Page:Lehrmann v Network Ten Pty Limited (Trial Judgment).pdf/208

 J.2The Genesis of the Story and the "Timeline" Document

767 The tone of the interactions between Mr Sharaz, on behalf of Ms Higgins, and the respondents was set by the first email of Mr Sharaz sent on Monday, 18 January 2021, at 10:13am. It was clear what the proposed story would be all about, and Mr Sharaz could hardly have chosen a more glaring heading: "MeToo, Liberal Party, Project Pitch". Mr Sharaz got straight to the point (Ex R105):

Hi Lisa,

I hope you're well.

I've got a sensitive story surrounding a sexual assault at Parliament House; a woman who was pressured by the Liberal Party and female cabinet minister not to pursue it. She's asked me to be the one to get the story told this year.

768 Mr Sharaz then continued:

The girl has been through a lot, and I'm deeply protective of making sure this is done right, given going after the Liberal Party machine is no easy feat. (She'll only get one pull of the trigger before they try to discredit and shut the story down. My experience in politics and sky [sic] sadly gives me that insight.)

I can say this, it's the first time something like that has happened under Prime Minister Scott Morrison's watch. He can no longer use the excuse: "This is a bubble" issue, or "this was before my time".

769 And then Mr Sharaz adopted the following valediction demonstrating his affection for (and apparently misconceived extent of familiarity with) Ms Wilkinson:

Thanks so much.

Much love,

David Sharaz.

770 After some toing and froing, and reinforcing a conspiratorial and political theme, on 19 January Mr Sharaz sent the Timeline (Ex 42) under the cover of an email entitled, "Everything you need" in the following terms:

Hi Lisa, thank you for your time over the phone today, and your sensitivity around what I truly feel is an injustice.

I'm sending this on behalf of Britt, purely because, and this sounds paranoid, we just don't know who might be keeping a close eye on her.

As discussed, we're happy for you to send this to your producer (and thank you for speaking to your EP for us).

771 Mr Sharaz then concludes: Lehrmann v Network Ten Pty Limited (Trial Judgment) [2024] FCA 369