Lisa Wilkinson’s off the record conversation with Brittany Higgins sparks ‘coaching’ claims

Sunrise host Natalie Barr has questioned whether The Project’s Lisa Wilkinson “coached” Brittany Higgins before their sit down interview.

Sunrise host Natalie Barr has questioned whether or not The Project’s Lisa Wilkinson “coached” Brittany Higgins on answers ahead of her interview in 2021.

In a trove of CCTV and audio never seen or heard before by the public, the Seven network broadcast excerpts from The Project’s interviews on Sunday night.

In an off the record chat, Ms Wilkinson tells Ms Higgins she does not want “to put words in your mouth”, but does want her to discuss the culture of Parliament House.

“I have every confidence that you will answer that very eloquently, but it’s one you just need to really think about,” Ms Wilkinson says.

“I don’t want to put words in your mouth, but if you can enunciate the fact that this place is all about suppression of people’s natural sense of justice.”

Lisa Wilkinson at the AACTA Awards in 2021. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

The discussion, conducted by Ms Wilkinson before the sit down interview, featured cameos from Ms Higgins’ partner, David Sharaz.

At one point, Mr Sharaz says they “are not stupid” and understand it is “transactional”, and asks Ms Wilkinson what she wants to achieve.

Ms Wilkinson says it’s not transactional for her at all.

“No. Whether it’s white privilege, male domination, whether it’s, you know, criminal activity. I am from the western suburbs of Sydney. I have always been motivated by exactly the same thing, people who deserve to be heard not being heard,” she says.

The audio was handed over by Channel 10 under subpoena during the criminal trial, though much of the material aired was never played to the jury.

Bruce Lehrmann is suing Ms Wilkinson and Channel 10 for defamation in the Federal Court.

On Sunrise, host Natalie Barr asked entertainment commentator Peter Ford whether or not the audio of the discussion between Ms Wilkinson and Ms Higgins posed a problem.

“Was that coaching, or was that a journalist talking before the interview?” she asked.

“Yeah, it’s a fine line isn’t it?” Mr Ford replied.

“But I generally think when someone says, ‘I don’t want to put words in your mouth,’ that is exactly what they want to do.”

Natalie Barr on Sunrise. Picture: Channel 7

Ms Higgins says in the February, 2021 recording that she was worried about the prospects of conviction.

“If he wants to go after me, like on a civil basis, I think, on the balance of probabilities, I think I could win. I think it’s, if the onus of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt, I think that would be different. I don’t think I could win that,” she says.

In an extract of the recording that was played at the trial, Mr Sharaz says that if the story breaks in a parliamentary sitting week “they have to answer questions at Question Time, it’s a mess for them”.

“I’ve got a friend in Labor, Katie Gallagher on the Labor side, who will probe and continue it going,’’ Mr Sharaz says.

In the recording Ms Wilkinson also criticises former deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop.

“The biggest frustration that I have with Julie is that she had so many opportunities to speak out against the culture,” Wilkinson says. “And for one woman too, what was she, deputy to 13 different prime ministers over the course of her time in parliament?”

Mr Sharaz then interjects: “Always loyal too. Bridesmaid, never the bride.”

“The minute she was out of there (she said), ‘Oh it’s really sexist.’ I tried to get her on the record with that so many times when she could’ve actually affected change, and she wouldn’t,’’ Ms Wilkinson replies.

Conversation then turns to whether Ms Bishop might speak out, or would instead back Michaelia Cash and Linda Reynolds.

“They’re all Perth girls,” Ms Wilkinson says. However, Ms Higgins says “they were never friends”.

“I don’t know why, but they never liked each other,” Ms Higgins says in the recording.

Mr Sharaz then adds: “Julie doesn’t have any friends.”

Despite the discussions on the tape, Ms Wilkinson said she had never subsequently spoken to any politicians - including Mr Albanese or Ms Plibersek about how to drive the story forward. “Nor did I speak to any other politicians, their minders or apparatchiks,” she said in a statement on June 6.

Bruce Lehrmann. Picture: Gary Ramage/NCA NewsWire

Seven’s report included never-before-seen CCTV of Mr Lehrmann and Ms Higgins. Picture: 7 News Spotlight

Plibersek snaps at Higgins question

Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek hit back at claims she was prepared to take directions from Ms Higgins or her partner to ask questions in Parliament.

Ms Plibersek was grilled on Channel 7 after the claims aired on Sunday night.

“Nobody tells me what to ask in Question Time,” she said.

“I don’t recall anything like that. She was a very fragile and upset young woman. That’s my involvement.”

The Minister said it was not “any surprise” that she provided assistance to Ms Higgins given her history of advocacy for complainants in sexual assault matters.

Ms Plibersek said that the odds are stacked against complainants.

She said she “was in touch with Brittany Higgins because I was concerned about her welfare” and “we couldn’t get a straight answer from the prime minister”.

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce said a bigger issue was the involvement of Finance Minister Katy Gallagher.

Ms Gallagher’s department was involved in the negotiations over the compensation payout to Ms Higgins but the Finance Minister insisted she was kept at arm’s length.

“That’s an awful lot of money. We’ve got to make sure that’s transparent,” Mr Joyce said.