Quentin Dempster AM

Quentin Dempster AM  is a veteran journalist, author and acknowledged leading advocate for the democratic benefits of public broadcasting and journalism.

He is a former ABC TV current affairs presenter, interviewer, political and investigative reporter, former chair of the Walkley Foundation and former chair of judges for the annual Walkley Awards for excellence in journalism.

Quentin has lived experience in newspaper reporting and column writing from regional Queensland and Brisbane before switching to ABC television, later presenting the NSW edition of the 7.30 Report in Sydney.

After leaving the ABC in 2014 he was contributing editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and then political editor of The New Daily.

He is the author of three books – Honest Cops (1992) about police who stood up to corruption and suffered the consequences; Whistleblowers (1997) about people with the courage to put the truth first; and Death Struggle (2000), how political malice and boardroom power plays are killing the ABC.  He has contributed forewords and chapters to many other exposure and investigative books and Australian political analysis.

He is a former staff-elected director of the ABC (1992-1996).  His national recognition came with his innovative TV coverage of Queensland’s Fitzgerald inquiry into police and political corruption. His interview with an incoming premier about his understanding of “the doctrine of the separation of powers”  is television interviewing folklore.

In 1992 Quentin was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his contribution to journalism and current affairs.  In 2002 he was awarded a Walkley Award for outstanding contribution to journalism.

Quentin is now semi-retired but still engaged in journalism as a freelance writer, facilitator and speaker.  He is also engaged in a tourism enterprise in Tasmania – The Winged House.