The Players
Linda Reynolds.
Linda Reynolds.
Defence, Then the NDIS.
She went from home affairs to defence industry to defence, then took over the NDIS. Bruce Lehrmann worked in her office on the way through.
We are less interested in the trials than in what he had access to.
Her Office
- 2018 and 2019As assistant minister for home affairs her office handles ASIO and Home Affairs briefs. Lehrmann later tells a court he was “signing for the ASIO briefs and the Home Affairs briefs”.[2]
- March 2019She becomes Minister for Defence Industry. Lehrmann moves with her.[2]
- About 20 March 2019Lehrmann leaves a top secret document uncovered in an unsecured office. Her chief of staff has already spoken to him about handling classified documents.[3]
- 23 March 2019He enters the ministerial suite at night. He tells security he needs ministerial documents. In court he suggests he was working on the submarine program. He tells police it was “industry programs, particularly in the air force”.[2]
- Days laterHe is on his way out. In an apology letter to her he admits mishandling a classified document and entering the suite without authorisation.[2][3]
- May 2019She becomes Minister for Defence.[1]
The NDIS and After
- March 2021She takes over the NDIS from Stuart Robert and pauses independent assessments for more consultation.[7]
- 9 July 2021State and territory disability ministers reject the model. She says: “So are independent assessments as we currently understand them dead? Yes, they are.”[4]
- 2023Seven pays Lehrmann’s rent, $4,000 a fortnight, in exchange for interviews.[5]
- 27 August 2025A WA court finds Brittany Higgins defamed her and awards $315,000.[6]
Questions for a Real NACC
- What classified defence and security material Lehrmann could see, and what he did with it.
- Who he dealt with in industry while he worked for her.
- Who paid for his lawyers.
- What she was told about independent assessments when she took over the NDIS, and by whom.
Sources
- Parliamentary Handbook, Morrison ministries. https://handbook.aph.gov.au/ministries/government-ministries/71
- Sydney Morning Herald, Chaos and a whiff of Hunger Games: Lehrmann case shines light on lives of young political staffers, 30 November 2023. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/chaos-and-a-whiff-of-hunger-games-lehrmann-case-shines-light-on-lives-of-young-political-staffers-20231130-p5eo2m.html
- Federal Court of Australia, Lehrmann v Network Ten, Network Ten’s further submissions; Exhibit 23, letter from Senator Reynolds to Bruce Lehrmann. https://www.fedcourt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/116171/Network-Tens-further-submissions.pdf https://www.fedcourt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/113697/Exhibit-23-Letter-from-Senator-Reynolds-to-Bruce-Lehrmann.pdf
- ABC News, NDIS independent assessments model dead after meeting with state ministers, 9 July 2021. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-09/ndis-disability-independent-assessments-model-dead-after-meeting/100277324
- ABC News, Bruce Lehrmann’s rent paid by Seven, $4,000 a fortnight, court told, 5 December 2023. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-05/bruce-lehrmann-rent-seven-paying-4000-per-fortnight-court-told/103192898
- The Conversation, A court has found Brittany Higgins defamed Linda Reynolds. Here’s why, 27 August 2025. https://theconversation.com/a-court-has-found-brittany-higgins-defamed-linda-reynolds-heres-why-235967
- NDIS, statement on Minister Reynolds’ appointment and independent assessments consultation, 2021. https://ndis.gov.au/print/pdf/node/5725
- Photo: Army Art, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cut out and halftoned by Enough. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Senator_Linda_Reynolds.png
