Bruce Lehrmann, a former Liberal Party staffer, appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court for a committal hearing on rape charges related to an alleged incident in October 2021. Lehrmann, who has indicated he will plead not guilty, is accused of raping a woman he met at a local strip club, with allegations including non-consensual acts due to failure to wear a condom. The court will determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed to a District Court trial. This marks the first time Lehrmann has appeared in person for these charges, which were initially mentioned in court in January 2023. Lehrmann has previously faced high-profile allegations of sexual assault involving former colleague Brittany Higgins in 2019. The hearing involves cross-examination of the complainant, with both prosecution and defense agreeing on points of examination.