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Key Points
- Nicky Hamer, who worked alongside Bruce Lehrmann and Brittany Higgins, gave evidence on Wednesday.
- Bruce Lehrmann allegedly asked if a “good looking” Brittany Higgins could be invited out to drinks.
- Lehrmann is suing Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson for defamation over a report regarding Higgins’ allegations.
This article contains references to allegations of rape and sexual assault.
Bruce Lehrmann asked if a “good looking” Brittany Higgins could be invited out to drinks weeks before in Parliament House, a court has heard.
Nicky Hamer, an external communications manager and former Liberal staffer who worked alongside Lehrmann and Higgins gave evidence of the conversation, which she said took place on 2 March 2019.
“Bruce made a comment about Brittany being good looking and asked me if I knew her,” Hamer told the Federal Court on Wednesday. “He asked me just to see if she was free to pop down to the pub.”
Lehrmann is suing Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson for defamation over a February 2021 report on The Project regarding Higgins’ allegations.
She claims she was raped in the office of their then-boss, Senator Linda Reynolds, in the early hours of 23 March 2019 after a night out drinking in Canberra. Lehrmann has always denied the allegations, saying that no sexual contact occurred.
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Hamer already worked for Senator Reynolds when Higgins joined the office after her former employer, defence industry minister Steven Ciobo, resigned.
The court heard Higgins had gone to a local pub the Kingston Hotel to meet up with Hamer, Lehrmann and another staffer, Jesse Wotton, on 2 March before she had been given a job with Senator Reynolds.
When Higgins said she had to leave, Lehrmann took her phone for one or two minutes to prevent her from ordering an Uber and asked her to stay for one more drink, Hamer said.
She told the court she became angry with Lehrmann over this after Higgins left. Lehrmann retorted that Hamer was a “feminist” who always felt like she had to stick up for women.
As a result of the argument, Hamer sent her resignation to Senator Reynolds, telling the court she had been unhappy with her work and had felt “ganged up” on by Lehrmann.
The resignation was withdrawn after a talk with the senator. Lehrmann was charged in August 2021 over the alleged rape, but his criminal trial in the ACT Supreme Court was derailed by juror misconduct.
Prosecutors did not seek a second trial, citing concerns for Higgins’ mental health. Lehrmann has always asserted his innocence, and no finding has been made against him in relation to the allegations.
If this story has raised any issues for you, help is available at Lifeline on 13 11 14.
If you or someone you know wants to talk about sexual assault or harassment, family or domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au
In an emergency, call 000.
