From Council Corruption to Russian Blood Oil
by Cat Holloway
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.)