All Media: Social Equity Journalism Winner

Steve Pennells, The West Australian, “Halls Creek Crisis”

What started out as a routine story about truancy in a remote Aboriginal community evolved into a comprehensive exposure and analysis of the appalling poverty destroying an outback town.

Earning the trust of the Halls Creek people, Steve Pennells’ stories came long before the national media focus on these issues in other communities, and uncovered the full extent of years of neglect and warnings.

Ultimately his campaign forced the Western Australian government’s admission of failure to the town and its people. Within five weeks, the government announced a multi-million dollar rescue package, including $12million for new housing. An investigation into the town’s liquor licensing was also launched, the town got its first child protection officer and extra police officers were permanently posted to the Halls Creek station.

Steve Pennells started his journalism career at The Esperance Express and has since been The West Australian’s state political editor and headed its South-West and Sydney bureaus. From 2001-2002, he was the Nine Network’s chief-of-staff in Perth before returning to print at The West Australian. He is now the paper’s special correspondent, a roving brief which has seen him on assignment in Iraq, Sudan, China, Europe, the US and across South-East Asia.

Judges’ comments
Pennells drove the Halls Creek issue onto the front pages of a mass-market daily newspaper. By going into the community and developing a rapport, he captured its sometimes unorthodox views on what must be done and shamed the government into an admission of failure. His coverage prompted a multi-faceted response on issues which had long been ignored.