Lehrmann trial fallout continues

Saturday Dec 10

%%=v(@salutation)=%%

Over the past seven days the news has been dominated by headlines about Bruce Lehrmann, and the decision by the ACT director of public prosecutions not to retry the former Liberal staffer for the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins over concerns for Higgins’ health.

In Crikey’s broad coverage of the story, Michael Bradley wrote on the systemic failures of the criminal justice system, Bernard Keane delved into how Higgins’ testimony threatened those in power, Maeve McGregor reported on the bullying claims levelled against Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds, and Anton Nilsson covered the very public fight between the ACT prosecutor and the Australian Federal Police.

Also this week, Charlie Lewis uncovered one very big thing News Corp and the ABC have in common, Guy Rundle dug into a major factional defection in the Victorian Labor Party, and activist Violet Coco wrote about her astounding 15-month prison sentence for a “disruptive” climate protest.

Find all those stories, and plenty more from the Crikey team, below.

Have a great weekend,

Gina Rushton,
News editor

News Corp is strangely silent on its part in the Liberals’ downfall

BERNARD KEANE

Don't bother reading News Corp papers for a satisfactory account of what's gone wrong with the Liberals — a key player is absent.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison (Image: AAP/AP/Nazanin Tabatabaee)

Quotas alone can’t erase the Coalition’s legacy of policies that keep women poorer

KRISTINE ZIWICA

The Liberal Party's post-election navel-gazing exercise should focus on acknowledging its appalling record on gender inequality.

Liberal Senator Jane Hume (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch)

Into the woods: Victorian Labor, the great defection, the HWU, training day, Daintree, and the big pile of money

GUY RUNDLE

Seven state MPs suddenly quit Bill Shorten’s faction, as IBAC’s Operation Daintree investigates a $3.4 million grant to a union run by his ‘mates’. Is the final act of a long drama playing out? Who’s going to be on the floor when it does?

Bill Shorten and Daniel Andrews in 2019 (Image: AAP/Darren England)

Lehrmann trial fallout continues

The criminal justice system fails complainants like Brittany Higgins every day, everywhere

MICHAEL BRADLEY

Since brave women have stepped forward, the rate of reporting sexual assault has skyrocketed. The rate of prosecution, however, has not.

Brittany Higgins arrives at the ACT Supreme Court on October 27 (Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas)

Brittany Higgins’ partner accuses Senator Linda Reynolds of bullying

MAEVE MCGREGOR

'When will the bullying end?' asks Brittany Higgins' partner, as he accuses the former minister of leaking privileged information.

Senators Michaelia Cash and Linda Reynolds (Images: AAP)

‘People are accusing the AFP of being Liberal lapdogs’: Lehrmann mistrial fight erupts

ANTON NILSSON

The Australian Federal Police union says officers are being unfairly smeared as a fight erupts with Canberra's public prosecutor.

Former Liberal Party staffer Bruce Lehrmann leaves the ACT Supreme Court in Canberra (Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas)

Higgins threatened the powerful, and criminal justice failures only partly explain her treatment

BERNARD KEANE

Brittany Higgins posed a danger to those in high places. They responded with all the institutions at their disposal.

Former Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch)

‘Your memory is imperfect’: Brian Houston’s lawyers question child sexual abuse survivor’s recollections

AMBER SCHULTZ

Lawyers for Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston have questioned the memory of a survivor molested by Frank Houston in 1970, aged seven.

Former Hillsong pastor Brian Houston at the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney (Image: AAP/Bianca De Marchi)

How Scott Morrison won the election for Labor

ANTON NILSSON

Labor's 2022 election post-mortem analysis is out — and it contains some curious lessons for the party, and the opposition.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch)

On Twitter, Elon Musk chats with right-wing trolls like Australian YouTuber Avi Yemini

CAM WILSON

Elon Musk has been increasingly palling around with election deniers, misinformation superspreaders and conspiracy theorists on Twitter.

Elon Musk (Image: John Raoux/AP/AAP)

‘I am in prison for engaging democracy’: climate activist Violet Coco on her arrest and jail sentence

VIOLET COCO

'Civil disobedience in the form of strikes, blockades, marches and occupations has played a crucial role in the development of democracy.'

Deanna 'Violet' Coco (Image: Supplied)

‘Short of dictatorships, we are world leaders’: Australia’s record on criminalising environmental protest

MAEVE MCGREGOR

'The jailing of peaceful protesters is chilling for anyone who cares about our democracy — we need to restore and protect the right to protest before it’s too late.'

Former Greens leader Bob Brown and jailed climate activist Deanna 'Violet' Coco (Images: AAP/Facebook)

‘I will never get my life back’: how one man’s disability carer is fighting NDIS lawyers to keep her job

AMBER SCHULTZ

The NDIA ruled that the family friend of a man with disabilities couldn't be his paid carer. While their appeal drags on, he's struggling to find alternative support.

(Image: Zennie/Private Media)

Hiding in plain sight: the media scramble to colour in the Albanese outline

CHRISTOPHER WARREN

Katharine Murphy’s new Quarterly Essay attempts to understand the prime minister and the political influences that shaped him.

Composite of Anthony Albanese and Katharine Murphy's 'Lone Wolf' Quarterly Essay (Images: AAP/Black Inc.)

‘Perfect storm’: what Labor got wrong in its historic defeat in Fowler

ANTON NILSSON

The party knows why Kristina Keneally lost her bid for a lower house seat — but the woman who trumped her says it missed a crucial detail.

Dai Le and Kristina Keneally (Images: AAP)

Unsubscribe from Weekender newsletter
Manage your subscription preferences
Contact us