On 15 April 2024, judgment was entered in the Federal Court of Australia for Lisa Wilkinson in defamation proceedings commenced against her for an interview she conducted about an alleged rape in Parliament House in March 2019 that was broadcast on 15 February 2021 on The Project: Lehrmann v Network Ten Pty Limited (Trial Judgment) [2024] FCA 369.
The Court found that Ms Wilkinson and her employer Network Ten had established their publication was protected by the defence of justification under section 25 of the Defamation Act because it was substantially true that the young woman Ms Wilkinson interviewed was raped by the applicant.
Sue Chrysanthou SC and Barry Dean from 153 Phillip appeared for Ms Wilkinson throughout the proceedings. Dr Matt Collins KC and Tim Senior appeared for Network Ten.