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Nicolas Rothwell

Biographical Notes from The Walkley Awards website for 2006

All Media: Coverage of Indigenous Affairs Winners

Nicolas Rothwell and Ashleigh Wilson , The Australian, “Aboriginal Art”

Nicolas Rothwell has worked extensively overseas as a foreign correspondent and is now the special correspondent for The Australian, based in Darwin and assigned to coverage of north Australian affairs.

Ashleigh Wilson began his career with News Limited in Sydney before moving to The Australian's Brisbane bureau in 2001. In 2004, he moved to the Top End as The Australian's Darwin correspondent.

Following speculation, rumours and third-hand reports of unethical behaviour in the Aboriginal art industry, Ashleigh Wilson travelled to Alice Springs to investigate the issue and interview leading artists, private dealers and gallery owners as well as visiting the run-down sheds where many artists were painting.

Nicolas Rothwell followed on with an analysis of the problem and its consequences. Their coverage went on to expose widespread exploitation of Aboriginal artists by unscrupulous dealers – and sometimes by the artists' own relatives.

The story prompted national coverage and a Senate inquiry into Australia's Aboriginal art industry.

Judges' comments
Rothwell's passionate advocacy and Wilson's crisp news reporting stood out. Their unblinking research revealed an unsavoury system in which often gifted artists debase their own work by painting shoddy pictures in return for small wages, used cars and drugs.