Alleged rapist Bruce Lehrmann, the man at the centre of the Brittany Higgins debacle in Canberra, has been charged with rape in another case in Toowoomba, Queensland. The old saying, where there’s smoke there’s fire, is proving its staying power in the truism stakes. Lehrmann had become the poster boy for right wing conservatives in Australia. Here was the man at the heart of the story that directly contributed to bringing down the dysfunctional Morrison government. Alleged rape in parliament house by Liberal Party staffer in Minister Payne’s office is not the kind of headline the Coalition wanted. Here was the alleged rapist back at it again.
Bruce Lehrmann Back At It Again – Allegedly
Has Bruce Lehrmann grown emboldened by his ability to walk free after allegedly raping Brittany Higgins in the highest offices in the land? The bloke suing journalists and media organisations for besmirching his good name. Does he consider himself untouchable now? Not in Queensland it seems. Indeed, does Mr Lehrmann have a problem with his sexual proclivities? Is he allegedly a serial rapist? It is important to remember that, although not convicted in the Brittany Higgins trial, Bruce Lehrmann was not acquitted either, rather a mistrial was called because of the actions by one juror and the decision was made not to pursue another trial for the safety and mental health of the alleged victim – Brittany Higgins.
Alleged Rape Charges Back In The Spotlight
Channel 7 and its Spotlight program made Bruce Lehrmann their celebrity cause. The Aussie male hard done by a political witch hunt. Plenty of blokes got onboard and were in Bruce’s camp when it came to him being allegedly but falsely charged with rape. Lots of men like to believe that many sexual abuse claims are false. The actual evidence, in terms of national statistics, does not back this up by the way.
The Murdoch press, News Corp, ran regular feature articles blaming the whole thing on the ALP and political correctness gone mad. This right wing beat up is a popular stratagem across the western world. The anti-woke thing is a catch-all for sensitive masculine egos decrying any and all criticism.
Trial By Media In Australia
Trial by media is what the newspapers and media organisations want. Nothing sells papers and advertising like a juicy crime. Think of Lindy Chamberlain and Kathleen Folbigg. Murders are best but a rape will do, especially one involving high profile figures. Higgins and Lehrmann were no celebrities at the time but they sure are now. It was the Canberra setting and the indirect involvement of the PM and government ministers which gave the story legs. The hero of white suburban Australia has been allegedly at it again with the ladies.
We will find out more as the matter is scheduled before the Toowoomba court in the coming weeks. Will Bruce beat another charge of rape? Stay tuned for further revelations.
“Justice Applegarth also commented, at one point, that Mr Lehrmann had presented in three television broadcasts between June and August this year and this was hard to reconcile with the psychologist’s report.
“I hope that Channel 7 paid him or the solicitor a lot of money … for the consequences it has had on this application, if nothing else,” he quipped.”
(https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-26/bruce-lehrmann-toowoomba-court-rape-charges/102962680)
Gender Bias Cemented Into Justice System In Australia
Pondering on how Australia adjudges those crimes that capture the attention of the nation. It is interesting to note that both Lindy Chamberlain and Kathleen Folbigg were convicted by the media prior to actually being convicted by the courts. Whereas someone like Chris Dawson managed to live out the lion’s share of his life despite, as we know now, murdering his wife decades ago. The fact that police did bugger all about a loving mother suddenly disappearing, accepting a cock and bull story about her running off, and Chris Dawson immediately shacking up with the babysitter. It beggars belief and reveals the cultural gender bias cemented into our justice system. Police are primarily men and men like to believe other men. Indeed, they are hardwired to do so; and the reports of the mishandling of countless domestic violence (DV) incidents confirms this.
Sending a bloke on a 2 week online course about bias and diversity in policing is not going to make a leopard change his spots. Get real Australia!
Robert Sudha Hamilton is the author of Money Matters: Navigating Credit, Debt, and Financial Freedom.
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