Reading a prepared statement outside the Federal Court on Monday, broadcasting doyenne Lisa Wilkinson – very Meghan Markle stealth wealth in a cream slacksuit – was predictably self-assured.
Minutes earlier, Justice Michael Lee had dismissed Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Wilkinson and Channel Ten over a 2021 story on The Project, in which Brittany Higgins claimed she was raped by a Liberal staffer.
Sue Chrysanthou, SC, hugs Lisa Wilkinson as they emerge from the Federal Court on Monday.Credit: Getty Images
“Today the federal court has found that I published a true story about a rape,” Lisa said.
“I sincerely hope this judgment gives strength to women around the country.”
Then she thanked her lawyer, family and the “generous members of the public who have approached me almost every single day to express – often through tears – their unwavering support”.
Lisa, I wish I could say I was one of those blubbering randoms offering the unwavering support. I admire your longevity and grit in the toughest of media worlds. But while I, for one, am hesitant to diss another woman, especially a fellow veteran hack, I need to quietly call BS on your victory speech.
First up, big yes, yes, yes to the rape finding. Of course women everywhere would be relieved and delighted one of us was believed about a rape, even in a civil case to a lower standard of proof. It’s a terrible statistic that only one in 10 reported cases of sexual assault in Australia ends in a conviction.
But the finding had nothing to do with anything you did or said. It came down to what Justice Lee found constituted consent.
And it was a lot to claim truth about a TV show that weaponised and monetised the agendas of two women – you and Brittany – who emerged from the blast zone with a Logie, a book deal and almost $2.5 million in compo between you, but that ruined the careers and mental health of others.
I wonder how much strength the finding gave Fiona Brown, who was chief of staff in Senator Linda Reynolds’ office when Higgins was raped there at Parliament House?
The career public servant’s life imploded after Wilkinson and The Project took Higgins’ claims against Brown at face value.
She was the only major player in the ghastly circus praised without reservation by Lee, who said Brown did her professional best and had integrity: “To be later vilified as an unfeeling apparatchik willing to throw up roadblocks in covering up criminal conduct at the behest of one’s political overlords must be worse than galling.”
I would have respected Lisa more if she’d had the humility in victory to say outside court, “I also need to recognise Fiona Brown and the effect our unfair portrayal of her had.”
Surely, her barrister would have been able to write a sentence that ensured a wrong was addressed without Wilkinson putting herself in the gun for another defamation lawsuit.
Couple of thoughts for Lisa: it’s unusual to claim a victory for truth moments after Lee said it was partly reliant on speculation and conjecture.
And if you’re going to be for all women, you have to acknowledge when you f––- over other women. We don’t need you to go back to your Dolly and Cleo days, telling women how to please men in bed and drop a dress size by Saturday, just to your role in this inglorious schemozzle.
His honour was bang on when he said Lisa acted less as an experienced journalist, more as a champion of Higgins.
News journos aren’t supposed to make the story about themselves. Despite her seniority, Lisa did. She inserted herself into the wider narrative, ignored the general idea that impartiality is required, delayed a criminal trial with her Logies speech.
As Lee put it, she had a lack of professional scepticism or rigour in analysing Higgins’ allegations. That’s the short version.
Lisa’s not listening if she thinks the decision was a complete vindication of her story.
She’s not listening if she thinks women applaud sloppy journalism – or that they’re not thinking, “if this is what goes on when you report a sexual assault, I’m absolutely not coming forward when it happens to me”.
Kate Halfpenny is the founder of Bad Mother Media.
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Lisa Wilkinson has claimed victory. Who is she kidding?
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19.04.2024
Reading a prepared statement outside the Federal Court on Monday, broadcasting doyenne Lisa Wilkinson – very Meghan Markle stealth wealth in a cream slacksuit – was predictably self-assured.
Minutes earlier, Justice Michael Lee had dismissed Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Wilkinson and Channel Ten over a 2021 story on The Project, in which Brittany Higgins claimed she was raped by a Liberal staffer.
Sue Chrysanthou, SC, hugs Lisa Wilkinson as they emerge from the Federal Court on Monday.Credit: Getty Images
“Today the federal court has found that I published a true story about a rape,” Lisa said.
“I sincerely hope this judgment gives strength to women around the country.”
Then she thanked her lawyer, family and the “generous members of the public who have approached me almost every single day to express – often through tears – their unwavering support”.
Lisa, I wish I could say I was one of those blubbering randoms offering the unwavering support. I admire your longevity and grit in the toughest of media worlds. But while I, for one, am hesitant........
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