Bruce Lehrmann has accused two major news organisations of being "recklessly indifferent to the truth" for reporting rape allegations made by his former colleague Brittany Higgins, legal documents reveal.
Statements of claim for Mr Lehrmann filed in defamation action against Network Ten and News Life Media, the News Corp Australia company behind News.com.au, said his personal reputation had been "greatly injured" as a result of the allegations.
"(Mr Lehrmann) has been greatly injured in his personal and professional reputation and has been and will be brought into public disrepute," the statement said.
Channel 10 journalist Lisa Wilkinson has been named in the defamation action against the TV network for the February 2021 interview of Ms Higgins on The Project, while News Corp journalist Samantha Maiden has also been named in the suit against News Life Media.
In a written defence to the lawsuit, lawyers for Ms Wilkinson said they will aim to prove Mr Lehrmann raped Ms Higgins in Parliament House as part of a truth defence.
The defence said Ms Wilkinson cannot admit Mr Lehrmann was reasonably identified by viewers of the story on The Project.
Ms Wilkinson did, however, admit "if Lehrmann was so reasonably identified by any viewer ... the first matter carried an imputation that Lehrmann raped Brittany Higgins".
Lawyers for the journalist said Mr Lehrmann was given multiple opportunities to respond before the interview was aired.
Mr Lehrmann's criminal trial in the ACT Supreme Court was derailed in October because of juror misconduct and the prosecutor later dropped the charges due to the impact a second trial would have on Ms Higgins' mental health.
The ACT government has launched an independent inquiry into the handling of Ms Higgins' rape allegations by police, prosecutors and a victim's support service.
