{{Short description|Australian investigative journalist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}} {{Use Australian English|date=March 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Louise Milligan | image = Louise Milligan with award at 2018 MPC Quill Awards - 1.jpg | alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software --> | caption = Milligan with TV/Video Feature (Long Form) award at Melbourne Press Club Quills, March 2019. | birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name --> | birth_date = <!-- {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} for living people supply only the year with {{Birth year and age|YYYY}} unless the exact date is already widely published, as per WP:DOB. For people who have died, use {{Birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}}. --> | birth_place = Dublin, Ireland | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (DEATH date then BIRTH date) --> | death_place = | other_names = | occupation = Journalist, author | employer = Australian Broadcasting Corporation | years_active = 2004–present | known_for = | notable_works = }} '''Louise Milligan''' is an Australian author and investigative reporter for the ABC TV ''Four Corners'' program. She has written award-winning non-fiction books, and her first novel, ''Pheasants Nest'', was published in 2024.
== Early life and education == Born in Dublin, Ireland,<ref name=heath2024/> Louise Milligan grew up in the Roman Catholic faith.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Louise Milligan|url=https://www.mup.com.au/authors/louise-milligan|access-date=2021-03-27|website=Melbourne University Publishing}}</ref>, but says she no longer follows that religion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Michael Warren |date=2019-08-22 |title=Cardinal Pell Is Innocent. Those Who Persecute Him Are Not |url=https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/the-priest-hunters-claim-cardinal-pell |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=Crisis Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> She moved with her family to Australia when she was six.<ref name=heath2024/>
She graduated from Monash University in Melbourne with an arts/law degree.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Alumni pick up awards across the globe|url=https://www.monash.edu/alumni/news/latest/april-2017/alumni-pick-up-awards-across-the-globe|access-date=2021-03-27|website=Monash University}}</ref> She later took a graduate diploma in journalism at RMIT University.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Kerrie |date=2024-03-21 |title=Louise Milligan’s pivot from investigative journalist to fiction writer |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/books/louise-milligan-s-debut-novel-grew-out-of-covid-fever-dreams-20240227-p5f87u.html |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref>
== Career == ===Journalism=== Early in her career Milligan was High Court reporter for ''The Australian''. She subsequently spent seven years reporting for ''Seven News'', where she specialised in freedom of information, before joining ''ABC News''.<ref name=monash>{{Cite web|title=Speakers|url=https://www.monash.edu/arts/media-film-journalism/creative-directions-2018/speakers|access-date=2021-03-27|website=Monash University, School of Media, Film & Journalism}}</ref>
In 2015 Milligan travelled to Indonesia to cover the executions of "Bali Nine" group members Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, and after that covered the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Ballarat.<ref name=heath2024/> She reported on the allegations of sexual abuse against George Pell for ABC Television's ''7.30''.<ref name=monash/>
In March 2024, Milligan reported for ''Four Corners'' on a toxic culture for female staff at Cranbrook School in Sydney as it prepared to transition from boys only to co-ed.<ref>{{cite web | last=Milligan | first=Louise | last2=Donaldson | first2=Amy | last3=Welch | first3=Dylan | last4=Uibu | first4=Katri | title=Former female staff at Sydney's elite Cranbrook School warn of 'toxic' culture as it prepares to go co-ed | website=ABC News | date=4 March 2024 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-04/cranbrook-school-coed-boys-school-culture-four-corners/103516686 | access-date=2 May 2024}}</ref>
{{as of |May 2024}} Milligan is an investigative reporter the ABC TV program ''Four Corners''.<ref name=heath2024>{{cite web | last=Heath | first=Nicola | last2=Nichols | first2=Claire | title=ABC investigative journalist Louise Milligan switches from news to fiction, with her debut novel, Pheasants Nest | website=ABC News | date=2 May 2024 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-02/louise-milligan-abc-journalist-debut-novel-pheasants-nest/103789604| access-date=2 May 2024}}</ref>
===Long-form writing=== Melbourne University Press (MUP) published Milligan's first book, ''Cardinal'', in May 2017. A month later MUP withdrew the book from bookshops across Victoria in response to Victoria Police charging Cardinal George Pell with historic sex assault.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|date=2017-06-30|title=MUP withdraws ''Cardinal'' from Victorian shops|url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2017/06/30/92387/mup-withdraws-cardinal-from-victorian-shops/|access-date=2021-03-27|website=Books+Publishing}}</ref> ''Cardinal'' was returned to Victorian bookshops in February 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|date=2019-02-27|title=''Cardinal'' available in Victoria after suppression order lifts|url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2019/02/27/126351/cardinal-available-in-victoria-after-suppression-order-lifts/|access-date=2021-03-27|website=Books+Publishing}}</ref>
In 2022, she published ''Witness'',<ref>{{cite book |ref=none |author=Milligan |first=Louise |author-mask=2 |title=Witness : an investigation into the brutal cost of seeking justice |year=2020 |publisher=Hachette Australia}}</ref> which critiques the criminal justice system in sexual assault trials. It includes interviews with prosecutors, defence counsel, solicitors, judges, and academic experts, and also highlights two high-profile cases which she had covered as a journalist. Milligan reveals how plaintiffs often feel as if it is they who are being tried, and legal practitioners also find it very stressful because of its adversarial nature. In the book she also describes how she was cross-examined in the Pell committal by Robert Richter, realising that she was not sufficiently protected by the ''Evidence Act'' s 41, and puts a strong case for legal reform in this area. QUT law professor Ben Mathews called ''Witness'' balanced, and "a triumph of intellect and empathy".<ref>{{cite web | last=Mathews | first=Ben | title=Review: Louise Milligan's Witness is a devastating critique of the criminal trial process | website=The Conversation | date=6 February 2024 | url=https://theconversation.com/review-louise-milligans-witness-is-a-devastating-critique-of-the-criminal-trial-process-148334 | access-date=2 May 2024}}</ref> The book was generally well-received,<ref>{{cite web | title=Louise Milligan – Witness | website=Stella | url=https://stella.org.au/louise-milligan-witness/ | access-date=3 May 2024}}</ref> although Aboriginal writer Ellen O'Brien, writing in the ''Sydney Review of Books'', points to its deficits in coverage of the additional complexities involved when Aboriginal women are the victim-survivors.<ref>{{cite web | last=O'Brien | first=Ellen | title=‘You Have to Believe Me’ | website=Sydney Review of Books | date=25 September 2022 | url=https://sydneyreviewofbooks.com/review/milligan-witness/ | access-date=3 May 2024}}</ref>
Milligan's friend Louise Adler, of Melbourne University Press and then Hachette Australia, published her non-fiction books.<ref name=heath2024/>
In March 2024 Milligan published her first novel, ''Pheasants Nest'', a crime fiction thriller.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-06 |title=Pheasants Nest (Louise Milligan, A&U) |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2024/02/06/245981/pheasants-nest-louise-milligan-au/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |publisher=Books+Publishing}}</ref> The book was influenced by the rape and murder of Jill Meagher in Melbourne in 2012, after Milligan was the first journalist to interview Meagher's husband, and explores the idea of a woman in a similar situation who survives such an attack. The name is derived from a notorious suicide spot, Pheasants Nest bridge, which is on the Hume Highway and crosses the Nepean River in New South Wales. It also includes themes of police officers' untreated PTSD. Milligan started writing the novel in 2015, and returned to it in 2022, when she took a break from journalism.<ref name=heath2024/>
Her second novel, ''Shellybanks'', is due to be published by Allen & Unwin in March 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-01 |title=A&U acquires Milligan’s second novel |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2025/09/01/313606/au-acquires-milligans-second-novel/ |access-date=2025-09-04 |publisher=Books+Publishing}}</ref>
==Other activities == In 2019, Milligan was invited to give the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law annual lecture. Her talk was titled "A journalist's defence of trial procedures".<ref>{{Cite web|title=2019 The Castan Centre for Human Rights Law / King & Wood Mallesons Annual Lecture|url=https://www.monash.edu/law/research/centres/castancentre/public-events/events/2019/2019-the-castan-centre-for-human-rights-law-king-and-wood-mallesons-annual-lecture|access-date=2021-03-27|website=Castan Centre for Human Rights Law}}</ref>
== Awards and recognition == === Reporting awards === * 2016 Quill Award for Coverage of an Issue or Event, Melbourne Press Club, winner with Andy Burn for ABC report, "George Pell and Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church"<ref>{{Cite web|title=2016 Quills: Coverage of an Issue or Event|url=https://www.melbournepressclub.com/article/2016-quills--coverage-of-an-issue-or-event|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627183217/https://www.melbournepressclub.com/article/2016-quills--coverage-of-an-issue-or-event|archive-date=27 June 2020|access-date=2021-03-27|website=Melbourne Press Club}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=monash/> *2017 Sport Australia Media Awards for Best Reporting of an Issue in Sport, winner with Lisa McGregor and Trish Drum for "After the Game" (''Four Corners'')<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Previous winners|url=https://www.sportaus.gov.au/media-centre/media-awards/previous-winners|access-date=2021-03-27|website=Sport Australia}}</ref> * 2017 Law Reporting Award presented by the Sir Owen Dixon Chambers<ref>{{Cite web|title=Law Reporting Award|url=https://sirowendixon.com.au/law-reporting-award/|access-date=2021-03-27|website=Sir Owen Dixon Chambers}}</ref><ref name=monash/> * 2019 Australian Press Council Press Freedom Medal<ref>{{Cite web|title=ABC's Louise Milligan wins Press Freedom Medal|url=https://about.abc.net.au/press-releases/abcs-louise-milligan-wins-press-freedom-medal/|access-date=2021-03-27|website=ABC.net.au}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-08-30|title=Australian Press Council awards 2019 Press Freedom Medals|url=https://www.presscouncil.org.au/australian-press-council-awards-2019-press-freedom-medals/|access-date=2021-03-27|website=Australian Press Council}}</ref>
=== Book awards === {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year !! Work !! Award !! Category !! Result !! Ref |- !2017 | rowspan="5" |''Cardinal'' | Walkley Book Award || — || {{won}} || <ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-11-30|title=Milligan wins 2017 Walkley Book Award for ''Cardinal''|url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2017/11/30/99088/milligan-wins-2017-walkley-book-award-for-cardinal/|access-date=2020-10-25|website=Books+Publishing}}</ref><ref name="monash" /> |- ! rowspan="4" | 2018 | Australian Book Industry Awards || Small Publisher Adult Book || {{sho}} || |- | rowspan="2" |Davitt Award |Non-fiction / True Crime|| {{sho}} | rowspan="2" |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-06 |title=Davitt Awards 2018 shortlists announced |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2018/07/06/111041/davitt-awards-2018-shortlists-announced/ |access-date=2021-03-27 |website=Books+Publishing}}</ref> |- |Debut|| {{sho}} |- | Melbourne Prize for Literature || Civic Choice Award || {{won}} || <ref>{{Cite web|title=Melbourne Prize for Literature|url=https://www.melbourneprizetrust.org/prize-for-literature/|access-date=2021-03-27|website=Melbourne Prize Trust}}</ref> |- ! rowspan="6" | 2021 | rowspan="6" | ''Witness'' || Colin Roderick Award || — || {{sho}} || <ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-02|title=Woman and fiction dominate the 2021 Colin Roderick Literary Award Shortlist|url=https://www.jcu.edu.au/foundation-for-australian-literary-studies/news/woman-and-fiction-dominate-the-2021-colin-roderick-literary-award-shortlist|access-date=2021-08-04|website=James Cook University}}</ref> |- | Davitt Award || Non-fiction / True Crime || {{won}} || <ref name=Davitt>{{cite web|title="Davitt Award Winners 2001-2025" |publisher= Sisters in Crime|url=https://sistersincrime.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Davitt-Winners_cumulative-table_2025.pdf|access-date= 29 November 2025}}</ref> |- |Ned Kelly Awards |True Crime |{{Sho|Finalist}} | |- | Stella Prize || — || {{sho}} || <ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-25|title=Stella Prize 2021 shortlist announced|url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2021/03/25/183993/stella-prize-2021-shortlist-announced/|access-date=2021-03-25|website=Books+Publishing}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" | Victorian Premier's Literary Awards || People's Choice Award || {{won}} || <ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Victorian Premier's Literary Awards 2021|url=https://www.wheelercentre.com/projects/victorian-premier-s-literary-awards-2021|access-date=2021-02-01|website=Wheeler Centre}}</ref> |- | Nonfiction|| {{sho}} || <ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-08|title=Victorian Premier's Literary Awards 2021 shortlists announced|url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2020/12/08/160636/victorian-premiers-literary-awards-2021-shortlists-announced/|access-date=2020-12-08|website=Books+Publishing}}</ref> |} == Defamation suits == In March 2021, the Australian Attorney-General Christian Porter commenced defamation proceedings against Milligan for an article published on 26 February 2021 which he says made a false rape allegation against him.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Grattan|first=Michelle|author-link=Michelle Grattan|title=Christian Porter sues ABC and reporter Louise Milligan for defamation|url=http://theconversation.com/christian-porter-sues-abc-and-reporter-louise-milligan-for-defamation-157140|access-date=2021-03-27|website=The Conversation}}</ref> Porter discontinued the action in May 2021 after the ABC agreed to post an editorial note to the original publication and to pay mediation costs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Maiden |first1=Samantha| author-link=Samantha Maiden |title=Shock twist in Porter's defamation case |url=https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/christian-porter-discontinues-defamation-case-against-the-abc/news-story/2d3501b2f9c96a759f998eca6658f565 |access-date=4 June 2021 |work=news.com.au|date=31 May 2021}}</ref>
In June 2021, federal MP Andrew Laming commenced defamation proceedings against Milligan for four tweets sent on 28 March 2021.<ref>{{cite web|last=McGowan|first=Michael|title=Andrew Laming targets MPs, journalists with legal letters in campaign to remove tweets|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jun/28/andrew-laming-targets-mps-journalists-with-legal-letters-in-campaign-to-remove-tweets|work=The Guardian|access-date=14 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813210653/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jun/28/andrew-laming-targets-mps-journalists-with-legal-letters-in-campaign-to-remove-tweets |archive-date=13 August 2021 |date=28 June 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> He alleged one tweet implied he admitted to illegally taking a photo of a woman's underwear as she bent over in Brisbane in 2019. In August 2021 Milligan agreed to pay Laming approximately {{AUD|130,000}} in damages and fees.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wells|first=Jamelle|title=ABC journalist Louise Milligan agrees to pay MP Andrew Laming $79,000 in defamation settlement|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-11/nsw-louise-milligan-to-pay-andrew-laming-in-defamation-case/100367922 |website=ABC News|location=Australia|access-date=14 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811124458/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-11/nsw-louise-milligan-to-pay-andrew-laming-in-defamation-case/100367922 |archive-date=11 August 2021 |date=10 August 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=James Madden|author2=Sophie Elsworth|title=Milligan tweet costs ABC $130K in Laming settlement|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/abc-to-pay-laming-130k-damages-for-milligan-tweet/news-story/e2438185bce2c8c56e9c410d948ac97d|website=The Australian|date=11 August 2021|access-date=10 November 2022|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
== Bibliography == {{Incomplete list|date=May 2022}} {{bots|deny=Citation bot}}
=== Books === * {{cite book |ref=none |author=Milligan |first=Louise |title=Cardinal: The Rise and Fall of George Pell |year=2017 |publisher=Melbourne University Press |isbn=9780522871340}} * {{cite book |ref=none |author=Milligan |first=Louise |author-mask=2 |title=Witness: An Investigation into the Brutal Cost of Seeking Justice |year=2020 |publisher=Hachette Australia |isbn=9780733644634}} * {{cite book |ref=none |author=Milligan |first=Louise |author-mask=2 |title=Pheasants Nest |year=2024 |publisher=Allen & Unwin |isbn=9781761470349}}
== Critical studies and reviews of Milligan's work ==
=== ''Witness'' === * {{cite journal |ref=none |author=Silcox, Beejay |date=January-February 2021 |title=Curial bollockings : the monstrous cost of seeking justice |journal=Australian Book Review |volume=428 |pages=15–16}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{LinkedIn page|id=in/louise-milligan-97a193bb}} * {{Twitter|id=Milliganreports}}
=== Interviews === * {{cite journal |url-access=subscription |ref=none |date=January-February 2021 |title=Open page with Louise Milligan |url=https://www.australianbookreview.com.au/abr-online/archive/2021/january-february-2021-no-428/937-january-february-2021-no-428/7275-open-page-with-louise-milligan |journal=Australian Book Review |volume=428 |pages=64}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Journalism|Australia}} {{Authority control|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Milligan, Louise}} Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Monash University alumni Category:21st-century Australian women journalists Category:Irish emigrants to Australia Category:Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology alumni Category:Davitt Award winners Category:21st-century Australian journalists Category:Journalists from Dublin (city) Category:Australian Broadcasting Corporation people