Brittany Higgins says Bruce Lehrmann treated her 'like his secretary' at Parliament - as his $2,500 per week digs paid for by Channel Seven are revealed

Brittany Higgins told the Federal Court on Wednesday that Bruce Lehrmann gave her menial tasks when they worked together in Linda Reynolds office in 2019.

Network Ten's barrister Matthew Collins KC is questioning Ms Higgins on her movements and interactions before March 22 of that year, when she alleges she was raped by Mr Lehrmann. He denies the allegations.

Ms Higgins was new in the office at that stage, having only recently landed the job of assistant media advisor.

She told the court Mr Lehrmann would lump her with tasks throughout the day, like moving a fridge and trying to secure a desired spot on a phone list.

'I was treated like his secretary,' she said.

'He would give me tasks and I would do them.'

Ms Higgins explained there was 'some pecking order on a phone list and he wanted to be in a particular spot'.

'Things [like] that sound like a task but took me all day,' she said.

On another occasion, she was asked to move a fridge and had to consult with different members of the team as to where it should go.

Bruce Lehrmann was forced to admit in the Federal Court on Tuesday that Network Seven agreed to cover his rent for a year, in exchange for his interviews on Spotlight.

And on Wednesday morning it was revealed that the first apartment paid for by the television network was a beachside apartment in Maroubra, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, boasting 'amazing coastal views', news.com.au reported.

According to the listing, the building was a 'brand new boutique complex comprising a mixture of three-bedroom townhouses, and two and one-bedroom apartments'.

'You will be the envy of your friends living here.'

It also featured an in-ground pool, spa, and a 'gourmet kitchen' with 'top of the range appliances', and was a stone's throw from Maroubra Beach, Mahon Pool, restaurants and cafes.

Mr Lehrmann has been moved out of the Wentworth electorate altogether and now resides in the city's northern beaches, in another property covered by Network Seven.

The weekly rent for the unit was not revealed in court, however, Lisa Wilkinson's barrister Sue Chrysanthou said she 'had the receipts' from subpoenas.

In court on Tuesday, Ms Chrysanthou asked Mr Lehrmann: 'Was it part of that agreement that you were paid for 12 months accommodation by Channel Seven?'

Mr Lehrmann replied: 'That's the only part...that's what I get.'

Ms Chrysanthou continued: 'That occurred from June 2023 and paid until June 2024?'

Mr Lehrmann said: 'Umm, well, yes. For filming in those places.'

He explained that part of the first Spotlight interview, aired on Channel Seven in June, was partly filmed in the Maroubra accommodation.

She then asked how much that was worth, but Mr Lehrmann said he didn't know because the 'network handled the accommodation arrangements'.

Brittany Higgins told the Federal Court on Wednesday that she invited Bruce Lehrmann to the pub with colleagues on Friday, March 22, 2019 - the night she alleges he raped her.

He denies the allegations.

She recalled driving home from Parliament House that evening, dropping her cardogan and work pass at home, and having a glass of wine because she had a Bumble date organised for later that evening.

'I was nervous about my date, I guess,' she said.

She then recalled getting a Taxi or an Uber to The Dock Hotel, and arriving by about 7pm.

Brittany Higgins told the Federal Court that she rebuffed an advance by Bruce Lehrmann, and felt bad because 'I assumed I led him on'.

Ms Higgins was questioned about the evening on March 16, 2019, by Network Ten's barrister Matthew Collins KC, on Wednesday morning.

They had been at a work function together, along with other colleagues.

'I was waiting for a cab or an Uber and he came into my space and he tried to kiss me on the lips,' she said.

'He took a step forward and he tried to kiss me on the lips.'

Dr Collins asked: 'What did you do?'

She said: 'I apologised, I was shocked, I said "no", he seemed embarrassed but I assumed I led him on.'

Dr Collins asked whether she believed she had led Mr Lehrmann on.

'I have no idea,' she told the court.

'I naturally assumed I had done something ... I felt like I had given off the wrong vibe, maybe I was being too talkative and I gave the wrong impression.'

Ms Higgins said Mr Lehrmann's Uber arrived straight away and he left.

She told the court that she didn't want to talk to him about the situation because 'we'd been embarrassed enough'.

Brittany Higgins told the Federal Court she first met Bruce Lehrmann at a pub in Canberra, after a 45-minute chat with a colleague about her new job in Linda Reynolds' office.

She is being examined by Network Ten's barrister Matthew Collins KC about her movements in the weeks prior to March 22, 2019 - the night she alleges she was raped by Bruce Lehrmann.

He denies the allegations.

Ms Higgins was invited to the Kingston Hotel on March 2, 2019, to have a conversation with her colleague Nicky Hamar about a job as an assistant media advisor for Ms Reynolds, who was the defence industry minister at the time.

After their conversation about the job, Ms Higgins and Ms Hamar went to have a drink with Mr Lehrmann and another colleague, Jesse Wotton.

In court on Wednesday, Dr Collins asked Ms Higgins how long she stayed at the pub.

'Not that long because I was supposed to meet a friend after that ... they were joking about trying to keep me there,' she said.

Ms Higgins told the court that she felt obliged to stay at the pub because they were her new colleagues.

She said: 'I was told to stay for another drink.'

Dr Collins said: 'Who asked you?'

Ms Higgins replied: 'Mr Lehrmann.'

Dr Colline asked: 'What did you do?'

Ms Higgins: 'I had another drink, I stayed.'

'I don't remember them being vocal or pushy about it ... I remember Mr Lehrmann took my phone, in jest, so I couldn't leave.'

Mr Collins asked if she took it as a joke, and she said 'yeah, I did'.

Ms Higgins explained she got her phone back, ordered an Uber, and left.

Brittany Higgins arrived at the Federal Court on Wednesday morning, with her lawyer Leon Zwier and her friend Emma Webster, to give evidence in Bruce Lehrmann's defamation trial against Network Ten.

She is being questioned about her political career leading up to March 22, 2019 - the night she alleges Mr Lehrmann raped her in Parliament House.

He has continually denied havign any sexual interraction with Ms Higgins.

On Wednesday morning, the former Liberal staffer told the court she was invited to the Kingston Hotel in Canberra by former colleague Nicky Hamar about two weeks earlier - the day Linda Reynolds was sworn in as defence industry minister.

That was the first day she met Mr Lehrmann.

Ms Higgins recalled Mr Lehrmann was playing pool with another colleague, Jesse Wotton, when she arrived.

'They were making fun of Nicky because she kept having dinner dates with anothe staffer,' she told the court.

Lisa Wilkinson also arrived at the court on Wednesday morning.

For interested readers, the Federal Court's live stream of the Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial can be watched live here.

Bruce Lehrmann is suing Lisa Wilkinson and Network 10 in the Federal Court over her 2021 interview with Brittany Higgins on The Project, during which she publicly alleged for he first time that he raped her in Parliament House in 2019.

While he was not named, he claims friends and former colleagues were able to identify him as the alleged rapist.

He has continually maintained his innocence.

The hearing began last Wednesday. Mr Lehrmann's four-day cross-examination finished on Tuesday.

Brittany Higgins' evidence-in-chief began on Tuesday afternoon and will continue from 9.30am on Wednesday.