The ABC journalist, executive and educator died in Sydney after a six-decade career. His investigative teams produced landmark reports on corruption, the Rainbow Warrior bombing and asbestos.
Australian journalist and television producer Peter Manning died in Sydney on September 28, aged 81. He worked across newspapers, broadcasting and journalism education for more than six decades. As executive producer of ABC’s Four Corners, he helped save the programme from closure and led it through a period of influential investigations. The Sydney Morning Herald and ABC reported his death and career.
Manning began in newspapers and joined the ABC’s This Day Tonight in 1971. After returning to print, he rejoined the broadcaster and took a role at Four Corners in 1982. He was executive producer from 1985 to 1989. Major reports produced under his leadership included an investigation identifying French agents behind the bombing of Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior, coverage of Queensland corruption that led to the Fitzgerald inquiry, and a report on the dangers of blue asbestos mining in Wittenoom.
The programme won Walkley and Logie awards during his tenure. Colleagues described Manning as a demanding but supportive leader who defended reporters and gave younger journalists room to pursue difficult stories. The ABC has credited him with helping launch the careers of journalists including Stan Grant, Tony Jones, Paul Barry and Marian Wilkinson.
From 1989 to 1993, Manning headed ABC News and Current Affairs. He helped create Lateline, Foreign Correspondent and Landline, led Radio National and started its breakfast news programme. In 1995 he launched the ABC’s multimedia unit and oversaw its first online output. He later became the founding executive producer of Seven Network’s investigative programme Witness.
Manning went on to teach journalism at the University of Technology Sydney and Monash University. His books examined environmental protest, media coverage of Muslims and the Middle East, and the representation of Palestinians. He also campaigned for peace and social justice and for recognition of Palestinian statehood in the Australian Labor Party’s platform.
He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2022 and received a Walkley Award for Outstanding Contribution to Journalism in 2025. Manning is survived by his partner Carole, children Paddy, Megan and Thea, and four grandchildren. His funeral is scheduled for October 9 in Sydney.