Former Seven staffer Taylor Auerbach’s ‘drunken daze’ when ordering massages as Bruce Lehrmann denies involvement

A producer at the Seven network, who misused his corporate credit card by allegedly spending thousands of dollars on Thai massages, said he was in a ‘drunken daze’ when he booked the services.

Bruce Lehrmann. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

A television producer at the Seven network, who misused the media company’s corporate credit card by allegedly spending thousands of dollars on Thai massages for himself and former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann, said he was in a “drunken daze” when he booked the late-night services, admitting they “had nothing to do with work”.

Taylor Auerbach was working for Seven’s Spotlight program in November 2022 when he allegedly ordered the massages without authorisation of anyone at the network. The Weekend Australian understands he alerted associates soon after the incident, expressing “immense remorse”.

Auerbach is understood to have said he was “disgusted with myself”.

However, he did not mention Lehrmann when disclosing details of the massages, and Lehrmann has denied he received a massage at Auerbach’s Sydney home on the night in question.

Recent media reports claim that Auerbach spent $2940 on two massages on the night of November 25, 2022.

The Weekend Australian understands Auerbach may have mentioned a higher figure.

Auerbach is now threatening to sue Lehrmann for defamation after the former Liberal staffer claimed the suggestion he received an expensive massage at the TV producer’s house was ­“bizarre and untrue”.

It’s also understood Auerbach is considering legal action against other parties relating to reporting of his alleged interactions with Lehrmann. At the time, Auerbach had been tasked with trying to woo Lehrmann, who was accused of raping Brittany Higgins, to agree to an exclusive interview with Spotlight, which he did.

Taylor Auerbach. Picture: Jonathan Ng

It’s understood that Auerbach told associates that he had “spiralled out of control” on the night he ordered the massages, and pledged to pay back the thousands of dollars he’d spent on the after-hours activity which, he conceded, “had nothing to do with work”.

The Weekend Australian understands that Auerbach was warned by Seven about his conduct, counselled about alleged drug and alcohol issues and given another chance.

Auerbach was not sacked by Seven when he disclosed his misuse of the credit card in late 2022, but when his contract with the network expired the following year, it was not renewed.

Last week, Sky News Australia confirmed that Auerbach, who had commenced working for the news channel in January, had since left the media outlet.

Auerbach was identified by the ABC’s Media Watch program last Monday as the source behind a ­series of stories relating to the appointment of journalist Steve Jackson as the head of the NSW Police Force Media Unit.

Auerbach and Jackson were colleagues at Spotlight but are no longer on speaking terms.

It was reported last week that Jackson, who had nothing to do with the procurement of the Thai masseuses, had advised Auerbach in November 2022 on how to pay back the debt he had incurred on the company credit card.

On Thursday, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb cancelled Jackson’s contract.

Auerbach and Jackson could not be reached for comment on Friday.

Seven didn’t respond to ­questions from The Weekend Australian.