Ten Network to pay Wilkinson $1.15m for defamation costs

Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson have been battling over costs arising from Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case for more than a year but have now reached an agreement.

Lisa Wilkinson. Picture: Richard Dobson.

Network Ten will pay $1.15 million to cover the legal costs of former star presenter Lisa Wilkinson in defending Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation suit despite her actual costs estimated to be at least $1.8 million.

In orders made on Monday, the Federal Court noted Ms Wilkinson and Ten, who had been battling over costs for more than a year, had reached an agreement.

“Network Ten and Ms Wilkinson have agreed that the total amount payable by Network Ten to Ms Wilkinson in respect of the indemnity for her costs incurred in the proceeding against her by Mr Lehrmann is $1,150,000.00,” the orders state.

Lisa Wilkinson at a Sydney Cafe after winning her court case against Network Ten. Picture: Backgrid

Lisa Wilkinson on Tuesday. Picture: Backgrid

Mr Lehrmann was ordered to pay $2m in costs following his failed defamation case against the network and Ms Wilkinson, but was never expected to be able to pay even a fraction of that amount.

During earlier costs hearings, Ten agreed to pay $558,548.30 of Ms Wilkinson’s legal fees, despite her initially trying to claim $1.8m from the network after she defended the mammoth case with separate legal representation led by top defamation silk Sue Chrysanthou SC.

Ten has already paid that amount. Under the new orders it must pay the remaining amount of $591,451.70 by 19 March 2025.

Ms Wilkinson opted to brief a separate legal team to represent her in the court case, headed by Ms Chrysanthou, while Ten’s team was led by Melbourne silk Matt Collins, KC.

Ms Chrysanthou billed Wilkinson $8000 for each full day in court, along with charging her $800 an hour for preparation, conferences, advice and travelling time.

Sue Chrysanthou SC hugs Lisa Wilkinson as they emerge from court on April 15, 2024 in Sydney.

Ten was liable for Ms Wilkinson’s legal bills under an indemnity covering costs “properly incurred and reasonable in amount”. But there was a difference in opinion between the network and the veteran journalist about what that meant.

Mr Lehrmann lost the multimillion-dollar defamation suit against the Ten and Ms Wilkinson over an interview with his former colleague Brittany Higgins aired on The Project in February 2021.

Federal Court Justice Michael Lee dismissed the defamation case because he found on the balance of probabilities that Lehrmann had raped Ms Higgins in Parliament House in 2019.