Gombe State Provides N14 Million to Families of Journalists Killed in Road Crash
January 2, 2026
CBS Philadelphia Photojournalist Stranded in Puerto Rico After Caribbean Airspace Restrictions
January 3, 2026
January 02, 2026 – Australia –
A senior manager at MA Services Group, a Melbourne-based security and construction industry-linked firm, has been charged with making threatening telephone calls to Australian investigative journalist Nick McKenzie, authorities confirmed amid rising concerns about press safety. The 31-year-old man faces two counts of using a carriage service to menace or offend, allegedly linked to phone calls made to McKenzie’s home on December 24, 2025, the day after the company entered voluntary administration. The accused has been bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in July 2026.
Victoria Police reported the arrest followed an investigation by Taskforce Hawk, a specialist unit established in June 2024 to probe criminal behaviour and corruption within the construction and associated sectors. Police allege the threatening calls were made on Christmas Eve as McKenzie was actively reporting on MA Services and its alleged links to organised crime figures, a context that has intensified scrutiny of the company’s business practices and contracts with government and major private organisations.
McKenzie, a widely recognised investigative journalist for The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, and other outlets, has been involved in high-profile reporting on corruption, including alleged misconduct within the construction industry. His work has drawn considerable public attention and, at times, hostile reactions from subjects of his investigations. Earlier in 2025, a separate incident occurred when an intruder gained access to McKenzie’s home roof and allegedly tampered with CCTV equipment, prompting further concerns about his personal safety.
In response to the charges, The Age’s editor, Patrick Elligett, condemned the threatening behaviour as an attack on press freedom, asserting that journalists must be able to conduct public-interest reporting “without fear of threats and intimidation.” The official condemnation underscores broader concerns within Australia’s media community regarding the safety of journalists pursuing investigative work into powerful commercial actors and alleged criminal networks.
The case highlights emerging challenges for journalists operating in contexts where investigative reporting intersects with complex corporate and criminal interests, and illustrates ongoing debates about protections for media professionals in democratic societies.
Reference –
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-31/journalist-nick-mckenzie-threats-police/106190734
