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Brittany Higgins’ fiancé David Sharaz no longer employed by radio giant – his fifth job in three years – a month after she secured a multi-million dollar taxpayer-funded payout over Parliament House rape allegations, as she jumps to his defence
- David Sharaz has left his job at Southern Cross Austereo
- He is being sued by Senator Linda Reynolds for defamation
- Brittany Higgins reached huge settlement with the Commonwealth
Brittany Higgins’ fiancé has abruptly left his Brisbane radio station job – just weeks after she secured a multi-million-dollar payout over allegations she was raped inside Parliament House.
David Sharaz is understood to have stepped out of the Southern Cross Austereo office in Brisbane for the final time on Wednesday.
He worked for the company for two years – first as a breakfast news reader, and then as part of Queensland news operations – and even occasionally hosted radio segments.
In late-January, he hosted a Triple M segment called ‘a deep dive into the sovereign citizens movement’.
The reason for his quick exit is unclear, but The Australian‘s Margin Call revealed the decision was by mutual agreement with the company.
A spokesperson from Southern Cross Austereo confirmed on Thursday afternoon that Sharaz ‘resigned from his employment’.
However, Ms Higgins then jumped to his defence in a cryptic Instagram story – urging her audience to ‘read between the lines’.
David Sharaz (pictured with Brittany Higgins) resigned from his position at Southern Cross Austereo
David Sharaz frequently posted photos in his office in Brisbane (pictured)
Brittany Higgins jumped to Sharaz’s defence in a cryptic Instagram story on Thursday (pictured)
‘No one walks away from employment without a job to walk into,’ she wrote.
‘David has been nothing but a supportive partner at an incredibly difficult time.’
While Mr Sharaz’s LinkedIn profile still states that he works for Southern Cross Austereo, his Twitter bio has been edited to say ‘AWAY’.
There was no mention of a career shift on his Instagram on Wednesday evening, but he did post a video playing with his dog, Kingston.
Mr Sharaz worked as a journalist with Sky News until 2020 when he took up a brief role as senior media advisor for the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
He spent four months working as the ACT Business Manager for Streem in Canberra before moving to Southern Cross Austereo in March, 2021.
His profile grew exponentially due to his association with Ms Higgins when she alleged in 2021 that Bruce Lehrmann raped her in Parliament House two years earlier.
Mr Sharaz was also pictured with Ms Higgins every day that she appeared at the ACT Supreme Court during the rape trial in October – taking time off work to support her.
The trial was aborted due to misconduct by a member of the jury in November, before the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold dropped the case entirely in December – citing concerns for Ms Higgins’ mental health.
Brittany Higgins is seen leaving the ACT Supreme Court with David Sharaz in October
Later that month, Ms Higgins launched a civil action and named three respondents: Senators Linda Reynolds and Michaelia Cash, and the Commonwealth.
However, she quickly reached a confidential settlement with the Commonwealth.
The exact amount has not been confirmed, but the claim was expected to be worth about $3million, including $2.5 million for future economic loss, past economic loss approaching $100,000 and general damages of $100,000.
Meanwhile, Senator Reynolds launched civil action against Mr Sharaz over two tweets he authored in January and December last year.
She is seeking an apology and damages and aggravated damages for ‘inaccurate and professionally damaging’ criticisms of her, and is demanding he cover the cost of legal proceedings.
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