Linda Reynolds has responded to Brittany Higgins' 'olive branch' apology with a blunt message vowing to continue with defamation proceedings against the former staffer and her partner David Sharaz.
Just hours later Ms Higgins posted a cryptic message to Instagramsaying: 'Ah. Wonderful. Keep showing people the truth of who you really are.'
The post has since been deleted.
Ms Higgins had apologised to her former boss following a landmark Federal Court ruling that found her former Liberal Party colleague, Bruce Lehrmann, likely raped her in 2019.
The verdict was delivered in Lehrmann's defamation case against Network Ten and journalistLisa Wilkinson.
But Justice Michael Lee rejected Ms Higgins' claims Ms Reynolds was involved in a political cover-up of her sexual assault inside Parliament House.
BrittanyHiggins (pictured) had apologised to her former boss following a landmark Federal Court ruling that found her former Liberal Party colleague, Bruce Lehrmann, likely raped her in 2019.
Linda Reynolds (centre) thanked Ms Higgins for her apology but said: 'If Ms Higgins does not accept Justice Lee's findings on the claims of coverup and mistreatment then, regrettably, it will have to be proved again in our trial set for July this year'
Ms Higgins shared a cryptic post to her Instagram (pictured) following Ms Reynolds' statement
In a statement on Saturday, Ms Higgins wrote: 'Senator Reynolds and Fiona Brown have also been hurt and for that I am also sorry.
'My perceptions and feelings about what happened in the days and weeks after my rape are different from theirs.
'I deeply regret we have not yet found common ground.'
Ms Reynolds shared her own statement on Sunday in which she said she 'appreciated' Ms Higgins' apology and hoped the court ruling would 'give her peace'.
However, she noted her own legal action against Ms Higgins and her partner, David Sharaz, was 'never about the allegation of rape'.
Instead, Ms Reynolds' action is focused onallegations she 'failed to support Ms Higgins' which came at 'enormous emotional and financial cost'.
'I have fought for three years to expose the truth in relation to my conduct,' she wrote.
'What still lies between us are not different perceptions. It is a fact that Ms Higgins received our support and that there was no cover up.
'The common ground we now find must be based on the truth.'
Ms Reynolds added Monday's ruling would not affect her own action, writing: 'As a matter of law, neither of us, nor Mr Sharaz, are bound by Justice Lee's decision.
'If Ms Higgins does not accept Justice Lee's findings on the claims of coverup and mistreatment then, regrettably, it will have to be proved again in our trial set for July this year.'
The Federal Court earlier this week found Bruce Lehrmann (pictured) raped Ms Higgins in the office of their former boss inside Parliament House during March 2019
In a statement (pictured), Ms Reynolds noted her legal action against Ms Higgins and her partner, David Sharaz, was 'never about the allegation of rape'
Opposition leader Peter Dutton on Sunday described Ms Higgins' apology as 'gracious' during an interview with ABC's Insiders.
'I don't believe any workplace should be unsafe for women, or for men for that matter, and there are a lot of changes that have taken place at Parliament House which is a good thing,' he said.
Mr Dutton has previously supported calls for details of Ms Higgins' $2.4million compensation payout from the Commonwealth to be referred to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
Documents released by the Federal Court during Lehrmann's defamation trial revealed that Ms Higgins received $2,445,000 from the government after settling her personal injury claim with the Commonwealth following mediation.
The deed of settlement and release revealed that Ms Higgins received $400,000 for hurt, distress and humiliation, $1.48million for lost earnings, $220,000 for medical expenses, $100,000 for 'past and future domestic assistance' and $245,000 for her legal costs.
In her claim, Ms Higgins said she was the victim of sexual assault and associated physical injuries, psychiatric injuries, was subject to bullying and harassment and that the Commonwealth had failed to provide adequate support.
Senator Reynolds has previously raised concerns about the speed of the process, as well as claiming she was denied the chance to take part in mediation
Mr Dutton said the issue was not with Ms Higgins' and her lawyers' actions during the payout.
'I don't think the problem in relation to the payout is on Brittany's side,' Mr Dutton said.
'I think it's on the government side and others have pointed that out.
'If there is inappropriate that Katy Gallagher and others tried to eke out of an alleged sexual assault, firstly that reflects poorly on Katy Gallagher, but others as well.'
Former political staffer Brittany Higgins leaves the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices with her partner David Sharaz after meeting with Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Sydney on April 30, 2021
Ms Gallagher was not involved in Ms Higgins' payout. But she has been targeted by the opposition with questions about her knowledge of the her allegations before they were aired publicly.
Lehrmann faced trial in the ACT Supreme Court in late 2022 after pleading not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent.
His trial was abandoned due to juror misconduct and the Director of Public Prosecutions abandoned the trial due to concerns for Ms Higgins' welfare, leading to the charge being dropped.
It comes as the countdown continues for Lehrmann to recover his tarnished reputation.
The Federal Court earlier this week found Lehrmann raped Ms Higgins in the office of their former boss inside Parliament House during March 2019 and dismissed his defamation case againstNetwork Ten and television host Lisa Wilkinson.
Appeals against a Federal Court ruling must be filed within 28 days - meaning Lehrmann has just 23 days left to file againstJustice Michael Lee's verdict.
Civil court proceedings only require the balance of probability to make a ruling unlike criminal courts which require proof beyond any reasonable.
Lehrmann has consistently denied allegations he raped Ms Higgins.
