The reporting on soldier Ben Roberts-Smith and his alleged war crimes is set to be a sellout feature in this year’s 2023 Newcastle Writers Festival.
On July 28 the former steel city will welcome investigative journalists Chris Masters and Nick McKenzie to speak about the downfall of one of the country’s most decorated servicemen.
The event will run from 7.30pm to 8.45pm at the University of Newcastle’s Conservatorium of Music.
It comes after a costly defamation case launched by Roberts-Smith that found the pair of journalists were correct in their reporting of his war crimes.
The duo is both using the opportunity to speak of their experiences and launch books they have authored since.
Chris Masters (Flawed Hero: Truth, Lies and War Crimes, Allen & Unwin) and Nick McKenzie (Crossing the Line: The Inside Story of Murder, Lies and a Fallen Hero, Hachette Australia) will be joined on stage by former journalist Rosemarie Milsom.
They will discuss their investigations, which began in the battlefields of Afghanistan and led to the frontlines of the Federal Court.
“Nick and Chris have exposed the dark side of Australia’s Afghanistan campaign and have demonstrated the impact of courageous and rigorous journalism,” says Ms Milsom.
“This is a not-to-be missed opportunity to listen to them speak about their extraordinary work and subsequent court victory”.
Chris Masters is celebrated as one of Australia’s most successful and influential investigative journalists. Having won several Walkley Awards, including the Gold Walkley, he worked for ABC TV’s Four Corners program from 1983 to 2010.
His 1983 report on corruption in rugby league and in the NSW judiciary led to a Royal Commission and judicial reform.
In 1985, he exposed the French Government’s involvement in the sinking of the Greenpeace boat Rainbow Warrior.
His 1987 exposure of corruption in Queensland led to a public inquiry and reform.
He was the first Australian journalist to be embedded with special forces in Afghanistan.
Nick McKenzie is an investigative reporter for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.
He has also presented major investigations for Four Corners, 60 Minutes, and the Australian Financial Review.
He has won 12 Walkley Awards and been named Journalist of the Year three times.
His investigations span foreign affairs, defence, organised crime, and national security.
His work has sparked national and state inquires, including Royal Commissions and parliamentary probes, prompted major corruption investigations in Australia, the US and Britain and led to significant legislative change.
Tickets to the event are $35 and can be booked online at the Newcastle Writers Festival website.
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