“Journalism at its finest — doggedly pursued over many months, revelatory and with impact.”
About
Adele Ferguson — Investigative Journalist
Adele Ferguson is an acclaimed investigative journalist, working for the ABC's investigative unit, appearing on Four Corners and 7.30 and writing a weekly column. She previously worked at The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and the AFR and was a guest reporter on Nine's 60 Minutes.
She is the author of the best-selling unauthorised biography on Gina Rinehart, the richest woman in the world, and the award-winning Banking Bad: Whistleblowers. Corporate cover-ups. One journalist's fight for the truth.
In 2026, Adele won the 50th Graham Perkin Award — Australian Journalist of the Year — making her one of only four journalists in the award's history to win it twice, having first won in 2015. The Graham Perkin is the most prestigious individual honour in Australian journalism, awarded annually to the journalist judged to have made the greatest contribution to the craft.
Adele is a multi-award winner with two Logies and 13 Walkley Awards, including two Gold Walkleys — the highest honour in Australian journalism — two Graham Perkin Awards (2015 & 2026), 23 Quill Awards including two Gold Quills, 14 Kennedy Awards including two Gold Kennedy Awards, and National Press Club awards including Journalist of the Year. In 2019 she was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her contribution to journalism.
Her work has sparked many national and state inquiries, legislative change and a royal commission into the banking sector. Some of her exposés include the childcare sector, the multi-billion dollar cosmetic surgery industry, the broken Medicare system, the franchise sector, systemic wage fraud including 7-Eleven — which resulted in $173M Compensation Fund to thousands of vulnerable foreign workers — a series on workers compensation, the ATO, the retirement village racket, scams and the engineered stone scandal killing our tradies.
Her investigations into the banks, including CBA's financial planning scandal, the life insurance sector, NAB and IOOF, helped bring about a royal commission.
Adele started her career in journalism after graduating from the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Economics and Arts. She was previously chair of the Walkley Foundation and a previous president of the Melbourne Press Club.
In 2020 Adele joined the La Trobe Business School (LBS) as an Adjunct Professor. She holds a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Adelaide.
External Recognition
Featured on Democracy's Watchdogs
Democracy's Watchdogs
View Profile 
Adele Ferguson
ABC Investigative Unit
“You have to give people a voice which is what I try to do in my work.”
Adele Ferguson has exposed deceptions, scams and heartless profiteering by financial institutions and weak oversight by the nation's regulators. Her work has led to hundreds of millions of dollars being refunded to bank customers and ripped-off workers, as well as a Royal Commission and other inquiries.
She has won more than 50 key journalism and other awards including the Graham Perkin Australian Journalist of the Year, the top prize in the Walkley, Quill and Kennedy awards, a Logie, and was made a Member of the Order of Australia for her services to journalism.
About Democracy's Watchdogs
Democracy's Watchdogs is an independent organisation that profiles Australia's leading investigative journalists — the reporters who hold power to account and have changed the national discussion. Adele Ferguson is featured as one of their flagship journalists.
democracyswatchdogs.orgVideo Interview
Democracy's Watchdogs · Vimeo
Adele Ferguson — In Conversation
A profile interview produced by Democracy's Watchdogs, exploring Adele's approach to investigative journalism, her most impactful investigations, and her commitment to giving a voice to those who have been wronged.
Watch on VimeoCareer Highlights — via Democracy's Watchdogs
1990s
Graduate cadetship at The Advertiser, Adelaide. Bachelor of Economics & Arts, University of Adelaide.
2000
Citi Journalism Award — includes studying at Columbia University, New York.
2003
First Melbourne Press Club Quill — exposé on ASIC chairman David Knott. Knott resigns.
2014
Gold Walkley, Gold Quill, Gold Kennedy & Logie for Banking Bad (Four Corners).
2015
Graham Perkin Award — Australian Journalist of the Year. 7-Eleven investigation triggers $160M repayment fund.
2019
Member of the Order of Australia (AM). Banking Bad published.
2023
Joins ABC as investigative journalist — Four Corners & 7.30.
Career Journey
Career Timeline
From cadet journalist in Adelaide to Australia's most decorated investigative reporter — three decades of holding power to account.
Sources: Democracy's Watchdogs · democracyswatchdogs.org/adele-ferguson
1990s
The Advertiser
Cadet Journalist · Adelaide, SA
Completed a graduate cadetship at The Advertiser in Adelaide after finishing a Bachelor of Economics and Arts and Honours degrees at the University of Adelaide. Moved to Sydney and joined Business Review Weekly.
Bachelor of Economics & Arts (Hons) — University of Adelaide
Graduate cadetship at The Advertiser, Adelaide
Moved to Sydney — joined Business Review Weekly
PrintBusinessFinanceAdelaide
1990s
The Advertiser
Cadet Journalist · Adelaide, SA
Completed a graduate cadetship at The Advertiser in Adelaide after finishing a Bachelor of Economics and Arts and Honours degrees at the University of Adelaide. Moved to Sydney and joined Business Review Weekly.
Bachelor of Economics & Arts (Hons) — University of Adelaide
Graduate cadetship at The Advertiser, Adelaide
Moved to Sydney — joined Business Review Weekly
PrintBusinessFinanceAdelaide
2000
Columbia University
Citi Journalism Award Fellow · New York, USA
Won the Citi Journalism Award for Excellence — the prize includes studying journalism at Columbia University in New York, one of the world's leading journalism schools.
Citi Journalism Award for Excellence
Journalism fellowship — Columbia University, New York
Citi AwardColumbia UniversityNew York
2000
Columbia University
Citi Journalism Award Fellow · New York, USA
Won the Citi Journalism Award for Excellence — the prize includes studying journalism at Columbia University in New York, one of the world's leading journalism schools.
Citi Journalism Award for Excellence
Journalism fellowship — Columbia University, New York
Citi AwardColumbia UniversityNew York
2003
Melbourne Press Club
First Major Award Win · Melbourne, VIC
Won her first Melbourne Press Club Quill award for an exposé into the secret past of David Knott — the chairman of the corporate regulator ASIC. The investigation led directly to Knott's resignation.
Melbourne Press Club Quill — Best Business Story in Any Medium
Exposé on ASIC chairman David Knott — Knott resigns
Quill AwardASICCorporate Accountability
2003
Melbourne Press Club
First Major Award Win · Melbourne, VIC
Won her first Melbourne Press Club Quill award for an exposé into the secret past of David Knott — the chairman of the corporate regulator ASIC. The investigation led directly to Knott's resignation.
Melbourne Press Club Quill — Best Business Story in Any Medium
Exposé on ASIC chairman David Knott — Knott resigns
Quill AwardASICCorporate Accountability
2007
The Australian
Columnist & Senior Business Reporter · Sydney, NSW
Joined The Australian as a columnist and senior business reporter, producing high-profile investigations into corporate governance, executive pay and financial misconduct that began attracting national attention.
Joined The Australian as columnist & senior business reporter
Quill Award — Best Business Story in Any Medium
The AustralianColumnistCorporate Governance
2007
The Australian
Columnist & Senior Business Reporter · Sydney, NSW
Joined The Australian as a columnist and senior business reporter, producing high-profile investigations into corporate governance, executive pay and financial misconduct that began attracting national attention.
Joined The Australian as columnist & senior business reporter
Quill Award — Best Business Story in Any Medium
The AustralianColumnistCorporate Governance
2009
Fairfax Media
Senior Business Reporter & Commentator — SMH & The Age · Sydney / Melbourne
Joined The Age and Sydney Morning Herald as a senior business reporter and commentator. Won three Quill awards in her first year, establishing herself as one of Australia's most formidable business journalists.
Joined The Age & Sydney Morning Herald
3× Quill Awards — first year at Fairfax
SMHThe AgeFairfaxQuill Awards
2009
Fairfax Media
Senior Business Reporter & Commentator — SMH & The Age · Sydney / Melbourne
Joined The Age and Sydney Morning Herald as a senior business reporter and commentator. Won three Quill awards in her first year, establishing herself as one of Australia's most formidable business journalists.
Joined The Age & Sydney Morning Herald
3× Quill Awards — first year at Fairfax
SMHThe AgeFairfaxQuill Awards
2012
Pan Macmillan
Author · Australia
Wrote the unauthorised biography of Gina Rinehart — "The untold story of the richest woman in the world" — a landmark work on Australia's most powerful mining magnate.
Gina Rinehart: The Untold Story published
BookGina RinehartBiography
2012
Pan Macmillan
Author · Australia
Wrote the unauthorised biography of Gina Rinehart — "The untold story of the richest woman in the world" — a landmark work on Australia's most powerful mining magnate.
Gina Rinehart: The Untold Story published
BookGina RinehartBiography
2013
Federal Court of Australia
Source Protection Battle · Sydney, NSW
Served a subpoena by Gina Rinehart to reveal her contacts — resulting in a court battle to protect her sources. The subpoena was later set aside by consent and Rinehart's company ordered to pay Ferguson's legal costs. The case triggered a parliamentary inquiry into CBA and the corporate regulator.
Subpoena by Gina Rinehart — court battle to protect sources
Subpoena set aside — Rinehart ordered to pay legal costs
Parliamentary inquiry into CBA & ASIC triggered
Walkley Award — Best Business Story in Any Medium
Quill Award — Best Business Story in Any Medium
2× Kennedy Awards — Outstanding Columnist & Finance Reporting
Source ProtectionCBAASICWalkleyKennedy
2013
Federal Court of Australia
Source Protection Battle · Sydney, NSW
Served a subpoena by Gina Rinehart to reveal her contacts — resulting in a court battle to protect her sources. The subpoena was later set aside by consent and Rinehart's company ordered to pay Ferguson's legal costs. The case triggered a parliamentary inquiry into CBA and the corporate regulator.
Subpoena by Gina Rinehart — court battle to protect sources
Subpoena set aside — Rinehart ordered to pay legal costs
Parliamentary inquiry into CBA & ASIC triggered
Walkley Award — Best Business Story in Any Medium
Quill Award — Best Business Story in Any Medium
2× Kennedy Awards — Outstanding Columnist & Finance Reporting
Source ProtectionCBAASICWalkleyKennedy
2014
ABC Four Corners
Banking Bad Investigation · Australia-wide
Took time off to work with Four Corners on Banking Bad — an investigation into systemic misconduct in Australia's financial sector. The investigation swept the major journalism awards and helped trigger the Banking Royal Commission.
Gold Walkley Award — Banking Bad
Gold Quill Award — international journalism excellence
Gold Kennedy Award — outstanding investigative journalism
Logie Award — Most Outstanding Public Affairs Report
Walkley Award — TV/AV Weekly Current Affairs
3× Kennedy Awards — Finance, Investigative & TV Current Affairs
Gold WalkleyGold QuillGold KennedyLogieBanking Bad
2014
ABC Four Corners
Banking Bad Investigation · Australia-wide
Took time off to work with Four Corners on Banking Bad — an investigation into systemic misconduct in Australia's financial sector. The investigation swept the major journalism awards and helped trigger the Banking Royal Commission.
Gold Walkley Award — Banking Bad
Gold Quill Award — international journalism excellence
Gold Kennedy Award — outstanding investigative journalism
Logie Award — Most Outstanding Public Affairs Report
Walkley Award — TV/AV Weekly Current Affairs
3× Kennedy Awards — Finance, Investigative & TV Current Affairs
Gold WalkleyGold QuillGold KennedyLogieBanking Bad
2015
ABC Four Corners / Fairfax
Graham Perkin Award — Australian Journalist of the Year · Australia-wide
Second joint investigation with Four Corners exposed systemic wage fraud at 7-Eleven. Won the Graham Perkin Award — Australian Journalist of the Year — the most prestigious individual honour in Australian journalism. The investigation sparked a Senate inquiry and resulted in $160M+ in underpayments being repaid to thousands of vulnerable workers.
Graham Perkin Award — Australian Journalist of the Year
Gold Quill Award — international journalism excellence
Walkley Award — Best Business Story in Any Medium
Quill Award — Best Business Story & Best Digital/Social Media
Kennedy Award — Outstanding Finance Reporting
Logie Award — Most Outstanding Public Affairs Report
7-Eleven Senate inquiry — $160M+ repayment fund for workers
Graham PerkinGold Quill7-ElevenSenate Inquiry$160M Fund
2015
ABC Four Corners / Fairfax
Graham Perkin Award — Australian Journalist of the Year · Australia-wide
Second joint investigation with Four Corners exposed systemic wage fraud at 7-Eleven. Won the Graham Perkin Award — Australian Journalist of the Year — the most prestigious individual honour in Australian journalism. The investigation sparked a Senate inquiry and resulted in $160M+ in underpayments being repaid to thousands of vulnerable workers.
Graham Perkin Award — Australian Journalist of the Year
Gold Quill Award — international journalism excellence
Walkley Award — Best Business Story in Any Medium
Quill Award — Best Business Story & Best Digital/Social Media
Kennedy Award — Outstanding Finance Reporting
Logie Award — Most Outstanding Public Affairs Report
7-Eleven Senate inquiry — $160M+ repayment fund for workers
Graham PerkinGold Quill7-ElevenSenate Inquiry$160M Fund
2016
ABC Four Corners / Fairfax
CBA Life Insurance Investigation · Australia-wide
Reported the Four Corners / Fairfax investigation into CBA's life insurance arm — a story that triggered a series of regulatory investigations. Won the Gold Kennedy Award and multiple Walkleys, Quills and National Press Club awards.
Gold Kennedy Award — outstanding investigative journalism
2× Walkley Awards — Investigative & Business Journalism
NSW Journalist of the Year
2× Quill Awards — Business Story & TV/Video Feature
3× National Press Club Awards — Financial, Business & Consumer Finance
CBA life insurance investigation triggers regulatory action
Gold KennedyWalkleyCBALife InsuranceNPC Awards
2016
ABC Four Corners / Fairfax
CBA Life Insurance Investigation · Australia-wide
Reported the Four Corners / Fairfax investigation into CBA's life insurance arm — a story that triggered a series of regulatory investigations. Won the Gold Kennedy Award and multiple Walkleys, Quills and National Press Club awards.
Gold Kennedy Award — outstanding investigative journalism
2× Walkley Awards — Investigative & Business Journalism
NSW Journalist of the Year
2× Quill Awards — Business Story & TV/Video Feature
3× National Press Club Awards — Financial, Business & Consumer Finance
CBA life insurance investigation triggers regulatory action
Gold KennedyWalkleyCBALife InsuranceNPC Awards
2017
ABC Four Corners / Fairfax
Retirement Villages Investigation · Australia-wide
Joint investigation with Four Corners into Aveo — Australia's biggest retirement village operator — exposing the brutal business model that bleeds retirees dry. The story resulted in ACCC investigations and changes to state legislation.
2× Walkley Awards — Business & Investigative Journalism
Grant Hattam Quill — Investigative Journalism
2× Quill Awards — Investigative & Business News
National Press Club — Excellence in Financial Journalism
ACCC investigation into Aveo — state legislation changes
WalkleyQuillAveoRetirement VillagesACCC
2017
ABC Four Corners / Fairfax
Retirement Villages Investigation · Australia-wide
Joint investigation with Four Corners into Aveo — Australia's biggest retirement village operator — exposing the brutal business model that bleeds retirees dry. The story resulted in ACCC investigations and changes to state legislation.
2× Walkley Awards — Business & Investigative Journalism
Grant Hattam Quill — Investigative Journalism
2× Quill Awards — Investigative & Business News
National Press Club — Excellence in Financial Journalism
ACCC investigation into Aveo — state legislation changes
WalkleyQuillAveoRetirement VillagesACCC
2018
ABC 7.30 / Fairfax
ATO Whistleblower & Multi-Platform Investigations · Australia-wide
Returned to Four Corners with The Age/SMH to investigate the Australian Taxation Office, featuring whistleblower Richard Boyle — who was raided days before the story aired. Also produced ABC 7.30 stories on fake honey, mortgage broking and CASA. Won the Eureka Democracy Award.
ATO investigation — whistleblower Richard Boyle featured
Quill Award — Best Business Story in Any Medium
Kennedy Award — Outstanding Finance Reporting
Eureka Democracy Award — journalism in the public interest
Fairfax Women of Influence Award
National Press Club — Global & Economic Reporting Award
ATO inquiry — changes to ATO processes
ATOWhistleblowerEureka AwardKennedyQuill
2018
ABC 7.30 / Fairfax
ATO Whistleblower & Multi-Platform Investigations · Australia-wide
Returned to Four Corners with The Age/SMH to investigate the Australian Taxation Office, featuring whistleblower Richard Boyle — who was raided days before the story aired. Also produced ABC 7.30 stories on fake honey, mortgage broking and CASA. Won the Eureka Democracy Award.
ATO investigation — whistleblower Richard Boyle featured
Quill Award — Best Business Story in Any Medium
Kennedy Award — Outstanding Finance Reporting
Eureka Democracy Award — journalism in the public interest
Fairfax Women of Influence Award
National Press Club — Global & Economic Reporting Award
ATO inquiry — changes to ATO processes
ATOWhistleblowerEureka AwardKennedyQuill
2019
ABC Books / HarperCollins
Member of the Order of Australia · Banking Bad Published · Australia
Received the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the print and broadcast media as a journalist and business commentator. Published Banking Bad — a national bestseller that became the definitive account of Australia's banking misconduct.
Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
Banking Bad: Whistleblowers. Corporate cover-ups. One journalist's fight for the truth — published
Kennedy Award — Outstanding Nightly Current Affairs
Inducted into ICMA Global Management Accounting Hall of Fame
Order of AustraliaBanking BadHall of FameKennedy
2019
ABC Books / HarperCollins
Member of the Order of Australia · Banking Bad Published · Australia
Received the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the print and broadcast media as a journalist and business commentator. Published Banking Bad — a national bestseller that became the definitive account of Australia's banking misconduct.
Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
Banking Bad: Whistleblowers. Corporate cover-ups. One journalist's fight for the truth — published
Kennedy Award — Outstanding Nightly Current Affairs
Inducted into ICMA Global Management Accounting Hall of Fame
Order of AustraliaBanking BadHall of FameKennedy
2020
Walkley Foundation / La Trobe University
Walkley Foundation Board · Adjunct Professor · Melbourne, VIC
Joined the Walkley Foundation board — Australia's peak journalism body. Also appointed Adjunct Professor at La Trobe Business School (LBS). Won the Walkley Award for Documentary and the Davitt Award for Best Non-Fiction Crime Book for Banking Bad.
Joined Walkley Foundation board
Adjunct Professor — La Trobe Business School
Walkley Award — Documentary (with Nial Fulton & Tony Jones)
Davitt Award — Best Non-Fiction Crime Book (Banking Bad)
Walkley FoundationLa TrobeAdjunct ProfessorDavitt Award
2020
Walkley Foundation / La Trobe University
Walkley Foundation Board · Adjunct Professor · Melbourne, VIC
Joined the Walkley Foundation board — Australia's peak journalism body. Also appointed Adjunct Professor at La Trobe Business School (LBS). Won the Walkley Award for Documentary and the Davitt Award for Best Non-Fiction Crime Book for Banking Bad.
Joined Walkley Foundation board
Adjunct Professor — La Trobe Business School
Walkley Award — Documentary (with Nial Fulton & Tony Jones)
Davitt Award — Best Non-Fiction Crime Book (Banking Bad)
Walkley FoundationLa TrobeAdjunct ProfessorDavitt Award
2021
Walkley Foundation
Chair, Walkley Foundation · Australia
Appointed chair of the Walkley Foundation board — Australia's most prestigious journalism body, which administers the Walkley Awards. Won the Quill Award for TV/Video Feature.
Appointed Chair — Walkley Foundation board
Quill Award — TV/Video Feature (with Lauren Day & Klaus Toft)
Walkley Foundation ChairQuill Award
2021
Walkley Foundation
Chair, Walkley Foundation · Australia
Appointed chair of the Walkley Foundation board — Australia's most prestigious journalism body, which administers the Walkley Awards. Won the Quill Award for TV/Video Feature.
Appointed Chair — Walkley Foundation board
Quill Award — TV/Video Feature (with Lauren Day & Klaus Toft)
Walkley Foundation ChairQuill Award
2022
Nine / ABC
Cosmetic Cowboys & Multi-Platform Investigations · Australia-wide
Produced major investigations including Cosmetic Cowboys — exposing dangerous practices in the multi-billion-dollar cosmetic surgery industry. Won multiple Walkleys, Kennedys and Quills, and the Citi Journalism Award for Excellence for an investigation into an Indigenous community's missing funds.
Walkley Award — TV/Video Current Affairs Long
2× Kennedy Awards — Consumer Affairs & Investigative Reporting
Quill Award — Business News/Feature
Citi Journalism Award — Broadcast Media (Indigenous Corp investigation)
Cosmetic CowboysWalkleyKennedyCiti Award
2022
Nine / ABC
Cosmetic Cowboys & Multi-Platform Investigations · Australia-wide
Produced major investigations including Cosmetic Cowboys — exposing dangerous practices in the multi-billion-dollar cosmetic surgery industry. Won multiple Walkleys, Kennedys and Quills, and the Citi Journalism Award for Excellence for an investigation into an Indigenous community's missing funds.
Walkley Award — TV/Video Current Affairs Long
2× Kennedy Awards — Consumer Affairs & Investigative Reporting
Quill Award — Business News/Feature
Citi Journalism Award — Broadcast Media (Indigenous Corp investigation)
Cosmetic CowboysWalkleyKennedyCiti Award
2023
ABC
Joins ABC — Four Corners & 7.30 · Australia-wide
Left Nine to join the ABC as investigative journalist and senior business commentator, appearing on Four Corners and 7.30 and writing a weekly column. Received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Adelaide.
Joined ABC — Four Corners & 7.30 investigative unit
National Press Club — Health Journalists of the Year
Honorary Doctorate — University of Adelaide (awarded 2024)
ABCFour Corners7.30Honorary Doctorate
2023
ABC
Joins ABC — Four Corners & 7.30 · Australia-wide
Left Nine to join the ABC as investigative journalist and senior business commentator, appearing on Four Corners and 7.30 and writing a weekly column. Received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Adelaide.
Joined ABC — Four Corners & 7.30 investigative unit
National Press Club — Health Journalists of the Year
Honorary Doctorate — University of Adelaide (awarded 2024)
ABCFour Corners7.30Honorary Doctorate
Current
2025 – Present
ABC Four Corners & 7.30
Gold Walkley & Graham Perkin Award — Betrayal of Trust · Australia-wide
Betrayal of Trust — a multi-platform investigation into systemic failures in Australia's childcare sector — won the 2025 Gold Walkley (Australian journalism's highest honour) and the 2026 Graham Perkin Award, making Adele one of only four journalists in the award's 50-year history to win it twice.
Gold Walkley Award 2025 — Betrayal of Trust (Four Corners)
Graham Perkin Award 2026 — Australian Journalist of the Year (2nd win)
Grant Hattam Quill — Investigative Journalism 2026
Quill Award — Best Business Reporting 2026 (Affinity Exposed)
3× Walkley Awards 2025 — childcare investigation series
Logie Award 2025 — Most Outstanding Public Affairs Report
Kennedy Award 2025 — Outstanding Consumer Affairs
Gold Walkley 2025Graham Perkin 2026Betrayal of TrustLogieQuill
Now
2025 – Present
ABC Four Corners & 7.30
Gold Walkley & Graham Perkin Award — Betrayal of Trust · Australia-wide
Betrayal of Trust — a multi-platform investigation into systemic failures in Australia's childcare sector — won the 2025 Gold Walkley (Australian journalism's highest honour) and the 2026 Graham Perkin Award, making Adele one of only four journalists in the award's 50-year history to win it twice.
Gold Walkley Award 2025 — Betrayal of Trust (Four Corners)
Graham Perkin Award 2026 — Australian Journalist of the Year (2nd win)
Grant Hattam Quill — Investigative Journalism 2026
Quill Award — Best Business Reporting 2026 (Affinity Exposed)
3× Walkley Awards 2025 — childcare investigation series
Logie Award 2025 — Most Outstanding Public Affairs Report
Kennedy Award 2025 — Outstanding Consumer Affairs
Gold Walkley 2025Graham Perkin 2026Betrayal of TrustLogieQuill
Career spanning 30+ years · University of Adelaide graduate (Economics & Arts)
Full profile on Democracy's WatchdogsPhoto Gallery
Key Moments
award
2025 Gold Walkley Award — Betrayal of Trust, ABC Four Corners
2025
award
50th Graham Perkin Award — Australian Journalist of the Year 2026
2026
career
Adele Ferguson — ABC Four Corners & 7.30
2024
speaking
Keynote address — journalism and accountability
2023
award
Walkley Awards ceremony — 13 Walkleys across her career
2024
career
Honorary Doctorate — University of Adelaide, 2024
2024
award
Logie Award — Most Outstanding Public Affairs Report
2025
award
Kennedy Awards 2025 — 14 Kennedy Awards across her career
2025
award
Member of the Order of Australia (AM) — 2019
2019
career
National Press Club — Journalist of the Year
2022
10 photos
Click any photo to enlarge · Arrow keys to navigate
Published Works
Books
Two landmark books — a national bestseller that triggered a royal commission, and the definitive biography of Australia's richest person.
National Bestseller2019ABC Books / HarperCollins
Banking Bad
Whistleblowers. Corporate cover-ups. One journalist's fight for the truth.
The explosive account of how Australia's banks and financial institutions put profits before people — and how a group of determined journalists, whistleblowers and victims fought back. The book behind Australia's Banking Royal Commission.
$10BCompensation ordered
Triggered the Banking Royal Commission
BankingRoyal CommissionWhistleblowers
ABIA Award Shortlist2012Pan Macmillan Australia
Gina Rinehart
The Untold Story of the Richest Woman in the World
The definitive biography of Australia's richest person — a story of extraordinary wealth, bitter family feuds, and the relentless pursuit of power. Based on painstaking research and interviews with colleagues, friends, family and former employees.
#1Richest person in Australia
Definitive biography of Gina Rinehart
BiographyMiningWealth & Power
Judges' Citations · 2026
What the judges said
“Clearly the most impactful, disturbing and important investigation of 2025. Unflinching work and truly great investigative journalism.”
“Will send a chill down the spine of any parent. Journalism with impact — profoundly important.”
Citations sourced from the Melbourne Press Club — 31st Quill Awards & 50th Graham Perkin Award, 2026
View All Awards13Walkley Awards
23Quill Awards
2×Graham Perkin
AMOrder of Australia
Career Highlights
Award Timeline
2026
50th Graham Perkin Award — Australian Journalist of the Year (2nd win)
2026
Grant Hattam Quill for Investigative Journalism — Betrayal of Trust (Four Corners & 7.30)
2026
Quill Award for Best Business Reporting — Affinity Exposed (7.30)
2025
Gold Walkley Award — Betrayal of Trust (Four Corners)
2025
Logie Award — Most Outstanding Public Affairs Report (Betrayal of Trust)
2025
3× Walkley Awards — Childcare investigation series
2024
Honorary Doctorate — University of Adelaide
2024
Pain Factory — ABC Four Corners investigation into chronic pain exploitation
2020
Adjunct Professor — La Trobe Business School (LBS)
2019
Member of the Order of Australia (AM) — for significant service to journalism
2019
Banking Bad published — national bestseller (ABC Books / HarperCollins)
2017
2× Walkley Awards — Best Business Journalism & Best Investigative Journalism
2016
Gold Kennedy Award — Outstanding investigative journalism
2015
Graham Perkin Award — Australian Journalist of the Year (1st win)
2015
Gold Quill Award — International journalism excellence
2015
7-Eleven: The Price of Convenience — Four Corners; $173M+ compensation fund
2014
Gold Walkley Award — Banking Bad investigation
2014
Gold Kennedy Award & Gold Quill Award — Banking Bad
2014
Logie Award — Most Outstanding Public Affairs Report
2025 Gold Walkley Award — Betrayal of Trust
Just Announced
Graham Perkin Award — Australian Journalist of the Year 2015 & 2026
50th Graham Perkin Award
Won in 2026 — one of only four journalists ever to win it twice in the award's 50-year history.
Previous win: 2015