Lisa Wilkinson calls in $11,000-a-day lawyer after Logies speech backfires

Network Ten and its Sunday night The Project host Lisa Wilkinson have called in the big guns, hiring leading defamation silk Dr Matthew Collins, QC, hours after he went on morning television predicting that her Logies acceptance speech would land her in hot water as her comments had the “tendency to interfere with the administration of justice”.

Network 10 and Lisa Wilkinson have retained defamation QC Dr Matthew Collins.

Remarks by Wilkinson at last Sunday’s awards have caused the trial of Bruce Lehrmann, who is charged in relation to the alleged sexual assault of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, to be put back to October.

Emerald City can reveal that several lawyers were left scratching their heads over the retainer of Dr Collins, the president of the Australian Bar Association, after so publicly expressing his negative views about his now client’s conduct and the strict rules about barristers making comments to the media.

“The mainstream media ... understand the risk inherent in talking about cases that are about to go to trial before the court, particularly high-profile cases. So clearly this was ill-advised,” Collins told Sunrise on Wednesday.

“It’s certainly possible that the authorities will be looking at the speech that she made to the Logies and assessing that speech against the standard which applies in this branch of the law.”

No doubt Dr Collins is hard at work after confirmation that the ACT’s Director of Public Prosecutions had asked Network Ten and Wilkinson not to publicly discuss the case.

Collins, who charges $11,000 a day for his expertise, is no stranger to mingling with movers and shakers. Emerald City is told his partner Leonard Vary is CEO of the Myer Foundation, with the pair known for hosting many glamorous soirees at their South Yarra home.

The ACT Supreme Court delayed the criminal trial indefinitely on Tuesday after Chief Justice McCallum said Wilkinson failed to take the advice given to her before the awards night about the dangers of making comments on the rape case. “She openly referred to and praised the complainant in the present trial,” McCallum said.

It was revealed last week that Wilkinson was warned four days before the awards ceremony that she could hinder the trial from going ahead by speaking about it at the awards night.

The network has stepped in to defend Wilkinson, saying some recent reporting had been “inaccurate and unfair”.

Lisa Wilkinson giving her acceptance speech at the Logies.Credit: Nine

“There are significant facts that cannot be disclosed until after the trial has concluded. This reporting is now causing significant harm, and we ask these organisations to cease this harassment to allow Lisa the best opportunity to give her evidence in court and to enable the trial to go ahead in a fair and timely manner,” a network spokesperson said.

“We are closely monitoring all coverage of this issue and Lisa and Network Ten reserve their rights in respect of any future defamation claims. Network Ten continues to fully support Lisa in her ongoing and full commitment to doing the right thing as a witness in the trial.”

Elle Ferguson teams up with Kim Kardashian

Elle Ferguson wearing an item from Kim Kardashian’s shapewear line.

It seems like beauty influencer Elle Ferguson hasn’t lost a minute of sleep after tradie-turned-reality star Scott Cam, host of The Block and Vaucluse homeowner, criticised the blonde bombshell for exiting the reality show early despite her tending to a sick family member.

Emerald City can reveal Ferguson, 36, is the only Australian to work with Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand SKIMS. The pair had plenty in common as influencers, trendsetters, entrepreneurs and reality stars, but their relationship started well before Ferguson’s stint on reality TV.

Ferguson, who is engaged to former AFL player Joel Patfull, was the only international guest invited to attend Kardashian’s KKW beauty launch at her Bel Air home in 2017 where their friendship and a business relationship was sparked.

“Kim to me is a constant inspiration. She proves you can do it all,” Ferguson told Emerald City.

Kim Kardashian and Elle Ferguson at a KKW Beauty launch in 2017.

“The fact that SKIMS is an incredible global business inspiring women to feel confident and beautiful in their bodies whilst being an activist, lawyer, mother and style icon means, to me, we really can strive to be more and do more.”

Harnessing her own tan and body-bronze line Elle Effect in 2018, the Central Coast-raised beauty says seeing the rise of Kardashian’s business prowess has inspired her as an entrepreneur.

“I remember not so long ago there was a presumption that if you were modelling the underwear that’s all you could do, but now you can wear the underwear and also run the business,” she added. “It’s actually amazing the boundaries that Kim pushes and the doors she is opening for women.”

WAGs land in Perth ahead of Origin II

It’s the game that captures the attention of the nation as Queensland and NSW go head-to-head in the State of Origin.

But behind the players donning blue and maroon are the WAGs (wives and girlfriends) who will be spotted cheering on their fellas.

Sunday’s second match will be held at Optus Stadium in Perth and Emerald City understands several partners have joined the players on the west coast to watch from the stands.

NSW fullback James Tedesco’s glamorous fiancee, brunette bombshell Maria Glinellis, will be cheering on her husband-to-be after landing in Perth on Friday. Physiotherapist Alix Waddell who dates Jake Trbojevic will also be supporting her boyfriend.

Meanwhile, Miranda Cross, who has been dating long-time boyfriend and NSW forward Cam Murray since finishing high school, is gearing up for Sunday’s game by teasing her Instagram followers of her arrival in the west, even asking where to shop and dine during her stay.