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19 FEB 2026
McKinnon and the Walkley Foundation have launched a new workshop for journalists seeking deeper insight into how state and federal government budgets are made, how spending decisions take shape, and how fiscal choices influence public policy.
From Bottom Line to Headlines: Public Finance for Journalists will run as a one day, in-person workshop in Canberra on Monday 13 April. Leading figures from journalism, politics and public policy will present, including
Mike Baird, CEO of McKinnon and former NSW Treasurer and Premier
Michael Brennan, CEO of the e61 Institute and former Chair of the Productivity Commission
Sam Reinhardt, Head of the Parliamentary Budget Office
Jess Irvine, former senior economics writer at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age and former National Economics Editor at News Corp Australia, will serve as MC and facilitator.
The workshop will provide journalists with the context, confidence and practical insight to interrogate public spending and translate complex fiscal and policy decisions into clear, accessible journalism in the public interest.
The focus is on strengthening scrutiny, sharpening storytelling and supporting journalism that helps audiences understand how decisions are made in their name.
Shona Martyn, CEO of the Walkley Foundation, said the workshop builds on the Foundation’s long-standing focus on supporting journalists to deepen their craft.
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“Journalists are already doing the hard work of covering public policy and holding power to account. This program is about backing that work by giving experienced reporters greater insight into how spending decisions are made, so they can interrogate those choices with confidence and explain their implications clearly to audiences.”
The program is targeted at experienced journalists from non-business reporting specialties, including reporters moving into more complex policy coverage as well as skilled reporters who regularly grapple with the consequences of budget decisions, government policy and service delivery.
Mike Baird, CEO of McKinnon, said budgets play a central role in shaping long-term outcomes for communities.
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"Public spending decisions reflect priorities, trade-offs and values. Government budgets are also narratives that need to be read and interpreted. Supporting journalists to better understand how spending decisions are formed helps strengthen scrutiny and contributes to more informed public debate about the choices governments make."
The cost of the program itself including travel and accommodation will be funded by McKinnon and administered by the Walkley Foundation.
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