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

National

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 07: Horses come toward the bend in the Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse on November 07, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

Mystery surrounds racing boss’ surprise departure

Insiders have been puzzled as a senior racing figure left Flemington after spending a decade climbing the ranks.

Full listDrinks

Aussies’ top 10 beers of 2023

Australia’s top selling beers have been revealed, as new figures provide an insight into the drinking habits of our nation. See the list of our most-loved.

National

Committal to begin for accused racing syndicate fraudster Bill Vlahos. Picture of Vlahos.arriving at the Magistrate court. Monday, March 19. 2018. Picture: David Crosling

New chase for missing punting club millions

A leader of one of the syndicates in Bill Vlahos’ punting club Ponzi scheme is being chased for more than $13m, with a showdown scheduled in court next month.

Faith On Trial

Hillsong twist as Brian Houston starts new church

The megachurch is making a major change to its complaints process amid a tax office investigation into whistleblower documents that was examined in Faith on Trial podcast.

News

Stoke Lodge near Hyde Park, residence of Australian High Commissioner in London. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

High Commission’s $670,000 cash splash on ritzy renos

A top diplomat who cancelled a function celebrating Australia Day in London is living in a $100 million taxpayer-funded mansion that has just undergone a $670,000 renovation.

ExclusiveTrue Crime

Australian Border Force container checks at Melbourne's docks. There are hundreds of millions of illegal cigarettes coming into Australia each year despite increasing checks. An Australian Border Force Customs officer with a concealed shipment of cigarettes boxed as LED lights from China found in a container. Picture: David Caird

10 million a week: Illegal tobacco seizures surge

Millions of illegal cigarettes are being seized every day but they are only a fraction of what is being imported into Australia. See the latest busts and how much criminals are pocketing from it.

National

The Australian Federal Police has seized cash, homes, luxury cars and boats from alleged criminals in the past 18 months. In total more than $1 billion has been seized.CREDIT Australian Federal Police

$1 billion seized from alleged criminals

The Long River syndicate has been accused of being one of Australia’s most sophisticated money launderers. Now police have seized another $100m of allegedly dodgy cash and assets.

Travel

The inaugural Gold Coast to Townsville flight. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Bonza cancels flights ahead of Christmas

Bonza’s horror run of cancellations has continued, with a new route between Gold Coast and Melbourne delayed indefinitely, just ahead of Christmas.

Tasmania

Scene at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport where two children have been killed and several others are in a critical condition after an accident involving a jumping castle. Picture: Rob Burnett

‘No accountability’: Outrage over jumping castle tragedy

Parents of the Tasmanian jumping castle victims are furious after hearing more details about the legal process, and the maximum penalty for the incident that killed six children.

AFL

Sydney Swans CEO Andrew Ireland at the SCG who will step down at seasons end. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Why former Swans chief is favoured to chair AFL

Andrew Ireland has emerged as a key contender to replace AFL Commission chair Richard Goyder, as club presidents consider a succession plan for the league’s top job.

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/journalists/stephen-drill/page/22