<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>339674</docID> <postdate>2025-03-05 14:51:58</postdate> <headline>Wilkinson drags Higgins Logies speech back to spotlight</headline> <body><p><img class=" wp-image-339044" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20240415001932370815-original-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="672" height="448" /></p> <caption>Lisa Wilkinson has challenged a finding she acted improperly and unjustifiably in a Logies speech. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p class="wire-column__preview__author"><span class="kicker-line">By <b>Luke Costin</b> </span></p> <p><strong>TV presenter Lisa Wilkinson is making a final attempt to clear her name over an infamous Logies speech that delayed Bruce Lehrmann's rape trial.</strong></p> <p>In written submissions to the former Liberal staffer's Federal Court defamation appeal, lawyers for Wilkinson attacked a finding she acted improperly and unjustifiably in giving the speech to a national audience.</p> <p>The June 2022 speech, which a judge found implied Brittany Higgins' sexual assault allegations were true, came eight days before the scheduled start of Lehrmann's criminal trial.</p> <p>It was subsequently delayed until October and later ended in a mistrial due to juror misconduct.</p> <p>In dismissing Lehrmann's defamation case against Wilkinson and broadcaster Network Ten, Justice Michael Lee found her conduct was improper and unjustifiable.</p> <p>However, he found she had less culpability than those encouraging her to make the speech, including Ten's lawyers.</p> <p>Wilkinson's barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC said in her submission that the judge failed to have regard to evidence the high-profile journalist also raised the speech with the prosecutor involved in the Lehrmann criminal case.</p> <p>The presenter also challenged findings about the reasonableness of her conduct before she and Ten's The Project aired Ms Higgins' claims she was raped in Parliament House by Lehrmann in a February 2021 broadcast.</p> <p>The assertions were made as Wilkinson covers off potential outcomes of Lehrmann succeeding in his bid to overturn his defamation suit loss against Ten and Wilkinson in the Federal Court.</p> <p>That may include assessment of damages payable to the 29-year-old, if the appeal court finds in his favour after hearings later in 2025.</p> <p>Lehrmann is appealing a judgment handed down in April 2024 that he was not defamed in reports he sexually assaulted Brittany Higgins in Parliament House because the allegations were substantially true.</p> <p>If the court overturns the substantial truth finding, Wilkinson argues Lehrmann's case against her should be dismissed on the basis Justice Lee should have upheld her defence of qualified privilege.</p> <p>That includes giving the former staffer a fair opportunity to comment before publication.</p> <p>"Wilkinson repeatedly, contrary to the primary judge's findings about her state of mind, exhibited a desire to talk to and ask questions of Mr Lehrmann and other people that she hoped would be included in the broadcast," Ms Chrysanthou said.</p> <p>Ms Higgins' allegations were put to Lehrmann by email the Friday afternoon before Ms Higgins' interview was broadcast on the Monday.</p> <p>He did not respond and the judge was not satisfied Lehrmann even received the email or a follow-up sent on Monday morning.</p> <p>Justice Lee however found, regardless, it was unlikely Lehrmann would have contacted The Project.</p> <p>One of the most-followed defamation trials in Australian history, Justice Lee delivered a crushing blow to Lehrmann in his<a href="https://www.judgments.fedcourt.gov.au/judgments/Judgments/fca/single/2024/2024fca0369"> April judgment</a>, finding on the balance of probabilities that he raped Ms Higgins in March 2019.</p> <p>It came after a criminal case facing Lehrmann was abandoned in 2022 with no findings made against him.</p> <p>"Having escaped the lions' den, Mr Lehrmann made the mistake of going back for his hat," Justice Lee said in his decision.</p> </body>