Overview
- Special Minister of State Don Farrell formally refused Bruce Lehrmann’s application for federal legal funding on October 22.
- Justice Brigitte Markovic allowed Lehrmann to seek leave to amend his case for judicial review, directing him to file by November 12 with any opposition due November 19 and the matter to return in February.
- Appearing without a lawyer, Lehrmann told the court he fears a possible “Christmas raid” by the National Anti-Corruption Commission and plans to seek undertakings that no further action will be taken before the next hearing.
- The NACC executed search warrants at Lehrmann’s home in June 2024 over alleged use of submarine-related information from 2019, a claim he denies, and he says investigators seized two personal diaries.
- Counsel for the Commonwealth and the NACC signaled they may contest the court’s power to declare eligibility for funding, and mediation was set aside given the new focus on review of the funding decision.