One From the Archives: Kate McClymont on Murder, Corruption and the Art of Investigation

One of Australia's most celebrated investigative journalists, Kate McClymont has spent decades exposing corruption, organised crime and the murky relationships between money and political power. In this episode from the Fourth Estate archives, originally broadcast in September 2019, McClymont joins former host, Peter Fray to discuss Dead Man Walking, her book co-written with journalist Vanda Carson about the extraordinary life and murder of Sydney businessman Michael McGurk. Gunned down outside his Cremorne home in 2009, McGurk had warned McClymont just ten days earlier that he believed there was a contract out on his life. His murder exposed a tangled web of property developers, political connections, corruption and criminality. McClymont reflects on the investigation, the challenges of dealing with unreliable and self-interested sources, and the persistence required to uncover the truth. The pair also discuss the growing threats to investigative journalism, from surveillance powers and the protection of confidential sources to the 2019 Australian Federal Police raids on the ABC and News Corp. Seven years on, it's a compelling reminder of why investigative journalism matters — and the extraordinary stories that might otherwise remain untold. We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] or follow us at @fourthestateau. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices