no conspiracy & no political cover-up of a rape. This was never about Ms Higgins’s allegation of rape & it was also never about the money. It was about the dishonest & devastating attack on my reputation.”
Her victory closed a painful chapter in her career & re-affirmed her claim to personal vindication.
Bruce Lehrmann Context
Bruce Lehrmann’s 2022 criminal trial was aborted after juror misconduct & the charge was dropped for Higgins’s wellbeing. In a later civil ruling, Justice Michael Lee found on the balance of probabilities that Lehrmann raped Higgins in 2019. He continues to deny the allegation & is appealing.
Where David Sharaz Stands Now
As of late October 2025, David Sharaz faces imminent bankruptcy & long-term financial restrictions. A trustee is expected to take control of his assets once the Federal Court finalises the order. His public and financial reputation has been severely damaged, marking the final chapter in a six-year sequence of political & legal turmoil.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What did David Sharaz post about Linda Reynolds?
He published tweets, an Instagram story & a Facebook comment in 2022 accusing Reynolds of mishandling Brittany Higgins’s rape complaint. The court found those posts defamatory.
How much was David Sharaz ordered to pay?
$85 000 in damages plus ≈ $7 000 interest for his own posts & $135 000 jointly with Higgins, plus indemnity costs taking his liability to about $700 k – $750 k.
What happens when someone is declared bankrupt in Australia?
A trustee takes control of their assets for three years & one day, can sell property & restrict overseas travel without approval.
Did Linda Reynolds continue in politics after the case?
No. She said the controversy pushed her out of her job & she did not recontest the 2025 federal election.
Is the bankruptcy finalised yet?
As of the end of October 2025, no public Federal Court order has been issued on Sharaz’s bankruptcy.
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