Lehrmann fights to reclaim diary seized by anti-corruption watchdog
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 07:02 · Archive
Former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann is seeking the return of a diary seized by Australia's corruption watchdog during a raid on his home.
Bruce Lehrmann, a former political staffer, is fighting in Federal Court to reclaim a diary seized by the National Anti-Corruption Commission during a raid on his Hobart home in June 2024. Lehrmann says the blue moleskin diary contains only his personal 'musings and fantasies', not sensitive government information. The Commonwealth argues that parts of the diary contain what its barrister Bora Kaplan described as 'quintessential Cabinet information' which could impact proper government functioning if disclosed.
The diary seizure is part of a broader legal dispute. Lehrmann is suing Special Minister of State Don Farrell and Paul Brereton, the NACC commissioner at the time, claiming the raid was an abuse of power and that he was denied legal funding to fight corruption allegations. The NACC investigated Lehrmann, in what was dubbed Operation Ivanhoe, over allegations he took documents relating to French submarines from then defence minister Linda Reynolds' office for his own purposes in 2019.
The NACC has now abandoned that investigation, informing Lehrmann on Monday it would no longer pursue the probe. However, Lehrmann's applications regarding legal funding denial and his subpoena seeking the diary's return remain ongoing in Federal Court.
How it is being reported
- ‘Musings and fantasies’: Bruce Lehrmann fights to reclaim seized diary from corruption watchdogBruce Lehrmann is fighting to reclaim a diary allegedly containing Cabinet secrets that was seized by the corruption watchdog in a raid on his home.The West Australian · 15 Oct, 06:51
- ‘Musings and fantasies’: Bruce Lehrmann fights to reclaim seized diary from corruption watchdogBruce Lehrmann is fighting to reclaim a diary allegedly containing Cabinet secrets that was seized by the corruption watchdog in a raid on his home.Perth Now · 15 Oct, 06:50
In this story: Bruce Lehrmann · Linda Reynolds · Don Farrell · Paul Brereton · National Anti-Corruption Commission · Federal Court of Australia · Hobart
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