Lisa Wilkinson to Network Ten LIVE blog: Judge's scathing attack on Brittany Higgins and Bruce Lehrmann as he makes cryptic comments about her $2.4 million taxpayer-funded payout

Network Ten CEO Bev McGarvey raised concerns about Lisa Wilkinson's state of mind after a five-hour recorded meeting was leaked in June.

The meeting took place between Wilkinson, The Project producer Angus Llewellyn, Brittany Higgins and her boyfriend David Sharaz in a Sydney hotel room on January 27, 2021.

The purpose of the discussion was to decide how best to approach Ms Higgins' upcoming interview on The Project, which aired a few weeks later in February.

The recording was leaked to the media last year and featured on Seven's Spotlight programme.

Emails between network bosses have been revealed in the affidavit of Ten's senior trial lawyer Tasha Smithies, filed in the Federal Court on Monday in Wilkinson's civil case against Network Ten.

According to Ms Smithies' affidavit, Ms McGarvey forwarded an email to Wilkinson's agent, Nick Fordham, on June 7, 2023.

Mrs McGarvey said: 'I've just spoken to Lisa to see how she's been doing this week.'

“As you know, she's really not well, and I hope she gets professional mental health care? If she is not currently receiving ongoing professional support, please let me know. We can then help her access our independent, confidential support services.

“I explained that we are doing everything we can within the limits of the law to address the situation surrounding the Spotlight story. I'm not sure she got over that. Maybe she was, but she has a lot on her plate.”

Ms McGarvey acknowledged that Wilkinson was 'very upset' by the media reports, but said: 'Obviously we simply cannot make them stop.'

The CEO then said Wilkinson was frustrated at the network not telling her when she would appear on the front page of the Australian newspaper, but said the network was unaware of the publication.

“I just wanted to let you know that we are concerned about her state of mind and that we realize this is difficult for her, noting that Ten's attorneys are taking every action in response to the fallout from the Spotlight story that is legally available given the limitations of the current defamation procedure.'

A week later, Ms McGarvey forwarded Ms Smithies another email to Mr Fordham, requesting an update on Wilkinson's mental health.

“Can you please get back to the note I sent last week about how Lisa is doing; we are concerned about the strain the past few weeks have placed on her mental health,” she said.

“As you know, I spoke to Lisa last week and I didn't feel like she was in a great place. Given all the ongoing reporting, our main concern before we start talking about other projects is that Lisa is well enough to work.”

On Monday, the network argued in court that Wilkinson's legal fees, worth more than $700,000, were unreasonable and should not be covered by the network.

In Ms McGarvey's email to Mr Fordham on June 7 last year, she noted that Wilkinson had mentioned her legal costs and was 'alarmed by the amount'.

Wilkinson hired Sue Chrysanthou SC to defend her at a commission of inquiry into the way Bruce Lehrmann's criminal case was handled, and then again in Mr Lehrmann's defamation case against her and the network last year.

Ms Chrysanthou reportedly charges around $11,000 a day.

Ms McGarvey told Mr Fordham that the network would have preferred Wilkinson to hire someone else, but agreed to cover her costs.

She writes: 'We have objected to Lisa's choice of counsel from the outset, but have nevertheless confirmed that we will reimburse Lisa for the legal costs she has incurred and which Ten must reimburse.

'As you are aware, these arrangements are being discussed between external lawyers who are best placed to resolve the full extent of Ten's liabilities.'