Bruce Lehrmann drops defamation case against news.com.au over Brittany Higgins allegations

The outlet made a ‘contribution’ to Mr Lehrmann’s legal costs but did not pay him any damages, its editor-in-chief said.

Bruce Lehrmann in March earlier this year. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann has discontinued a defamation case brought against news.com.au, which in 2021 ­published two articles that detailed claims by Brittany Higgins that she had been raped in Parliament House by an unnamed ­fellow staffer.

News.com.au said it made a “contribution” to Mr Lehrmann’s legal costs as part of the settlement, but said no damages had been paid to him. The original ­articles remain online, but with an editor’s note that states Mr Lehrmann and the outlet have reached a settlement.

Mr Lehrmann this year launched legal proceedings against News Corp Australia’s News Life Media – the publisher of news.com.au – and its political editor Samantha Maiden over the articles, claiming defamation.

Mr Lehrmann also filed lawsuits against Network Ten – which aired an interview with Ms Higgins the day the first news.com.au report was published – and host Lisa Wilkinson.

News Corp Australia is the publisher of this masthead.

Mr Lehrmann alleged the two articles, despite not naming him, provided enough details for him to be identified. He and News Life Media reached an out-of-court settlement, an editor’s note published at the end of the original article on Tuesday afternoon stated.

“Proceedings were discontinued and settled on terms satisfactory to Mr Lehrmann and the publisher of (news.com.au),” it read. “News.com.au notes that a criminal charge of sexual assault was brought against Mr Lehrmann and later dropped.

“News.com.au does not suggest that he was guilty of that charge.” The note does not contain an apology and the article ­remains in its original form.

The outlet’s editor-in-chief Lisa Muxworthy said a “contribution” had been made to Mr Lehrmann’s legal costs “following his successful action to the ­Federal Court to extend the limitation period to launch defamation action”.

She said no damages had been paid to Mr Lehrmann.

“We thank Ms Brittany Higgins for telling her story and for all that she has endured in making that choice to improve the system for complainants,” she said.

“We will continue to report on the general issues surrounding sexual assault allegations, our justice system and how to improve that system for men and women.

“We continue to stand by the Australian women and men who sparked a national reckoning in the wake of this important story to drive change, reform and debate about our justice system.”

In a statement, Mr Lehrmann said: “I am extremely happy with the settlement, in particular the acknowledgement by news.com.au that it does not ­suggest that I was guilty of the charge of sexual assault. I thank News Life Media and Ms Maiden for the good faith approach to this outcome.

“I look forward to being vindicated at the Federal Court hearing in November this year of my defamation proceedings brought against Network Ten, Ms Lisa Wilkinson and the ABC.”

Mr Lehrmann has repeatedly denied the charges.

The first criminal trial was aborted due to juror misconduct and the ACT DPP chose not to proceed with a second trial, citing concern for Ms Higgins’ health.