The former judge who led an inquiry into Bruce Lehrmann’s trial has plans to reveal all in a speech later this month.
Walter Sofronoff KC, the former judge who led the inquiry into Bruce Lehrmann’s trial before being accused of leaking his own report, will break his silence over the fallout in a speech on “politics, journalism and social media vs the presumption of innocence”.
After declining to comment on the fallout this week, Mr Sofronoff has announced he plans to canvas the controversy in an address to the Queensland Press Club.
It is titled Politics, journalism and social media vs The presumption of innocence and promises that Mr Sofronoff “will address the handling of allegations made by Brittany Higgins against Bruce Lehrmann and issues raised”.
“Queensland Media Club invites you to an audience with prominent jurist Walter Sofronoff KC on Politics, journalism and social media v The presumption of innocence,’’ the website states.
“Mr Sofronoff has now completed his inquiry into the handling of allegations made by Brittany Higgins against her former colleague Bruce Lehrmann.
“His address to the Queensland Media Club will discuss the issues raised including contemporary challenges to a fundamental legal principle.
“The event will be hosted by two-time Gold Walkley Award winner Hedley Thomas, of The Australian newspaper.”
At a press conference on Monday, the ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr accused Mr Sofronoff of “a lapse of judgment” after he confirmed in writing he gave an advance copy of his report to two media outlets — The Australian newspaper and the ABC — with the former being provided with a copy before the government.
“Each of them was given a copy upon express agreement by them that the copy was embargoed until the government had published it,’’ Mr Barr claimed.
The Australian has denied breaching an embargo and declared it will “not reveal” its sources Former Lord judge.
The ACT’s Inquiries Act prohibits any member of a board of inquiry from sharing any report or its contents and contains penalties in the unlikely event an official seeks to “produce to any person, or permit any person to have access to” an inquiry report.
Brittany Higgins and Bruce Lehrmann. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage
According to Mr Barr, Mr Sofronoff explains in the letter he believed it was “possible to identify journalists who are ethical” and that he was entirely confident neither of the reporters he provided the report to would “take the serious step of betraying his trust by behaving unprofessionally”.
“The government has now sought advice on whether the premature release of the report constitutes a breach of the Inquiries Act and what further action is required,” Mr Barr said.
According to Mr Barr, Mr Sofronoff also confirmed in writing that he “sometimes told journalists what appeared” to him “to be the issues that would arise on the following day’s hearing”.
“That, I think, is also concerning. There are many possible pathways. It might be that a full referral to the integrity commission to examine the conduct of the inquiry may be a pathway,’’ Mr Barr said.
News.com.au has previously published extracts from Mr Sofronoff’s letter that outlines his reasoning.
“It served to ensure that when the government published the report that those two journalists would be in a position swiftly and promptly to write and broadcast stories that would have at their foundation a true appreciation of the result of the work of the commission,’’ Mr Sofronoff wrote.
Mr Barr denied that Mr Sofronoff may have been justified in leaking the report on an embargoed basis to ensure it wasn’t going to be “suppressed or redacted in some way”.
“No. Unequivocally, no,’’ Mr Barr said.
“I was very clear. He breached his good faith to me by releasing that report ahead of giving it to who he was meant to under the legislation.”
News.com.au has contacted Mr Sofronoff for comment.
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