Lehrmann is suing Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson in the federal court of Australia for defamation. Follow the latest news and updates from the trial today
Before the lunch break Justice Lee is hearing legal argument about the admissibility of evidence from two experts called by the defence.
One is a lip-reading expert based in the UK who has watched the CCTV footage from the Dock and interpreted what the subjects were saying.
Continue reading...Victoria police say theft may not be only motive of two men who targeted coffin of Meshilin Marrogi, the sister of George Marrogi
An attempt to remove a body from a Melbourne mausoleum was part of a plot by an underworld figure to disturb a gangland rival, police believe.
Detectives confirmed on Friday that it was suspected two men who committed the offence had been trying to remove the corpse of Meshilin Marrogi to cause “friction and hurt” to her imprisoned brother, George Marrogi.
Continue reading...Tarrin-Macen O’Sullivan’s mother charged with murder more than two years after son found dead in back yard pool in Munbura near Mackay
The mother of a four-year-old boy found dead in a back yard pool in regional Queensland has been charged with murder.
Tarrin-Macen O’Sullivan was discovered after emergency services responded to a call about a child drowning in August 2021.
Continue reading...Former Victorian premier hits back at ‘haters’, including those who labelled him a ‘control freak’ and ‘dictator’, in first interview since leaving politics
Daniel Andrews has lashed “absolute pretenders” in the media, derided Sky News Australia’s “after dark bullshit” and says he doesn’t care if people call him a “dictator”, in his first interview after his resignation.
In the long-ranging interview on the Socially Democratic podcast, hosted by former Labor campaigner Stephen Donnelly, the former Victorian premier also hit back at suggestions he was a “control freak” and that the public service had been politicised.
Continue reading...PNG prime minister, James Marape, said the historic deal did not mean his country was picking between China and the west
Australia will help train Papua New Guinea police as part of a wide-ranging security deal signed on Thursday.
The prime minister of PNG, James Marape, said the “historic” deal did not mean his country was picking between China and the west at a time of growing rivalry for influence across the Pacific.
Continue reading...Nikita Irvine also says Brittany Higgins seemed ‘sad’ and told her about alleged assault in Parliament House
Bruce Lehrmann’s former colleague, an aide-de-camp for the senator Linda Reynolds, has told the federal court she had “bad vibes” about him based on her “women’s intuition”.
The army major, Nikita Irvine, also said she discussed Brittany Higgins’ allegation of sexual assault against Lehrmann with both Reynolds and her chief of staff, Fiona Brown.
Continue reading...Man, 23, succumbs to injuries and dies after falling into hole and becoming trapped in sand on Bribie Island north of Brisbane
A man who was buried in sand on a Queensland island has died from his injuries.
The 23-year-old was airlifted to hospital after he fell into a large hole and became trapped in the sand on Bribie Island, north of Brisbane, on Saturday.
Continue reading...Slow-moving tropical cyclone forecast to strengthen before weakening slightly and heading for Queensland next week
Cyclone Jasper is gradually intensifying as it moves towards the Queensland coast.
The severe tropical cyclone is expected to strengthen further and move from category 3 to category 4 on Thursday night or during Friday, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
Continue reading...Liberal senator says widely reported letter by Shane Drumgold to AFP caused significant ‘loss and damage’
Liberal senator Linda Reynolds has launched another high-profile defamation action, this time against the ACT government and former chief prosecutor Shane Drumgold.
A writ lodged in the West Australian supreme court on Monday says Drumgold sent a letter accusing the senator of “disturbing conduct” during Bruce Lehrmann’s rape trial.
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MPs don casual wear for late-night sitting
Given the late sitting (the house has been doing “family friendly” hours for most of the year, which has made sittings past 8pm or 8.30pm rare) there were a few more casual looks on the benches than we are used to.
Continue reading...Amir Maimon urges government ‘to take all necessary measures’ to ensure ‘different people of different faiths’ feel secure
The Israeli ambassador says he is “very sad” about a rise in antisemitic incidents in Australia and has urged the government to “take all necessary measures” to ensure people of different faiths and backgrounds feel safe.
Amir Maimon said that, in particular, he was “so, so upset” about the presence of pro-Palestine protesters at a Melbourne hotel where relatives and friends of Hamas-held hostages were staying last week.
Continue reading...Anglicare chief says its survey shows more than half a million people are being ‘left behind’, with demand for starter jobs outstripping supply across country
A lack of suitable jobs and a trend towards insecure work is locking hundreds of thousands of people in poverty, according to a new report that finds there are 26 jobseekers for every entry-level position in Australia.
Anglicare’s annual Jobs Snapshot found that of the 26 people out of work for each entry-level position, 18 are technically “long-term” unemployed, meaning they have been out of the workforce for more than 12 months.
Continue reading...The weak economy probably means the next RBA rates move – short of an inflation surprise next month – will be a cut
Philip Lowe used his final speech as Reserve Bank governor to call on fiscal policy to “provide a stronger helping hand” in managing inflation so the central bank didn’t have to carry most of the load – and the ire.
“Raising interest rates and tightening policy can make you very unpopular, as I know all too well,” Lowe said on 7 September, 10 days before many battling borrowers cheered him out the door.
Continue reading...The cases are probably wrongful convictions and prosecutors should facilitate appeals, a legal expert says
Two people are in jail after Centrelink used unlawful calculations to accuse them of overclaiming welfare benefits, a watchdog has revealed.
On Monday the ombudsman released its second report on the income apportionment method, calling on Services Australia to waive 100,000 debts that may have been incorrectly calculated and revealing the “traumatic” impact on those convicted of offences related to welfare debt.
Continue reading...Environmental lawyers concerned Nopsema has not published its reasons for approving work at Scarborough gas development
Environmental lawyers have raised concern the offshore petroleum regulator is attempting to avoid scrutiny by not publishing its reasons for approving seismic blasting and drilling for a major fossil fuel development in northern Western Australia.
The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (Nopsema) granted approval for seismic testing and drilling of up to 10 wells for Woodside’s $16.5bn Scarborough gas development last Friday.
Continue reading...Payment revealed after ABC agreed to pay him $150,000 and remove Facebook video of Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame speech at National Press Club
News Corp agreed to pay Bruce Lehrmann $295,000 to drop a defamation suit he brought against a news.com article in which Brittany Higgins alleged she had been raped by a Liberal staffer in Parliament House, according to documents filed in the federal court.
The News Corp financial settlement brings to $445,000 the total amount Lehrmann has received towards his legal costs after the ABC agreed to pay $150,000 in an out-of-court settlement last month.
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Nature repair bill ‘proof’ good-faith negotiations can work, says Bandt
The interview moves to the nature repair bill, which Tanya Plibersek won support for, after making a deal with the Greens. Adam Bandt says it is further proof that good faith negotiations can work:
The Greens pressure has worked. And the Greens have secured some significant wins. There’s been a blow against new gas and oil projects. Previously you could frack areas, so drill down to extract gas, including in farmland, and the government didn’t even have to consider whether that was going to affect our precious water supplies.
We know in many places it would have, that’s why so many farmers have been against fracking.
Continue reading...Economy grows more slowly than expected, with consumer spending flat under the pressure of high interest rates
Australia’s economy surprisingly slowed in the September quarter, as the toll of higher interest rates hit consumers and trade turned negative.
Gross domestic product expanded 0.2% in the September quarter compared with the previous three months, marking an eighth consecutive quarter of growth, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday. Economists had forecast GDP growth would quicken to 0.5% from 0.4% in the June quarter.
Continue reading...Category one cyclone, which is moving through Coral Sea, may reach the Queensland coast by next week
Australia’s first tropical cyclone of the season has officially formed and is expected to become severe from Thursday, potentially reaching the Queensland coast by next week.
Cyclone Jasper is currently a category one tempest, expected to become severe from Thursday as it tracks through the Coral Sea.
Continue reading...Albanese government announces at Cop28 it will phase out offshore support for coal, oil and gas within a year
The Australian government has been praised for joining a global partnership committed to stopping billions of dollars in foreign aid and loans being spent on fossil fuel expansion, but the decision has also prompted renewed calls for it to reconsider polluting subsidies at home.
The Albanese government announced at the Cop28 climate summit that it had joined 40 other countries in signing up to the clean energy transition partnership, an agreement first reached in Glasgow two years ago.
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