Seven responds to formal complaint by Lisa Wilkinson

Former Project presennter Lisa Wilkinson this week lodged a formal complaint with Seven via lawyers, following leaked audio in a 7News Spotlight story, as well as grievances over reportage in Sunrise.

The audio has since been handed over under a search warrant by the Australian Federal Police, whilst Wilkinson and 10 are locked in a defamation battle with Bruce Lehrmann over a Project interview (separately there is an additional ABC / Lehrmann defamation case).

News.com.au (whose parent company NewsLife Media was part of a further defamation, now dropped) reports 10 is angry that Spotlight did not seeking comment prior to its broadcast, with some speculation whether that was to avoid an injunction.

“It beggars belief that a 90-minute program was prepared, apparently over many weeks if not months, and at no time was any contact made with our client or Network 10 to attempt to obtain their comment,” they noted.

The complaint also addressed “false” allegations aired on Sunrise.

They took issue with the claim Wilkinson had “coached” Brittany Higgins to build a campaign against Bruce Lehrmann.

“That allegation is false. The material (falsely described in the report as ‘secret recordings’) published on Spotlight on the Seven Network on 4 June 2023 certainly does not justify that allegation,” the lawyers’ letter said.

Wilkinson’s lawyers further claim Seven made no effort to contact the broadcaster about the claims included on Sunrise which also alleged Ms Higgins had penned an “angry letter” to her.

“Ms Wilkinson has no record of a letter in the terms described in the report. We request that you urgently provide a copy so that our client can respond to the claims made,” the letter said.

It is also unclear whether an ACMA complaint has been lodged over either broadcast, which would trigger an investigation by the media watchdog.

Guardian reports lawyers had viewed a document described as 10’s ACMA complaint, agreed with it and endorsed it, and “will be making a separate complaint on behalf of Ms Wilkinson and Mr [Peter] Fitzsimons”.

Updated: 

A Spokesperson for Seven denies “the material put to air was obtained improperly from materials subpoenaed in the criminal trial or otherwise prohibited”.

“As a journalist, it is difficult to believe that Ms Wilkinson would suggest that the background to those events is not a proper subject of investigation and public interest reporting,” a spokesperson said.

They added, ” Seven is aware that Ms Wilkinson and Ten have apologised for certain things captured on the audio recordings but note that those matters were not raised in the Spotlight program. In any event, no specific comment is made during the Spotlight program impugning Ms Wilkinson’s ‘professionalism as a journalist’ or criticises her as alleged in her solicitors complaint.”