Bruce Lehrmann has been collecting $1,300 a month in Centrelink benefits since he was publicly accused of rape, with Channel Seven funding his lavish lifestyle.
The broadcaster paid Lehrmann’s rent in Balgowlah, on Sydney’s northern beaches, for 12 months as part of a lucrative $105,000 deal in return for exclusive interviews on the Spotlight show last year.
Former Spotlight producer Taylor Auerbach told the Federal Court that the network paid thousands of dollars for Lehrmann to use sex workers, Thai massages, cocaine and expensive dinners in an attempt to convince him to accept the exclusive deal.
Seven and the former Liberal Party member have fiercely denied such claims.
The accommodation arrangement came to an end in April, just weeks after Federal Court Judge Michael Lee found, based on a balance of probabilities, that he had raped his former colleague Brittany Higgins in Parliament in 2019.
Lehrmann filed an appeal to overturn the sentence in May, and the matter was scheduled for an urgent case management hearing on Friday morning.
Her lawyer, Zali Burrows, has now told the court that a bitter row over $117,000 has arisen between Lehrmann and her former defamation firm, Mark O’Brien.
Ms Burrows told the court there were filing fees associated with her defamation case against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson Laws last year, but Lehrmann did not have to pay them because she was on welfare.
Bruce Lehrmann is pictured enjoying a long lunch with a friend in Bondi last year.
Lehrmann was represented in Federal Court on Friday by his lawyer, Zali Burrows (pictured)
Daily Mail Australia understands Lehrmann has been on the benefits scheme called Austudy since around 2021, when Ms Higgins first made public her rape allegations against him in an interview with Wilkinson on Ten’s The Project.
Lehrmann, who has been out of work since 2021, was able to benefit from the study scheme, rather than the Job Seeker scheme, because he is a part-time law student.
Before the appeal can proceed, Ten has asked Lehrmann to post a $200,000 bond to cover his costs if he loses.
The network filed a request to permanently stay the appeal, meaning it would not be allowed to proceed, if it could not pay the deposit within 42 days. However, it will challenge that request at a hearing on October 14.
At Friday’s hearing, Network Ten’s lawyer Tim Senior told the court that Lehrmann’s team had failed to file an amended notice of appeal by the August 29 deadline and had no explanation as to why.
He said there was a lack of clarity around Lehrmann’s legal representation and the extent of Ms Burrow’s involvement, as well as the timeline for the appeal.
“We do not have a date and it is a matter for the court to decide, but it is very difficult for us to consider our position in these circumstances where the (legal) counsel may or may not be informed,” he said.
“We don’t know why there has been this delay after so much time.”
Bruce Lehrmann is pictured during one of his two Spotlight interviews last year
Lisa Wilkinson (pictured outside court in April) interviewed Brittany Higgins about her rape allegations in 2021
Ms Burrows told the court there were costs issues to be resolved before filing an amended notice of appeal.
The costs issues related to the libel case Lehrmann brought against Network Ten and Wilkinson last year. As the loser of the trial, he is expected to cover his opponent’s costs, which amount to about $2 million.
Judge Lee handled those costs proceedings, but they have been stayed pending the outcome of the appeal.
Ms Burrows told the court that Lehrmann’s former law firm, Mark O’Brien, held $117,000 in a trust.
The money came from defamation settlements Lehrmann paid last year to the ABC and news.com.au totalling $445,000. The terms of the settlement meant the money would cover his legal expenses, rather than going into his personal bank account.
After those fees were paid, $117,000 remained, which Ms. Burrows argued should be used to fund Lehrmann’s appeal.
Mark O’Brien worked for Lehrmann without charging a fee unless he won.
Judge Wendy Abraham appeared confused as to why Ms Burrows would mention a costs issue, which is being handled by Judge Lee, in relation to the appeal.
“And what does this have to do with me?” he said.
“This is an appeal… Why isn’t Judge Lee addressing it?”
Pictured: CCTV from the night Bruce Lehrmann raped Brittany Higgins in 2019. She is pictured in white, he is standing next to her in a light blue shirt.
Ms Burrows said she would apply to the registrar for the $117,000 but asked Mr Justice Abraham’s help to expedite the process.
“The reason, Your Honor, I am asking you to deal with the application rather than the registrar is so that it can be processed expeditiously,” Ms Burrows said.
Judge Abraham: “Why couldn’t the registrar resolve it quickly?”
Ms Burrows: ‘I’m not saying the registrar can’t do this, but I would appreciate it if you could recommend whether the matter could be dealt with as a priority.’
The judge said, ‘So, without notice, you want this court, me, to deal with a matter that you still have to present to the registrar so that you can succeed and reach a settlement?’
‘You’re bringing this up now, when this is supposed to have been going on for a long time, while you’re disobeying orders and I have no explanation as to why.’
Ms Burrows said: “It has taken some time to consider the costs arrangements and my client has submitted an application for a refund of those fees ($117,000) but it was returned due to a technical issue and will be resubmitted.”
Ten’s lawyer, Mr Senior, told the court it was “very worrying” that Ms Burrows intended to “hijack” the appeal proceedings over a costs issue dealt with in a separate matter.
“I don’t really know what to say,” she said, turning to look at her colleague, Marlia Saunders, who looked equally confused.
“I am very concerned that an amended notice of appeal could be filed and the timetable could be disrupted.”
The case will return to court at the end of September.