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Brian Johnstone

Biographical Notes from The Walkley Awards website for 2005

All Media: Coverage of Indigenous Affairs

Winners Chris Graham, Brian Johnstone, National Indigenous Times, and Laura Tingle, The Australian Financial Review , "Cabinet Leaks"

In late October 2004, the National Indigenous Times (NIT) began publishing a series of leaked federal cabinet documents relating to the government's proposed abolition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) and plans for sweeping changes to welfare delivery to Aboriginal people, including Shared Responsibility Agreements.

Graham and Johnstone engaged Tingle at The Australian Financial Review, who recognised the leaks' importance on two fronts, both in the shift in Indigenous policy and the likely directions of broader welfare policy.

The Times exposed government inaction and failures in Indigenous affairs, while Tingle's stories concentrated on plans for welfare reform. The NIT offices were raided by the Australian Federal Police soon after.

Chris Graham got his start in the media in 1988 as a copyboy with The Sydney Morning Herald. In February 2002, he was part of the small team that launched the National Indigenous Times.

Brian Johnstone is a journalist with more than 30 years' experience in newspapers, radio and television.

Laura Tingle has worked in the federal parliamentary press gallery since 1987 for several publications, including BRW, The Australian, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and now the AFR as its chief political correspondent.

Judges' comments

The result of one of the biggest Cabinet leaks of 2004, these exclusives confirmed the standing of this small, non-mainstream newspaper. The NIT enhanced the impact of the leaks by working in partnership with The Australian Financial Review.