‘Historic’ settlement for women allegedly sexually harassed by former high court justice Dyson Heydon

The commonwealth has reached a "historic" financial settlement with three women who were found to have been sexually harassed by the former high court justice Dyson Heydon after an independent investigation.

The attorney general, Michaelia Cash, announced the compensation payout on Monday, along with an apology to the three women who have been negotiating with the commonwealth since the findings of an independent investigation undertaken by Vivienne Thom were released in 2020.

In 2019, three former high court judges' associates lodged complaints about Heydon's behaviour, with Thom finding the former high court judge had sexually harassed six complainants.

Asssociates Chelsea Tabart, Alexandra Eggerking and Rachael Collins have signed a non-disclosure agreement as part of the settlement, which Cash said reflected the commonwealth taking the claims "very seriously".

Josh Bornstein from Maurice Blackburn, who was representing the women, said he believed the claim was the first time a settlement had been reached for sexual harassment claims under the Sex Discrimination Act arising from findings against a serving federal judge.

Speaking on behalf of the associates, Bornstein said the women were relieved the claims had been finalised, and happy with what he described as a "historic" settlement of compensation.

"They have asked me to convey their strong conviction that women should not feel ashamed to pursue financial settlements in sexual harassment cases because sexual harassment will only start to recede when there is a clear recognition that it has a substantial cost to organisations and individuals who are implicated," Bornstein said.