When Maxine McKew first entered the world of journalism in 1974, her home state of Queensland was ruled by the “oppressive” government of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, where police corruption was rife and the media was largely stifled.

She rose through the ranks of the ABC on programs like This Day Tonight, Nationwide and The Carleton-Walsh Report, and became the first woman appointed as the public broadcasters Washington Correspondent.

At her height, hosting Lateline and The 7.30 Report, she was known as one of Australia’s finest current affairs interviewers, but she gave it all up for a career in politics, unseating then Prime Minister John Howard in the seat of Bennelong.

As part of our ongoing in-profile series, Maxine joined Tina Quinn in studio to talk about an extraordinary career which saw her blaze the trail for other female journalists, and gave her a front seat to history.

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