He began as a journalist working for The Bulletin magazine and The National Times newspaper in 1972 before being appointed editor in 1980.[3] During this period, he oversaw publication of the articles by
David Hickie, which detailed long-suppressed allegations of corruption against former New South Wales premier
Robert Askin. The first article, headlined "Askin: friend of organised crime", was famously published on the day of Askin's funeral in 1981.[citation needed]
In 1980 Marr published his first book, Barwick, a hostile biography of Chief Justice
Sir Garfield Barwick. It won the
NSW Premier's Literary Award for Non-Fiction,[6] but was received poorly by its subject, who accused the author of fabricating quotes.[7]
Marr was a reporter on the
ABC TV program Four Corners (1985, 1990–91), a role in which he won a
Walkley Award, and presenter of
Radio National's Arts Today program (1994–1996). From 2002 to 2004, he hosted the ABC TV program Media Watch.[3] He was a frequent guest on ABC TV's Insiders program. During his term as presenter of Media Watch he played a key role in exposing the ongoing
cash for comment affair, which Media Watch had first raised in 1999, concerning radio commentators
Alan Jones and
John Laws. In 2004 the program's
exposé of
Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) head
David Flint – who had written letters of support to Jones at a time when Jones was being investigated by the ABA – played a significant role in forcing Flint's resignation.[citation needed]
In 2002 Marr stated on Media Watch that conservative newspaper columnist
Janet Albrechtsen had misquoted a French psychiatrist,
Jean-Jacques Rassial [
fr], and claimed that she had done this deliberately to make it look as though violence and gang rape were institutionalised elements of the culture of
Muslim youths.[8] Albrechtsen did not deny the misquote, but responded by accusing Media Watch of inherent left-wing bias and of deliberately leading a witch-hunt against contrary views. When the Minister for Communications, Senator
Helen Coonan, appointed Albrechtsen to the board of the ABC in February 2005, Marr publicly questioned whether she was qualified for such a position in light of what he described as "breaches of proper conduct as a commentator and as a journalist".[9]
In 2008 Marr was named by Same Same as one of the 25 most influential gay and lesbian Australians for his coverage of the
Bill Henson case.[10][11]
Marr has advocated drug-law reform and has written candidly about his life experiences: "I've had a lot of fun on drugs ... I've had a lot of marvellous experiences. I've danced a lot. I've had a great time. I'm not ashamed of it. And I don't see what's wrong with it."[12]
Marr resigned from The Sydney Morning Herald on 13 July 2012, saying "People underestimate what a deeply conventional person I am. I'm turning 65 and that feels like the right time to go."[13] However, in April 2013, Marr joined Guardian Australia.[14][15]
In 2013 Marr penned the essay (later expanded to a book) The Prince: Faith, Abuse and George Pell about
Cardinal Pell's dealing with
Sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.[16] In 2020 Marr appeared in episode 3 of ABC's series Revelation. Pell, wrongfully convicted of sexual abuse in 2019, was acquitted in 2020.[17]
Marr appeared as a semi-regular panellist on the
ABC television programs Q&A and Insiders until 2020.[citation needed]
In May 2024 it was announced that Marr will replace Phillip Adams as host of ABC Radio National's Late Night Live after Adams’ last show on 27 June 2024.[18]
^
abSydney Church of England Grammar School; Shore Old Boys Union (1994), Sydney Church of England Grammar School register, 1889–1994, Shore Old Boys Union,
ISBN978-0-646-19369-4
^Tom Frame (2005), The Life and Death of Harold Holt, Allen & Unwin, p. 125.
^"Janet Albrechtsen's View". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 9 September 2002. Archived from
the original on 25 April 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2006.