The AFP is currently looking into the circumstances surrounding how the Seven Network acquired access to Brittany Higgins's private text messages for their broadcast with Bruce Lehrmann. This inquiry comes in the aftermath of Justice Lee's findings in a defamation case against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson, where it was determined that Mr. Lehrmann had misrepresented the origins of the material used in the Spotlight interview.
During court proceedings relating to the defamation case, it was revealed that Mr. Lehrmann had access to confidential material from a previous criminal trial, which should not have been disclosed to the public. Despite the debacle surrounding the material and its questionable origins, Mr. Lehrmann has denied any involvement in passing on the sensitive information to Seven Network. The AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw mentioned that the AFP is currently reviewing the material to ascertain if there is enough evidence to warrant a formal investigation into the matter.
Furthermore, former Seven Network producer Taylor Auerbach testified that Mr. Lehrmann had indeed shared material obtained from the trial that was meant to remain private. This breach of confidentiality, known as the Hearne v Street obligation, underscores the complexity of the legal issues surrounding the sensitive information that was incorporated into the Spotlight program. As the legal ramifications of Mr. Lehrmann's actions continue to be scrutinized, the possibility of further legal action remains a distinct possibility, pending decisions from the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions.