Bruce Lehrmann argues government should foot legal bill for anti-corruption raid over ‘James Bond-like allegations’ | New South Wales

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 legal representation to defend himself, but he still has not been given any money.

_{Sign up: AÜ Breaking News email}

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

He ordered mediation between Lehrmann and Farrell to take place before December 1, hoping to speed up the process.

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

“This is the second time I’ve offered to mediate [Farrell]. “I was rejected in both cases,” he said.

“If financing had been provided, we might not even be here, and if we could reach a solution through mediation, then there would be no need to file a countersuit. [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 consent to order mediation, Lehrmann replied: “I am well aware of my powers, Mr. Lehrmann.”

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

Lehrmann agreed to the timeline, stating that he would be “in no rush” to press his claims against 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.

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

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