John Menadue critiques Australia's media and our relationship with the United States
Guest: John Menadue, Founder and Editor in Chief of Pearls and Irritations
John Menadue, Founder and Editor in Chief of Pearls and Irritations
Producer: Catherine Zengerer
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ABC News
29 minutes ago
- ABC News
Federal politics live: Penny Wong joins statement condemning West Bank settlement expansion
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has joined an international statement, with the UK and Canada, condemning Israel's plan to expand illegal settlements in the West Bank. Meanwhile, state and territory education ministers are meeting in Sydney today to discuss a national trial of CCTV cameras in childcare centres. Follow our live coverage below.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Bruce Lehrmann's lawyer seems to have forgotten one key detail: the defamation case was his idea
Bruce Lehrmann's bid to overturn the damning findings of his failed defamation case made for intensely awkward viewing. The former Liberal staffer was back in court this week, more than a year after Federal Court Justice Michael Lee dismissed his case against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson, over the blockbuster interview with Brittany Higgins on The Project in 2021. Justice Lee was satisfied that the civil standard had been proven — that, on the balance of probabilities, Mr Lehrmann had raped Ms Higgins in an office at Parliament House after a night out drinking. But Mr Lehrmann, who has always maintained his innocence, launched an appeal seeking to overturn that judgment. For that task, he retained Zali Burrows, a high-profile Sydney solicitor whose primary experience has been in criminal law. She would spend the two days of appeal hearings acting alone for Mr Lehrmann — who sat beside her at the bar table — having confessed to the Federal Court that her client could not afford Sydney silk Guy Reynolds. She conceded she was underprepared. "I'm just going to try and do the best I can," she told the court on Wednesday. It was just the first sign that the path ahead for Mr Lehrmann's appeal would be rocky. Ms Burrows claimed Justice Lee's findings erred in four ways, but she frequently found a way back to her central point: that Mr Lehrmann had been denied procedural fairness. She claimed the original trial judge came up with "his own version" of how the alleged rape occurred, which strayed too far from the "forceful" rape that The Project had presented. "It is not, with respect, a judge's role to do that," Ms Burrows said. At one point, Ms Burrows even tried to characterise the court's findings as describing a "soft rape" — a kind of "consolation prize" for Network Ten, since she said Justice Lee was not persuaded as to the network's version of events. And her argument that the case could have turned out differently if a varying set of allegations had been put to Mr Lehrmann was met with confusion by the three-judge bench. "You need to explain why it is a different case," Justice Craig Colvin told Ms Burrows. "His Honour [Justice Lee] didn't find sex on a different day … with a different lead up of different circumstances … "The findings His Honour has made are all within the four corners of what was described. Justice Michael Wigney also pointed out that Mr Lehrmann has consistently maintained his innocence and said that no sexual intercourse took place. He told Ms Burrows it would not have made sense for Mr Lerhmann to have faced questions about the nature of an act he was denying. It was a point that went "round and round in circles," Justice Wigney said, summarising the clear observation that Ms Burrows seemed overwhelmed. Struggling to articulate certain arguments, answer questions clearly, follow page references, or, at times, even find documents, Ms Burrows laboured to advance the 16 pages of written submissions she had lodged months ago. Indeed, she strayed far from them, often lapsing into criminal terminology, such as telling the court there was a case put "against" Bruce Lehrmann that he was required to "defend". Of course, Mr Lehrmann has already been through that process in the ACT, which ended in a mistrial with no verdict and no criminal findings against him. But anyone who heard Ms Burrows's description of Mr Lehrmann's appeal grounds could be forgiven for forgetting that her client was the applicant — and now appellant — in a civil proceeding. Mr Lehrmann was the one who — to borrow a phrase associated with this case — "made the mistake of going back for his hat". Nor did the civil case require proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. While it was still Network Ten's job to justify its broadcast, establishing the "substantial truth" would suffice. Ms Burrows was up against two of the country's most accomplished defamation specialists in Matthew Collins and Sue Chrysanthou. Her learned friends were friendly enough to recognise that Ms Burrows needed time to review the vast bundles of material from the trial, with which they were innately familiar. Perhaps given that familiarity, they also used the opportunity of the appeal to launch their own contentions with Justice Lee's finding. Network Ten urged the court to find Bruce Lehrmann did in fact know he did not have consent for sex, based on how intoxicated Brittany Higgins was, and his role in encouraging her to drink. Ms Chrysanthou also sought to reverse Justice Lee's decision to dismiss Lisa Wilkinson's qualified privilege defence. She argued the journalist acted reasonably in preparation of the program, going so far as to prepare interview questions from a make-up chair if Mr Lehrmann took the opportunity for a right of reply on the day of the broadcast. Four years and three courts later, Mr Lehrmann has certainly exercised that right. The Full Court of the Federal Court has reserved a decision which could prove to be the end of what Justice Lee described as "an omnishambles".
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Outgoing Commissioner Karen Webb's silence speaks volumes as she exits NSW Police
Outgoing NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has held her resolve, resisting having a dig at her detractors as she said goodbye after 38 years in the force. Faced with significant criticism during her tenure and serving only three years of the five-year term, Commissioner Webb reflected on a 'rewarding career' that exceeded her 'highest expectations'. 'Like every Commissioner my time has tested me,' she said on the eve of her march out from the NSW Police Academy in Goulburn on Thursday night. 'For me, courage has not been about the absence of fear, but about doing what is right even if the path is difficult or challenging. 'Resilience, for me, has been about enduring the pressures and challenges that come with this role – from moments of crisis to the weight of responsibility that comes with leading such a proud organisation. It has meant learning from criticism and continuing to serve with clarity and determination' Her speech was notable for what it didn't include: any parting shots at her critics. The commissioner's communication skills and media handling have been repeatedly criticised during her tenure, overshadowing some of the landmark changes she has made. 'Long after my Commissionership has ended police officers will continue to benefit from substantial improvements in pay and conditions, a reimagined in-house medical insurance scheme that will benefit officers – not the insurers, paid recruit training that makes training accessible from everyone and flexible work conditions designed to attract and retain officers, to name a few.' Ms Webb said she was proud of her versatile and diverse career touching Metropolitan, Regional, Specialist and Corporate areas of the organisation. 'I have always looked forward not back, embracing every challenge along the way. The NSW Police Force is very much a part of me, and I will always be a part of the NSW Police Force,' she said. 'To stand here with you tonight is an honour. As I look around the room I see the faces of friends, allies, supporters and colleagues who walked that 38-year career with me. 'My journey would not have been the same without you and for that I say thank you. When I stepped into this final role, I knew the job would be demanding. As your commissioner, and as your leader, one could never foresee what events and challenges would unfold during my tenure. 'From global events to national crisis, to domestic disasters, unexpected difficulties that required careful and considered navigation. 'As former Commissioner Ken Moroney once said to me, 'Karen, there have only been twenty-three of us who have touched the flame, and unless you have touched that flame, you have no idea.'' Commissioner Webb will pass the torch to Acting Commissioner Paul Pisanos on Friday at the ceremony attended by Premier Chris Minns and NSW Governor Margaret Beazley, Police Minister Yasmin Catley. The announcement of the new permanent replacement for Ms Webb is said to be imminent, with lead contenders Mal Lanyon and Peter Thurtell. Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley thanked Commissioner Webb for an 'extraordinary career of self-sacrifice and service to the people of NSW'. 'She has been a force for change, achieving landmark reform that will leave a lasting legacy on the NSW Police Force. 'Commissioner Webb's drive to modernise the force for the 21st century will have an immense impact on our police and community. Congratulations Commissioner.'
