Lehrmann, who has consistently denied the allegations, faced charges of rape, but his trial was aborted in 2022 due to juror misconduct, leading to the charges being dropped to protect Higgins' mental health.

Reynolds emphasized that her request for an apology extended beyond herself, seeking acknowledgment for the impact on her staff and family as well.

During the Senate hearing, Reynolds accused Gallagher of abusing her parliamentary privilege by questioning her about the alleged sexual assault, which occurred nearly six years ago.

Gallagher defended her questioning, asserting that as a minister, Reynolds was accountable for the actions within her office.

Following Gallagher's remarks, Reynolds left the committee room, indicating dissatisfaction with the lack of a clear apology for her staff.

Ultimately, Gallagher concluded the discussion by asserting her conscience is clear regarding her actions, emphasizing the importance of accountability in such serious cases.

The exchange escalated further, with Liberal senator James McGrath criticizing Gallagher for her refusal to apologize, while Gallagher insisted the matter involved serious allegations of rape.

The ongoing fallout from the Brittany Higgins scandal continues to dominate discussions in Australian politics, stemming from allegations that Higgins was raped by fellow staffer Bruce Lehrmann in Reynolds' office in 2019.

In a heated exchange during Senate estimates on February 25, 2025, outgoing Coalition senator Linda Reynolds confronted Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, demanding an apology for the personal damage she claims to have suffered due to the scandal.

The scrutiny Reynolds faced following the public revelation of Higgins' allegations took a toll on her health, resulting in hospitalization for a heart condition.

In response to Reynolds' request for a formal apology, Gallagher expressed regret for Reynolds' hurt but maintained that her questions were reasonable, stating it was 'not a no' regarding the apology.

Senators Penny Wong and Gallagher also questioned Reynolds about the incident, which she deemed an inappropriate use of parliamentary privilege.