Lehrmann’s next move after anti-corruption raid

Disgraced former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann will seek mediation to get the government to pay his legal bill following a raid on his home.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission raided his home in June 2024 as part of an investigation into his alleged misuse of classified documents related to French submarines.

Lehrmann is suing Commissioner Paul Brereton and federal Labor government minister Don Farrell over the legal costs he incurred during the investigation into what he described as “frivolous, James Bond-like allegations”.

He claims he was repeatedly told during the investigation that he was entitled to funds for legal representation to defend himself, but he still has not been given any money.

Judge Brigitte Markovic noted that a year had passed without the NACC making a decision on whether to provide funding.

He ordered mediation between Lehrmann and Mr Farrell to take place before December 1 in the hope of speeding up the process.

Lehrmann welcomed the move, which he believed could be successful in resolving his dispute with the minister.

“This is not the second time I have offered mediation to Mr. Farrell. I was rejected on both occasions,” he said.

“If the funding had been granted we might not even be here and if we can seek a solution through mediation then there will be no need to bring proceedings against (Mr Farrell).”

The call for mediation was opposed by the minister’s lawyer, who rejected the minister’s claim that there was an unreasonable delay in processing the funding request.

Reminding Judge Markovic that he did not need their approval to order mediation, Lehrmann replied: “I am well aware of my powers, Mr. Lehrmann.”

The judge decided to resolve the mediation by December 1 and set the matter for a one-day hearing in February.

Lehrmann agreed to the timetable, saying he would be “in no rush” to press his claims against Mr Brereton if mediation was successful.

The former political staff, who are “financial poor and in serious financial danger”, are hoping to receive the requested funds so they can be represented by lawyers at the hearing.

The former political staffer is accused of collecting classified information in March 2019, just days after he allegedly raped colleague Brittany Higgins in Parliament House.

He denied the allegations, which have yet to be tested in criminal court, after a 2022 trial in the ACT was canceled due to juror misconduct.

However, Federal Court Judge Michael Lee found that the allegations that he raped Ms Higgins in 2024 were proven on the balance of probabilities and dismissed the defamation suit against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson.

Lehrmann has appealed against the defamation loss, but no decision has yet been made.

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