The Australian’s Queensland bureau received four awards at the state Clarion Awards for journalism, recognizing their extensive coverage across a range of topics.

Senior reporter Sarah Elks and cadet journalist Stella McKenna were honored with the News Report Print/Text award for their investigation into the affair between Queensland ministers Tim Mander and Amanda Camm. Their reporting also raised questions about the legality of Mander’s living arrangements, ultimately prompting him to step aside while the Australian Federal Police investigated potential breaches of federal electoral laws concerning voter registration.

Michael McKenna won the Rural Journalism award for his series titled Toxic Politics, which detailed allegations of groundwater contamination linked to the Palmer-Saczczuk-Miles Labor government’s abandoned pumped hydro project at Pioneer Valley near Mackay. Judges highlighted McKenna’s ability to obtain information from confidential sources and access leaked documents related to the project.

Photographer Mackenzie Scott received the Best Metropolitan News Photo award for a striking smartphone image capturing a member of the Iranian Women’s Football team being escorted onto a team bus after the Asian Women’s Cup. The photo followed days of reporting from the team’s Gold Coast hotel, where several players had defected from the squad.

Additionally, the team behind Queensland’s weekly political column Feeding the Chooks—Scott, Elks, and McKenna—won the award for Commentary, Analysis, Opinion and Critique, recognizing their insightful political coverage.

Together, these accolades highlight the breadth and depth of The Australian’s journalistic efforts in Queensland across investigations, rural affairs, sports coverage, and political commentary.