Background
In April 2023, Bruce Lehrmann, a former political staffer,
initiated defamation proceedings against Network Ten, and
journalist, Lisa Wilkinson, based on comments made on The Project
in 2021 concerning Brittany Higgins' sexual assault allegations
against a colleague.
Although Wilkinson did not explicitly name Lehrmann, Lehrmann
asserted that he was clearly identifiable in the broadcast,
claiming that it had damaged his reputation.
Network Ten relied on two defences: substantial truth and
qualified privilege. Justice Lee upheld the substantial truth
defence, but found that the qualified privilege defence had
failed.
The Application of Defamation Law
Defamation law in Australia aims to protect individuals from
unwarranted harm to their reputation caused by false
statements.
