Walkley Awards revoke Seven’s finalist status over Bruce Lehrmann rent deal
The Walkley Foundation has revoked the TV network’s status as a finalist after revelations it is paying Bruce Lehrmann’s rent in exchange for exclusive interviews.
The Walkley Foundation has revoked Seven’s status as a finalist in this year’s awards due to revelations the network was paying Bruce Lehrmann’s rent in exchange for exclusive interviews.
Mr Lehrmann last month revealed the Seven Network had agreed to pay his rent for one year if he provided them with exclusive interviews for investigations program Spotlight, while under cross-examination during his ongoing defamation case with Network 10 and journalist Lisa Wilkinson.
The rent for Mr Lehrmann’s apartment on Sydney’s northern beaches is costing the network $4000 per week.
Earlier this year, Spotlight was nominated for the Walkley All Media Scoop of the Year award for its story “Trial and Error”.
But The Walkley Foundation Board on Thursday said it had reviewed documents tendered to the Federal Court showing Mr Lehrmann’s “exclusivity agreement” with the Seven Network, and chosen to revoke the nomination.
“The Board of The Walkley Foundation has reviewed documents uploaded to the Federal Court this week which show an exclusivity agreement made between Seven and Bruce Lehrmann in April 2023 and a leasing arrangement which provided Mr Lehrmann with 12 months of accommodation from 13 April 2023 to 12 April 2024,” a statement from the board read.
“It is the responsibility of The Walkley Foundation management to determine the eligibility of entries for consideration by the judging panels in each round of judging for the Walkley Awards.
“Following a review of these documents, The Walkley Foundation Board has come to the unanimous conclusion that the Seven Spotlight story “Trial and Error” was not eligible for consideration in the All Media Scoop of the Year category for the 2023 Walkley Awards as the entry did not accurately describe the extent of benefits provided to Mr Lehrmann in exchange for interviews, information and exclusive access.
“The Walkley Foundation has revoked the story’s finalist status in the 68th Walkley Awards.”
In the Spotlight interview, Mr Lehrmann was extensively interviewed over his version of events from the night he allegedly raped Brittany Higgins in Parliament House. Mr Lehrmann denies he ever sexually assaulted Ms Higgins.
The exclusivity agreement, released by the Federal Court, says Mr Lehrmann is not permitted to give media interviews to any outlet other than Seven for a period of one year.
“For a period of 12 months commencing on the date this agreement, the Interviewee must not directly or indirectly provide to any media organisation other than Seven (including but not limited to any television, radio, print or internet media organisation) any interview, footage, photographs, information, items or assistance which in any way related to the Seven Exclusive or the matter and subjects set out at clause 1, except with Seven’s prior written approval,” the agreement reads.
The agreement also stipulates the network is permitted to use Mr Lehrmann’s rented home for filming,
The document was signed by Mr Lehrmann and Seven executive producer Mark Llewelyn.
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