Bruce Lehrmann shocks with fresh legal fight in Federal Court after defamation fallout

Former Liberal Party staffer Bruce Lehrmann has once again found himself at the center of Australia’s legal spotlight. In a surprising new twist, Lehrmann has lodged legal action in the Federal Court, this time targeting the government directly, just months after his bruising defeat in the high-profile defamation battle against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson.

The latest application, filed this week, names Special Minister of State Don Farrell and National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Commissioner Paul Brereton as respondents. The details of the judicial review remain sparse, but the filing underscores Lehrmann’s determination to continue fighting legal battles on multiple fronts.

A man under constant legal scrutiny

Lehrmann, once a rising political staffer in Canberra, has faced years of public and legal pressure since Brittany Higgins, a fellow staffer, alleged she was raped inside Parliament House in 2019. The allegation set off a national debate about workplace culture, consent, and accountability in Australian politics.

Lehrmann faced a criminal trial in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Supreme Court, but the case collapsed in late 2022 due to juror misconduct. Importantly, this left no formal criminal findings against him.

However, his attempt to clear his name through a defamation case against Network Ten and Wilkinson backfired. In April 2024, Justice Michael Lee of the Federal Court of Australia found, on the balance of probabilities, that Lehrmann had indeed raped Higgins in 2019. This devastating ruling ended his lawsuit, branding him not as a victim of media misrepresentation but as a man judicially deemed responsible for the assault.

Appeal still pending

Despite that outcome, Lehrmann immediately filed an appeal, arguing that Justice Lee’s findings were flawed. That appeal remains unresolved, and legal observers are waiting to see if the court will uphold the damning ruling or provide him with a lifeline.

Now, while awaiting that crucial decision, Lehrmann has shifted his attention to the government itself. By targeting Farrell and Brereton, Lehrmann has raised eyebrows in political and legal circles. Judicial review applications typically challenge the lawfulness of decisions made by government officials or bodies. While the specifics of his claim are not yet public, the fact that it involves the NACC suggests Lehrmann may be attempting to limit or contest scrutiny related to corruption or misconduct investigations.

Fallout from Brittany Higgins interview

Much of Lehrmann’s public downfall stems from The Project, a television program on Network Ten, where Wilkinson interviewed Brittany Higgins in 2021. In that interview, Higgins publicly alleged that she had been raped at Parliament House, igniting a wave of national outrage.

Lehrmann, though not named directly in the broadcast, argued that he was identifiable and thus defamed. His Federal Court case, however, concluded disastrously. Justice Lee ruled not only that Ten and Wilkinson had acted responsibly in airing the interview but also that the allegations were substantiated on the civil standard of proof.

For Lehrmann, who has always denied raping Higgins, this judgment was a seismic blow.

Public reaction and political reverberations

The Lehrmann saga has had wide-ranging implications beyond the courtroom. Higgins’ claims, and the subsequent handling of her complaint by political leaders, became a flashpoint in the broader discussion about gendered violence in Australia. Scott Morrison, who was Prime Minister at the time, faced withering criticism for his government’s response.

The controversy also fueled calls for reform in parliamentary workplace culture and ultimately contributed to the creation of the Set the Standard report, which investigated misconduct in Parliament.

With Lehrmann’s new legal filing, political insiders are now bracing for another wave of headlines. Some legal experts suggest that Lehrmann may be attempting to reset the narrative after his defamation loss, while others see it as a strategy to delay or complicate the ongoing fallout from Justice Lee’s ruling.

What happens next?

The Federal Court will now determine whether Lehrmann’s judicial review application has merit. Depending on the nature of the claim, the court could either dismiss the filing outright or proceed to hear arguments in full.

Meanwhile, Lehrmann’s appeal against the defamation ruling remains one of the most closely watched cases in recent Australian legal history. If he succeeds, it could significantly alter how his reputation is viewed. If he fails, however, the stigma from Justice Lee’s judgment will remain firmly attached.

Human impact

Behind the legal wrangling lies the human toll. Higgins, who became a symbol of courage for survivors of sexual assault, has spoken about the immense personal cost of going public. Lehrmann, for his part, has portrayed himself as a man wrongfully accused and unfairly judged in the court of public opinion.

Australia, divided over the saga, is left watching as the courts once again weigh in on one of the most polarizing stories of recent years.

Conclusion

Bruce Lehrmann’s latest Federal Court filing underscores his unwillingness to quietly fade from public life. Whether this new action against the government proves substantive or symbolic, it guarantees that the Lehrmann-Higgins saga will continue shaping headlines, political debates, and public sentiment in Australia.

For now, the nation waits—not only for the outcome of his judicial review but also for the landmark appeal decision that could define his legacy.

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