Lehrmann’s silk accuses Higgins of lying

“You understand the marketability of your potentially future memoir is at least in some substantial part related to the truth of your allegations that Mr Lehrmann sexually assaulted you,” Mr Whybrow asked.

“Yes,” Ms Higgins replied.

Brittany Higgins arrives at the Federal Court on Thursday. Louise Kennerley

“And so you have 216,000-odd reasons, in my submission, to not want to tell the truth, which is that it didn’t happen,” Mr Whybrow said. After an objection from Ten’s barrister, he asked again: “You have a financial interest in the outcome of the proceedings.”

Ms Higgins, her voice cracking, replied: “I declare it now, if I ever actually finish the book, I will donate all 200 and whatever of it to charity. I don’t care about the money. Take it on oath or whatever.”

Mr Whybrow has brought an early draft of part of the book to court, and is taking Ms Higgins through the details in it that differ from the evidence she has given in court so far.

“Is what you wrote there what you recalled to the best of your recollection at that time?” he asked.

“I was starting to put words on a paper. It was me starting to write what I count as a journal entry,” Ms Higgins said.

Mr Whybrow said: “Just so it’s clear, I’m submitting to you that you alter and evolve your evidence when you find out extra information.”

He also questioned various elements of Ms Higgins’ version of events, including where she found a box of chocolates she ate upon waking that morning, whether she was wearing her white pencil dress when she woke up, and what she did in the morning.

The hearing, before Justice Michael Lee, continues.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).