Magistrate 'Rod Rocketman', 68, gives up on lucrative post-work gig amid outcry over his super payout from dead lover, 23 and a fractured relationship with his children
- Ashleigh Petrie, 23, and Rod Higgins, 68, became engaged on trip to Fiji in 2019
- She was a pedestrian when she was killed in country Victoria soon after
- The $324k a year magistrate has now claimed her $180k super fund cash
- Ashleigh had named her mother as the sole payout beneficiary of the money
- Higgins is set to retire and had plans to become a part-time magistrate
- Magistrates on reserve list earn up to $1,380 a shift for years after retirement
A wealthy magistrate who fought to get his dead fiancé's grieving mother of her daughter's super payout has given up on millions and lost touch with his own kids.
Grandfather-of-eight Rod Higgins, 70, is yet to apply for a lucrative post-retirement gig that would have netted him as much as his super payout each and every year for at least a decade.
The magistrate - who bizzarely referred to himself as Rocketman Rod in an online alias - has been slammed by ordinary Australians after receiving the $180,000 super and life insurance payout intended for Ashleigh Petrie's struggling mum.
Magistrate Rodney Higgins on Sunday after enjoying breakfast with friends
Highly-paid magistrate Rod Higgins (above on Sunday) fought to win the $180,000 super and life insurance payout of his young fiancee, who was 45 years his junior. He then returned to his ex Lurline Le Neuf (right)
Magistrate Rodney Higgins referred to himself as Rod Rocketman in online profile obtained by Daily Mail Australia
Miss Petrie,23, excitedly accepted and called him 'the love of her life' after he proposed to her in Fiji in 2019. The couple is pictured together just weeks before her untimely death
How $180,000 was awarded to an older lover
By Stephen Johnson, Economics Reporter for Daily Mail Australia
Under the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993, a young worker can typically nominate a parent as the 'non-binding' beneficiary who would receive their super and life insurance should they die
Should that worker later get into a relationship, the law considers the partner or spouse to be a dependent
Rest Super said it had obeyed the law when it awarded the payment to Mr Higgins but it declined to provide more details
'Rest has every sympathy for Ms Petrie's loved ones and all those grieving her tragic passing,' a spokesman told Daily Mail Australia
'The process of paying a death benefit can involve contested claims and disputes between potential dependants
'Rest always endeavours to handle situations like these with the utmost sensitivity and sympathy'
Federal Labor's superannuation frontbencher Stephen Jones said there was a lot of confusion around superannuation life insurance among the young
Federal Labor's superannuation frontbencher Stephen Jones said there was a lot of confusion around superannuation life insurance arrangements, especially among the young
'It's certainly confusing to the average person, particularly when they're young, the last thing they are thinking about is their will and their estate,' he told Daily Mail Australia
'A lot of people are even unaware that they have a significant asset in their life insurance policy and there's a lack of financial literacy about these things
'There needs to be a lot greater awareness and a lot greater explanation about these life insurance policies'
On Wednesday, Victorian Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes revealed Mr Higgins had made no attempt to secure the high paying reserve list job.
The magistrate is expected to retire within weeks when he turns 70.
The appointment would have earned him a minimum $1,380 a day in his retirement.
It is a lucrative gig for many a retired magistrate, who continue to earn big coin and mingle within legal circles working just a couple of days a week.
Mr Higgins had hoped to continue on the bench as a reserve magistrate for several more years.
Ms Symes told a parliamentary inquiry on Wednesday no application by the magistrates' court had been made for Mr Higgins to secure the lucrative reserve position, Herald Sun reported.
Daily Mail Australia revealed last week Mr Higgins' chances of securing the job had all but been dashed after word of his cash grab got out.
It can further be revealed Mr Higgins has become estranged from his three children from his first marriage.
Sources have said while his relationship with his children was fractured well before he hooked-up with Ms Petrie, it was now non-existent.
Mr Higgins and Ms Petrie had been living together in Mirboo North, four hours from Shepparton in northern Victoria.
Ms Petrie was struck by a vehicle and killed on Metung Road near Lakes Entrance in eastern Victoria about 1am the night she died.
Her death sparked an outpouring of emotion and anger at the fact her relationship was made public shortly before her death.
'Going on the reserve list is not assured,' a court insider told Daily Mail Australia.
'If you're (trouble), the appointment won't happen. So while it's not a sacking, you can take away a good five-to-10 years of continued earnings, which is a pretty good result. '
By Monday, more than 15,400 Australians had signed a petition demanding the super fund give the cash to Ms Petrie's mother, as per her wishes.
Mr Higgins had been living with the 23-year-old for about 12 weeks when she was hit and killed by the car in October 2019.
Mr Higgins had reportedly inquired about securing his fiancee’s superannuation death benefit within 24 hours of her tragic death.
He remains employed as a magistrate earning $324,000 each year until he retires in the next few weeks.
Over the course of a year, a reserve magistrate could earn more than $180,000. ws of the grubby cash grab breaking.
In Victoria, only Parliament has the power to sack judges and magistrates.
Controversial magistrate Rod Higgins poses for a photo during his Rocketman years
Rodney Higgins will have plenty of time to play golf in his retirement. He was spotted on Sunday having a hit at Mooroopna Golf Course
Rod Higgins dashes off ahead of his partner Lurline Le Neuf, whom took him back after his affair with Ashleigh Petrie
R is for Rocktman: Rodney Higgins in another golf outing
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After Ms Petrie's death, Mr Higgins moved back to the riverside home in Shepparton he shared with his former partner, Lurline Le Neuf, to resume their 18-year relationship.
On Sunday, the pair were spotted together walking about Shepparton - the hometown of a young Ashleigh Petrie - looking every bit the happy couple.
The pair were seen leaving a local IGA supermarket, walking out slightly separate with Mr Higgins carrying a basket full of shopping and a packet of toilet paper.
Earlier, Mr Higgins had enjoyed a leisurely breakfast with friends before heading off for another round of golf.
This time he hit the greens at Mooroopna Golf Course, where he was forced to wheel about a golf buggy rather than get about in his flashy golf cart.
Mr Higgins had begun practicing law in Shepparton in northern Victoria in 2000.
In 2014 he ran for a Labor seat there and was trounced.
Mr Higgins settled back into practicing law and by 2017 was elevated to the bench as a magistrate.
He was still attached to his second long-term partner when he fell head over heels for the young court clerk who just happened to be dating the bloke next door.
Ms Petrie had been in a five-year relationship with the 48-year old next door neighbour of Mr Higgins when she hooked up with the even older beau.
Rod Higgins went for another hit on Sunday, this time in Mooroopna with a group of mates.
Ms Petrie posted on Instagram just days before her death
Mr Higgins proposed to Ashleigh Petrie (pictured together), from Mirboo North in Victoria, during a romantic trip to Fiji months before she died
On September 5, 2019 - with a little over a month of her short life left ahead - she took to social media to poke fun at her relationship with Mr Higgins.
'We are actually the funniest couple in the world! We spend all day everyday laughing and being silly, having fun!' she posted.
'I don't know how I got so lucky to find such a sweet and caring man with the same sense of humour, this amazing man is the love of my life!'
Ms Petrie captioned a photo of the magistrate holding up his senior citizen's card.
'Dating a senior citizen … my community work is done,' was written over the photo.
A coronial inquest ruled Ms Petrie had taken her own life, but the investigating coroner determined that the finding would not be published.
For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on: 13 11 14
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
In happier days: Ashleigh Petrie and Rod Higgins at the local pub. She often took to social media to inform friends of her love
Ashleigh Petrie was said to be enthusiastic about damning news reports unveiling the grubby underbelly of the justice system
Ashleigh Petrie and Rodney Higgins in a social media post before her death
The wealthy magistrate's partner Lurline Le Neuf got about town in posh yellow boots and a Harrod's apron last week
