Overview

• Former Queensland judge Walter Sofronoff KC is challenging the ACT Integrity Commission’s March ruling of “serious corrupt conduct” for pre-releasing his 2023 inquiry report on Bruce Lehrmann to journalists.
• Barrister Adam Pomerenke SC told Justice Wendy Abraham that sharing draft findings with ABC’s Elizabeth Byrne and The Australian’s Janet Albrechtsen was an honest public-interest measure rather than a corrupt act.
• The commission has conceded its conclusion that Sofronoff might have committed contempt under the Inquiries Act was “self-evidently absurd and irrational,” undermining a key basis of its corruption finding.
• ACT Integrity Commission counsel Scott Robertson SC defended the adverse finding by arguing unauthorized disclosures breached non-disclosure obligations and threatened public confidence in probity.
• After hearings on July 20–22, Justice Abraham has reserved judgment on Sofronoff’s judicial review, with a final ruling on the appeal expected soon.