Rick Morton's 'Mean Streak' Wins Prestigious Prime Minister's Literary Award for Robodebt Exposé

In a surprising turn of events, journalist Rick Morton has emerged victorious at the 2025 Prime Minister's Literary Awards, with his book Mean Streak securing the top non-fiction prize of $80,000. The award recognizes Morton's unflinching account of Australia's infamous Robodebt scheme—a government program that wrongly accused welfare recipients of debts and led to tragic outcomes.

Morton, known for his sharp investigative work, initially hesitated to tackle the topic. "I didn't want to write this book," he admitted in interviews, reflecting on the emotional toll of uncovering the human stories behind the bureaucratic failures. Yet, what began as a reluctant project became a powerful narrative exposing the Coalition government's mishandled welfare automation efforts from 2015 to 2019. The scheme, often described as "deadly" due to its role in mental health crises and suicides, affected hundreds of thousands of Australians.

This year's awards, announced on September 29, 2025, celebrated six winners across various categories, but Mean Streak stood out for its timely relevance. As Australia continues to grapple with the fallout—including a landmark class action lawsuit and royal commission findings—the book serves as a stark reminder of accountability in public policy.

Looking ahead, Morton's win underscores the vital role of journalism in holding power to account. With the literary landscape evolving, such stories not only inform but also inspire change, ensuring the lessons of Robodebt aren't forgotten.

Read the original article on ABC News for more details.