A video featuring a joint address by Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame about sexual assault has been removed from YouTube amid a defamation lawsuit – but the former Liberal Party staffer hit back, defiantly posting her entire speech on Instagram.
The ABC is being sued by Bruce Lehrmann over its broadcast of the address at the National Press Club in February, 2022, during which Ms Higgins alleged she was raped in Parliament House in 2019.
The video was then posted on the ABC’s YouTube channel and amassed 127,000 views by the time Mr Lehrmann’s claim was filed last week, on April 5.
Mr Lehrmann was not named in the address, but claims he was identifiable because his name and photo made national headlines when he was charged with sexual assault in August 2021 over Ms Higgins’ allegations – six months before the press club address.
He strenuously denies the allegations, and had pleaded not guilty in the ACT Supreme Court. The case toppled in November and the charge was subsequently dropped.
Mr Lehrmann sent a concerns notice to the ABC in February, giving the broadcaster two months to remove the footage from the internet. He launched the lawsuit because the video was not removed by the deadline.
However, the video has disappeared from the ABC’s YouTube channel within the past week – clicking on the link now displays an error message: ‘This video isn’t available any more.’
Pictured: Brittany Higgins, left, and Grace Tame, right, following their address to the National Press Club
In response to the address being removed, Ms Higgins posted a transcript of her speech online
Ms Tame’s 20-minute address can still be found on the broadcaster’s YouTube channel. Ms Higgins speech is not included at all, nor is either of their responses to journalist’s questions.
The ABC declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.
Hours after news of the video’s removal made headlines on Friday, Ms Higgins posted a transcript of her entire speech on Instagram.
‘In loving memory of a (mid tier) National Press Club address about parliamentary workplace reform and the national plan to end violence against women,’ she wrote.
According to Mr Lehrmann’s statement of claim filed in the Federal Court, he suffered aggravated hurt because the broadcaster decided to stream the address live – rather than using a delay system to edit any potentially defamatory material out.
He further alleges the choice to publish the full address after criminal charges had been laid was ‘apparent contemptuous attempt to prejudice the jury before whom the proceedings were being heard as against the applicant’.
The joint address by Ms Higgins and Ms Tame, who is also a former Australian of the Year, called for cultural and institutional reform to protect women in the workplace.
During her address, Ms Higgins alleged she was raped in Parliament House. Mr Lehrmann sent a concerns notice to the ABC in February, giving the broadcaster two months to remove the footage from the internet. He launched the lawsuit because the video was not removed by the deadline
Former prime minister Scott Morrison was also blasted for what Ms Tame called ‘national inaction’ on women’s safety, and for the way his government treated women.
Ms Tame was 15 when she was groomed and raped by her 58-year-old math teacher. She also used her address to speak about systemic issues that silence victims of abuse rather than empowering them to speak up.
Mr Lehrmann is also suing Channel 10 and Lisa Wilkinson over an interview on The Project in February, 2021, when Ms Higgins first aired her allegations.
He has also launched legal action against news.com.au and journalist Samantha Maiden for an online article that featured the same allegations.
The former political staffer was not named by the network or online news outlet, but he claims he was identifiable in political circles.
Before the defamation trials can proceed, a judge must determine whether Mr Lehrmann should be allowed to sue beyond the normal 12-month time limit.
A ruling will be made on April 28.
Before the defamation trials can proceed, a judge must determine whether Mr Lehrmann should be allowed to sue beyond the normal 12-month time limit, with a ruling to be made on April 28
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