- Linda Reynolds' home in Perth is worth about $1.6million
- Selling would not be enough to cover defamation action
- READ MORE: Defamation trial, blow-by-blow
Linda Reynolds will be forced to sell her three-bedroom home, worth roughly $1.6million, following her costly defamation fight against Brittany Higgins - with insiders saying her legal bill could top $2million.
The Liberal senator launched defamation proceedings in the WA Supreme Court against Ms Higgins, her former employee, over social media posts that she claims damaged her reputation.
In the posts, Ms Higgins alleged Ms Reynolds failed to support her in the wake of her rape in 2019, and further accused her of trying to cover up the assault - which the senator strongly denies.
The hearing began on August 2 and is due to run for another three weeks with the assistance of 26 witnesses, including former prime minister Scott Morrison, colleagues, and family members.
Ms Reynolds previously said she remortgaged her house in Perth to cover her legal fees, but she told colleagues in the Coalition party room on Tuesday that she will have to sell it.
Property records show she bought the home with her partner Robert Reid for $1,050,000 in 2018, and would make around $600,000 profit if it was sold today - but that would not be enough to pay for the trial.
Legal insiders told Daily Mail Australia the case could be worth an estimated $2million by the time it's over, half of which Ms Reynolds may have to cover even if she wins.
But there may be a silver lining - she still owns a holiday home in Bali.
![Linda Reynolds is pictured with her partner, Robert Reid, eating democracy sausages on election day](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/14/05/88505375-13740965-Linda_Reynolds_is_pictured_with_her_partner_Robert_Reid_eating_d-a-2_1723608164618.jpg)
Linda Reynolds is pictured with her partner, Robert Reid, eating democracy sausages on election day
![Linda Reynolds is pictured, far right, with her partner Robert Reid, centre](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/14/05/88505395-13740965-Linda_Reynolds_is_pictured_far_right_with_her_partner_Robert_Rei-a-3_1723608164619.jpg)
Linda Reynolds is pictured, far right, with her partner Robert Reid, centre
Ms Reynolds' Perth home has three bedrooms and a study, separate kitchen, lounge and dining areas, and an additional alfresco kitchen and gazebo that overlooks an inground pool.
Details of her Balinese retreat are unclear, but sources say the property could be on one of the smaller islands surrounding the main tourist haunts.
On January 18, Mr Reid posted about a short getaway on Facebook: 'Taking a break for a few days in the holiday home - always relaxing, always welcoming.
'Good to clear the head. And the coffee is good,' he wrote.
Mr Reid posted two photos overlooking swimming pools and beach-side cafes.
The post did not say whether Ms Reynolds went on holidays with him.
The following day, on January 19, Ms Reynolds told Daily Mail Australia that she had sought to freeze Ms Higgins' assets ahead of the defamation case.
In Canberra on Tuesday, Ms Reynolds told her colleagues in a private meeting that her legal fees would mean she would lose her home - but it was a cost she was willing to suffer to defend her reputation.
![Linda Reynolds held a celebration at the Perth home after the LNP won the 2019 election. Brittany Higgins can be seen sitting at the back in black, holding a champagne glass](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/14/08/88157425-13740965-Linda_Reynolds_held_a_celebration_at_the_Perth_home_after_the_LN-a-5_1723620568494.jpg)
Linda Reynolds held a celebration at the Perth home after the LNP won the 2019 election. Brittany Higgins can be seen sitting at the back in black, holding a champagne glass
She also made it clear that she was not trying to harm the Coalition's chance of winning the forthcoming federal election, but she believes the Labor Party are 'dogs' who destroyed her life.
Appearing in court every day on Ms Reynolds' behalf is high-flying Perth-based lawyer Martin Bennett and two additional solicitors from his firm - which legal experts say is likely costing her about $20,000 a day.
If Ms Reynolds lost the case, she would have to cover Ms Higgins' legal fees, which means she could be liable for about $2million, insiders said.
If Justice Paul Tottle ruled in Ms Reynolds' favour, Ms Higgins would have to cover the cost of the trial.
In the event Ms Higgins' couldn't afford it, Ms Reynolds would be left to pay her own bill.
Ms Higgins was given $2.4million in compensation in December 2022 following the outcome of a civil claim against the Commonwealth, but it is understood there is very few funds left over.
![Linda Reynolds also owns a property in Bali. In January, her partner posted a photo (pictured) of their 'holiday home'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/14/08/88504507-13740965-Linda_Reynolds_also_owns_a_property_in_Bali_In_January_her_partn-a-4_1723620568493.jpg)
Linda Reynolds also owns a property in Bali. In January, her partner posted a photo (pictured) of their 'holiday home'
![Photos of the Bali trip showed swimming pools and beach-side cafes (pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/14/08/88504511-13740965-Photos_of_the_Bali_trip_showed_swimming_pools_and_beach_side_caf-a-3_1723620568490.jpg)
Photos of the Bali trip showed swimming pools and beach-side cafes (pictured)
The former staffer and her husband David Sharaz have been on a number of holidays since the payout.
They bought a $600,000 home in France, are often spotted out and about in designer clothes, and got married in a lavish ceremony in Queensland worth an estimated $100,000.
Mr Sharaz worked freelance for an advertising business in London, but he has not had consistent employment since February 2023.
Earlier this year, the couple said they would have to sell their home in France to cover the cost of the trial. They are also expecting their first child.
On the second day of the hearing last week, an online fundraiser was set up cover Ms Higgins' 'ongoing medical, counselling and legal costs'.
The money will be held in a trust by her Perth lawyers and will not be directly accessible by Ms Higgins or her husband David Sharaz, and therefore protected from the defamation litigation.
Ms Higgins will give evidence in the last week of August.