In 1980 when Laurie Oakes, was leaked the Budget papers in the Treasury car park and revealed his trove on Channel Nine two days before then-treasurer, John Howard delivered it, the Fraser government was deeply embarrassed.

Laurie’s leak is still regarded as one of the great political scoops of Australian journalistic history and while the journalist was prosecuted, (Oakes never revealed his source) the leaker was never found, although Canberra know-it-alls pointed fingers at an up-and-coming young treasury officer, Ken Henry.