Bruce Lehrmann, a former Liberal staffer, has had his request for an interim restraining order denied by the Hobart Magistrates Court. The order was sought against Daily Mail journalist Karleigh Smith, whom he accuses of stalking him. Lehrmann’s legal action stems from a Daily Mail article titled “We found the despised party boy hiding at the end of the Earth,” published on July 1, featuring Smith’s byline.
Lehrmann’s application for the restraining order was rejected by Magistrate Marica Duvnjak, who scheduled a hearing for November. In court, Lehrmann’s lawyer, Zali Burrows, claimed that Smith and a photographer tailgated Lehrmann dangerously while following him in a car, including down a dirt road, which she argued was outside the bounds of standard journalistic practice. Burrows expressed concerns over the effect this had on Lehrmann’s mental health, highlighting the potential risks posed by such close surveillance.
Burrows questioned the necessity of a journalist closely following someone, which could lead to accidents. Meanwhile, Smith’s lawyer, Nic Edmondson, contested the interim order, arguing that Smith was within her rights to report on Lehrmann, as she had only visited Tasmania for one reporting assignment. He maintained that there was no intent to stalk him and pointed out that Lehrmann’s conduct has been widely reported in the media.
Burrows argued that an interim order could provide Lehrmann with “some comfort” by prohibiting any threats or harassment from Smith. However, Duvnjak found that the circumstances did not warrant an interim order, noting that Smith had not returned to Tasmania since the article’s publication. Furthermore, Burrows informed the court that Lehrmann had made an official complaint regarding Smith’s actions.
Lehrmann’s lawyer also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, indicating that Smith had engaged a legal firm in New South Wales that previously represented him, citing the potential for severe ramifications given that the firm held confidential information about him, including his whereabouts in Tasmania.
Lehrmann was absent from the court but is expected to testify during the upcoming hearing. Additionally, he faces separate legal issues in Tasmania, including accusations of motor vehicle theft, which he denies.