ABC argues Brittany Higgins broadcast did not identify Bruce Lehrmann and could not have defamed him

Brittany Higgins (left) with Grace Tame at the National Press Club address in Canberra in 2022, which was broadcast on the ABC. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

The ABC has argued that it did not identify Bruce Lehrmann when it broadcast Brittany Higgins’ and Grace Tame’s National Press Club address and, even if it had, it could not have been defamatory

The ABC says in court documents that if it was “notorious throughout Australia” that Lehrmann was Higgins’ alleged rapist – as Lehrmann’s lawyers have claimed – then its broadcast of the address would not have caused or been likely to cause serious harm to Lehrmann’s reputation.