Nick McKenzie
Nick McKenzie specialises in long-running investigations that expose systemic wrongdoing in public institutions and powerful organisations, often using confidential sources and collaborative reporting across print and television. He works for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald as an investigative reporter on politics, corruption and public accountability, with a body of work that routinely leads to inquiries, court cases and policy change.
Investigations into political conduct and integrity
McKenzie’s coverage of politics is distinguished by its focus on conduct and integrity rather than day‑to‑day campaign or parliamentary tactics. In his recent work he scrutinises the behaviour and decision‑making of senior political leaders, including pieces that challenge delayed or inadequate responses to misconduct and governance failures.
He writes in a direct, explanatory style that sets an individual decision or scandal inside a broader pattern of accountability problems, making the stakes clear for public trust and institutional credibility.
Across his political reporting he draws on documents, interviews and often legal proceedings to show how alleged wrongdoing unfolds over time, and how internal party dynamics, donor relationships or external influence can distort public interest decision‑making. He is more likely to frame a political story around questions of truthfulness, responsibility and the consequences of concealment than around partisan contest.
Corruption, organised crime and corporate wrongdoing
Beyond formal politics, McKenzie has an extensive record of reporting on corruption and organised crime intersecting with business and government. His investigations have examined organised crime networks, corporate malpractice and links between major companies and illicit activity, including reporting that has helped trigger major inquiries and regulatory scrutiny.
His work on issues such as construction industry corruption and casino regulation shows a consistent pattern: he follows money flows, internal documents and whistleblower testimony to reveal how systems are exploited and how oversight fails.
He often works in cross‑platform projects that combine newspaper investigations with television documentaries, using the reach of both formats to bring complex stories to a wide audience. These pieces typically centre on specific institutions or industries but are written to highlight wider questions of regulatory strength, corporate governance and the protection of whistleblowers.
National security, war crimes and extremism
McKenzie devotes significant reporting effort to national security issues, including allegations of war crimes and the rise of violent extremism. He has investigated alleged misconduct by military personnel, following cases through courts and inquiries and documenting their impact on victims and on the reputation of national institutions. His work in this area stands out for its reliance on sensitive sources, detailed evidence and a willingness to confront contested narratives about patriotism and military culture.
He also covers extremist movements, including neo‑Nazism, with a focus on how these networks organise, recruit and interact with mainstream politics and law enforcement. These stories combine on‑the‑ground reporting with access to internal material and expert analysis, and are written to show both the human consequences and the policy and policing gaps that allow extremist threats to grow.
Whistleblowers and press freedom
A recurring subject in McKenzie’s work is the role of whistleblowers and the conditions under which they come forward. He frequently invites confidential tips and makes clear in public forums that his reporting depends on the protection of sources, especially those inside institutions who risk professional or personal consequences. His investigations often foreground the experiences of these insiders, treating their testimony as central to exposing wrongdoing and pushing for reform.
Alongside this, he engages with questions of press freedom and the legal and political pressures on investigative reporting. His speeches and public appearances emphasise the importance of independent journalism in holding power to account, reflecting the same values that shape his coverage on politics, corruption and national security.
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Andi Yu
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Andrew Bolt
Andrew Bolt is a journalist, columnist and political commentator known for combative conservative analysis across print, online and television. He writes for the Herald Sun, where his national affairs columns and political blog are promoted as driving the news cycle, steering discussion and offering a strong perspective on leadership and cultural conflict. He hosts The Bolt Report on Sky News Australia four nights a week, extending the same opinion-led style to broadcast. Bolt’s core focus is party politics and leadership struggles, using senior figures in government and opposition to argue about values, national interests and ideological direction. He also writes on culture, history, identity and race, including contested narratives about Indigenous identification, and covers populist movements, border control, terrorism and free speech. His work is written as arguments rather than reportage, using direct language, stark framing and sustained campaigns on chosen issues.
Ben Smee
Ben Smee is a public interest reporter whose defining work examines how state power affects justice and vulnerable people. He is Guardian Australia’s Queensland correspondent and senior correspondent, covering Queensland politics, policing, youth crime, domestic and family violence, courts, elections and major policy debates. His investigations into children held in police watch houses exposed institutional failures and won a Walkley Award and Queensland Clarion honours. He also reports on police use of force against vulnerable First Nations people, police culture, victims failed by domestic violence systems, human rights, health policy, electric vehicles, surrogacy and infrastructure spending. His work has appeared across breaking news, features, live blogs and investigative podcasts. A former editor, head of news and political reporter, he combines sustained investigations with daily coverage, returning to institutions and laws to track whether promises of reform produce change.