Spotlight producers warned Taylor Auerbach about dropping too much money on Seven’s company card while he courted Bruce Lehrmann over several months for an exclusive interview, text messages have revealed.
The text messages between the former Seven producer and his senior colleagues were tendered in federal court after the Lehrmann defamation trial was reopened for Auerbach to give additional evidence as part of Channel Ten’s defence.
Lehrmann is suing Lisa Wilkinson and Network Ten for an interview with Higgins that was broadcast on The Project in 2021. He alleges the story, which did not name him, defamed him by suggesting he raped Higgins in 2019. Lehrmann has always denied the rape allegation.
Auerbach gave evidence on Thursday and Friday, testifying that Lehrmann discussed payment of about $200,000 for his participation in an exclusive interview with the Spotlight program which aired last year and was reimbursed by the network for money spent on cocaine and sex workers, which were euphemistically invoiced as “pre-production expenses”.
Auerbach also claimed Lehrmann told him he “appreciated the fact that I wasn’t sitting with the rest of the feminazis in the press pack”.
On Friday afternoon, Justice Michael Lee questioned the relevance of the new evidence to Lehrmann’s defamation case against Lisa Wilkinson and Network Ten, with the judge saying he was concerned “how far we’re going down into what increasingly looks like a rabbit hole”.
The texts released by the federal court show some hesitancy from other Spotlight producers over Auerbach’s approach in securing the interview.
Auerbach met Lehrmann’s media adviser John Macgowan while attending Lehrmann’s rape trial for the alleged assault of Brittany Higgins, texts show. Auerbach texted fellow Spotlight producer Steve Jackson: “[Bruce Lehrmann] made massive eye contact with me this morning for like 15 seconds – i think we’re a chance.”
Auerbach told Jackson he had met Macgowan and “told him to pick the most expensive restaurant in Canberra and it’s my shout”.
Texts show Auerbach met with Lehrmann and Macgowan in October 2022, and messaged executive producer of Spotlight, Mark Llewellyn that “we got on really well”. Auerbach asks for permission to buy “a few rounds of alcohol” for the pair on the company card at the Hellenic Club.
“Within reason,” Llewellyn replies.
In one message, Jackson questions Auerbach on the extent of the courting.
“I find it bizarre that you’re taking them to dinner and drinks every night,” Jackson writes. “It’s very unusual.”
He also pushes back on fancy accommodation Auerbach books in Canberra, pressing: “Why are you staying at the place that’s the most expensive?”
In October 2022 Auerbach texts Jackson: “I’ve got the yarn. I’ve just been on the piss with Bruce Lehrmann.”
“If we can seal it, we’ve got to make it BIG,” Jackson replies. “It should be the most amazing thing on Australian TV ever.”
The pair appear to bicker over Auerbach’s claims he has a better grip on the trial than other journalists.
“I suppose this is just another one of those examples where you’re right and the entire rest of the media industry is wrong,” Jackson writes.
“No, just that I’m a better journalist than everybody who was in that courtroom,” Auerbach replies.
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Auerbach and Jackson send critical messages about Higgins throughout the trial, accusing her of being “combative”, lying, and “yelling and swearing” to elicit headlines.
“The chicks will all believe her and the blokes will believe him,” Auerbach writes to Jackson.
“So she’s hysterical because she’s saying ‘no’ and he’s raping her … then he finishes and leaves … and she decides the best course of action is to go to sleep and spend the night in the office?” Jackson writes.
Lehrmann pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexual intercourse without consent. The 2022 criminal trial was aborted after it was discovered a juror had conducted their own research in relation to the case.
In November 2022, Lehrmann, Macgowan, Auerbach and Llewellyn shared a meal at upmarket Italian restaurant, Cipri, in Sydney.
Lehrmann had originally requested Beppi’s, but Llewellyn asked Auerbach to cancel the reservation because the minimum spend was $900.
Later that night, Lehrmann and Auerbach spend more than $10,000 on Thai masseuses, allegedly billed to the company’s card.
In the following days, Jackson coaches Auerbach to have the money refunded and paid in cash, the text messages show, including translating messages to Thai on Google.
“You … need to reconcile that cash advance urgently,” he warns Auerbach. “As in it needs to be done this week.”
The text messages also reveal a $450 bill at the Spice Temple for a “story meeting” with Lehrmann and Macgowan was approved by Llewellyn, as was a meal at Franca restaurant in Sydney for $517, predicated on the bill being “reasonable”.
Lehrmann also requests other benefits including domestic flights and tickets to Test cricket.
“Your man isn’t going to come off well if he wants to be seen playing golf and watching cricket in a box,” Jackson writes to Auerbach in December 2022. “He will look every bit the privileged white male his detractors believe him to be.”
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