Former senator Linda Reynolds has launched bankruptcy proceedings in the Federal Court against her ex-staffer Brittany Higgins as she tries to recover damages awarded to her for defamation.

In August Ms Higgins was ordered to pay Ms Reynolds $315,000 plus $26,000 in interest after she and her husband David Sharaz were found to have defamed the former senator in a series of social media posts.

Ms Higgins was also ordered to pay 80 per cent of Ms Reynold's legal costs.

The former West Australian MP was represented in court by a team of barristers led by Martin Bennett, who confirmed her legal bill had exceeded $1,000,000.

The Federal Court's website shows Ms Reynolds filed a creditor's petition against Ms Higgins on Friday.

The new matter is listed for a hearing before a WA registrar in

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