Cameron Gooley is an award-winning journalist at SBS Australia, specializing in Indigenous rights, criminal justice reform, and truth-telling processes. His work consistently bridges policy analysis with community narratives, particularly focusing on systemic failures affecting First Nations peoples.
We’ve followed Cameron Gooley’s work as a journalist deeply embedded in Australia’s social justice landscape. Specializing in Indigenous affairs and systemic policy critiques, Gooley has built a reputation for amplifying marginalized voices through SBS and NITV. His career trajectory reflects a consistent focus on holding institutions accountable, particularly in criminal justice reform and truth-telling initiatives. From early contributions to student publications like Honi Soit to his current role at SBS, Gooley’s work bridges grassroots advocacy and national policy debates.
This investigative piece critiques Victoria’s 2025 bail law reforms, which reversed progressive changes made after the 2020 death in custody of Veronica Nelson. Gooley highlights how the government’s “toughest in Australia” stance contradicts recommendations from the Yoorrook Justice Commission. The article weaves testimonies from Gunditjmara and Wotjobaluk Elders with legal analysis, exposing how the laws disproportionately target Indigenous communities. Its impact was immediate: Aboriginal legal services cited it in their federal appeals, and human rights groups used it to pressure the UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Rights.
Covering a 2025 Senate inquiry, Gooley dissects Australia’s failure to meet UN child rights obligations. The piece centers on Wirdi barrister Tony McAvoy SC’s call for federal intervention in state youth detention systems. Through interviews with advocates like Gamilaraay commissioner Natalie Lewis, Gooley reveals how punitive approaches entrench cycles of trauma. The article’s data-driven approach—contrasting $1.2B in detention costs versus $300M in community programs—became a key reference for parliamentary debates on justice reinvestment.
Marking the 17th anniversary of the National Apology, this multimedia piece combines archival audio of Kevin Rudd’s 2008 speech with contemporary interviews. Gooley profiles Yorta Yorta survivor Ian Hamm and Eastern Arrente scholar Dr. Jenni Caruso, emphasizing the unmet recommendations of the 1997 Bringing Them Home report. The article’s companion podcast episode featuring Stolen Generations descendants spurred a 40% increase in redress scheme applications within two weeks of publication.
Gooley prioritizes stories that highlight community-driven alternatives to incarceration. His coverage of the Maranguka Justice Reinvestment Project in Bourke (Article 2) demonstrates this focus. Pitches should include concrete data on recidivism reduction and direct quotes from Aboriginal legal services.
Articles like Stolen Generations survivors show Gooley’s emphasis on intergenerational trauma. Successful pitches will connect current policies to historical patterns (e.g., comparing 1960s assimilation policies to modern child removal rates).
While Gooley reports on deaths in custody, his work (Article 1) avoids sensationalism. Pitches should highlight institutional accountability gaps—e.g., coronial inquest recommendations ignored by multiple governments.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Politics, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
