Brittany Higgins, Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial LIVE: Anthony Albanese's government hit with scathing compensation claim question

The first witness was Rebecca Cleaves, a member of the Australian Federal Police who worked in Parliament House.

Ms Cleaves had a half-hour meeting Brittany Higgins and another officer Katie Thelning on April 1, 2019 - about a week after she was allegedly raped in Linda Reynolds' office.

The police officer took notes during that meeting and read them to the Federal Court on Monday.

Ms Cleaves was referring to the morning after the alleged assault, when Ms Higgins woke up in Senator Reynolds' office.

She said: 'Woke up very confused, smell of sex, cried, minister's deoderant, vomit stains all down dress.'

Bruce Lehrmann's defamation hearing started on Monday with questions about whether a secret recording between Brittany Higgins, a former minister and her chief-of-staff will be played in court.

Ms Higgins recorded the conversation with Michaelia Cash and Daniel Try in February 2021 - without their knowledge.

Normally, covert recordings are not admissable in court.

However, Mr Lehrmann's barrister Steven Whybrow is seeking permission from all parties to play the recoding in court.

'We're about 50 per cent of the way - there are still some issues we need to raise in terms of personal circumstances, we're still endevouring to go down the easy way,' he said.

If permission from the parties is denied, Justice Michael Lee may have to make a

ruling.

Brittany Higgins, her fiance and family have been spotted celebrating her 29th birthday in Byron Bay at the weekend.

She has family who live in the NSW northern rivers region.

Barnaby Joyce has slammed the Albanese government and Brittany Higgins' $2.4million compensation payment, asking if military veterans have ever been paid the same amount for workplace injuries.

Ms Higgins was forced to reveal the value of her claim against the Commonwealth in the Federal Court last week, which was settled in December last year after just one day of mediation.

The figure she cited to the court, $2.3million, was about $145,000 less than the true value.

Last week, Joyce pointed out the stark contrast between the way Ms Higgins' claim was considered compared with the way diggers' mental health and physical injury claims are treated.

In a question tendered in Parliament, Mr Joyce asked: 'For each of the past ten years how many veterans or dependants received compensation since the current government took office?

'For each month, how many veterans or dependants received compensation or other forms of payments totalling at least $2.3m?

'In each case, what was the time­frame from the lodgement of the claim, to approval for payment? Without requesting identifiable personal information, to what injuries, conditions or circumstances did each payment relate?'

Ms Higgins' payment was for general damages, past economic loss and assistance with future domestic duties, and future economic loss based on claims she would not be able to work in politics for 40 years.

Bruce Lehrmann is suing Lisa Wilkinson and Network 10 in the Federal Court over her 2021 interview with Brittany Higgins where she alleged he raped her in Parliament House in 2019.

He was not named, but claims friends and former colleagues were able to identify him as the alleged rapist.

He has continually maintained his innocence.

The trial began on November 22 and Mr Lehrmann gave evidence over five days.

Brittany Higgins admitted last week that her settlement with the Commonwealth was worth $2.3million - but it was actually worth $2.4million.

Witnesses called on Monday include departmental liaison officer Christopher Payne who worked for former defence industry minister Linda Reynolds, and a forensic psychologist.