Susie O’Brien: The truth is that many women feel profoundly let down by Lisa Wilkinson

You would think Wilkinson would have the sense to stay quiet given she is fighting for her career and credibility – but we are now seeing her in a whole new light.

Lisa Wilkinson is battling multiple legal and ethical crises and yet continues to act as if she is an inspiration and an icon for all women.

She doesn’t represent or inspire me, that’s for sure.

Little has been seen or heard from the Sydney journalist since she quit The Project last year, stating that she was “reprioritising” after “targeted toxicity” from the media.

However, she continues to be paid $1.7m a year by Channel 10 for not appearing on the show.

Wilkinson acts as if she is an inspiration and an icon for all women. Picture: SBS

Now it appears Wilkinson is also accepting private gigs on the side, with one glossy promo ignoring the fact that she is currently fighting for her career and credibility.

On March 10, Wilkinson will appear at a Queensland networking lunch for International Women’s Day.

The event, run by Moreton Bay Region Industry & Tourism, will focus on the theme of “Cracking the code (sic) Innovation for a gender-equal future”. Held at a suburban pub better known for its beer fest and annual rodeo, the lunch has sold out at 350 tickets.

Women will pay $140 to hear Wilkinson hold forth on topics such as: “How a young girl from Sydney’s western suburbs came to be such a force in Australian media and our cultural life”.

The attendees will also hear her talk about creating “a media storm across Australia and the world on the issue of the gender pay gap when she moved to Channel 10 as co-host of The Project”.

I wonder whether she’ll also present on more topical issues, such as: How to delay a rape trial, How to ensure you’re always the centre of every story, and How to fight a multimillion defamation trial.

Wilkinson is billed as a “multi-Walkley-nominated and Logie award-winning journalist and presenter”, and a “warm, intelligent and elegant presence gracing our television screens now for more than 25 years”.

How bizarre. It’s as if the last year of controversy has never existed.

The truth is that many women feel profoundly let down by Wilkinson. We thought she cared about us, but all this time it seems she was merely looking out for herself and her public profile.

Many women feel profoundly let down by Wilkinson. Picture: Getty

In the case of the Brittany Higgins rape allegations, Wilkinson acted as if she was bigger than the story. It’s a very dangerous position for a journalist to put themselves in.

Let’s recap what’s brought us to this point. Last year, Wilkinson’s intemperate and self-centred remarks at the Logies led to the rape trial of Bruce Lehrmann being deferred.

Lehrmann was accused of raping Brittany Higgins in Parliament House in 2019, and a trial began in 2022.

Wilkinson couldn’t resist a podium with a microphone and thanked Higgins in her acceptance speech for an Outstanding News Coverage Logie award. Then, the first trial of Lehrmann collapsed following juror misconduct, and a second trial was dropped due to Higgins’ mental health.

Following this, Lehrmann sued Wilkinson and Channel 10, among others, claiming the reporting of the rape claims defamed him. Wilkinson’s high-profile interview with Higgins is a key part of his case, although he wasn’t named in the story.

Lehrmann is claiming Channel 10 and Wilkinson were “recklessly indifferent to the truth or falsity” when the allegations against him were made.

He is also claiming Wilkinson “was seeking to exploit the false allegations of sexual assault as made by Higgins for her own personal and professional gain”.

Wilkinson’s intemperate and self-centred remarks at the Logies led to the rape trial of Bruce Lehrmann being deferred.

These are career-ending allegations for Wilkinson. The situation, which has led Wilkinson to hire her own legal team, is complex and uncertain.

Her defence, which will focus on truth and qualified privilege, will see her every appearance and utterance about the case combed over by Lehrmann’s lawyers.

It beggars belief, then, that Wilkinson is speaking publicly at a networking lunch as if none of this is happening.

If she is too busy massaging her wounded ego and managing legal cases to work at Channel 10, why is she seemingly doing little gigs on the side?

Given the vast amount of money at stake, not to mention her own reputation, you would think she’d have the sense to stay quiet.

When resigning on air from The Project, Wilkinson tearfully admitted that the previous six months “have not been easy”.

Her self-centred bleating ignored the fact that her current tribulations were brought about in large part by own actions.

But I’ll bet the women paying handsomely to move in Wilkinson’s orbit on March 10 won’t hear anything about that.

Women, who have long applauded her strong stance on gender equality, are now seeing Wilkinson in a new light – as a self-promoting individual who doesn’t deserve an elevated place in Australian public life.