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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Blake Foden

DPP advises cops on Higgins case as charges considered

Brittany Higgins, who alleges she was raped at Parliament House in 2019. Picture: Karleen Minney

The ACT's top prosecutor has given police his advice on the Brittany Higgins rape case as detectives continue to consider charges against the former Liberal Party staffer's alleged attacker.

Ms Higgins went public in February with allegations a former colleague had raped her in the office of federal government minister Linda Reynolds when the pair worked together at Parliament House in 2019.

Police officers investigating the claims last month handed ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold SC a partial brief of evidence and asked him to "provide advice for consideration of prosecution".

On Thursday, Mr Drumgold told The Canberra Times he had given police his advice on June 28, a week after receiving the request.

ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold SC. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos

"The content of that advice is subject to legal professional privilege, and cannot be disclosed by the [Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions]," he said.

An ACT Policing spokesman subsequently confirmed the force was still looking into the matter.

"The investigation in relation to an alleged assault at Parliament House in 2019 remains active and ongoing," the spokesman said.

Brittany Higgins addresses a large crowd in Canberra at the March 4 Justice protest. Picture: Karleen Minney

A team of five police officers, led by a detective inspector, has been assigned to the investigation.

It remains unclear whether they have interviewed Ms Higgins' alleged rapist.

ACT chief police officer Neil Gaughan has previously said it was crucial to "get this right" and "be methodical".

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