1 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 1: You can listen to the Front on your smart sneaker 2 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 1: every morning to hear the latest episode. Just say play 3 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: the news from the Australian. From the Australian, Here's what's 4 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: on the front. I'm Claire Harvey. It's Tuesday, June eighteenth. 5 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: The family of murder victim Lynnett Sims have launched an 6 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 1: impassioned defense of Lynn's law and nobody no Parole law 7 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 1: designed to keep her killer Chris Dawson behind bars unless 8 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:45,599 Speaker 1: he reveals what he did with Lynn's remains. A campaign 9 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 1: supported by wrongly convicted women Kathleen Folbey and Lindy Chamberlain 10 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:51,880 Speaker 1: is demanding a repeal of the New South Wales law. 11 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 1: Bud greg and Marilyn Sims say the families of homicide 12 00:00:55,280 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 1: victims deserve certainty. Would scrap offshore wind projects in Australia. 13 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 1: National's leader David Little Proud says renewables must be on 14 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 1: rooftops where the environment can't be destroyed. It comes after 15 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 1: Labour declared an offshore wind zone twenty kilometers off the 16 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 1: Illawarra coast in New South Wales. Chinese officials have attempted 17 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 1: to block an Australian journalist at a press conference in 18 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 1: Parliament House with visiting Chinese Premier Lie Chung and Anthony Albanizi. 19 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 1: Extraordinary scenes unfolded as Australian officials physically blocked the Chinese 20 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: personnel from obstructing Chung, who spent nearly three years in 21 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:39,400 Speaker 1: a Chinese jail and now works at Sky News Australia. 22 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:43,119 Speaker 1: Anthony Albanezi said he didn't see what was going on. 23 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 2: Look, I'm not aware of those issues. It's important that 24 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 2: people be allowed to participate fully and that's what should 25 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 2: happen in this building or anywhere else in Australia. 26 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 1: The visit is a big deal for Australia, with Premier 27 00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:00,040 Speaker 1: Lee saying the relationship is on the right track and 28 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 1: announcing Australian nationals will be allowed to enter China for 29 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 1: holidays or work without needing a visa. That story is 30 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: live now at the Australian dot com dot Au. Bruce 31 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 1: Lahman will fight to have sexual assault charges against him 32 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:20,240 Speaker 1: thrown out of court. Media organizations were booted out of 33 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:23,920 Speaker 1: court into Woomba on Monday when a complainant alleged Laman 34 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:28,519 Speaker 1: sexually assaulted her in twenty twenty one. Today why Laman 35 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:39,639 Speaker 1: is arguing, there's no case to answer. I'm buzzing this morning, 36 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:43,359 Speaker 1: I since the crack of dawn. Those were the words 37 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 1: spoken by Bruce Lahman as he made his way into 38 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:48,959 Speaker 1: the to Woomba Magistrates Court on Monday morning. They're being 39 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:55,359 Speaker 1: read by a voice actor. Hey, Bruce, what happened that night? 40 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 1: The former Liberal staffer was surrounded by a media scrum 41 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 1: that had descended on the Queensland City. 42 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 3: Target. 43 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 1: There's Peter Costello when you need him, Laman was referring 44 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:13,920 Speaker 1: there to a physical altercation between the former nine chairmen 45 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:17,919 Speaker 1: and a reporter from The Australian at Canberra Airport. Lea 46 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 1: Mendez was knocked to the ground while trying to question 47 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:24,919 Speaker 1: Costello about allegations of bullying and harassment at the TV network. 48 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 1: Twenty nine year old Laman is changed with two counts 49 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 1: of rape relating to an incident that's alleged to have 50 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 1: happened in his hometown to Woomba in October twenty twenty one. 51 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: He's yet to formally enter a plea, but will defend 52 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 1: the charges. It was Lahman's first appearance in these proceedings. 53 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 1: He came with a silk Andrew Hawkkase who's gone in 54 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 1: with an aggressive approach. He'll be arguing the whole matter 55 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 1: should be thrown out. After what unfolded on Monday, Laws 56 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 1: in place in Queensland prior to October meant people accused 57 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 1: of sexual assault couldn't be named until a matter was 58 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 1: committed to trial. Committal is a process in a lower 59 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 1: court where the evidence is tested. If the magistrate believes 60 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 1: the case should proceed, it goes to a higher court 61 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 1: where it's heard before judge and jury. Lhman's lawyers fought 62 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 1: his identification for weeks after the law was scrapped, but 63 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: the Queensland Supreme Court allowed him to be named. 64 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 4: A high profile person charged with two counts of rape 65 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 4: in the regional Queensland city of Toowoomba can finally be 66 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 4: named as Farmer Liberal Party staffer Bruce Lherman. 67 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 2: Twomber Court House isn't typically known for these sorts of 68 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:43,040 Speaker 2: high profile cases. 69 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:46,359 Speaker 1: Mackenzie's got is a reporter with The Australian. She was 70 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:47,720 Speaker 1: into Womba for the hearing. 71 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 2: So the public gallery only had sixteen seats and they 72 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:58,719 Speaker 2: were full almost immediately, so we had people fitting five 73 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 2: to a roll four We had people standing in the 74 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 2: middle of the courtroom. At the back we had people 75 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:07,480 Speaker 2: sitting on the floor. It was quite a sight to see. 76 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 2: I don't think these courtrooms are really set up for 77 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 2: these types of notorious cases. 78 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 1: News organizations, including News Corp Australia, which publishes The Australian 79 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 1: Nine and the ABC, applied to be present while the complainant, 80 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 1: a twenty eight year old woman, gave evidence. She was 81 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,839 Speaker 1: cross examined by Council for Lairman, giving evidence over about 82 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 1: an hour. A barrister for the news outlets, Jessica Goldie, 83 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:34,480 Speaker 1: argued it was important for journalists to hear the complainant's 84 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 1: evidence so it could be accurately reported. 85 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 4: It's an important fundamental proposition to our legal system. This 86 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 4: matter is a unique case which has attracted a high 87 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 4: degree of national interest in media coverage. There is therefore 88 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 4: a high public interest in the matter. 89 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 1: But Lahirman's defense lawyer Andrewhaw and Crown Prosecutor Nicole Friedwald 90 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 1: both opposed the application. Both said they were concerned the 91 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:03,920 Speaker 1: details of the complainant's evidence in chief and cross examination 92 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 1: would make it easy for her to be identified. 93 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 2: So obviously in these sort of matters. The law does 94 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 2: protect a complainant coming forward, so to encourage others to 95 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 2: come forward in these sorts of cases, our legal presentation 96 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 2: did put forward alternatives, saying we could be in a 97 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 2: separate courtroom as she gave her evidence via video link, 98 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:34,839 Speaker 2: or we could be obscured from view, but both the 99 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:38,839 Speaker 2: Crown and the defense were concerned about privacy and the 100 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:42,560 Speaker 2: fact that she may be identified via the evidence that 101 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 2: she was providing. 102 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:48,480 Speaker 1: Magistrate Mark Howden ultimately blocked the application, meaning members of 103 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 1: the media, including Mackenzie, were sent out of the courtroom 104 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 1: while the complainant gave her evidence. 105 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:57,359 Speaker 2: So it was frustrating for journalists not to be in 106 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:02,600 Speaker 2: the room as the complainant gave her evidence, but I 107 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 2: think it was largely expected. Queensland courts have lacked transparency 108 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 2: in the past and this matter does tho par for 109 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 2: the course of what to expect when covering these sorts 110 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 2: of cases in Queensland. 111 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 1: Magistrate Howden acknowledged the high degree of public interest in 112 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 1: this case and accepted the principle of open justice, but 113 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 1: he said it doesn't overrule the complainant's right to privacy 114 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 1: in a proceeding like this. 115 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 2: So it was all very quick. We were in there 116 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 2: by two and out of there by two ten pm. Basically, 117 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 2: once we got back in the room, mister Lehman's barrister, 118 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 2: Andrew Hall Casey, told the court that they would be 119 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 2: making a submission to basically say there is no case 120 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 2: to move forward to trial. Mister Lehrman's defense did say 121 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 2: that the twelve page submission would have some density and 122 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 2: it would highlight the insufficient evidence within Queensland Police's case. 123 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 1: Behind closed doors, the complainant laid out her allegations against 124 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 1: Bruce Lammon. Charges were first laid in January twenty twenty three. 125 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 1: According to police documents, the complainant heard about allegations against 126 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 1: Bruce Lammon by Brittney Higgins that prompted the to Womber 127 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: woman to identify Laman as the man she had a 128 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 1: sexual encounter with in October twenty twenty one. The matter 129 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 1: heard on Monday into Woomba is unrelated to the earlier 130 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:27,560 Speaker 1: allegation and the proceedings that have unfolded in the years since. 131 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: In this matter, the complainant says she met Lamman at 132 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 1: a strip club in twenty twenty one, where he introduced 133 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: himself as Bryce to Woomba is Lahman's hometown, and it's 134 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 1: believed he was staying with his mother when this incident 135 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 1: is alleged to have occurred. He was on bail at 136 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 1: the time, having just appeared in court over an allegation 137 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:51,320 Speaker 1: made by Brittaney Higgins that he raped her in Parliament 138 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 1: House in early twenty nineteen. That trial was sensationally aborted 139 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:59,680 Speaker 1: in late twenty twenty two Good Evening. 140 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 3: In an extraordinary turn of events, the rape trial of 141 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:06,319 Speaker 3: former Liberal staff at Bruce Lherman has been aborted after 142 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 3: a dura's misconduct was discovered by a court sheriff. 143 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 1: That's when Bruce lamb ensued Network ten and Wilkinson for defamation. 144 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 1: The allegation made by Brittany Higgins was found on the 145 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 1: balance of probabilities to be true by Justice Michael Lee 146 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 1: in the Federal court defamation proceedings brought by Laman against 147 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 1: Network ten and presenter Lisa Wilkinson. The complainant in the 148 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:33,320 Speaker 1: Tawomba matter, says she had consensual sex with Laman on 149 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:36,680 Speaker 1: the night they met and twice the next morning, but 150 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: that he failed to use a condom despite her expectation. 151 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 1: That he do so, she says she never consented to 152 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 1: unprotected intercourse and if her allegation is proven, it's technically 153 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:54,400 Speaker 1: considered rape under Queensland law. Colloquially it's called stealfing and 154 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 1: it was formally criminalized in Queensland in March as part 155 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 1: of sweeping reforms to the way allihations of sexual assault 156 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:09,840 Speaker 1: and coercive control are treated by the justice system. Coming 157 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 1: up Bruce Lamon's bid to get the whole matter thrown out. 158 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 1: We'll be back after this break. So there's still lots 159 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 1: of unanswered questions, aren't there, Mackenzie. You haven't been allowed 160 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 1: to see the police brief of evidence, you haven't been 161 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:33,560 Speaker 1: allowed to hear the complainant's claims about what happened that night. 162 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 1: So what do we know about what the magistrate's going 163 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 1: to do in terms of committing this to trial or not. 164 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:42,720 Speaker 2: The matter has been adjourned until July fourth. At that 165 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:48,080 Speaker 2: time we will reconvene and the submission put forward by 166 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 2: the defense will be considered by the magistrate. The Crown 167 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 2: will have to provide its response in writing by July three, 168 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:59,040 Speaker 2: so we should at that point know whether or not 169 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 2: this matter will press scene to a jury trial. 170 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 1: Bruce Lemon appears to have depleted his funds in the 171 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: other legal actions that he's had on foot. He's now 172 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 1: representing himself in the appeal in the federal court. He's 173 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:16,080 Speaker 1: got a case in this case which, if he's paying 174 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:19,440 Speaker 1: those bills will already be running well into the multiple 175 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:22,040 Speaker 1: tens of thousands of dollars. How did he see him 176 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:23,000 Speaker 1: on his way out of court? 177 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 2: Those questions were put to him as he was leaving 178 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 2: by waiting journalists, but there was no response for mister 179 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 2: Lhman at all. He just walked straight to his lawyer's car, 180 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 2: and then as they were driving off, they beat the 181 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 2: horn and waived at journalists as they walked past. 182 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 1: It's quite an unusual scene, isn't it. Probably not what 183 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 1: you're expecting when you went to cover a sexual assault 184 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 1: matter this morning. 185 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 2: It was a bit surprising, but we know that this 186 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 2: case was meant to be three hours, and now we're 187 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 2: going into two days. We keep getting Kervbull's thrown to us, 188 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:57,320 Speaker 2: so let's just see what happens when we come back 189 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,120 Speaker 2: next month. Mister Lehman won't have to be in the 190 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 2: court room next time. He has been given permission to 191 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:09,040 Speaker 2: appear via video link or via telephone, so I don't 192 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:11,720 Speaker 2: expect we'll have this same sort of media circus again 193 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:12,160 Speaker 2: next time. 194 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:20,520 Speaker 1: Mackenzie is a journalist with The Australian. The Reserve Bank 195 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:23,559 Speaker 1: Board meets on Tuesday morning and is expected to hold 196 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:26,360 Speaker 1: the cash rate at four point three five percent for 197 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:30,079 Speaker 1: a fifth consecutive month. You can follow the decision live 198 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:32,360 Speaker 1: at Beaustralian dot com dot au.