Title

Publication

Four Corners, ABC TV

Year

2018

Category

All Media: Public Service Journalism

The day after “I Am That Girl” was broadcast, NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman announced he would refer all of the state’s consent laws to the Law Reform Commission. Supreme Court Justice Carolyn Simpson is now overseeing an inquiry reviewing the section of the Crimes Act that deals with consent in relation to sexual offences. The broader social and cultural impact of starting a national conversation about consent cannot be underestimated. The powerful testimony of “that girl”, Saxon Mullins, the sexual assault complainant at the heart of the story, reflects the trust and agency the Four Corners team built with her.

Louise Milligan is a reporter at Four Corners. She won the 2017 Walkley Book Award for her book Cardinal: The Rise and Fall of George Pell.

Sashka Koloff joined the ABC fulltime in 2009 and worked as a producer at Foreign Correspondent and Lateline, and a story editor at Media Watch, before joining Four Corners.

Mary Fallon has produced or researched more than 50 stories at Four Corners, winning Walkleys in 2012 and 2014. She has also written about health and science for The Sydney Morning HeraldMedical Observer and Australian Doctor.

Lucy Carter has been a researcher with Four Corners at the ABC since mid-2017. She previously worked as a radio newsreader for the ABC and triple j and reported for ABC News and Current Affairs.

Judges’ comments:

“Through a raw retelling of a high-profile rape case, “I Am That Girl” challenged both the court system and the laws it enforces. Told through the voice of the brave and defiant victim, it exposed a systemic problem and sparked a national debate and review that may rewrite sexual consent laws.”