Matt Peacock
Matthew James Peacock | |
|---|---|
| Born | 12 July 1952 Australia |
| Died | 30 October 2024 (aged 72) Sydney, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, author, academic |
| Years active | 1973–2014 |
| Known for | Investigative journalism on asbestos industry; author of Killer Company |
Matthew James Peacock (12 July 1952 – 30 October 2024) was a distinguished Australian journalist and author known for his work in television and radio with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). His reporting focused on political affairs, environmental issues, and scientific topics. Later in his career, he held a position as a director on the ABC Board. Peacock is also recognized for writing Killer Company, a highly praised 2009 publication that exposed the asbestos industry's malpractices.
Career
Peacock was born on 12 July 1952. He launched his career at the ABC in 1973 as a trainee cadet on the television current affairs show This Day Tonight. By 1979, he had produced an award-winning radio documentary highlighting the impact of asbestos manufacturing on Aboriginal health in Baryulgil, New South Wales.
Progressing through his career, Peacock became ABC radio's chief political correspondent based in Canberra. He also worked internationally as a foreign correspondent in Washington, D.C. (1990–92), New York City (1993), and London (2001–03). Over more than thirty years, he was instrumental in uncovering corruption within the asbestos industry—a narrative later dramatized in the ABC miniseries Devil's Dust (2012).
In 2013, following the Australian government's reinstatement of the staff-elected director role on the ABC Board, Peacock was elected as the first representative. During his tenure, he participated in decisions leading to $254 million in budget reductions; notably, he himself was made redundant amid these cuts in 2014. After the controversy surrounding ABC News for permitting Zaky Mallah to pose a question on Q&A in 2015, Peacock called on ABC personnel to maintain fearless and unbiased journalism while urging colleagues at News Corporation to refrain from unjust criticism.
Peacock contributed extensively to ABC Radio programs such as AM, PM, and The World Today, alongside appearances on the television current affairs program 7.30. Additionally, he served as an adjunct professor of journalism at University of Technology Sydney.
Killer Company and Devil's Dust
Beginning in 1977, Peacock undertook a thorough investigation into James Hardie Industries' use of hazardous asbestos fibers in construction materials. This research culminated in his 2009 book, Killer Company: James Hardie Exposed, which disclosed how the company’s actions resulted in thousands of fatalities and severe illnesses such as asbestosis, while neglecting to warn employees and consumers about these dangers. The book detailed how James Hardie Industries circumvented regulations to safeguard profits, limit compensation payouts, and evade accountability.
Killer Company earned a finalist position for the 2009 Walkley Award in the non-fiction book category. The story was adapted into the 2012 docudrama Devil's Dust, with actor Ewen Leslie portraying Peacock.
Death
Peacock passed away due to pancreatic cancer at Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital on 30 October 2024, at the age of 72.
Following his death, he was honored in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours with a posthumous appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his substantial contributions to broadcast journalism.
Bibliography
- Asbestos: Work as a Health Hazard (1978) (ISBN 978-0642975317)
- The Forgotten People — a History of Australia's South Sea Islanders (1979) (ISBN 0642972605)
- Killer Company (2009) (ISBN 978-0733325809)