Veteran investigative journalist Steve Barrett will deliver the keynote address at a gala fundraiser for a charity at the forefront of the fight against child abuse this month.
Barrett will speak at the annual Black Tie Masquerade Ball in support of the Child Protection Foundation on Friday, May 29, 2026, at the Doltone House Function Centre in Sylvania Waters.
In his distinguished media career, Barrett took a special interest in exposing child sex offenders. His greatest success was his pivotal role in the hunt and capture of Robert "Dolly" Dunn, a monster regarded as the worst paedophile in Australia's history.
Barrett was there when 60 Minutes trapped Dunn in Honduras for the famous Liz Hayes report which The Sydney Morning Herald praised as "one of the great scoops of journalism".
The Black Tie Masquerade Ball is the major fundraiser for the Child Protection Foundation, a charity set up by Sydney couple Kerry and Bruce Fozzard that punches above its weight to expose and reduce the scourge of child abuse.
The Foundation has won the endorsement of politicians of all stripes, including four Prime Ministers: Ms Julia Gillard, Mr Tony Abbott, Mr Malcolm Turnbull and Mr Scott Morrison, who delivered the keynote address at the Ball on his way to The Lodge.
More recently, firebrand senator Jacqui Lambie has thrown her full support behind the Foundation in its new mission to take the child protection message into schools around the nation – an initiative that will benefit greatly from money raised at this year's Black Tie Ball.
The Ball includes entertainment from one of Sydney's top party bands. prizes for the best masks, silent auctions of memorabilia and other prized items, and raffles.
NOTE: The most recent statistics from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare have shown more than 159,000 active cases of reported child abuse alone in Australia, in four categories: Emotional abuse – 59%; Neglect – 17%; Physical abuse – 15%; and Sexual abuse – 9%.
These horrific numbers are why the Child Protection Foundation is dedicated to the eradication of sexual and physical abuse, the most heinous crimes against children.
TICKETS: Tickets for the Black Tie Masquerade Ball can be purchased online at trybooking.com, or by following the links from our website: www.cpf.org.au or www.facebook.com/TheCPF.
