Television news reporter Louise Milligan joins La Trobe University’s The Interview class today to speak to students about her experiences in the media.
Louise is an investigative reporter for Seven News, Melbourne, specialising in Freedom of Information. In that role, she has broken stories including the racist comments and videos by Australian troops serving in Afghanistan, a cover-up by Victoria Police of a buried report into public safety in the lead-up to the Victorian election, and a series of stories exposing misdiagnosis and compromising links with drug companies by one of Melbourne’s most senior psychiatrists. These stories have resulted in inquires by the Australian Army, the Victorian Ombudsman and the Medical Board of Australia.
Prior to moving to Melbourne, Louise was NSW State Political reporter for Seven for five years. It was probably the most turbulent time in the State’s political history, with four Premiers in five years and a string of ministerial scandals. She broke the “Sir Lunchalot” story about Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald spending $150,000 of taxpayers’ funds on lunches at some of the state’s most expensive restaurants, which ultimately led to then-Premier, Nathan Rees, demoting the Minister.
Before joining Seven, Louise worked for five years at The Australian newspaper. She was the paper’s High Court and Legal Affairs correspondent, also covering most of the big murder trials of the time and the Rene Rivkin insider trading case.
Louise is a Law/Arts graduate, with Honours in Politics. She also did a Graduate Diploma in Journalism at RMIT.
Louise will join The Interview class from 3.oopm tomorrow, at the Martin Lecture Theatre, La Trobe University. All students are welcome to attend.
If you’re unable to attend, join the conversation online by following the La Trobe University Journalism program’s official Twitter page or by using the hashtag #interview.