Lisa Wilkinson lodges official complaint with Channel 7 over Bruce Lehrmann interview

Lisa Wilkinson has lodged an official complaint with Channel 7 as the fallout from the Bruce Lehrmann interview continues.

Former Project host Lisa Wilkinson has lodged an official complaint with Channel 7 following the network airing an interview with Bruce Lehrmann.

The Spotlight program, aired on June 4, was Mr Lehrmann’s first major interview since he was accused of raping his former colleague Brittany Higgins.

The one time Coalition staffer has always maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexual intercourse without consent during a trial that was ultimately abandoned last year due to juror misconduct.

The charges against Mr Lehrmann were dropped.

Mr Lehrmann is suing Network 10, Wilkinson and the ABC for defamation over their reporting of the sexual assault allegation made by Ms Higgins in 2019.

Lisa Wilkinson and Brittany Higgins.

The Spotlight episode on which Mr Lehrmann appeared included excerpts from a six hour recording between Wilkinson, Ms Higgins, her partner David Sharaz and The Project producer Angus Llewellyn discussing the allegations.

According toThe Guardian, Wilkinson’s complaint related to both the Spotlight program as well as another segment on breakfast show Sunrise several days later which discussed a letter said to have been sent from Ms Higgins tothe former The Project host.

It’s alleged the broadcasts breached commercial television standards.

Wilkinson’s lawyers have stated the complaint could be forwarded to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) if not adequately resolved by the network.

Bruce Lehrmann is suing Lisa Wilkinson for defamation. Picture: 7 Spotlight

It’s not clear what the full substance of the complaint is from Wilkinson.

However, Network Ten has lodged a police complaint over the recording leak and how it ended up at Seven.

Thomson Geer law firm partner Marlia Saunders, who is acting for Network Ten in the defamation proceedings, has confirmed she had made a complaint to Australian Capital Territory Policing.

Ten has complained that material used was obtained via coercive subpoenas for the criminal trial and should never have been shared with the media.

“Ten made a complaint to the AFP requesting they investigate an apparent contempt of court,” Ms Saunders told news.com.au.

It relates to material produced under an AFP warrant and a subpoena issued in the ACT Supreme Court which Ms Saunders said “appears to have been disclosed to the media in breach of the implied undertaking”.

“The AFP... confirmed the complaint has been received for consideration,” she said.

The tape was never released by the ACT Supreme Court during the trial, although parts of it were played to the jury.

Lisa Wilkinson arrives at the AACTA Awards Presented by Foxtel Group at the Sydney Opera House on December 08, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images for AFI)

Mr Lehrmann has alleged that Wilkinson’s original interview with Ms Higgins on The Project, which was broadcast on February 15, 2021, conveyed a series of defamatory meanings, including that he raped Ms Higgins in then defence industry minister Linda Reynolds’ office in 2019.

In their defence filed with the Federal Court, Ten said it would rely on defences of truth and qualified privilege.

Earlier in June, ACT Justice Michael Lee ruled that the Channel 10 trial should be decided by a judge rather than a jury.

“Even in recent days there has been further extensive television and newspaper publicity about events which are at the heart of the truth defence,” Justice Lee said.

“Again, although in ordinary experience, jurors followed directions, this is not always the case. Mr Lehmann’s own criminal trial is a stark example.

“I’m not confident, in the circumstances, the trial of the Network 10 matter proceeding by jury could be conducted without an appreciable risk of prejudice.”

Justice Lee said recent stories about the matter were “singular” and “compelling” reasons for the matter to proceed by a trial in front of a judge.