Lehrmann fights Federal Court to reclaim diary seized in corruption
Lehrmann seeks return of his seized diary, claiming it holds personal notes, not Cabinet secrets.
Bruce Lehrmann asked the Federal Court to order return of his blue moleskin diary, seized during a June 2024 raid by the National Anti-Corruption Commission at his Hobart home. Lehrmann claims the diary holds only personal musings and notes, not secret Cabinet documents.
The Commonwealth argues parts contain Cabinet-related information that would damage the public interest if disclosed. The diary is part of Lehrmann's larger legal fight with Special Minister of State Don Farrell and former NACC commissioner Paul Brereton, claiming the raid was an abuse of power and he was denied legal funding to fight corruption allegations.
The NACC said on Monday it abandoned its investigation into whether Lehrmann misappropriated secret defence documents. Justice Brigitte Markovic reserved her decision and granted Lehrmann more time to amend his application; the matter returns to court on December 2.
- Blue moleskin diary
- Seized item
- June 2024
- Raid date
- December 2
- Court return date
Why it mattersThe outcome will determine whether Lehrmann can retrieve his personal property and may influence his broader legal battle against the government watchdog.
AustraliaThe case tests the boundaries of what Australian corruption investigators can seize and how courts balance personal privacy against claims of national security.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 8 h ago
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