‘Disturbed and disappointed’: Brittany Higgins’ letter

Fresh leaks of private correspondence originally provided under subpoena during the criminal trial have outlined the tensions that flared in February of 2021.

In the letter, obtained by The Australian newspaper, Ms Higgins raises concerns that Ms Wilkinson is planning to air a second program based on footage not used in the first.

Ms Higgins writes that she is “disturbed and disappointed” by the plan, and raises concerns that “you have gone ahead and put one together anyway”.

In the correspondence, from February 20, Ms Higgins threatens that if Ms Wilkinson proceeds, she will publicly condemn The Project.

“As I discussed earlier in the week with your producer Angus when I declined his approach for a second interview, I do not want to participate in any further media interviews at this stage,” Ms Higgins writes.

“The pressure has been impossibly intense, and there have already been severe consequences for my family, David and myself.”

Ms Higgins’ letter appears to have had its desired effect. The second broadcast was not aired. The incident appears to have had no impact on the relationship between Ms Higgins and Ms Wilkinson at the time.

They shared a podium at a protest rally outside Parliament House the following week. In the letter Ms Higgins says she appreciates that the network has the “contractual rights” to broadcast the additional material but she was told that there would only be one interview.

“I am therefore really disturbed and disappointed that when I told Angus I did not want another interview on this matter, you would have gone ahead and put one together anyway based on footage you filmed for the initial interview but did not use,” she added.

News.com.au understands the constant leaking of subpoenas has raised alarm bells at Channel 10 and for Ms Higgins, with mounting calls for an investigation into who is responsible.

The letter was never tendered as an exhibit during the criminal trial. It’s unclear whether or not it was made available to lawyers at the Sofronoff inquiry, but regardless, was also not tendered at those hearings.

Meanwhile, Sunrise host Natalie Barr has questioned whether or not Ms Wilkinson “coached” Ms Higgins on answers ahead of their interview.

In a trove of CCTV and audio never seen or heard before by the public, Seven broadcast excerpts from an off the record chat between Ms Wilkinson and Ms Higgins.

In that discussion, Ms Wilkinson tells Ms Higgins she does not want “to put words in your mouth”, but does want her to discuss the culture of Parliament House.

“I have every confidence that you will answer that very eloquently, but it’s one you just need to really think about,” Ms Wilkinson says.

“I don’t want to put words in your mouth, but if you can enunciate the fact that this place is all about suppression of people’s natural sense of justice.”

The discussion, conducted before the sit down interview, featured cameos from Ms Higgins’ partner, David Sharaz.

At one point, Mr Sharaz says he and Ms Higgins “are not stupid” and understand the situation is “transactional”, and asks Ms Wilkinson what she wants to achieve.

Ms Wilkinson says it’s not transactional for her at all.

“No. Whether it’s white privilege, male domination, whether it’s, you know, criminal activity. I am from the western suburbs of Sydney. I have always been motivated by exactly the same thing, people who deserve to be heard not being heard,” Ms Wilkinson says.

On Sunrise, Ms Barr asked entertainment commentator Peter Ford whether or not the audio posed a problem.

“Was that coaching or was that a journalist talking before the interview?” she asked.

“Yeah, it’s a fine line, isn’t it,” Mr Ford replied.

Despite the discussions on the tape, Ms Wilkinson said she had never subsequently spoken to any politicians – including Mr Albanese or Ms Plibersek about how to drive the story forward. “Nor did I speak to any other politicians, their minders or apparatchiks,” she said in a statement on June 6.