Heidi Yates, Australian of the Year nominee, investigated for Brittany Higgins’ support

She’s the taxpayer-funded victim’s advocate who has ALWAYS been by Brittany Higgins side… and was even nominated to be Australian of the Year. But now a respected judge is investigating… did Heidi cross the line?

  • Heidi Yates, ACT victims of crime commissioner, to be probed
  • She personally supported Brittany Higgins in court every day
  • Ms Higgins alleged she was raped by Bruce Lehrmann in 2019
  • Trial was held in October, but aborted due to jury misconduct 
  • Inquiry into whether Ms Yates’ heavy support was appropriate
  • The probe will also look into the roles of police and prosecutors

An Australian of the Year candidate who stood by Brittany Higgins throughout her rape trial is at the centre of a major probe into how the investigation unfolded.

The ACT government announced in December it would hold a board of inquiry, the equivalent of a royal commission, into the roles played by police and prosecutors in the 12-day trial against Bruce Lehrmann.

Heidi Yates, the ACT victims of crime commissioner, was a permanent fixture by Ms Higgins’ side throughout the Supreme Court hearing in October – appearing heavily in news coverage of the case the nation was transfixed upon.

The inquiry will determine whether it was appropriate for Ms Yates to align herself so closely with the complainant.

On Wednesday, former judge Walter Sofronoff KC was appointed to lead the probe, which will report to Chief Minister Andrew Barr by June 30. 

Heidi Yates (right) could be seen standing next to Brittany Higgins (left) each day she appeared in court throughout the trial 

Ms Higgins had alleged her former colleague raped her inside Parliament House after a night out in Canberra in 2019. Mr Lehrmann had pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence. 

The case collapsed in early November when a juror brought prohibited academic research papers into the jury room.

The ACT’s Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold dropped the matter altogether a month later due to concerns over Ms Higgins’ mental health. 

He later accused police of siding with the defendant and ‘bullying’ Ms Higgins, in an explosive letter that was released under freedom of information laws.

He will investigate the conduct of police, the DPP and Ms Yates – who was also the territory’s Australian of the Year nominee for 2023.

Specifically, the inquiry will examine the ‘appropriateness of the ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner Heidi Yates aligning herself with the complainant’, according to a government statement.

It will also assess ‘whether the Victims of Crime Commissioner acted in accordance with the relevant statutory framework in terms of support provided to the complainant’. 

Heidi Yates was also one of four nominees in the ACT for Australian of the Year (pictured)

Heidi Yates was also one of four nominees in the ACT for Australian of the Year (pictured)

The inquiry will examine the 'appropriateness of the ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner Heidi Yates (pictured outside court with Ms Higgins) aligning herself with the complainant', according to a government statement

The inquiry will examine the ‘appropriateness of the ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner Heidi Yates (pictured outside court with Ms Higgins) aligning herself with the complainant’, according to a government statement

A spokesperson for the ACT Human Rights Commission said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia: ‘The ACT Human Rights Commission welcomes the announcement of Mr Walter Sofronoff as Chair of the Board of Inquiry.

‘The commission also welcomes the confirmation of the inquiry’s terms of reference.

‘Victims of Crime Commissioner Heidi Yates has the full support of the commission. 

‘The Commission values highly the Victims of Crime Commissioner’s essential work providing support, advocacy and assistance to victims of crime in the ACT.’

Ms Yates sat with Ms Higgins during her two evidence in chief interviews with Australian Federal Police in early 2021, which were recorded and played to the court during the trial in October.

The commissioner also personally accompanied the alleged victim each day she appeared in the Supreme Court during the trial.

Furthermore, Ms Yates stood alongside Ms Higgins as she delivered an emotional speech to the media after the case was aborted. 

The speech was quickly referred to the Australian Federal Police by Mr Lehrmann’s lawyers over fears it could bias a jury in a retrial.

The trial against Bruce Lehrmann (pictured) was derailed by misconduct from jurors

The trial against Bruce Lehrmann (pictured) was derailed by misconduct from jurors

Daily Mail Australia previously asked the Victims of Crime Commission whether it was standard practice for the commissioner to personally accompany complainants to court, and to interviews with police.

A spokeswoman for the commission declined to answer the question. 

Ms Yates did not win the title of ACT Australian of the Year. She was beaten by climate activist and maggot farmer Olympia Yarger. However, she was one of four nominees.

According to her online profile, she is a human rights lawyer and activist ‘whose work has improved the lives of vulnerable people across the community’.

‘Her wins have inspired other communities to demand similar positive change.’

When the probe was announced last year, the ACT government stressed it was not to recontest Ms Higgins’ rape claims – only the conduct of the criminal justice system.

The inquiry has the power to  issue search warrants, compel witnesses to give evidence, and subpoena documents. 

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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk