From Council Corruption to Russian Blood Oil

Long before I started Spark Shoalhaven as a citizen journalism platform, Mark Corrigan was burrowing under Shoalhaven's surface, scratching around local political donations to uncover corruption, and publishing in his blog The Ferret's Notebook.

"Ferrets Notebook started in 2011.  I was writing letters, pitching stories and pursuing action by the government from around 2003. It was a cross between citizen journalism and activism," Corrigan said. 

"The more documents I came across, the more passionate I became about the level of transparency within the council.

"My goal is, whether you're on the left of politics or the right of politics, everything that is in the public interest should be out on the table,' Mr Corrigan said.

Fortunately for Shoalhaven's more secretive politicians, we voters lost Mark Corrigan to Tasmania.

But Corrigan's inherent investigative skills (and ethical character) soon pivoted his attention from local government to the hidden truth of the failure of Australian sanctions to stop Russian oil, or "Blood Oil', from flowing into Australia.

Corrigan has spent the last few years researching, writing and standing alongside Australian Ukrainians to highlight the shocking injustice of how Russian oil is essentially laundered through other countries' refineries, then welcomed into Australia and sold at petrol bowsers - making us all unwitting supporters of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In 2023, Corrigan first met his Ukrainian immigrant neighbours at a local Bushcare session. After the war in Ukraine broke out, Corrigan's interest was ignited by revelations from his neighbours of industry-wide trade loopholes unreported by mainstream media and not known by the Australian public.

He began devoting long hours tracking fuel tanker data and he wrote an initial op-ed in the Canberra Times, which sparked public conversation and connected him to protests and actions from Australia's Ukrainian community.

But the story gathered real momentum in 2025. Corrigan was consulted as a spokesperson, journalist and industry analyst for news stories and features in multiple national news platforms and on radio programs across Australia.

A "Blood Oil" series was published in the Sydney Morning Herald/Melbourne Age and, last month, Corrigan made an expert appearance at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Inquiry into the "Effectiveness of sanctions against the Russian Federation".

Corrigan and his work on this issue are inspiring as an example of how crucial 'citizen journalism' is in a democratic and lawful society - and how being an open neighbour can make all the difference.

Olena Kulyk of the Ukrainians in Sydney group, summarised Corrigan's impact:

When you were asked: “Do you really think you can change anything?” you touched on a question so many people ask themselves when they stand against injustice.

But the truth is, change often begins with a single voice and yours has become a force that others rally behind.

By speaking out, by refusing to walk away, and by carrying the spirit of Tania Tkachuk and Oleksandr Tkachuk into your campaign, you’ve shown that one person’s courage can ripple far beyond what they imagine.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you! Your persistence has kept this injustice in focus, inspired solidarity, and reminded us all that silence is never an option. Thank you for proving that determination matters, even when the odds seem overwhelming.

Your commitment is a powerful act of solidarity that gives hope to those who need it most.

Corrigan's data analysis and media advocacy was celebrated by his Ukrainian neighbour and initial source, Tania Tkachuk:

"When confronted with a government representative’s claim that 'It is impossible to track russian oil coming to Australia,' Mark simply replied, 'I’m Mark from Tasmania - and I am able to do it.'

His work is a powerful reminder that one ordinary person, driven by integrity and determination, truly can make a difference."

I urge you to read Mark Corrigan's personal accounts (text linked below) and the mainstream published material to which he has contributed otherwise concealed facts.

Likewise, Corrigan's statement and answers at the parliamentary enquiry reveal not only the extent of the oil sanction failures, but also the depth of understanding Corrigan has after a couple of years immersed in the topic. (Jump to the 28-minute mark for Corrigan's session.)

Taking Mark Corrigan's lead, Spark Shoalhaven is also pivoting as the site enters its third year.

I will continue writing (or editing) long-form feature articles as time permits. Unfortunately, I'm now limited in the number of subscribers allowed, unless I upgrade to a much more expensive account level on the Ghost publishing platform.

(I've considered moving the site to Substack, but it greatly limits design and distribution options. Plus, I like that Ghost is open source and independent.)

It's my original goal - winning over a broader (and younger) new audience with provocative, bite-sized, visual and FREE local news - that keeps me awake at night.

Which brings us to Spark @ Instagram. If you haven't found us there yet, please do! If you follow already, you'll know it for quality, but not quantity...yet.

Which is why I'm urging Shoalhaven's budding content creators or reporters to join me at Spark to create fact-driven reels, shortcasts, carousels and other multimedia storytelling.

Whether you are a student, retiree or a curious communicator at any stage of life, public interest journalism is an honourable, constructive way for volunteers to enrich community and hold power to account.

Spark on Instagram is neither a Facebook-style forum, nor an advertising avenue for paywalled media content or other products. It's grassroots news and views.

It should - and could - be the accessible, insightful, mobile source of what's up or going down, and what's on or going off in the Shoalhaven.

But I cannot populate the page alone.

Many hands make light work. Spark needs a diverse team of volunteer citizen journalists to write and create substantial posts, not just on the serious politics, environment and future planning challenges, but also insights into sport, arts, and volunteering or crime, industry and personalities.

I'd welcome even just one visual story a week. Even better if you have time and energy for more. Get in touch via spark@catholloway.com

I love developing stories, investigating information and interviewing stakeholders, but I'm slow at the graphic design and video/sound editing. So a savvy tech editor able to produce an appealing vibe for Spark's growing Insta-audience would be an enormous asset to this team.

There's already plenty of great material available across Shoalhaven; it just takes some effort to package and present it clearly and accurately for maximum impact.

Spread the word to anyone you know who might fit the bill. I would enjoy mentoring citizen journalists while learning from others about using social media wisely and creatively to bond and inform us all.

The bigger the audience, the better the show. I sincerely thank you all for supporting public interest local media and subscribing to Spark Shoalhaven's newsletter. Please do follow @sparkshoalhaven on Instagram.

Best wishes,
Cat

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