Law Report Special: Linda Reynolds wins defamation battle against Brittany Higgins

Law Report Special: Linda Reynolds wins defamation battle against Brittany Higgins

Author: ABC Australia August 27, 2025 Duration: 18:00
Former Coalition Federal Minister Linda Reynolds has won her defamation case against former parliamentary staffer Brittany Higgins. It has been widely reported that both parties literally put their houses on the line to fund their legal campaigns and today, almost a year after the trial wrapped, Justice Paul Tottle of the WA Supreme Court ordered that Brittany Higgins pay Linda Reynolds $315,000 in damages and $26,000 in interest. The trial centred on three social media posts written by Brittany Higgins, four years after she alleges she was raped in parliament house by her then colleague Bruce Lehrmann.  The social media posts criticised her then boss Linda Reynolds. Defamation law expert Dr Jessica Lake joins host Damien Carrick to analyse why Higgins legal team defences of truth, fair comment and qualified privilege mostly failed and what this will mean for future defamation cases.  To hear more in-depth expert coverage of the important legal stories and cases of the week search for The Law Report podcast on the ABC Listen app or wherever you get your podcasts. Guest: Defamation Law expert Dr Jessica Lake from Melbourne University Law School

Produced by ABC Australia, Law Report digs into the legal frameworks and courtroom decisions that shape society. This isn't just a summary of headlines; it's a deep, thoughtful examination of how legislation and judicial rulings filter into everyday life, affecting everything from personal liberties to national policy. Each episode unpacks complex issues with clarity, moving beyond the sensational to explain the real human stakes behind high-profile cases and legislative changes. You'll hear directly from legal experts, journalists, and sometimes those personally entangled in the system, providing a grounded perspective on abstract principles. The podcast consistently demonstrates how the law is a living, evolving force, not just a set of static rules. Whether exploring a historic miscarriage of justice, the intricacies of a new bill in parliament, or a landmark international ruling, the conversation is always geared toward making the inaccessible understandable. For anyone curious about the mechanics of power, rights, and governance, this series offers essential context. Tune in for a reliably insightful analysis of how legal stories unfolding in Australia and around the world ultimately define the boundaries of our collective and individual lives.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Law Report
Podcast Episodes
The dilemmas of parole board decision making [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:37
What's it like to have the responsibility to decide if a serious violent offender should be released from prison and allowed back into the community?
Unfair dismissal: From medical marijuana to outsourced workers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:37
Two unfair dismissal cases highlight a changing workplace. A Philippines based legal assistant has just won the right to bring an unfair dismissal case against her former employer. And the case of the stevedore with a me…
Justice Kyrou on the new Administrative Review Tribunal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:36
In his first media interview, Administrative Review Tribunal President Justice Emilios Kyrou outlines some of his new powers. They include the ability to order the publication of low level, routine decisions, which may r…
AI and the law [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:36
How should the law respond to the risks and benefits of Artificial Intelligence?
When can tenants challenge evictions? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:36
How do tenancy tribunals balance the competing needs of tenants and landlords? And why is Victoria - from a tenants' perspective - ahead of the pack?
Corporations and free speech [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:34
To what extent should employers be able to restrict employees from expressing their views and opinions in public?
Protecting the integrity of the jury system [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:26
What happens when serious juror misconduct jeopardises a trial? And how can jurors be protected from outside pressures?
New 'justice visa' for exploited migrant workers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:37
A new 'world-first', 12-month visa allows migrant workers to stay in Australia while they pursue unpaid wages or compensation for other forms of workplace exploitation.