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A former producer who sensationally claimed Seven fronted the costs of Bruce Lehrmann’s “cocaine and prostitutes” in exchange for a tell-all interview has sued the broadcaster for defamation.
Taylor Auerbach, a former producer with Spotlight, filed defamation proceedings in the Federal Court against Seven over allegations it made disparaging comments around the time he gave evidence in Bruce Lehrmann’s failed defamation action against Network Ten.
Auerbach had been an eleventh-hour witness to the proceedings after the Federal Court granted an application by Ten to reopen the case.
While court documents have not yet been released, media reported the allegedly disparaging comments include Seven’s denial of claims made by Auerbach in the witness box, including that the network paid tens of thousands of dollars on Lehrmann’s hotels and dinner.
The former producer had told the Federal Court last April that he had been tasked with “babysitting” Lehrmann and building a “rapport” so as to convince him to speak publicly about the allegations he raped Brittany Higgins in Parliament House several years earlier.
At the time, Lehrmann’s criminal trial into the alleged rape had been abandoned due to juror misconduct. While he was found on a civil standard to have raped Higgins, no criminal findings were ever made.
In addition to the $200,000 that was discussed with Lehrmann for his tell-all interview, Auerbach alleged Seven was invoiced $750 to cover the “expenditure on cocaine and prostitutes”.
After leaving Seven in 2023, Auerbach joined Sky News Australia but was let go after media reports alleged Auerbach had paid for Thai masseuses for himself and Lehrmann on Seven’s credit card.
During cross-examination by Lehrmann’s then-counsel, Matthew Richardson, Auerbach was accused of trying to humiliate Lehrmann and hating Seven for “sabotaging” his position at Sky News.
“I suggest you are here today to do as much damage to your former employer and former colleagues as you can?” Richardson said.
“I strongly disagree,” Auerbach said in response.
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
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