Defence Minister Linda Reynolds delays her return to work, raising questions about her future

 

James Massola - March 7, 2021

 

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has delayed her return to work following medical advice from her doctors in a move that will raise fresh questions about her political future.

 

Senator Reynolds was admitted to hospital on February 24 because of a pre-existing heart problem.

 

The hospital admission came after her former staffer, Brittany Higgins, went public with allegations that she was raped by a former colleague in the minister’s office in March 2019. In the lead-up to her taking medical leave, Senator Reynolds became visibly distressed in question time while under pressure from Labor over her handling of the matter.

 

There is growing speculation in some quarters of the Morrison government about whether Senator Reynolds — who was initially due back at work on March 8 — will ever return to her post, though her friends and allies in the government insist she will return.

 

Ms Higgins’ allegations sparked a national conversation about the workplace culture in Parliament House and the treatment of women in federal politics, and triggered three separate reviews.

 

The Defence Minister has faced growing questions over her handling of the matter, especially after The Australian revealed last week that she had described Ms Higgins as a “lying cow” in remarks to staff in her office when the allegations became public.

 

Senator Reynolds has since apologised to Ms Higgins for the comment and indicated her off-colour remark was not in relation to the rape allegation but to reports in the media.

 

A source close to the Defence Minister said the medical certificate extending Senator Reynolds’ medical leave of absence was issued before the “lying cow” comment was made public.

 

That source, who asked not to be named so that they could provide additional context about her condition, said the minister had been given new medication by her cardiologist, who wanted to delay her return to politics in order to judge the efficacy of the new treatment.

 

“[The decision] is being taken on a week-by-week basis,” the source said. “She wants to be back as soon as she can be.”

 

Senator Reynolds’ spokeswoman confirmed the delayed return to work in a short statement.

 

“Defence Minister Linda Reynolds continues to take sick leave which is being regularly assessed in consultation with her cardiologist,,” she said. “The Prime Minister is being kept updated.”

 

The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age spoke to six members of the Morrison ministry to better understand Senator Reynolds’ situation and the potential for her to resume her senior position.

 

Though a decision has not been taken on when or if Senator Reynolds will return to duty, those ministers suggested that a return was unlikely to be in the next three weeks.

 

That is because Senator Reynolds would face another week of being grilled in question time in the week beginning March 15 and then, in the following week, she would face more detailed and sustained questions during Senate estimates hearings about her knowledge of Ms Higgins’ allegations.

 

One minister — who asked not to be named so they could discuss the situation — said Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s disposition was to always stand by, rather than move on, ministers in political trouble, as also evidenced by his support for Attorney-General Christian Porter.

 

Mr Porter has also faced calls to step down from some political opponents after he last week came forward to deny a historical rape allegation. He has since taken two weeks’ leave.

 

“The PM really doesn’t like moving people on, he values continuity, especially in a big portfolio like defence,” the minister said.

 

A second minister, who also asked not to be named, said Senator Reynolds had “shot herself in the foot” with the “lying cow” comment about Ms Higgins but “the ball is in her court” on whether to stay or quit the frontbench.

 

A third minister said Senator Reynolds had done an excellent job in a huge portfolio that included managing issues such as Australia’s $80 billion build of 12 submarines, and the Brereton report into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.

 

If Senator Reynolds were to quit her ministry or even Parliament, cabinet ministers Peter Dutton and Stuart Robert would likely be among the frontrunners for the defence portfolio.

 

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/federal/reynolds-delays-her-return-to-work-raising-questions-about-her-future-20210304-p577yu.html