Hoda Afshar documents Australian government whistleblowers in new photography and film project

A young woman who witnessed the inhumane treatment of refugees in offshore detention; an officer who saw the corruption of the Australian Defence Force firsthand; a disability care worker who uncovered a system of physical abuse of children and adults with autism.

These are just three of the Australian whistleblowers whose portraits are hanging outside Melbourne’s St Paul’s Cathedral.

Among them are ABC’s Afghan Files whistleblower David McBride, and Witness K lawyer Bernard Collaery — both of whom face significant jail time for speaking up.

“They are all people who spoke out about some form of corruption or wrongdoing … and they all thought that basically, by doing so, the issue will be taken care of and resolved,” says artist Hoda…