Bruce Lehrmann is due in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday for a committal hearing to determine whether the former Liberal staffer will stand trial for two charges of rape.
Nationals leader David Littleproud says the Queensland government has “lost control” of its streets.
“Queensland police force are about 4,000 police short,” Mr Littleproud said.
“I hardly think the Queensland police force are worrying about enforcing mandatory vape laws.”
The 29-year-old allegedly committed the offences during October 2021, but no details have been aired in open court so far.
It is expected the complainant will be cross-examined by representatives of Mr Lehrmann for the first time on Monday, with the court having previously heard lawyers from both sides had reached agreement on the points to be covered.
During previous hearings, representatives for the former Liberal staffer had sought and obtained data from his accuser’s phone.
Bruce Lehrmann is due in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday for a committal hearing to determine whether the former Liberal staffer will stand trial for two charges of rape. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Nikki Short
Mr Lehrmann himself has not been present for earlier hearings, having been excused from attendance by the magistrate overseeing the case.
He has also not been required to enter a plea, although it is understood the 29-year-old is expected to plead not guilty.
While the case was first mentioned in court on January 11 2023, Mr Lehrmann was not publicly named in connection until late last year.
The day before the first hearing, Queensland Police released a statement saying detectives from the Toowoomba Criminal Investigation Branch had charged a 27-year-old man with the alleged rape of a young woman in October 2021.
It is expected representatives for Mr Lehrmann will use a half-day hearing at Toowoomba Magistrates Court to cross examine the 29-year-old’s accuser. Picture: News Regional media
However, at that time, state legislation prevented Mr Lehrmann from being named due to the law requiring the identities of those facing sexual assault charges be suppressed until after the case was committed to trial.
Last October those laws changed – as part of the Queensland government’s response to the Hear Her Voice report – allowing for the names of individuals’ charges to be made public.
In response, representatives for Mr Lehrmann then sought a non-publication order, with lawyers raising the potential for their client to harm himself should his name be published.
A Toowoomba magistrate rejected those arguments, in a ruling that was later upheld at appeal by Queensland Supreme Court Judge Peter Applegarth.
The New South Wales government is seeking to legislate tough new knife laws following a series of stabbings in Sydney.
The proposed new measures are modelled around ‘Jacks Law’ which has run successfully in Queensland.
This comes less than a month after the stabbing attacks at Bondi Junction and Wakeley.
Coinciding with the return of NSW parliament today, Premier Chris Minns will announce his government is drafting new wanding laws.
The proposed laws would give police the power to search people with metal detecting wands without a warrant in order to check whether they are carrying a knife.
On Monday, Patrick Wilson, who is acting for Mr Lehrmann, is expected to use the half-day hearing to test the woman who made the rape claims as part of an effort to have the case dismissed before reaching trial.
During a previous hearing, Mr Wilson sought permission from the court to cross-examine a witness over the contents of their written statement.
In addition to phone data and records, representatives for the 29-year-old had also sought medical evidence, with the scope of both requests subject to challenge by the prosecution.
If lawyers acting for Mr Lehrmann are successful at establishing there is insufficient basis for a trial on Monday then it is likely the case will be dismissed.