Sydney, Australia – The defamation case against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson took a dramatic turn when former Seven Network producer Taylor Auerbach testified in the Federal Court last week. Auerbach’s lawyer, Rebekah Giles, argued that Bruce Lehrmann’s “silence was deafening” in response to the explosive evidence regarding his dealings with the network, according to court submissions released by the Federal Court. The case centers around Lehrmann’s defamation claim over an interview on The Project, in which Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped by an unnamed colleague at Parliament House in 2019. The criminal trial in the ACT Supreme Court collapsed due to juror misconduct, leaving no findings against Lehrmann.
One of the key pieces of evidence presented by Auerbach was his claim that the Seven Network reimbursed Lehrmann for expenses related to cocaine and sex workers during negotiations over an interview on the Spotlight program. Auerbach also testified that Lehrmann had provided the Seven Network with material from the brief of evidence in his criminal trial, in violation of court rules. Giles argued that Lehrmann’s failure to respond to these allegations raised questions about his credibility, stating, “His silence was deafening, such that the Court should find that his evidence could not have assisted him.”
Under cross-examination, Auerbach rejected suggestions from Lehrmann’s barrister, Matthew Richardson, that he was willing to make false statements to damage his former employer or anyone connected with it. Giles defended her client, emphasizing that much of Auerbach’s evidence was supported by documentary proof. She further argued that Auerbach’s feelings or motives towards Seven were irrelevant and should not be the basis for any findings against him.
In an unexpected twist, the court was shown a video of Auerbach breaking golf clubs belonging to his former colleague, Steve Jackson. However, Giles clarified that Auerbach’s affidavit, which led to the reopening of the case, did not contain any attacks against current or former employees of Seven. Justice Michael Lee is set to deliver his judgment in the case on Monday.