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to face rape charges can now be revealed after an application for a blanket non-publication order over the case was withdrawn.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.
Bruce Lehrmann will face rape charges in court in November. (Kate Geraghty/Nine)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.
Bruce Lehrmann and his lawyer Zali Burrows arrive at the Federal Court this morning for day two of his appeal against the result of his failed defamation case, in Sydney, Thursday, 21 August 2025. Photo: Sam Mooy / The Sydney Morning Herald (Sam Mooy)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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