Kings Bloody Cross: The Underbelly Experience

Kate McClymont is an investigative journalist with the Sydney Morning Herald. She is a five-time winner of journalism’s most prestigious award, the Walkley, including the Gold Walkley for her coverage of the Bulldogs salary cap rorts. 

She was named the 2012 NSW Journalist of the Year for her investigations into the fraudulent activities of Michael Williamson, the head of the Health Services Union and the business activities of former NSW Labor minister, Eddie Obeid.

McClymont is also the recipient of numerous other awards including six Kennedy Awards, the Australian Shareholders’ Association award for excellence in financial reporting (1992), The NSW Law Society’s Golden Quill award for excellence in legal reporting (1990 and 1992), Australian Racing Writer of the Year (1995) and the Australian Sports Commission Media Award (2002). She also won the 2012 George Munster Award for Independent Journalism.

In 2016 she was awarded the Australian Press Council’s Press Freedom Medal for her work as an investigative journalist. With her colleague Linton Besser, she has published He Who Must Be Obeid, which chronicles corruption in NSW. She graduated with a B.A. (Hons) from the University of Sydney and is currently serving a four-year term on the Senate of the university.

Deborah Locke is a former detective of the NSW Police Service. Her 12 years of police service began in 1984 as a trainee at the Redfern Police Academy and concluded in 1996 when she was discharged from the service “medically unfit” as a result of workplace victimization and harassment as an internal witness, more commonly referred to as a “whistleblower.”

During her time in the NSW Police Force she was stationed at various commands including the notorious Kings Cross Undercover Drug Unit, the Gaming Squad, Parramatta Detectives and the Fraud Squad.

While working as a detective she completed an Associate Diploma in Criminal Justice (Police) through Charles Sturt University. In 1989, Deborah received a Commissioners Commendation for bravery in relation to her undercover work.

As a young city detective in the early 1980s to mid-1990s she was exposed to the reality of criminal investigation in a major city. That reality was the widespread police corruption which involved detectives freely associating with high profile members of Sydney’s underworld.

The police with whom she was working with, were involved with accepting bribes, protection money, drug trafficking, fraud and the improper use of confidential information, but to name a few. When she presented the senior officers of Internal Affairs and subsequently the highest levels of the Police Force with compelling evidence of what she had observed, she was branded a “whistle-blower” and her life was placed at risk.

The result was a total failure to adequately take action concerning the evidence presented to them. Since leaving the police she has dabbled in politics and has been involved in developing and advocating for services for families of people with disabilities. Deborah has travelled extensively interstate and overseas. She is sought after for presentations on various topics ranging from police culture and ethics to disabilities and women's issues.

Deborah spent five years managing a non-profit service that provides residential care and support for women and children escaping domestic violence. In 2010, Deborah was awarded the Inaugural Outstanding Woman of Achievement Award at Parliament House Sydney "...for outstanding dedication and excellence in her professional life and ongoing "Service above Self” to the wider community..."

Deborah and Greg have been recognised for their contribution to the Autism & Asperger Support Group Inc by being awarded Life Membership.

With multiple awards to his credit, Greg Haddrick is one of Australia's leading writer/producers. Writer of the first block of Home & Away, his early credits also include co-writing and script-editing Elly & Jools and writing for E-Street, GP, Blue Heelers and Flying Doctors. After leaving the executive position of story editor in 1997, Greg joined the Screentime team as the head of drama, and working with Des Monaghan, created the award-winning medical drama, MDA.

The pair continued on to develop and executive produce several series including Underbelly, Tricky Business, Crownies and more recently, ANZAC Girls. He continues to write episodes and is heavily involved in both the creative and production sides. Additionally, Greg has won several awards including 5 AWGIEs, 1 Logie and 2 AFIs. Haddrick was executive producer of Underbelly: Squizzy for NINE, as well as Janet King and ANZAC Girls for the ABC.