Former Liberal staffer and alleged rapist Bruce Lehrmann has moved out of the $2,000-a-week Sydney unit he lived in rent-free for a year, courtesy of the Seven Network.
The 28-year-old was seen removing boxes and a set of golf clubs from his home in Balgowlah on Friday afternoon with his friend Rob Porter.
It is the first time Mr Lehrmann has been seen in public since his defamation trial against Channel 10 and Lisa Wilkinson was dramatically reopened to hear testimony from a former Network Seven Spotlight producer.
Ms Wilkinson published on The Project the story of her former colleague Brittany Higgins’ allegations that she was raped by Mr Lehrmann in Parliament in 2019, a claim he has always denied.
Network Seven previously confirmed it would stop paying Lehrmann’s rent from Friday after a year-long $100,000 deal concluded in exchange for an interview with the network’s flagship current affairs show Spotlight.
He appeared to be making the most of his final week in the luxurious rooms with a barefoot blonde seen vaping on her balcony on Sunday and Lehrmann making a trip to Paddington on Monday to meet two friends, including Mr Porter.
Bruce Lehrmann moved out of his luxury unit in Balgowlah on Friday after he concluded a deal with Network Seven to pay rent for a year.
The Seven Network has responded to allegations made in court by former producer Taylor Auerbach regarding expenses covered on behalf of Bruce Lehrmann ahead of his Spotlight interview.
Auerbach told the Federal Court on Thursday that he was offered a promotion and pay rise after he used a corporate credit card to buy Thai massages for himself and the former liberal employee.
Mr. Lehrmann denies having received a massage.
In a statement, which was also sent to all staff on Thursday evening, Seven said the company is “horrified” by the allegations and denied any offer of a pay rise or promotion to Mr Auerbach.
‘Seven is shocked by the allegations made in recent days. We do not tolerate the behavior described in these allegations. “They do not reflect the culture of the Seven,” the statement said.
“Seven did not offer any promotion or salary increase to Mr. Auerbach in November 2022, nor did he do so at any time thereafter.”
The interior of the unit Mr Lehrmann is staying in, which offers views north of Sydney.
Mr. Lehrmann received help from his friend Rob Porter, a well-known sailor, in moving.
The court also heard Mr Lehrmann had bought cocaine and talked about hiring prostitutes during a trip to Sydney, where Mr Auerbach had been appointed as his “babysitter”.
“I had been reappointed to be his nanny, caregiver, take care of him… establishing a relationship trying to build trust and some type of relationship with a potential interview subject,” Mr. Auerbach said.
He said that during dinner Mr. Lehrmann bought drugs and then asked for prostitutes.
“Mr. Lehrmann had bought a bag of cocaine during dinner while we were dining at Franca and when we went up to the room he took it out and started putting it on a plate and then he started talking to me about a possible Spotlight story and his desire to send prostitutes to the Meriton that night,” Mr. Auerbach said.
Former Spotlight producer Taylor Auerbach (pictured) received a glowing reference from Seven’s director of news and public affairs Craig McPherson, who praised his “creative style” and “diligence”.
And he started Googling a bunch of websites to try to make that happen.
“And during that conversation he agreed to be in a Spotlight interview as long as we didn’t ask him about what happened that night in Canberra.”
A Seven Network spokesman said the network did not reimburse Mr Lehrmann for “expenses that have allegedly been used to pay for illegal drugs or prostitutes, and never has done so”, acknowledging that the matter remains before the courts.
The media giant also criticized Auerbach’s claims that his boss told him to delete Lehrmann-related materials from his devices in the days after the Spotlight program aired.
In his affidavit, Auerbach claimed that attorney Richard Keegan suggested he “look at everything” because “Ten and Lisa are not very happy with the broadcast and they might come after us.”
“It might be a good idea to take a look at everything, especially the unedited interview tapes,” Mr. Auerbach said he was told.
One of the outside areas of the fully furnished Balgowlah unit (pictured)
The spectacular view from the unit’s balcony, where a mysterious blonde was seen barefoot and vaping on Sunday
‘I understood this to mean that I had to remove any material that could be detrimental to Seven. “I followed this direction and permanently deleted everything I could find on my computer and phone at the time.”
Lehrmann’s lawyer, Matthew Richardson SC, questioned in court on Thursday whether this was true.
‘Mr Keegan never said anything to you suggesting you should destroy or delete anything, did he?’ Mr. Richardson questioned Mr. Auerbach, who said he used “the words indicated in my affidavit.”
“I want to suggest that he never insinuated that you should do anything of the sort,” Richardson said.
“That is completely incorrect,” Auerbach responded.
Seven Network has denied these claims in its statement.
“Contrary to media claims, Seven complied with all of its obligations in relation to the production of documents in response to the subpoenas issued to it,” the statement said.
‘Seven has at no time asked anyone to delete or destroy any evidence. As noted above, Seven did not approve or authorize the alleged payments to Mr Lehrmann referred to in recently made public affidavits.
‘The person involved admitted misuse of a Seven corporate card and all unauthorized expenses were immediately refunded. Seven has acted appropriately at all times.’