Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial LIVE updates: Why the livestream may be CUT this week - as TV producers and a politician are called to testify

Fiona Brown, Linda Reynolds' former chief of staff, will evidence this week.

Ms Brown's doctors advised her not to give evidence due to mental health struggles, but her barrister told the court she would like to contribute.

The court's livestream may be temporarily disabled while she is cross-examined.

Ms Brown was working for Ms Reynolds when she took over the defence industry portfolio in early 2019.

Brittany Higgins and Bruce Lehrmann were working as advisors for Ms Reynolds at that time.

Ms Higgins claims Ms Brown was the first person she disclosed her alleged rape to, in a private meeting in the last week of March that year.

Ms Brown was the only person who took notes immediately after those meetings and was once called 'the most important person in this case' due to that fact.

She previously told a court that Ms Higgins said Mr Lehrmann was allegedly on top of her, but that she didn't use the word 'rape'.

Ms Brown has continually denied that she failed to support Ms Higgins after she made her rape allegations.

She gave evidence at Mr Lehrmann's criminal trial last year but ran out of the courtroom in tears.

Veteran television boss Peter Meakin is set to give evidence on Monday, along with The Project producer Chris Bendall and Queensland MP Sam O'Connor.

The case is expected to end this week, with final submissions expected on Thursday or Friday.

Bruce Lehrmann is suing Lisa Wilkinson and Network 10 in the Federal Court over her 2021 interview with Brittany Higgins where she alleged he raped her in Parliament House in 2019.

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

He has continually maintained his innocence.

Lisa Wilkinson finished her evidence on Friday.