Our Journalists

Stephen Drill covers organised crime, business and the politics of sport. His investigative podcasts include Mafia’s Web, Bikie’s Inc. and Faith On Trial. Drill was Europe correspondent for the Herald Sun, Daily Telegraph, Courier Mail and Adelaide Advertiser from 2019 to 2021. The Walkley Award winner has also worked at The Wall Street Journal in New York and The Sun in London.

@steveheraldsun

Stephen Drill

Latest

A-League

Why the A-League is on the brink of financial disaster

Australia’s top tier soccer clubs will be forced to battle for financial survival after a controversial plan which threatens the league’s future was unveiled.

National

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos MARCH 10, 2023: The Hillsong church building in Waterloo.Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Hillsong, Aussie charities warned against ‘serious wrongdoing’

A national watchdog investigating the Hillsong megachurch has delivered a general warning to any charity trying to “hide” dodgy dealings.

ExclusiveNews

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 11: James Johnson, Football Australia CEO, speaks during the Australia Matildas World Cup squad public presentation at Federation Square on July 11, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Aus soccer body refusing to say if it backs Israel ban

The Football Federation of Australia is staying tight-lipped ahead of a potential vote to expel Israel from the World Cup, in a move opposition leader Peter Dutton says would be “shameful”.

Federal Budget

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - MAY 14: AustraliaÃ¢â¬â¢s Treasurer Jim Chalmers (L) and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrive before Chalmers delivers his budget speech at Parliament House on May 14, 2024 in Canberra, Australia. Australia's Labor government is grappling with a slowing economy, weaker commodity prices, soaring housing costs and a softening labor market as it prepares to unveil its federal budget on May 14. To counter these headwinds, the budget is expected to feature smaller revenue upgrades compared to recent years, while outlining the government's interventionist policies aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing and the transition to green energy. Critics warn that such industrial policies risk fueling inflation and diverting resources from more productive sectors of the economy. The budget is seen as a key opportunity for the Labor government to deliver broad economic support that analysts say is fundamental to re-election chances next year. (Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images)

7500 new jobs to ‘rebuild public service’

The Albanese Government has cut $1bn in outsourcing and committed to rebuilding the public service by creating thousands of new jobs, in the wake of several consultancy scandals.

Federal Budget

Australia and the UK will deliver SSN-AUKUS, a new conventionally-armed nuclear-powered submarine, based on a UK design, incorporating cutting edge Australian, UK and US technologies. *** Local Caption *** The inaugural Nuclear-Powered Submarine Propulsion Challenge was launched in high schools across Australia on 19 June 2023, giving a new generation of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students the chance to win a trip to HMAS Stirling in Western Australia to see first-hand how submarines work. The introductory-level, nationwide program will provide teachers with learning resources to help students design their own engineering plans for submarine nuclear propulsion. The program aims to inspire students to discover how nuclear propulsion works and how it makes submarines more capable. The challenge is free to enter and open to all high school students in years 7–12. The winners from each state and territory will have the opportunity to take part in an immersive submariner experience at HMAS Stirling; the home base of Australia’s Collins-class submarines.

900 new public service jobs for AUKUS nuke subs

More than $100 million will be spent on preparing Australia for war, including the creation of new public service jobs to support the delivery of the new nuclear-powered submarines.

Federal Budget

Bikies, drugs and illegal tobacco imports targeted

Bikies and underworld figures involved in organised crime are being targeted to stop cocaine and ice, while illegal tobacco imports that have sparked firebombings are also being hit.

AFL News

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 24: Cam McCarthy of the Dockers jogs back for a kick on goal during the round one AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Optus Stadium on March 24, 2019 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Ex-AFL star found dead in another tragedy

Former Docker and Giant Cam McCarthy is being remembered as a ‘popular, compassionate and caring person’ after being found dead at age 29.

National

New fight in AFL powerbroker’s $100m Ponzi scheme

Victims of John Adams’ $100m scam say they have been left struggling to buy bread and milk. Now, they’re fighting to claim lost funds from the sale of his $5m home in Lorne.

Rugby

Creditors make big call on future of rugby’s Rebels

The battle to save the Melbourne Rebels is far from over, as Rugby Australia continue their own investigations into the troubled franchise.

World

Why Geelong journo in Trump trial is declining to testify

The globetrotting Geelong boy who landed himself at the centre of Donald Trump’s criminal trial in the US has declined to testify. See why.

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/journalists/stephen-drill/page/16