From the explosive moment on Monday morning just over a fortnight ago, when former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins' allegation of rape was published by Samantha Maiden on news.com.au, there has been just one topic of conversation.

Like the #metoo movement, Ms Higgins seems to have opened the floodgates. Three more women have made allegations against the same former Liberal staffer Ms Higgins alleges raped her in Defence Minister Linda Reynolds' office.

An anonymous letter has been sent to the Prime Minister alleging a historical rape by a senior member of the government.

Liberal senator Sarah Henderson has referred to the Australian Federal Police a rape allegation against an unnamed Labor MP she received in a letter.

It would be foolish to try and point the finger at any one political party in this situation. All the major parties in Australia have had such allegations levelled against their members, and all have been found wanting when it comes to supporting women who speak up about sexual harassment and assault. Some have responded better than others, all have a long way to go. It would also be foolish to say this is a problem only with politics. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, one in six women have been victims of sexual assault.

Many women will identify with the binary choice Ms Higgins described. Even if it wasn't said explicitly, she felt she was choosing between her career, or going to the police. The pursuit of justice would come at a cost, and in 2019, it was a choice she felt she couldn't make.

That choice, while heightened in politics, isn't unique to it. Women who found their voice through the #metoo movement describe a similar choice. Their future, or their job. Victims of sexual assaults are four times more likely to know the perpetrator, than for the perpetrator to be a stranger. Speaking up when the perpetrator is a friend, family member, partner, brings more difficult decisions.

Many women in the public service who have been victims of sexual assault at work, or in a professional context, will also identify with Ms Higgins. Unlike political staffers, it is generally agreed that broader members of the Australian Public Service have access to much better employment conditions - an actual human resources department is just one part of it.

But, like Ms Higgins, and many victims of sexual assault and harassment, it is fair to say women in the public service often feel that it is their career that will suffer, their opportunities that will disappear, if they seek justice against a perpetrator at their work.

In too many places, sexual assault allegations seem to bounce off the men who are accused, but stick to the women who speak up. And until that changes, women won't come forward, and we won't see change.

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