Heddie McClymont: A Legacy of Fearless Investigative Journalism
In the world of Australian media, few names command as much respect and notoriety as Heddie McClymont. Known for her relentless pursuit of the truth and her willingness to challenge powerful figures, McClymont has built a career defined by high-stakes investigative reporting. From uncovering sporting scandals to exposing political corruption, her work has fundamentally altered the landscape of professional sport and governance in Australia.
McClymont's journey began with a competitive start. After working for a publishing company and the Australian Caption Centre, she applied to The Sydney Morning Herald in 1985. Out of 1,200 applicants, she was one of only 30 to secure a position at Fairfax Media publications, thanks in part to her experience in a Kings Cross busking booth. Her early career as a cadet reporter at The Eastern Herald showed an immediate flair for descriptive writing, though it also introduced her to the dangers of the profession. A story describing the sequins of a crime boss's relative as "the closest fashion accessory to armour-plating" earned her a spot at The National Times, but it also triggered the first of many death threats.
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Key Facts
- Career Start: Joined Fairfax Media in 1985 as one of 30 successful candidates from 1,200 applicants.
- Major Awards: Recipient of multiple Walkley Awards, including the Gold Walkley for the Canterbury Bulldogs investigation.
- High-Profile Targets: Exposed corruption involving Eddie Obeid, Don Burke, and the Health Services Union.
- Academic Roles: Served as Pro-chancellor and Senate Fellow at the University of Sydney.
- Legal Battles: Faced numerous lawsuits and death threats as a result of her investigative work.
Breaking Major Corruption Stories
McClymont's career is marked by a series of explosive revelations that led to significant legal and professional consequences for those involved.
The Jockey Tapes Scandal
In April 1995, McClymont broke the "jockey tapes scandal," alleging that jockey Jim Cassidy was involved in race fixing with Kevin Moses. The subsequent investigation by the Australian Jockey Club (AJC) found Cassidy guilty of fraudulent conduct. This resulted in a three-year suspension for Cassidy and a one-year suspension for Moses. The intensity of the conflict was highlighted when Cassidy spat on McClymont during a hearing.
The Canterbury Bulldogs Salary Cap Breach
On August 24, 2002, McClymont, alongside Anne Davies and Brad Walter, revealed that the Canterbury Bulldogs had breached the National Rugby League (NRL) salary cap. The impact was immediate: the first-placed team was stripped of its points and fined $AU500,000. The reporting was so volatile that McClymont and her family had to be moved from their home due to death threats. For this work, McClymont and Davies received the Gold Walkley Award for investigative journalism.
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The Health Services Union (HSU) Affair
In September 2011, McClymont exposed the misuse of credit cards and undisclosed directorships within the Health Services Union. This reporting led to the downfall of HSU president Michael Williamson, who was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison for fraud. Former HSU Secretary Craig Thomson was also implicated, eventually receiving a $AU25,000 fine on appeal.
The Don Burke Investigation
In 2017, McClymont led a joint ABC-Fairfax investigation into television personality Don Burke. Working with journalists Tracey Spicer, Lorna Knowles, and Alison Branley, she revealed sexual misconduct occurring during the production of Burke's Backyard. This investigation earned the team two Walkley Awards in 2018.
The Pursuit of Eddie Obeid
Perhaps the most enduring conflict of McClymont's career was her reporting on Eddie Obeid, a former New South Wales Labor power broker. Starting in 1999, McClymont's persistent reporting initiated several investigations by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)—the body responsible for investigating corruption in the NSW public sector.
The relationship was fraught with legal battles. In 2002, McClymont and Anne Davies alleged Obeid sought a $1 million donation for the ALP in exchange for facilitating a housing development. While ICAC initially cleared him in 2003, the Supreme Court of New South Wales later awarded Obeid $AU162,000 in damages, ruling that the article contributed to his loss of office as Fisheries Minister.
However, McClymont's persistence eventually paid off. Her continued reporting led to further ICAC investigations, and in 2016, Obeid was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for misconduct in public office. Even her literary efforts were contentious; her unofficial biography of Obeid, He who must be Obeid, was pulped after incorrectly identifying a business associate and led to a $AU49,000 settlement with former Macquarie Bank executive Bill Moss.
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Career Summary and Academic Contributions
| Period/Year | Role or Event | Key Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Joined Fairfax Media | Started as a cadet reporter at The Eastern Herald |
| 1995 | Jockey Tapes Scandal | Suspensions for Jim Cassidy and Kevin Moses |
| 2002 | NRL Salary Cap Story | Canterbury Bulldogs stripped of points; Gold Walkley Award |
| 2011 | HSU Expenses Affair | Michael Williamson sentenced to 7.5 years gaol |
| 2015–2017 | Walkley Advisory Board | Served as Chairman |
| 2017–2019 | University of Sydney | Served as Pro-chancellor and Senate Fellow |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the Gold Walkley Award won by McClymont?
The Gold Walkley is one of Australia's highest honors in journalism. McClymont and Anne Davies won it for their investigation into the Canterbury Bulldogs' salary cap breaches, which the judges noted had a permanent impact on the administration of professional sport in Australia.
How did the ICAC investigations into Eddie Obeid conclude?
Despite early legal setbacks and a defamation payout to Obeid, McClymont's persistent reporting eventually led to ICAC recommending charges against him. This culminated in Obeid being sentenced to five years' imprisonment in 2016 for misconduct in public office.
What happened to the book "He who must be Obeid"?
The book was pulped three weeks after its 2014 release because it incorrectly identified Chris Brown (a former Tourism Task Force spokesman) as a business associate of Obeid. Additionally, the authors settled for $AU49,000 with Bill Moss over his depiction in the book.
What was the outcome of the Don Burke investigation?
The joint ABC-Fairfax investigation revealed sexual misconduct by Don Burke during the filming of Burke's Backyard. The reporting was highly acclaimed, winning two Walkley Awards in 2018 across print and video categories.
Has Heddie McClymont held roles outside of journalism?
Yes, she has contributed significantly to academia. She served as a Senate Fellow at the University of Sydney from 2013 to 2019 and held the position of Pro-chancellor from December 2017 to May 2019.