Lisa Wilkinson has rejected suggestions that she reached out to politicians for her interview with Brittany Higgins.
In a 7News headlines In Sunday’s interview, leaked audio of a preliminary discussion between Wilkinson, producer Angus Llewellyn, Higgins and his partner David Sharaz, referred to “friendly MPs” who could help keep Higgins’ allegations alive in Parliament.
According to the audio, those names included then-opposition politicians Anthony Albanese and Tanya Plibersek.
Yesterday on Sunrise Plibersek was asked 6 times if she had been approached to raise the alleged assault on Brittany Higgins during Question Time.
But Wilkinson said The Australian on Monday, she did not approach Mrs Albanese or any other politician to raise the allegations during question time.
“Nor have I talked to any other politicians, their aides or apparatchiks,” he said.
There have also been some headlines that Lisa Wilkinson should be stripped of a logie Prize for the same Project interview.
Logies has no rules about voiding awards, but the trophy was awarded to The project itself, accepted by Wilkinson overnight.
Jana Wendt once declined to participate in order to accept her gold logie win (Peter Meakin accepted on his behalf), but there seems to be no precedent for picking up an entertainment award, which the Walkley and Clarions have recently done so in journalistic circles, following a lawsuit.
Preliminary discussions before profile interviews aren’t new to television, but audiotapes rarely make a public forum, and when they do, it feels like pulling back the curtain on Oz the Great and Powerful.
Likewise, any discussions Seven had with Lehrmann prior to their interview have yet to be released…
Legal action continues between Bruce Lehrmann, Network 10 and, separately, ABC.
