Brittany Higgins' accused rapist denies any sexual activity took place at all the night parliament staffer alleges she was assaulted - as he is hauled before court and faces 12 years jail
The man accused of raping former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins in Parliament House two years ago has been identified as Bruce Lehrmann.
The 26-year-old Queenslander, who also worked for the Liberal Party, will face one charge of sexual intercourse without consent when he appears before the court next month, which has a maximum sentence of 12 years in jail.
Ms Higgins made headlines in February when she claimed she was raped by a colleague in then defence minister Linda Reynolds' Parliament House office in March 2019.
Lawyers for Mr Lehrmann say he will fight the charge and denies the pair had sexual intercourse when they returned to the office.
'My client absolutely and unequivocally denies that any form of sexual activity took place at all,' his lawyer John Korn told News.com.au.
'He will defend the charge.'
Mr Lehrmann accused of raping former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins in Parliament House has been ordered to appear before court next month
Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped in Parliament House
The alleged incident was reported in April 2019 but Ms Higgins did not make a formal complaint until February this year.
Police investigated and have ordered the alleged attacker to appear before court in September.
The Australian Federal Police said in a statement: 'A 26-year-old man has been summonsed to appear before the ACT Magistrates Court for an alleged sexual assault in 2019.
'Police will allege the man had sexual intercourse with a woman without consent at Parliament House on Saturday, 23 March 2019.
Ms Higgins (pictured in April with boyfriend David Sharaz)
Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins was hospitalised over concerns for her well-being, before her boyfriend David Sharaz revealed she was recovering well
'Detectives from ACT Policing's Criminal Investigations - Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Team, the specialist team dedicated to investigating sexual assaults in the ACT, first received a report in April 2019.
'The investigation remained open and in February 2021 a formal complaint was made. Detectives have since spoken to a number of witnesses and collected evidence as part of the investigation.
'Officers today (Friday, 6 August 2021) served the man's legal representative with a summons to appear before the ACT Magistrates Court on 16 September 2021.'
In June Ms Higgins was hospitalised over concerns for her well-being, before her boyfriend David Sharaz revealed she was recovering well.
He said she was 'receiving the support she needs after months of sustained political pressure' - after she was critical of the Liberal Party for the way her complaint was handled.