The man accused of raping former political staffer Brittany Higgins at Parliament House has pleaded not guilty and is likely to be committed for trial next month.
Bruce Lehrmann, 26, was served in early August with a summons to answer a single charge of sexual intercourse without consent.
He is accused of assaulting Ms Higgins, a former colleague, in the office of federal government minister Linda Reynolds in March 2019.
Ms Higgins has consented to being identified as the alleged victim.
Mr Lehrmann was not required to appear when his case was mentioned in the ACT Magistrates Court for the first time on Thursday morning.
The court heard he was currently in Queensland.
Defence solicitor Warwick Korn entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of his 26-year-old client.
Mr Korn's father, barrister John Korn, has been instructed in the matter and has previously told The Canberra Times Mr Lehrmann's defence would be that no sexual activity ever took place with Ms Higgins.
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ACT director of public prosecutions Shane Drumgold SC told the court on Thursday that a brief of evidence had already been served.
The territory's top prosecutor said he consented to Mr Lehrmann being committed for trial.
"We're really in defence's hands as to how we proceed from this point," Mr Drumgold said.
But Warwick Korn sought a four-week adjournment, saying he wanted to check on some details ahead of the committal.
Magistrate Beth Campbell agreed to this, listing the case for committal on October 14.
Ms Campbell said Mr Lehrmann would need to appear on that date, even if only in a virtual capacity.
Ten journalists spaced out across the courtroom to report on Thursday's mention, with one required to sit in a seat usually reserved for legal practitioners in order to maintain a safe distance from others.
Mr Lehrmann would face a maximum penalty of 12 years in jail if convicted.
