An Australian judge reopened a high-profile defamation trial this week, involving a former political staffer who is also an accused in a rape case. The judge cited the necessity for transparency in a case that has gripped the country.
The case shed light on allegations on how producers from a major television network secured an interview with the former government staffer with inducements like illicit “drugs, sex workers, a golf trip and expensive meals”, according to CNN. The trial, which captivated the Australian public, drew renewed attention with the advent of a new witness. Thousands tuned in to watch the live broadcast of the reopened case on YouTube.
The story dates back to 2019 when former political aide Brittany Higgins, 27, alleged that fellow conservative staffer Bruce Lehrmann, 27, raped her on a couch inside the parliament office of a cabinet minister following a night of heavy drinking. The latest testimony of Taylor Auerbach, a producer of the television network involved in the case, shed light on the alleged negotiation tactics used to secure an interview with Lehrmann.
Auerbach claimed he acted as Lehrmann’s “babysitter,” aiming to establish rapport for the exclusive. He alleged that Lehrmann produced cocaine during a hotel meeting, discussing a potential interview payment and plans for prostitutes. Auerbach also mentioned submitting his resignation after using company funds for Thai massages but was instead promoted. Seven Network denied the allegations, stating they didn’t offer Auerbach a promotion or reimburse Lehrmann for any illicit expenses.
The allegations first came to light through media reports in early 2021 and — on the back of the global #MeToo movement — sparked nationwide protests and multiple damning investigations into Australia’s political culture. The court case ended in a mistrial in 2022 after a courtroom sheriff discovered a jury member with a copy of a document that was prohibited by the trial’s strict rules.
Shortly after Higgins’ allegations were aired, some 100,000 people that year marched in cities across Australia in demonstrations against sexual violence. Five separate investigations followed, collectively delivering a scathing indictment on the “sexist nature” of Australian politics. The case sparked national protests and a court case that was eventually judged to be a mistrial and not retried because of the risk to Higgins’ mental health.
The man in question has sued multiple journalists for reporting on the case and threatened to sue his accuser. He denied the allegations, and in court pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexual intercourse without consent. Back in 2022, Higgins sobbed as she spoke outside court following the mistrial, saying she had “told the truth, no matter how uncomfortable or unflattering to the court”. “I chose to speak up. To speak up and share my experiences with others,” she said. “He never faced one question in court about his story and the criminal charges.”
(With agency inputs)
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