As National Political Editor for News Corp Australia, Clare Armstrong spearheads coverage of federal policymaking across six major publications. Her work consistently drives national conversations about:
Armstrong seeks stories that:
“The best political journalism doesn’t just report decisions—it examines who benefits, who gets overlooked, and how systems could work better.”
Armstrong’s career began in regional newsrooms, where she honed her ability to translate complex policy debates into accessible narratives. Early assignments covering local council disputes and state health reforms laid the groundwork for her signature style: detail-oriented yet deeply humanized storytelling. Her 2018 investigation into aged care funding shortages earned a Walkley Award nomination, cementing her reputation as a journalist who balances empathy with accountability.
This 2024 exclusive revealed behind-the-scenes negotiations between the Albanese government and tech giants over proposed age verification laws. Armstrong obtained leaked cabinet documents showing Meta’s threat to withdraw from Australian markets if forced to implement facial recognition technology. Her analysis highlighted the tension between child safety advocates and digital privacy experts, quoting cybersecurity researchers who warned about data vulnerability risks. The piece became a benchmark for tech policy reporting, cited in three parliamentary inquiries.
Armstrong’s budget deep dive contrasted Treasury modeling with on-the-ground realities for working families. Through interviews with single parents in Western Sydney and quantitative analysis of means-testing thresholds, she exposed how the proposed changes would disproportionately affect middle-income earners. Her follow-up piece tracking crossbench negotiations led to three amendments to the final legislation.
This 2023 investigative report mapped the geopolitical divides in Australia’s clean energy transition. Armstrong obtained never-before-seen maps of proposed transmission corridors, revealing how state rivalries over manufacturing hubs threatened to derail net-zero commitments. Her inclusion of Indigenous land council perspectives set a new standard for energy policy reporting.
Armstrong prioritizes stories that examine how laws work in practice rather than political theater. A successful 2023 pitch about telehealth rebate discrepancies led to her exposé on rural healthcare access, which directly influenced Medicare compliance reforms. When approaching her, emphasize:
Her analysis of the 2024 federal gas tax credits package included perspectives from Queensland LNG workers and Victorian manufacturers—a structure that’s become her trademark. Pitches should identify specific electorates or industries facing disproportionate impacts from national decisions.
Armstrong’s team regularly mines documents from agencies like the ACCC and AEC. A 2022 tip about undisclosed political donations in the Northern Territory resulted in her award-nominated series on mining lobby influence. Provide annotated summaries of public records with clear news hooks.
Awarded for her investigation into parliamentary workplace culture reforms, which combined anonymous staffer testimonials with analysis of $4.3 million in taxpayer-funded NDAs. The judging panel noted her “relentless focus on systemic change over sensationalism.”
Recognized for developing News Corp’s first interactive policy tracker, allowing readers to monitor legislation from proposal to implementation. This tool has been adopted by seven Australian universities as a civic education resource.
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:
