‘Friendly journalists’ named in Bruce Lehrmann’s ‘blue book’

Channel 10’s lawyer Matt Collins KC quizzed Mr Lehrmann about a “blue book” police obtained photographs of after he was questioned.

Bruce Lehrmann kept a list of “friendly journalists” he hoped could tell his side of the story, his defamation case relating to Brittany Higgins’ rape allegations has revealed.

On Thursday, the former Liberal staffer gave evidence in court for the first time in support of an application to extend the defamation limitation period, saying he was “outraged” when the allegation – which he strenuously denies and has never been proven in court – was made public.

Channel 10’s lawyer Matt Collins KC quizzed Mr Lehrmann about a “blue book” police obtained photographs of after he was questioned.

“Once the police had your phone, they had access to your phone. They had access to all documents in your possession that were relevant to the allegations that the police were investigating?” Mr Collins asked.

Mr Lehrmann replied: “Yes.”

Bruce Lehrmann walks out of the supreme court in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Flavio Brancaleone

Former Nine political editor Chris Uhlmann. Picture Kym Smith

Sky News’ Andrew Bolt.

“They could use anything they identified for the purpose of the prosecution. One of the things the AFP identified was an album in your photos titled ‘Higgins matter blue note’. Were they photographs you had taken of handwritten notes, physically a blue notebook?”

Mr Lehrmann again replied: “Yes.”

Mr Collins went on to detail how the blue book included notes about “friendly journalists”.

They included Sky News presenters Andrew Clennell and Andrew Bolt and 60 Minutes’ Chris O’Keefe and Channel 9 political journalist Chris Uhlmann.

“Was part of that to plan your fight back against what you had seen in the media?” Mr Collins asked.

Mr Lehrmann agreed that was the case. He was also asked about an entry made on March 4, 2021, three weeks after The Project story went to air, that named a “Joanne”.

He said it was a reference to a person a close friend suggested may “be able to assist with media”.

Mr Lehrmann agreed with the proposition that in March 2021 he was “actively contemplating telling his story publicly”.

Mr Lehrmann was asked about a second list of names which he said were journalists or columnists he thought may have defamed him.

The blue book mentioned Alexandra Smith from The Sydney Morning Herald, Rosie Lewis from The Australian and Vikki Campion, the partner of Barnaby Joyce who is a columnist for The Daily Telegraph.

Barnaby Joyce with his partner Vikki Campion, who was named in the book.

“So on the 4th of March, 2021, you were giving active consideration to potential defamation rights against Rosie Lewis, Alex Smith and Vikki Campion?” Mr Collins asked.

But Mr Lehrmann said it was not that simple.

“Well no, I wrote them down because they had written articles about me that I was outraged at,” he said.

On another page in the blue book, Mr Lehrmann wrote about the night Ms Higgins claimed she was raped by Mr Lehrmann.

“You’ve written your account of what happened on that night?” Mr Collins asked.

“No,” Mr Lehrmann said. ”It was a collection of what I had seen (Ms Higgins) traverse in the media and then some annotated thoughts and not complete accounts.”

Mr Collins read an entry from Mr Lehrmann in the blue book that read: “BH initiated drinks and we were equals”.

“These bullet points are the key points that you wanted to convey to friendly media in any interview that you’re contemplating?” Mr Collins asked.

“I don‘t accept that it was solely for the purposes of a media interview,” Mr Lehrmann said.

Mr Lehrmann was also grilled in court over texts he sent on the night media first aired Ms Higgins’ allegations of being raped in Parliament House, admitting some were fabricated.

Mr Lehrmann earlier this year launched Federal Court defamation proceedings against Network Ten, as well as journalist Lisa Wilkinson, and News Life Media, owned by News Corp Australia, and journalist Samantha Maiden.

Mr Lehrmann is suing Channel 10 and Lisa Wilkinson. Picture: Supplied

Wearing a black suit and red tie, Mr Lehrmann on Thursday took the witness stand in the Federal Court.

After pleading not guilty to sexually assaulting former colleague Ms Higgins, Mr Lehrmann stood trial in the ACT Supreme Court before it was aborted due to juror misconduct.

The charges were subsequently dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions and he has continually denied any allegation he sexually assaulted Ms Higgins at Parliament House in March 2019.

Both Ten and News Life Media have opposed an application by Mr Lehrmann’s counsel to be allowed an extension of the one-year limitation period in which to bring his defamation claim.

Mr Lehrmann is suing over the coverage of the allegations made by Ms Higgins in stories published on February 15, 2021.