Tragedy strikes one of Australia's most prestigious schools

Tragedy strikes one of Australia's most prestigious schools

9News

A former student at one of Australia's most prestigious schools has died in an accident, just months after another ex-pupil's death who was swept out to sea.

In a post on Facebook, The King's School in Sydney issued a statement confirming the death of "old boy" Oscar Todd.

"On Saturday, April 4, Oscar suffered a serious injury while in North Queensland," the school posted yesterday.

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"Despite the best efforts of medical staff, Oscar did not recover and sadly passed away on Monday, April 6."

In the heartbreaking tribute, the school said Todd's connection to the school ran deep, with his older brother, his father, his uncle and a cousin all former students.

"He (Todd) brought creativity and imagination to all he undertook. He was a valued member of the 4th XV in Rugby and powered the 1st IV at the Head of the River.

"He also served with distinction as a Staff Sergeant in The King's School Cadet Corps Quartermaster Platoon.

"His warmth, humour and steady presence made him a treasured friend to many and a young man admired by staff and students alike

"Please keep Roger, Fabien and Louis Todd in your prayers during this incredibly painful time."

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More people paid tribute to Todd in the comments of the Facebook post.

"Oscar was such a warm and kind person to have around the boarding house," Thomas Elton said.

"He was so well respected by all of the other boys. He will be missed, but I have no doubt his impact on the younger boys he mentored and supported will live on."

Sue-Ellen Long said it was a "massive loss".

"Oscar was such a beautiful soul who was loved by everyone. Thinking of you all in this time of devastating sadness."

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It is the second tragic blow to strike the school's community in the past few months, following the death of 18-year-old Astin Gerstle in December last year.

He had only just completed his HSC in 2025 when he got into trouble in the water at Little Bay Beach at South West Rocks, on the coast near Kempsey in NSW.

A search involving police and Surf Life Saving NSW over several days failed to locate him.

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Can Pauline Hanson's One Nation pass its first federal test?

Can Pauline Hanson's One Nation pass its first federal test?

9News

The success or failure of One Nation's first federal test could hinge on two major elements: gas and water.

One Nation is hot on the heels of the Liberals in the crowded Farrer by-election next month, where the twin issues of gas exports and the health of the Murray-Darling Basin loom large for voters.

Pauline Hanson said she was confident the major parties had lost the respect of voters in the south-western NSW seat over the federal government's controversial plan to buy back more water out of the Murray-Darling Basin.

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"I think both major political parties have a lot to answer about the water issue," Hanson told Nine.com.au.

"That has never been sorted out.

"I believe that we need a royal commission into the Murray-Darling Basin and how that's been handled."

Hanson said Labor and the Coalition were "not in tune with grassroots Australians".

She said the government's mismanagement of resources was pushing voters away, particularly in regional areas.

The hot contest for Farrer may be One Nation's golden opportunity to capitalise on this fatigue.

Farrer, made vacant by former opposition leader Sussan Ley, could become a neck-and-neck battle between One Nation candidate David Farley and Independent Michelle Milthorpe.

The Liberal Party has selected lawyer Raissa Butkowski to run for Ley's open seat, while Labor has yet to field a candidate.

Water reform is a key pillar of One Nation candidate Farley's campaign.

The former jackaroo, irrigation specialist and cotton farmer said he would prioritise "disciplined" water management if elected.

However, The Australia Institute co-chief executive Dr Richard Denniss said One Nation's climate policy misalignment with rural voters might pose a challenge for the right-wing party.

Denniss said "anger" about the federal government's water management wasn't quite enough for struggling farmers.

"Farmers know that climate change is real, and while they may share Pauline Hanson's anger at the major parties, they know that anger won't bring the river back to good health," he explained.

Farley's reputation could prove to be another barrier.

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Minor party Family First announced it would not preference One Nation this election due to "serious concerns about the conduct and record" of Farley.

Farley was accused of sharing erotic posts by OnlyFans creators on Instagram and criticised for previous comments he made about former prime minister Julia Gillard, likening her to an "old cow".

Farley said at the time that his remarks about Gillard were "tongue-in-cheek" and had been taken out of context.

"Politics should be about lifting standards, not lowering them. The character of candidates matters," Family First national director Lyle Shelton said.

"Comments previously attributed to Mr Farley about former prime minister Julia Gillard were offensive and demeaning – not just to her, but to all women.

"This points to a deeper problem."

Denniss said he had "no doubt" Family First's decision to disendorse a One Nation candidate could impact Farley's chances at attracting voters away from the LNP and independents.

Farrer's election result is dependent on complicated preference flows.

"But ultimately it's important for each voter to understand that it is the individual with the pencil in their hand that decides where their preferences go, not any political party," he told Nine.com.au.

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The issue of Australia's gas exports is just as crucial as the Basin for the farming communities in the rural NSW seat.

More than 77 per cent of those surveyed agreed that Australia exports too much gas.

"What our polling makes clear is that a strong majority of all voters in Farrer, and an even stronger majority of One Nation voters, want Australia to get a fairer share of the profits from the enormous amount of gas we export," Denniss said.

"I'm sure that for some voters the health of the Murray is a more pressing problem than the fact that Australia gives so much gas away for free, but the issues aren't unrelated."

A March poll conducted by The Australia Institute found Farley was narrowly leading Milthorpe on primary votes.

Of the 1000 Farrer voters surveyed, 28.7 per cent said One Nation would receive their first preference vote, ahead of the independents at 23.3 per cent and the LNP at 19.1 per cent.

Farley declined to comment when contacted by Nine.com.au.

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Half our petrol supply riding on PM's trip to Asian neighbour

Half our petrol supply riding on PM's trip to Asian neighbour

9News

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has touched down in Singapore, talking up the chances of a deal to lock in supply from the country that already ships half of Australia's petrol.

The hastily organised meeting amid continued worries about Iran's effective closure of a critical shipping route is being pitched as a chance to guarantee gas supplies in return for oil.

Singapore refines Middle Eastern oil and ships fuel around the world, including more than half of the petrol imported by Australia, 16 per cent of diesel and some jet fuel.

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Australia is Singapore's number one gas provider, something Albanese will be looking to stress as he tries to lock in a share of a shrinking supply of Singaporean fuel, if difficulties getting oil to the nation's Jurong Island refinery continue.

"This is a relationship of trust and of mutual interest as well," Albanese said after landing in Singapore this evening.

"We know that it is in both of our countries' interests to engage with each other to make sure that we are both reliable suppliers."

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Nine's chief political editor Charles Croucher said a deal "can and probably should be done".

"The ingredients are all there. The leaders get along. Australia has gas. Singapore has fuel," he said.

"There are commercial complications but they will, and probably already have been, worked out.

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"But that's not job done. As supply diminishes, there will be needing to be more agreements and guarantees from countries like Japan, Malaysia, Korea and even Brunei.

" … These are all individual pieces of Australia's petrol puzzle, and they all are vulnerable to the volatility in the Middle East."

In Queensland earlier in the day, Albanese announced a deal allowing Australian tax dollars to act as a guarantee for private companies securing shipments of fuel.

"This is not business as usual. Importantly this is additional supply to Australia," he said.

The government also announced investment fast-tracks for an electric truck transport hub in western Sydney and fuel hubs in Victoria and South Australia converting biomass - like crop residue and organic waste - into fuel.

Transport Minister Catherine King said it could be "turned into low-carbon liquid fuels for our jets, for our marine industry and for our heavy vehicles".

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor appealed for certainty.

"We need to know that fuel is going to come from Singapore to Australia, on time without cancellations, without delays," he said.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical shipping lane through which 20 per cent of the world's oil flowed before the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.

The narrowest part is only 33 kilometres wide and it sits between Iran and other Gulf countries, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Normally, 130 ships pass through every day. Today, that number is down to just seven.

It's a chokehold on oil supply, and ships that do pass through without any permission put themselves in great danger. Since February there have been close to 30 reported attacks on commercial vessels.

Post-ceasefire, Iran declared it would provide a safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz with coordination from the country's armed forces but what that means exactly is still unclear, including reports it will allow just 12 ships through a day.

The country has sought to formalise a "toll booth" regime charging ships to transit through the passage, splitting the profits with Oman on the other side of the water and using its share for reconstruction.

Australian National University National Security College expert associate Jennifer Parker said she didn't expect large numbers of ships to pass through the strait until there was confidence of the ceasefire holding and more understanding of what Iran was demanding of the ships.

"They won't want to set a precedent that they need to inform a coastal state when going through an international strait," she told 9News. 

"And I think they'll be waiting for reassurance that if Iran starts attacking again, there'll be some sort of response from the US. 

"So it'll take some time to get back through to normal numbers going through that strait."

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Founder of Aussie pantry staple reunites with team who saved her life at dinner party

Founder of Aussie pantry staple reunites with team who saved her life at dinner party

9News

When Carolyn Creswell invited friends to her sprawling rural Victorian home for a dinner party one spring Saturday evening, she never imagined she would be leaving the property in an Air Ambulance.

The Carman's muesli founder and her husband Peter have opened up about the terrifying ordeal in November 2024, when Carolyn choked on a piece of steak during the meal at their Gippsland home.

"We are so blessed to live in a country where we have this level of support," the 52-year-old said of the emergency response.

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"I'm grateful every day and I'm so grateful to still be alive and still be a mum to my kids."

The mother-of-four's traumatic brush with death was captured on home security cameras, showing her getting up from the table of six and coughing on the patio before splitting her head open as she collapsed on the ground.

"It's a bizarre thing to be able to hear the stories I've watched it over and over again to try and work out what I did wrong," she added.

Peter tried the Heimlich manoeuvre but when unsuccessful, they called emergency services.

"She was starting to go purple and I said 'can you breathe?' and then I said 'are you choking?' and she nodded and that's when I knew she was in trouble," he recalled.

"I went inside to get my friend to ring Triple-Zero and he got straight onto them.

"I went back outside and in that split couple-of-seconds, Carolyn had fallen over and there was blood coming out of her head."

After years managing their kids' local nippers program, Peter was trained in life-saving CPR.

He desperately performed compressions on Carolyn for almost 30 minutes while another friend remained on the line to Triple-Zero and a third kept watch at the front gate of the remote property so paramedics wouldn't drive past.

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Peter and Carolyn praised the efforts of Triple-Zero call taker Imogen Disney and Ambulance Victoria ALS Paramedic Trent Jackson, who today reunited with the woman they helped save.

"Peter was absolutely fantastic to stay so calm in such a stressful situation to someone he loved so dearly he did an absolutely fantastic job," Disney recalled.

"We don't really often hear recovery stories, so it was really nice to hear that Carolyn made a full recovery."

Jackson described the moment he was able to remove the pieces of steak that were blocking Carolyn's blocked airways.

"I grabbed a laryngoscope... which is a device we use to prop open the patient's airway so we can have a look deeper into their throat and mouth," he said.

"I could see the end of the piece of steak, which I was able to grab onto with some forceps and extract it.

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"Had another look and could see the tag end of another piece of meat pinched onto that one and pulled it out. It was a significant blockage, so a large piece of steak."

Carolyn was airlifted to hospital with head injuries, nine broken ribs and a broken sternum.

After a week in intensive care, Carolyn has made a full recovery.

Peter believes everyone should know "some form of CPR at a minimum, just to keep your loved one alive until the ambulance can get there", with Carolyn crediting it with saving her.

"There's no way I'd be alive now if [Peter] hadn't known what he did," she said.

"When you're in hospital, in intensive care, and every doctor that walks past says 'it's always the steak, it's always the steak', so my other message to people is chew your steak very well.

"And don't use butter knives, you need proper steak knives because you can go from one moment just having a lovely dinner with your friends to within a few minutes you're in a life or death situation."

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Forgetting dreams could be a sign of Australia's second biggest killer, study finds

Forgetting dreams could be a sign of Australia's second biggest killer, study finds

9News

An Australian-led study has discovered that forgetting your dreams after you wake up could be an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease.

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) research involving 1000 adults found possible links between dreamless sleepers and early biological changes associated with the fatal neurological brain disorder.

"Older people who don't recall their dreams may already be showing early signs of Alzheimer's disease, even if their memory still appears normal," Darren Lipnicki, lead author and Research Fellow at UNSW's Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), said.

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New research published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring, has also shown that participants who could not remember their dreams experienced cognitive decline at twice the rate of those who could.

The researchers found that being unable to remember your dreams wasn't just a simple case of "forgetting."

It might be an indicator that your brain is changing. 

"It may indicate that the brain is producing fewer or less vivid dreams in the first place due to early neurodegenerative changes," Dr Lipnicki said.

"If someone notices they've stopped remembering their dreams later in life, it may be worth paying attention," he added.

Alzheimer's disease has become the second leading cause of death in Australia.

The number of deaths due to dementia more than doubled between 2009 (8500 deaths) and 2023 (17,400 deaths).

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), estimated 425,000 to over 480,000 Australians are currently living with dementia, with Alzheimer's disease accounting for over 70 per cent of these cases. 

Without a medical breakthrough, this number is projected to exceed one million by 2058 to 2065.

"Our findings suggest that changes in this process may be one of the earliest detectable signs of Alzheimer's disease - and a promising target for future research and prevention," senior author and Co-Director of CHeBA Professor Perminder Sachdev said.

This new information highlights the new predictive power of asking about dream recall as a single question medical tool, identifying issues at a low cost and potentially much earlier than possible now.

And it isn't the first time UNSW's Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing has linked dreaming.

A March 2026 international study also held by UNSW found that older adults with frequent disturbing dreams may face a higher risk of dementia.

"We found the strongest association in people in their 60s, which may suggest that disturbing dreams could be an early marker of dementia risk for some individuals, "Dr Lipnicki said.

"It's important to emphasise that not everyone who experiences disturbing dreams will go on to develop dementia."

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Man shot dead in 'targeted' attack at high-rise complex

Man shot dead in 'targeted' attack at high-rise complex

9News

Homicide Squad detectives are investigating how a man was shot dead in eastern Melbourne during what they suspect was a "targeted" attack.

Emergency services were called to an apartment complex at Whitehorse Road in Box Hill about 1.50am over reports of an altercation.

A man, who is yet to be formally identified, died at the scene.

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Victoria Police say inquiries headed by the Homicide Squad are continuing this morning.

"A crime scene has been established, and the investigation remains ongoing.

"Police are treating the incident as targeted."

Neighbours were evacuated during the police operation, reports 9News.

One said they heard a scream and a loud bang.

"It was pretty scary ... it was really, really scary to hear the screams."

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit https://ift.tt/CubXNQU.

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The super-K flu strain is spreading fast - and that's 'extremely dangerous'

The super-K flu strain is spreading fast - and that's 'extremely dangerous'

9News

There's a horror flu season on the horizon as the new super-K flu strain spreads across Australia, and it may have already claimed several lives.

The fast-moving strain first emerged in the US, where it killed dozens of children before leaping to Australian soil.

The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has urged Australians to book in their annual flu shot as seasonal influenza and super-K strain infection numbers rise.

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Bupa chief medical officer Dr Nic Woods said super-K has already driven unusually high per-winter flu activity, including a spike in recorded deaths in 2026.

"We cannot afford to be complacent or ignore the warning signs," he said in a statement.

"Super K is spreading earlier and faster than flu strains seen in previous seasons."

Woods said high flu activity combined with low vaccination rates will make this flu season "extremely dangerous and potentially deadly" for high-risk groups, like children and the elderly.

Here's everything you need to know about the new flu strain that experts are so worried about this flu season.

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What are the symptoms of super-K flu?

Though the super-K flu strain has undergone significant mutations, they mostly affect how the virus behaves and spreads, not its symptoms.

That means the symptoms of super-K flu are very similar to typical seasonal influenza symptoms.

Common symptoms include a cough or sore throat, headache, fever or chills, extreme tiredness, and body aches.

Symptoms usually come on suddenly and can worsen rapidly.

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How long does the super-K flu last?

The duration of a super-K flu infection can vary, much like a typical seasonal flu.

Some people only experience mild symptoms for a few days, while others may experience symptoms for a week or more.

When am I most contagious with the super-K flu?

You can be contagious before symptoms begin with any flu, including the super-K strain.

Most adults can be contagious from the day before symptoms start and remain contagious for three to five days.

Children tend to remain contagious longer, usually for the first seven to 10 days of their illness.

How bad is the super-K flu strain?

This is a difficult question to answer.

Research currently suggests that the super-K strain spreads very quickly, faster than typical seasonal influenza, which can make it challenging to contain.

However, the super-K strain does not appear cause more severe disease per infection.

That means while you may be more likely to come into contact with the strain this flu season, it is not guaranteed to cause more severe symptoms.

But the CSIRO reported that historically, flu seasons dominated by strains from the H3N2 have been linked to more severe outcomes at the population level.

That's why many scientists and health experts are urging Australians to get vaccinated.

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Does the flu shot work against super-K flu?

Because the super-K strain has mutated significantly, the current flu vaccine may not be as effective at preventing super-K infection compared to existing flu strains.

However, the flu shot can still reduce the severity of symptoms.

Early data has shown that you're less likely to need a visit to the emergency department if you catch the super-k strain but have already received the flu shot.

But only one in three Australians were vaccinated against influenza last year.

The RACGP, CSIRO, and health organisations are urging Aussies to ensure they get their flu shot this year to better protect themselves and others.

How long should I stay home if I have the flu?

Anyone with the flu, be it super-K or another strain, should stay home and avoid close contact with others until they've recovered.

At a minimum, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever breaks.

Avoid contact with pregnant women, infants, older people, and anyone with a compromised immune system while contagious.

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Loans for electric cars surge 90 percent in one month amid fuel crisis

Loans for electric cars surge 90 percent in one month amid fuel crisis

9News

More Australians are preparing to pull the plug on their petrol cars, with new data revealing a massive 90 percent surge in loans for electric vehicles over the past month.

Petrol prices have climbed by 30 percent since the war broke out in the Middle East on February 28, strangling the fuel supply routes through the Straight of Hormuz.

With the cost of diesel now well over $3 a litre and the price of unleaded fuel hovering at around $2.20 in major cities, the prolonged pain at the bowser is causing motorists to rethink whether they want to remain at the mercy of rising fuel prices and supply issues.

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According to non-bank lender MONEYME, applications for its Autopay EV loans nearly doubled between February and March 2026.

However, the shift isn't just a monthly blip, with EV demand surging 270 per cent year-on-year.

Meanwhile, the appetite for traditional fuel-only vehicles has plummeted, dropping 22 per cent in the last month alone.

"What is notable is the speed of change," Clayton Howes, CEO of MONEYME said. 

"A 90 per cent increase in a single month indicates that external shocks, including fuel shortages and price spikes, are accelerating decisions that may otherwise have taken years."

Demand for hybrid vehicles has also risen with the fin-tech lender, climbing 44 per cent year-on-year, and 9 per cent in the last month.

The shift in sentiment towards electric cars is echoed in carsales.com.au data, which showed searches for electric vehicles on the platform tripled in March compared to late February.

According to the carsales data, 55 per cent of Australians would now consider purchasing an EV—a massive jump from the 35 per cent recorded only last November. 

"Australians are responding directly to fuel price volatility and supply uncertainty," Howes added. "Access to finance is becoming a key enabler as more Australians move to secure vehicles that reduce their exposure to fuel price risk."

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Sydney expat slapped with drink driving charge on a Lime Bike

Sydney expat slapped with drink driving charge on a Lime Bike

9News

A British expat has copped a fine for driving under the influence in Sydney while riding a Lime Bike on a footpath.

The maximum penalties for a first DUI offence in NSW include a court-imposed fine of $3300 and 18 months imprisonment.

Shocked that they could even be charged with DUI while riding an e-bike, the expat went to social media for lawyer recommendations.

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"That's f--king tragic," one person responded to the post.

Another said they knew someone who had lost their licence after being charged with DUI on a bike.

Lime has strict rules against riding while intoxicated and requires riders to follow the same blood alcohol content laws that apply to their driver's license.

Riders without a license must have a BAC of zero.

A Transport for NSW spokesperson also confirmed it is an offence to ride a bicycle or e-bike while under the influence of alcohol or drugs in NSW.

"Driving while impaired can affect a rider's ability to properly control a bike and place themselves and other road users, including pedestrians, at risk," they told nine.com.au.

"Penalties can include court-imposed fines, licence disqualification and, in more serious matters, imprisonment."

In fact, it's illegal to ride a bike, including e-bikes, across most of Australia.

Can you get a DUI on an e-bike?

It's an offence to ride an e-bike under the influence of drugs or alcohol in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, the ACT, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania.

It's technically not illegal to ride while intoxicated in the NT, but you can be fined $25 for riding dangerously.

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What are the penalties for riding an e-bike under the influence?

Penalties for riding an e-bike under the influence vary, depending on the jurisdiction where the offence occurs.

In NSW, the maximum penalty for a first offence is $3,300, imprisonment for 18 months, or both.

In Victoria, compliant e-bikes are considered bicycles, so riders are subject to the same rules as cyclists.

Those caught consuming alcohol while riding may face fines starting at $254.

Non-compliant e-bikes are considered motorcycles so riders are subject to the same rules as motorists.

Those caught riding under the influence face fines starting at $508, minimum three-months disqualification, and losing their license.

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In Queensland, e-bike riders caught riding under the influence face a $500 fine.

In the ACT, the same drink driving rules and penalties apply to e-bike riders as car drivers.

Penalties include fines starting at $825 and a minimum three-month disqualification.

In WA, e-bike riders are subject to the same drink and drug driving laws as motor vehicle drivers with fines starting at $1000.

In SA, e-bike riders caught riding while drunk face fines starting at $500, minimum three months disqualification, and demerit points.

In Tasmania, it's illegal to ride any bike while intoxicated, including e-bikes.

Those caught breaking the rules face fines starting at $410, minimum three months disqualification, and potential jail time for repeat or serious offenders.

Can you lose your license for drink driving on an e-bike?

It depends on the state or territory where you're caught riding under the influence, and whether the case goes to court.

Riding an e-bike while intoxicated may lead to demerit points, disqualification and/or license suspension in NSW, Victoria, WA, SA, the ACT, and Tasmania.

What is the alcohol limit for e-bike riders in Australia?

It is illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.05 per cent or higher in Australia.

The same limit applies to drink riding in the states and territories that enforce drink riding offences.

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Do drink driving laws apply on bike paths and footpaths?

Drink riding laws apply wherever you are riding, including on roads, bike paths and footpaths.

"Road safety is a shared responsibility, and we all have a role to play in helping each other get to our destinations safely," the Transport for NSW spokesperson said.

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Trial date set for Lehrmann rape allegations

Trial date set for Lehrmann rape allegations

9News

Former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann's trial date to face rape charges can now be revealed after an application for a blanket non-publication order over the case was withdrawn.

Lehrmann, 30, is set to stand trial from November 2, just over five years after the alleged offences took place at a house in regional Queensland.

Lawyers for Nine Entertainment, News Corp and the ABC were informed last week that Lehrmann was no longer attempting to ban all media coverage of his court case before the trial.

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District Court Judge Deborah Richards on Tuesday confirmed the temporary non-publication order over the entire case had been allowed to expire.

On March 18, defence solicitor Zali Burrows had sought blanket suppression over the case, saying further news reports would generate "adverse publicity" and serve as a "vehicle for commentating on social media".

"We seek (the order) to preserve for Mr Lehrmann to have a fair trial," Ms Burrows said.

Judge Richards imposed the temporary non-publication order next day with the media organisations due to challenge a permanent order at a hearing on April 9.

When Ms Burrows was asked by Judge Richards if Lehrmann would seek a jury trial or a trial before a judge alone.

"It may be (before a jury). Mr Lehrmann is still deciding," Ms Burrows said.

Lehrmann is accused of raping a woman twice during the morning of October 10, 2021 after a night out in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane.

He was charged in January 2023 and committed in July 2024 to stand trial following hearings in Toowoomba Magistrates Court into the reliability of the alleged victim's evidence.

Lehrmann and the woman met during the previous night at a Toowoomba strip club.

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She told police she and Lehrmann discussed their political beliefs before catching a taxi to his friend's house, having consensual sex and consuming cocaine about 4am.

The woman said she was woken about 10am by Lehrmann sexually assaulting her.

Lehrmann, who is on bail, has yet to formally enter a plea but previously indicated he would contest the charges.

Lehrmann previously worked in Canberra's Parliament House for then Liberal senator and minister Linda Reynolds.

He sued Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson for defamation over an interview with former colleague Brittany Higgins, who claimed Lehrmann raped her in the ministerial office in 2019.

A criminal trial in the ACT on the charge of raping Ms Higgins was aborted in 2023 due to juror misconduct.

Lehrmann lost the defamation case after a Federal Court judge found in 2024, to the civil standard of proof, that he raped Ms Higgins.

Lehrmann has taken his case to the High Court in his third bid to win the defamation case.

If Lehrmann is denied further appeal, he could be forced into bankruptcy due to court orders he pay a $2 million legal bill to Ten.

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