Journalist Lisa Wilkinson has accused Network Ten of failing to publicly clarify her controversial Logies speech on Brittany Higgins’ alleged rape had been cleared by top executives and legal counsel.
The 2022 speech led to Wilkinson being widely condemned in the media after the rape trial of ex-Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann’s was delayed as a result.
“They had asked me to make that speech, they had been involved in legalling that speech right up until … the afternoon of the Logies,” she said.
The speech resulted in ACT Supreme Court proceedings being postponed to protect Lehrmann’s right to a fair trial.
Lehrmann is suing Ten and Wilkinson for defamation over a February 2021 report on The Project that aired Higgins’ rape claims.
Wilkinson has launched a cross-claim against the broadcaster to recoup legal costs after retaining her own legal representation.
“It was becoming very apparent to me that Channel Ten … [was] conflicted when it came to representing me in these defamation proceedings,” Wilkinson said.
She said she was not informed by Ten about the legal action against the network, and found out through the media.
[Ed: So did Ten intentionally jeopardise the Lehrmann trial? Or do they just have incompetent lawyers?]
Source: Ten ‘legalled’ controversial Logies speech: Wilkinson