Liam Bartlett

A Bachelor of Economics from the University of Western Australia and one of Perth’s highest profile journalists and public broadcasters, Liam has spent more than 22 years working in the media. Previous positions include hosting the state-based 7.30 Report on ABC TV, news anchor at STW Channel Nine in Perth and reporting duties for the Nine Network’s Melbourne bureau of ‘A Current Affair’. From 1999 to early 2006 Liam hosted the flagship morning current affairs program on 720 ABC Perth and statewide through the ABC’s regional network.

Under his stewardship, it became the only Morning Program in the ABC’s Australian network that consistently out-rated its commercial opposition.
In April 2006, Liam Bartlett accepted an offer from Radio 6PR, Perth to move to commercial radio as host of their morning current affairs program. Liam had only been at 6PR a few months when he was headhunted by Channel Nine for one of the most sought after positions in Australian TV journalism – as a 60 Minutes reporter. Since the program’s inception over 20 years ago there have only been a total of 11 reporters with 60 Minutes, including leading presenters such as George Negus, Jana Wendt, Ray Martin, Ian Leslie and Richard Carleton. It was following the untimely death of Richard Carlton that Liam was approached to join the prestigious 60 Minutes team.
Before his move to 60 Minutes Liam was also well known to newspaper readers throughout W.A., writing a weekly column for the Sunday Times for seven years and still provides a column about once a month between all his travels for 60 Minutes.
These writings, along with his journalistic endeavours have seen extended, often fiery interviews with leading political players, captains of industry, sporting heroes and entertainment figures from around the globe, providing Liam with a unique, insider’s view of issues that have dominated the headlines.
Along the way, his exposes` and disclosures have been responsible for the removal of disgraced public officials and the instigation of various parliamentary and departmental enquiries in the areas of Health, Emergency Services, Public Sector Standards and Treasury. Liam’s reportage has also seen an ombudsman sacked, a 30 year suspect finally named as a murderer in the Coroner’s Court, and a Minister lose her portfolio only two weeks into the job. During his first assignment in Lebanon for 60 Minutes Liam, and his camera crew, had to dive for cover as an incoming Israeli rocket exploded in the next street as Liam was interviewing locals caught up in the hostilities.
He has also experienced life on the inside of the democratic process, being the only independent candidate in W.A. elected to attend the historic Constitutional Convention in Canberra.
In 2001, Liam Bartlett was awarded a prestigious Churchill Fellowship to study investigative journalism techniques and trends in major media organisations around the world. The subsequent documentary that he produced earned international recognition with a ‘Grand Prize’ at the New York Radio Festival Awards in 2003.
Liam is also an excellent master of ceremonies, and entertaining speaker who provides a fascinating insight into what goes on behind the headlines in a presentation titled, ‘The Business of Media – the Back Room of Making News’.