He has played a key role in bringing journalism into the digital age not only in Queensland but in Australia. The Courier-Mail’s Hedley Thomas won the Best Investigative Report Award for “Exposing a Sick System” – uncovering the questionable past and fatal practices of Jayant Patel at the Bundaberg Hospital and bringing to light fundamental failures of policy and protections within Queensland Health. “The importance of the work is so profound that all the consequences of Hedley’s investigation may take years to unfold,” the judges said. The awards - celebrating excellence in journalism and media coverage - were presented at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.