Brittany Higgins has declared she finally feels she can "breathe again" after the Full Court of the Federal Court dismissed Bruce Lehrmann's appeal against a landmark defamation ruling. The decision, handed down on Wednesday, 4 December 2025, solidifies the earlier finding that Lehrmann was rightly identified as a rapist in a series of television broadcasts.
A Landmark Legal Battle Concludes
The appeal dismissal marks a definitive end to a protracted and highly publicised legal saga. In April 2025, Justice Michael Lee found, on the balance of probabilities, that Bruce Lehrmann had raped Brittany Higgins in a Parliament House ministerial office in March 2019. This finding was made in Lehrmann's defamation case against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson, which he ultimately lost.
Lehrmann sought to challenge this verdict, but a three-judge bench unanimously rejected his appeal. The judges concluded that Justice Lee's original assessment of the evidence was not only open to him but was correct. This ruling reinforces the serious findings against Lehrmann and represents a significant vindication for Higgins, who has endured years of intense public scrutiny.
Higgins' Reaction and the Path Forward
In a powerful and emotional statement released after the verdict, Brittany Higgins expressed her profound relief. "Today, the Full Court has unanimously upheld the trial judge's findings," she stated. "Finally, after six years, I can breathe again." She described the immense personal toll of the legal battles, noting she had been put "on trial in the court of public opinion" for speaking out about her assault.
Higgins also extended her gratitude to her partner, David Sharaz, her family, and her legal team for their unwavering support. She paid particular tribute to Lisa Wilkinson and Network Ten for their courage in defending the case. Lisa Wilkinson herself welcomed the judgment, stating it was a "good day for journalism" and for survivors of sexual assault across Australia.
Broader Implications and Legal Fallout
The dismissal of the appeal carries substantial weight beyond the immediate parties. It underscores the ability of defamation law to adjudicate serious allegations of criminal conduct in a civil setting. The court's firm endorsement of Justice Lee's reasoning, which included a detailed 800-paragraph judgment, leaves no ambiguity about the factual conclusions reached.
For Bruce Lehrmann, this decision represents a crushing legal defeat. His attempt to overturn the findings has failed, and the court's label of him as a rapist now stands unchallenged. The case also continues to have ripple effects, including an ongoing professional standards investigation into the conduct of police during the related criminal trial, which was aborted due to juror misconduct.
As the legal chapter closes, Brittany Higgins' statement resonates with a sense of hard-won closure. "The justice system, while imperfect, has worked," she said. Her hope, shared by many supporters, is that this outcome empowers other survivors to come forward and reinforces the importance of a free press in holding power to account.
