Bruce Lehrmann has become a ‘national joke’ and can’t afford barrister for defamation appeal, his lawyer says

<p>Former Liberal staffer’s lawyer begins three-day appeal hearing by apologising to justices for her client’s failure to appoint an experienced barrister</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/aug/20/australia-news-live-bruce-lehrmann-federal-court-appeal-network-10-lisa-wilkinson-brittany-higgins-parliament-productivity-economic-reform-roundtable-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Bruce Lehrmann can’t afford a barrister to represent him in an appeal against his lost defamation case and deserves substantial damages because he is “a national joke”, the federal court has heard.</p><p>Lehrmann is appealing Justice Michael Lee’s April 2024 judgment, which found the former Liberal staffer was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/apr/15/bruce-lehrmann-defamation-trial-judge-verdict-rape-brittany-higgins-parliament-house-ntwnfb">not defamed</a> by Lisa Wilkinson and Network 10 when The Project broadcast an interview with Brittany Higgins in 2021 in which she alleged she was raped in Parliament House.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/20/bruce-lehrmann-defamation-appeal-lisa-wilkinson-network-10-court-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>

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