60 Minutes - Season 15 / Year 2023
Season 15 / Year 2023
Episodes
The Sea World Tragedy, Lights Camera Catastrophe
A 60 MINUTES Exclusive: Survivors of the Sea World helicopter tragedy describe the horror of the mid-air collision ; Plus, why actor Alec Baldwin could be facing prison time over the death of a cinematographer on the western film, "Rust".
Sex, Lies & Alibis, Hot P!nk
From behind prison bars, Ghislaine Maxwell, the one-time madam of billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, speaks publicly for the first time; plus, superstar P!NK reveals her secret obsession.
Last Gasp
It's no secret that Australia is a country of renovators. Each month more than a billion dollars is spent sprucing up homes with additions that include shiny new kitchens and bathrooms. But what's not well known is that many of the young tradies who cut up the engineered stone to make the benches and vanities so desired by renovators have actually been handed a death sentence. That's because these man-made products contain silica, and its dust, when inhaled, is a killer. In fact, over time it's considered to be as toxic as asbestos. In a joint investigation by 60 Minutes, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, Adele Ferguson reveals video proof of repeated safety breaches in Australian workplaces where tradies have been tasked with cutting and grinding the engineered stone into shape. Equally concerning, Ferguson's report contains damning evidence that while the affected workers say they have been unaware of the dangers, it's certainly not the case when it comes to the manufacturers of these products.
Womb to Move, Big Pebble Little Lies
Womb to Move
On 60 Minutes, an inspirational story to remind us that unconditional love and the marvels of modern medicine can make incredible allies. And hopefully, beautiful babies. Six weeks ago, in a history-making operation, 30-year-old Kirsty Bryant became the first woman in Australia to receive a womb transplant. Thanks to amazing science, her dream of having a second child is now possible. But it would not have happened without Kirsty's extraordinarily generous mother, Michelle Hayton. On assignment for 60 Minutes, Nine's Sylvia Jeffreys reports that Michelle didn't think twice when asked if she'd give up her own womb for her daughter. "Yes," is all she said.
Producer: Lisa Brown
Big Pebble Little Lies
He likes to be called Little Pebble and he wants people to believe he's a man of God. But he's not. His real name is William Costellia Kamm. And he's evil. Back in the 1980s he set up a doomsday cult, claiming to his followers he could speak to the Virgin Mary. He then spun the lie that God wanted him to have multiple wives so he could repopulate the earth. But as Tara Brown reports, this very creepy man's real ambition was to have sex with underage girls. When he was caught, he went to prison for a decade. Now he's out, and there are substantial fears he's up to his old tricks.
Producer: Clair Weaver
Living in Interesting Times, National Disgrace
Living in Interesting Times
As if they're not hurting enough, Australians with home loans need to prepare themselves for even more pain. Next Tuesday it's almost certain there will be another interest rate rise, which will set a record no one wants to celebrate – the tenth increase in a row. It will add new meaning to the old phrase, "We live in interesting times". The Reserve Bank says raising interest rates is the best way to get inflation under control and warns that if it doesn't, the Australian economy will be truly stuffed. But what if the experts have got it wrong? On 60 Minutes, Tom Steinfort finds out if there's a better way to beat inflation than by smashing families already trapped in a financial vice.
Producers: Lisa Brown, Sheree Gibson
National Disgrace
There's no nice way to put it: the shocking number of Aboriginal deaths in custody is a national disgrace. It's inexcusable. Back in 1991 a Royal Commission exposed the brutal truth about this crisis and made 339 recommendations to try to fix the problem. Sadly though, good intentions have not translated into meaningful action. In the 32 years since the Royal Commission, more than 527 Indigenous Australians have died while locked up. In a joint investigation by 60 Minutes, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Nick McKenzie reveals more horrific cases of Indigenous deaths that could and should have been avoided. He also interviews Aboriginal activist, ALP Senator Pat Dodson. The revered Yawuru elder from Western Australia tells McKenzie the Albanese government must act immediately to address this shameful crisis.
Producers: Natalie Clancy, Sammi Taylor
Presumed Evil, Trafficked
Presumed Evil
Ben Smith was a typically honest, hardworking and ambitious young Australian. Originally from country NSW, he moved to Sydney in the 1990s to play footy, and went on to become a highly respected cop. Life was good. Then, six years ago, out of the blue, he was accused of horrific, historical sex crimes. Smith knew he was innocent but that wasn't enough to convince investigators. He was presumed to be evil. There was one person who believed him though, and thank goodness she did. As Tara Brown reports, Ben's wife Amy saved her husband from prison by gathering crucial evidence and proving beyond doubt what police and prosecutors ignored – her man was not a monster.
Producer: Naomi Shivaraman
Trafficked
She's diminutive, quietly spoken, almost invisible. For Mae Ja Kim it's the perfect disguise to hide a dangerous truth: she is a criminal mastermind and part of Australia's most ruthless human trafficking syndicate. Police believe she has made millions of dollars by exploiting hundreds of women lured from Asia to be enslaved in the sex industry here. A decade ago Mae Ja Kim was sentenced to prison for five years, but as Nick McKenzie reveals in a joint investigation by 60 Minutes, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and Stan, that setback may be no more than a minor blip in the career of this major crook.
Producer: Amelia Ballinger
Grey is the New Black, Kidnapped in Japan
Grey is the New Black
It's time to boot the Botox and flick the facial-fillers. In other words, out with the new, in with the old. Wrinkles are sexy and grey is the new black. More and more women, and especially those over 50, have decided there's nothing more beautiful than welcoming, and then embracing, the age of ageing. As Amelia Adams discovers, the leaders of this revolution can be found in some rather surprising places. They include stars of Hollywood, as well as beauty industry icons like one-time supermodel Paulina Porizkova, proudly 57 years old, who says growing old gracefully is cool, and better still, no one needs to spend a cent to look – and feel – like a million bucks.
Producer: Laura Sparkes
Kidnapped in Japan
It sounds completely crazy, but in Japan it is actually legal to kidnap children. Yes, legal. In that country a bizarre law allows a parent in a failed marriage to literally abduct the kids and run off into the night. It's possible because co-parenting is not an option for disgruntled couples who are divorcing. Sole custody is automatically awarded to the mother or father who was last living with the children. That parent is also given the power to block the other parent's access. While Japan is entitled to make any strange rules it wants, 82 Australian kids have been innocently caught up in this mess. On assignment for 60 Minutes, North Asia correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Eryk Bagshaw, investigates how the seemingly sensible idea of shared custody has become as alien to the Japanese as a ban on whaling.
Producer: Natalie Clancy
TikToking Time Bomb, The Good, The Bad & The Beautiful
TikToking Time Bomb
Who doesn't like TikTok? Scrolling through millions of silly dance and lip-syncing videos is the perfect way to make anyone smile. It's little wonder the hugely popular social media app has more than a billion users. What many of them don't know, however, is that TikTok is a Chinese business. Of course there's no law against that, but what is worrying is the amount of personal data the company harvests from its followers. In a joint investigation by 60 Minutes and the Australian Financial Review, Amelia Adams reports that there are legitimate fears the Chinese Communist Party has access to that information and could be using it to spy on us.
Producers: Garry McNab, Max Mason
The Good, The Bad & The Beautiful
For 56 of her 57 years Brooke Shields has been in show business. Television, movies, modelling, she's done it all. Without question her career is impressive, though it hasn't been without controversy. Or scandal. Her latest film is a documentary she has made about growing up as a Hollywood star. But as Sarah Abo reports, what's surprising is this is no sugar-coated bio-pic. Brooke's own story is brutally honest, revealing her darkest and most traumatic secrets.
Producers: Lisa Brown, Sammi Taylor
Maybe Theybe, The Body in the Suitcase
Maybe Theybe
It's not at all unusual, in fact it's often quite lovely when new parents coo that their baby is the cutest and cleverest one ever born. But early in their lives do small children have big enough brains to make the biggest decisions? Like whether they're a boy or a girl? A growing group of mums and dads think they do and are embracing what is known as "gender creative parenting". The parents are deliberately keeping the sex of their babies top secret because they say the children themselves should be free to decide who they are. And as Amelia Adams discovers, that means the little ones are being raised not as baby boys or baby girls, but as theybies.
Producers: Tracey Hannaford, Sammi Taylor
The Body in the Suitcase
In a London courtroom late last year, 38-year-old Jemma Mitchell from Melbourne was found guilty of a despicable crime. She murdered her friend, Mee Kuen Chong, chopped up her body, stuffed it into a suitcase and dumped it near a remote English beach. The evidence against the Australian was overwhelming. Multiple CCTV cameras showed Mitchell wheeling the suitcase around London. But there's now a twist. Mitchell's mother claims her daughter is innocent and that a terrible miscarriage of justice has occurred. In an extraordinary interview with Tom Steinfort, Hilary Collard says she knows the truth because she saw what was really packed into the suitcase.
Producers: Sheree Gibson, Shellie Doyle
In Too Deep, Will To Win
Champion swimmer Ariarne Titmus reveals the family secret that drove her to win gold at the Tokyo Olympic Games; plus, the pool attendant who unwittingly found himself starring in America's craziest sex, religion and politics scandal.
The Confession, The TikToking Time Bomb
An extraordinary TV confession. A crooked financial advisor who made a fortune by ripping off his clients pleads for forgiveness; plus, Beijing bites back, warning Australia it would be foolish to ban social media app TikTok.
The Confession:
In an extraordinary report for 60 MINUTES, Adele Ferguson interviews one of the key players involved in a highly dubious global financial scheme that has trapped hundreds of investors in Australia, and thousands more around the world. In the interview, the former trusted senior advisor makes startling confessions about how he enticed his clients into buying financial products that he now admits were worthless. But while they suffered, he profited by accepting secret kickbacks. Ferguson's investigation, compiled in conjunction with her reporting for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, estimates that more than six billion dollars in funds is unaccounted for, either because it doesn't exist or is hidden in complicated company structures in overseas tax havens. It is expected that further action from financial authorities around the world, including the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, is imminent.
The TikToking Time Bomb:
Anyone who cares to search will undoubtedly find some very amusing TikTok videos made about the very uproar TikTok has been causing lately. Last week it was banned from Australian government phones and devices. It's deemed to be a risk to our national security because of the Chinese ownership of its parent company. The decision has upset the local arm of TikTok who maintain their app is harmless fun, not a spy tool. As Amelia Adams reports, it has also outraged the Chinese Communist Party, which is once again warning us not to treat Beijing as the enemy.
Under the Influence, Who's Hugh?
Under the Influence
This weekend Victoria Police is marking its saddest anniversary. It's three years since a drugged truck driver ran down and killed four officers on Melbourne's Eastern Freeway. It was the deadliest day in the history of the force, made even more horrific by a callous Porsche driver who taunted and filmed the dying police and then shared the vision with his friends. Now, in a joint investigation with The Age, 60 MINUTES can reveal a bizarre and worrying twist in the story. As Amelia Adams reports, the semi-trailer driver, who has been convicted and jailed for his actions, might not have been behind the wheel that terrible day but for his boss's devotion to a little-known, hardline religious sect called The Potter's House.
Who's Hugh?
There's no dispute, Hugh Sheridan is one of the nicest people anyone could ever hope to meet. On screen and in the theatre, he's also one of Australia's finest, and most loved, actors. But in 2020, Hugh became the target of a hate campaign that was so vile it almost broke him. The reason he was viciously attacked defies belief. He dared to do what actors are paid to do: act. As Tara Brown reports, the controversy arose after he was offered the leading part in the musical stage production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Hugh considered it the role of a lifetime, but by accepting the part he offended a very angry minority group who made it their mission to brutally cancel him.
The Mules of Instagram, Roll the Dice
The Mules of Instagram
It doesn't matter where in the world they ply their trade, criminals share common traits. Greed. Arrogance. And more often than not, high levels of stupidity. It's certainly the case for Isabelle Legacé and Melina Roberge. Blinded by the promise of a small fortune, as well as a free luxury cruise from England to Australia, the two young Canadians agreed to help smuggle 95 kilograms of cocaine in their luggage. But as Karl Stefanovic reports, they came unstuck because they couldn't stop sharing the happy snaps of their journey on Instagram. They seemed to believe that being drug mules was as easy as getting a South Pacific suntan. Little did they know, as they cruised towards Sydney, the Australian Border Force was ready and waiting and had arranged a special welcome party for them.
Reporter: Karl Stefanovic
Producers: Amelia Ballinger, Sammi Taylor, Sébastien Trahan
Roll the Dice
With economic ups and downs every other day, it's not surprising that millions of Australians currently feel like they're living in a giant game of snakes and ladders. On Wednesday a small drop in the rate of inflation was seen as a positive blip for people doing it tough. But sitting at seven per cent, the number is still way too high. Bringing inflation down isn't difficult though. There's a quick and easy fix. The problem, however, is that homeowners with mortgages will suffer even more because interest rates must rise further. In about 48 hours the country will know for sure if the under-siege Reserve Bank has the mettle to tame the inflation beast, but in the meantime, Tom Steinfort reports, it might be wise for everyone to assume the brace position.
Reporter: Tom Steinfort
Producer: Hannah Bowers
The King and Us, Hammer Blow
The King and Us
Not many people at age 74 get a new job, much less one they'll have for the rest of their lives, but such is the case with King Charles III. This weekend, the new monarch will be crowned, marking the beginning of the arduous task of following in his late mother's footsteps. According to surveys, not only is Queen Elizabeth II more beloved than Prince Charles, but so are William, Anne, and the rest of the royal family's offspring.
The new King has a lot of people to win over, and not just in the UK. The word "republic" is making a comeback in current Australian political discourse. On the other hand, 60 Minutes's Tom Steinfort hears from close friends and associates of His Majesty and Queen Camilla that the monarchy is in good hands with them.
Reporter: Tom Steinfort
Producers: Natalie Clancy, Sheree Gibson, Naomi Shivaraman
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Hammer Blow
A major crisis is developing in Victoria at a time when Australia needs a strong construction industry to build desperately needed housing.
In that state, the building regulator, a crucial part of the Andrews state government, appears to have given up. The VBA's stated mission is to safeguard Victoria, Australia residents from unreliable building firms and professionals.
Christine Ahern of The TODAY Show, on assignment for 60 MINUTES, discusses the devastating impact the VBA's inaction has on people who are just trying to put a roof over their heads.
Reporter: Christine Ahern
Producer: Lisa Brown
Finding Cleo, Trafficked (Update)
Finding Cleo
Who could forget Cleo Smith. She's the brave little girl whose parents' tent was robbed in the middle of the night from a campsite in Western Australia.
Australians and countless others around the world waited breathlessly for 18 days, hoping against hope that Cleo would be found unharmed. She was found thanks to a police investigation that was unprecedented in its thoroughness and doggedness.
In an exclusive report for 60 Minutes, Tara Brown details the events leading up to and including Cleo Smith's rescue. Cleo's parents, Ellie and Jake, discuss their daughter's mental health 19 months after the traumatic event, and Brown interviews them to learn more.
She also reveals shocking new footage from the hours after Cleo went missing and extraordinary new details about the case, all of which led up to the four happiest words ever spoken by a four-year-old: "My name is Cleo."
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producers: Garry McNab, Sheree Gibson
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Trafficked (Update)
If you think Australia's borders are secure, think again. Six months ago, in a joint investigation with the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, 60 Minutes exposed how criminals are making a joke of the way we enforce who does and doesn't enter the country. The rorting is breathtaking. There's large scale human and drug trafficking, sex slavery, and the shocking exploitation of sex workers. After our story, the Albanese government promised action ordering an urgent enquiry. The report was meant to be publicly released before last week's budget. But instead, the naming findings have been kept secret. But not any longer.
Weapons For Peace, What The Five Eyes See
Weapons for Peace
It might sound like twisted logic, but military forces everywhere argue that the greater the firepower they possess, the greater the chance of maintaining peace. In other words, massive weaponry is the best deterrent to war. Right now the theory is being tested like never before, and much of it is happening in Australia's backyard, the Indo-Pacific region. The United States wants the world, and more particularly China, to know of its increasing presence there, and to do that it's putting on a spectacular show. Reporting from the hotly contested South China Sea, Amelia Adams reveals the U.S. military in full-flight is an extraordinary sight to behold.
What the Five Eyes See
Showing off deadly weaponry in massive war games is a tactic China and the United States both use to try to avoid full-on combat. But the truth is the two countries, as well as other nations including Australia, are already battling it out in an invisible war. There are no frontline soldiers but there are significant skirmishes. Until now these conflicts have been kept quiet, but key members of a secretive alliance of top cops from Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand are about to change that. In exclusive interviews with Nick McKenzie, the group known as the "Five Eyes" disclose startling information about the trouble they're seeing.
A Mind of its Own, Dead End (+ Remembering Tina)
A Mind of its Own
Tom Steinfort interviews Ameca, the most advanced robot in the world. A marvel of generative AI, it's curious, chatty and full of attitude. This super machine really does have a mind of its own.
Dead End
It's now official. A coroner has ruled that missing Sydney con woman Melissa Caddick is dead, although precisely how, where and when she died remains a mystery.
Ben Roberts-Smith: The Truth
For many Australians, it's almost too difficult to even imagine. In a landmark defamation trial, the country's most revered and decorated soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith, has been found to be a murderer and a war criminal.
On Thursday, Federal Court Justice Anthony Besanko delivered his judgement in the case.
It came after Roberts-Smith sued Nine Newspapers and reporters Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters, following damning articles they wrote about the Victoria Cross recipient in 2018.
The journalists' investigation revealed that far from being a hero of the Afghanistan war, Roberts-Smith broke moral and legal rules of military engagement, including being involved, directly and indirectly, in the murders of a number of innocent Afghan civilians and other persons-under-control (PUCs).
He also engaged in multiple acts of violence including bullying and intimidation of fellow SAS soldiers.
Roberts-Smith was not in Sydney to hear Justice Besanko's decision, instead preferring to holiday in Bali.
Outside the Federal Court, McKenzie and Masters re-enforced the importance of the role journalists have in exposing truth, even in cases where revealing wrongdoing could have embarrassing and serious national security implications.
They also acknowledged the bravery of the SAS soldiers who spoke out to defend the truth.
Since 2019, 60 Minutes has supported the reporting of McKenzie and Masters by broadcasting multiple stories about Afghanistan war atrocities committed by Australian soldiers.
In a special edition of the program, Tom Steinfort reveals even more information about what really happened in Afghanistan.
As part of his report, Steinfort, cameraman Scott Morelli and sound recordist Matt Brown made a dangerous journey to Kabul to speak to Afghan witnesses to Robert-Smith's alleged crimes.
It's believed the 60 Minutes team members are the first Australian media to travel to Afghanistan since the Taliban reclaimed control of the country in August 2021.
Eat, Pray, Profit, Spare Us!
Eat, Pray, Profit
It's an amount of money that's truly mind-boggling. The largely unregulated world of wellness is estimated to be worth $7 trillion. Remarkably, it's three times more than the traditional pharmaceutical industry. And Australia is leading the charge in the wellness boom. Living among us are an increasing number of new-age gurus who believe, for an often very healthy price, they can fix our many real and imagined ailments. They claim things like coffee enemas, carnivore diets, intravenous drips, even vagina-scented candles will provide much needed zest for users. On 60 Minutes, Tom Steinfort realigns his chakras and sets forth on an eye-opening journey to discover if the wellness craze is giving us a new lease on life or is just an easy way to empty our wallets.
Reporter: Tom Steinfort
Producer: Tracey Hannaford
Spare Us!
Spare a thought for the spare. Prince Harry has endured a hell of a week explaining his hell of a life to a judge in a London court. He claims that for years the English tabloids harassed and hounded him into misery by hiring private eyes to constantly follow him, as well as hacking his phone to get the scoop on his secrets. Harry says he's now had enough and it must stop. But as Sarah Abo reports, for a man who has recently released a money-making autobiography and given multiple television interviews spilling the dirt on his famous family's squabbles, Harry's demand to hold the newspapers to account could just as easily be seen as a case of breathtaking hypocrisy.
Reporter: Sarah Abo
Producer: Natalie Clancy
In China's Sights & The Sting
In China's Sights
It's well known that China won't stand for any criticism. There, opponents of the communist regime are simply not tolerated. But it seems Beijing now thinks it also has the right to ignore international borders and silence dissent anywhere it sees fit. Around the world it's setting up illegal outposts called "Chinese Overseas Police Service Stations", and as the name implies, the objective of these offices is clear. Our law enforcement agencies deny there are any of these stations in Australia, even though Chinese authorities openly publicise their existence. But as Tara Brown reports in a special 60 Minutes investigation, that's not the end of the intimidation. China is also using disgraceful new tactics to target Australians who dare to speak out.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Laura Sparkes
The Sting
Volunteering to help further the cause of science is a noble endeavour, but as Tom Steinfort discovers, being a human guinea pig can also hurt like hell. He has just experienced a spectacular but rather painful adventure around Australia with a group of researchers on an extraordinary mission. While most people would instinctively run from the dangerous creepy crawlies of the outback, these brave scientists deliberately seek out spiders, scorpions and centipedes, and then invite them to attack. Their aim is to get bitten to understand the pain of the stings. They then use the information, as well as the venom they collect, to develop much-needed medicines and painkillers. It's amazing work that's already saving lives.
Reporter: Tom Steinfort
Producer: Serge Negus
Secrets and Spies, A Few Good Women
Secrets & Spies
The murky business of espionage usually exists in the shadows. But not this week on 60 Minutes. In an intriguing and at times robust encounter, Tara Brown interviews a woman our spy agency, ASIO, claims is an agent tasked by Russia to gather sensitive information. Her name is Marina Sologub, and up until earlier this year she'd been living and working in Adelaide for three years. Now she's in immigration detention waiting to be kicked out of the country. As Brown reports, cases like this would normally be kept top secret, but quite remarkably a very bold Sologub is refusing to go quietly, denying accusations she's a spy, and vowing to fight her deportation to the bitter end.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Amelia Ballinger
A Few Good Women
He has killed thousands of soldiers and civilians and flattened countless towns and villages, but 17 months on from his illegal invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin is still a long way from victory. It's a major embarrassment for the Russian bully, who originally expected to win the war within days. And now, along with the defiant Ukrainian forces, Putin is also facing other formidable foes. Tom Steinfort travels to north-eastern Europe to meet a group of fearless females, including the prime ministers of Finland and Estonia, who despite the dangers are bravely standing up to the dictator, determined to play their part in his defeat.
Reporter: Tom Steinfort
Producers: Natalie Clancy, Sheree Gibson
Scamdemic & Who's the Boss?
Scamdemic
Falling victim to a scammer is an awful feeling. It's not only the theft of money or personal information that stings, the thought of being tricked by lowlife crooks is enough to enrage anyone. Statistics show more than 95 per cent of Australians are exposed to telephone, text and internet scams each year. Even more alarming is the amount of money these thieves are stealing from us. Last year it exceeded three billion dollars. But on 60 Minutes, Amelia Adams reports there is finally some positive news. A major fightback is underway and it's one that aims to turn Australia from an easy target into an impenetrable fortress.
Reporter: Amelia Adams
Producer: Serge Negus
Who's the Boss?
For 24 years there was no dispute about who was the boss in Russia. Vladimir Putin seemed to proudly wear the label of the world's most feared strongman. But last weekend, all of sudden, his iron rule was challenged. Putin stumbled and for the first time appeared weak and vulnerable. The man threatening to topple the Russian tyrant was Yevgeny Prigozhin, arguably an even nastier piece of work than Putin himself. As the head of the Wagner group, he controls the brutal mercenaries who have been fighting alongside Russian forces in the illegal war against Ukraine. Tom Steinfort reports that what worries the world now is figuring out what Prigozhin's next move could be. And where.
Reporter: Tom Steinfort
Producer: Sheree Gibson
Love Trap & Thorpe Control
Love Trap
It's a crime so malicious it's difficult to understand how anyone could even think of it. It began innocently when a Brisbane flight attendant, Jess, had a chance meeting on an aeroplane with the Australian actor Lincoln Lewis. However, unknown to both of them at the time, this harmless encounter would set off a catastrophic chain of events. Somehow, someone with a particularly warped mind got wind of their friendship, and using social media, assumed Lincoln Lewis' identity, then tricked the young woman into a dangerous long-distance relationship. For more than a decade Jess and other helpless victims lived in fear as they were constantly stalked and harassed. But when detectives finally caught the culprit there was another startling twist. As Tara Brown reports, it's little wonder police now describe this as Australia's worst case of "cat fishing".
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producers: Tracey Hannaford, Naomi Shivaraman
Thorpe Control
Where to begin when trying to explain, who is Lidia Thorpe? Maybe a start is to think of her as the Nick Kyrgios of Australian politics. She's edgy, unpredictable, sometimes angry, often funny, and for a politician, refreshingly candid. As Karl Stefanovic discovers in an exclusive interview with the independent Senator, Lidia Thorpe is also hugely committed to her job in the Australian parliament. She tells Stefanovic her drive comes from a tough upbringing which has not only given her resilience, but a will to always fight for the underdog. It's a resolve that might make Australians reassess their view of the controversial politician, and possibly even wish for more Lidia Thorpes in Canberra.
Reporter: Karl Stefanovic
Producers: Natalie Clancy, Lisa Brown
Deep Trouble, Spur of the Moment & The Dupe of Cambridge
Deep Trouble
They had paid hundreds of thousands of dollars, but the prize for the passengers onboard the OceanGate submersible, Titan, was supposed to be worth every cent. They were promised the chance to visit the most iconic shipwreck in history, the Titanic. But sadly, they never made it. Somewhere along the journey, 3.8 kilometres down into the hostile depths of the north Atlantic Ocean, catastrophe struck. As Amelia Adams reports, valuable lessons must be learned from this tragedy. The brutal reality is this wasn't an adventure. Rather, like the Titanic, it was a disaster just waiting to happen.
Reporter: Amelia Adams
Producer: Hannah Bowers
Spur of the Moment
English soccer fans are famously passionate, opinionated and knowledgeable. But despite their devotion to the game, until very recently few knew of or cared about Ange Postecoglou. Today it's a different story. Ange is the first Australian ever to be signed up as the boss of an English Premier League team. But he's in for a tough time because his new club, Tottenham Hotspur, has been a disaster of late. In desperation the team is hoping the Aussie's fast and furious style of play, something called Ange-ball, will be what's needed to turn Spurs' disappointment into triumph.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Lisa Brown
The Dupe of Cambridge
How's this for cheek? Caroline Calloway has become a worldwide internet sensation by being honest about being dishonest. This 31-year-old woman is a brazen, and as Tom Steinfort discovers, quite beguiling fraudster, who has decided to make crime pay by fessing up to it. In her scamming career, Calloway first made her name by lying her way into Cambridge University. Since then she has graduated to even more audacious rip-offs, conning and stealing from a multitude of unsuspecting victims. It's a sobering indictment, but like it or not, Caroline's proving that once you've had one scandal, you might as well have a thousand.
Reporter: Tom Steinfort
Producer: Naomi Shivaraman
Home Truths, China's Most Wanted
Home Truths
The proud boast at the top of the website for the Department of Home Affairs says: "Home Affairs brings together migration, cyber and infrastructure security, national security and resilience, and border-related functions, working together to keep Australia safe." However, a joint investigation by 60 Minutes, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age reveals a very different picture. Nick McKenzie reports significant systemic failings in the department that have compromised Australia's border security, allowing overseas organised crime gangs access to the country, and making their lucrative trade in violence, drug trafficking, money laundering, corruption, slavery and worker exploitation much easier.
Reporter: Nick McKenzie
Producer: Amelia Ballinger
China's Most Wanted
China's crackdown on dissent is getting more extreme – and bizarre – by the day. In an outrageous abuse of power, the pro-Beijing leader of Hong Kong has announced that a bounty has been placed on the heads of eight pro-democracy activists. John Lee says he'll pay $200,000 for the capture of each one. As Sarah Abo reports, it's not an idle threat. Lee warns he will hunt the dissidents down and make them suffer for the rest of their days. Thankfully the eight wanted activists have all found refuge outside China, including two who are now in Australia. But that doesn't lessen the fear they feel.
Reporter: Sarah Abo
Producer: Garry McNab
State of the World, The King's Secret & Full Metal Racket
State of the World
In his only Australian television interview, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken talks about the vital role Australia must play in maintaining peace in an increasingly dangerous world.
The King's Secret
You don't need to be a rugby league diehard to know Wally Lewis is one of the greatest players of all time. He's not known as "The King" for nothing. Now though, heavy is the head that wears the crown. As Tom Steinfort reports, the football legend has a secret about the game he loves, which he and his new partner, Lynda Adams, have courageously decided to share with the world.
Reporter: Tom Steinfort
Producers: Lisa Brown, Hannah Bowers
Full Metal Racket
For Australian fans of heavy metal music, there's no better news than the announcement that iconic bands Def Leppard and Mӧtley Crüe have joined forces and will be touring the country later in the year. In anticipation of their visit, Tara Brown travelled to London for exclusive interviews with both groups. Brown discovered that despite their shared rock legend status, and the stage they share, Def Leppard and Mӧtley Crüe are two very different bands. Together though, they're proving there's enormous worldwide demand for the hugely enthusiastic racket they make.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Lisa Brown
Keep Clear, Lizzo
60 Minutes tonight profiles Lizzo, which sounds like good timing given recent news events.
However, Nine is understood to have interviewed the US performer prior to allegations levelled by former back up dancers.
Keep Clear
The Church of Scientology, increasingly labelled a secretive cult, is once again proving why it's such a contentious organisation. Two months ago, a court in the United States found one of its members, Hollywood actor Danny Masterson, guilty of multiple rapes. As intolerable as that is, what the case also exposed were the extraordinary tactics the Church used to protect its star recruit, and how it cruelly attempted to silence his victims, who themselves were Scientologists. Since then, there have been even more revelations about life inside Scientology, including damning accusations of serious abuses and mob-style operations and attacks. But as Tara Brown reports, taking on an organisation as bullying and belligerent as Scientology comes at a cost.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Sammi Taylor
Lizzo
There are few bigger pop stars in the world right now than classically trained flautist-turned-singer, Lizzo. Her fans love her not just for her music but also for how candid she is. As she says, she's unapologetically a big, black beautiful woman. But a few days ago, the entertainment world was shocked when the artist was accused of gross hypocrisy. Three of Lizzo's former back up dancers announced they're suing her, claiming they were body-shamed and sexually harassed. Lizzo has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, meaning a court will probably determine the veracity of the allegations. Just before this controversy blew up, Tom Steinfort was given an exclusive glimpse behind the scenes of Lizzo's Australian tour.
Reporter: Tom Steinfort
Producers: Naomi Shivaraman, Sammi Taylor
The Sins of the Twin, Yes or No
The Sins of the Twin
Long before Chris Dawson was found to be a murderer and a child sex offender, he and his identical twin Paul were minor celebrities around Sydney's Northern Beaches. The pair was extremely close. They were both handsome rugby league players and models who became high school physical education teachers. But in 1982 Chris murdered his wife Lynette. The crime went unsolved for 40 years, as did the fact he was having an affair with a 16-year-old pupil at the time. In a major 60 Minutes investigation Tom Steinfort reveals staggering, serious accusations about the other twin, Paul Dawson, namely that back in the 1980s he too was having sex with at least one and possibly more of his underage students.
Reporter: Tom Steinfort
Producer: Sheree Gibson
Yes or No
It started as a simple and without doubt honourable thought, as well as a long overdue opportunity to do good by recognising indigenous Australians in our nation's constitution. But then politics took over. The proposed Voice to Parliament is now mired in complication and confusion, with fear being used to fuel its almost certain failure. As Amelia Adams reports, instead of being history-making the referendum is set to be nation-dividing. So how and why did it get to this?
Reporter: Amelia Adams
Producer: Natalie Clancy
The Case Against Cosby
All over the world, Bill Cosby was known as a much loved actor and comedian. But his public persona hid an evil truth. Scores of women accuse him of being a sexual predator.
Catching a Killer, Work in Progress
Catching a Killer
It's a bittersweet truth: the very best of police detective work is likely to be born out of the very worst of mankind. It's certainly the case when it comes to the investigation into the death of Cecilia Haddad. She was a young Brazilian woman who'd been living in Australia, working as a mining executive, for a number of years. In 2018 she was murdered by a jealous ex-boyfriend, Marcelo Santoro. He was also from Brazil and it's where he fled to immediately after killing Cecilia. Santoro might have thought by escaping Australia he'd gotten away with his terrible crime, but he was wrong. On assignment for 60 Minutes, Nine's Christine Ahern reports that Santoro didn't count on the determination of New South Wales police officers to bring him to justice.
Reporter: Christine Ahern
Producer: Laura Sparkes
Work in Progress
Anyone aged from their mid-20s to early-40s is considered a millennial. While the group is now the largest generation in Australia, it's also the most heavily criticised. The flak comes mainly from older generations who are quick to complain that millennials are lazy and entitled, especially in the workplace. Most of them probably couldn't care less, but as Tom Steinfort reports, many of the millennials' bosses are not sure how to handle their increasing demands for greater flexibility so they can have the freedom to enjoy acting their age.
Reporter: Tom Steinfort
Producers: Serge Negus, Tracey Hannaford
Deep Impact, The Year of Living Cheaply
Deep Impact
At more than three hundred and sixty billion dollars, the cost for Australia to acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines is beyond substantial. For the money though, the country will get enormous firepower in the form of the most advanced, and lethal, fighting machine humans can build. The politicians who engineered the deal through the AUKUS security pact say we will also obtain something that's impossible to put a price on: stability in our region. China definitely doesn't agree, but the theory is that by showing our fighting capability, Australia is really proving how much we want peace. But what are these submarines really like? On 60 Minutes, Amelia Adams is given very rare permission by the United States Navy to go aboard and test drive one of its incredible attack subs, the Virginia Class USS North Carolina.
Reporter: Amelia Adams
Producers: Natalie Clancy, Sheree Gibson
The Year of Living Cheaply
The belt-tightening endured by the majority of Australians over the past year has caused enormous hardship. Finally though, last Wednesday, there was a glimmer of hope when the latest inflation number turned out to be lower than expected. It means there's less chance on Tuesday that outgoing Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe's parting gift to the country will be a thirteenth interest rate rise. It's a small mercy for many, but for other cash-strapped mortgage holders and renters it's already too late. And also adding to their economic misery, Tara Brown reports that financial experts are now saying much of this cost-of-living pain could and should have been avoided.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producers: Hannah Bowers, Lisa Brown
Evil Beyond Measure, Dark Forces
Evil Beyond Measure
Should a convicted serial killer ever be released from prison? It's a vexing question. Most people would say no is the only answer, but it's still one that Victorian authorities have to address. It's all because of 51-year-old Paul Charles Denyer, an awful man, evil beyond measure. In 1993 he randomly murdered three young women. When he was caught he happily admitted his crimes, taking glee in the act of killing. But thirty years on, he is eligible for parole. Denyer has already applied for his freedom once and been rejected, but as Tara Brown reports, there's nothing to stop him trying again unless the law is changed.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producers: Garry McNab, Anthony Dowsley
Dark Forces
There are no prizes for knowing spies from many countries are active in Australia. Most of these agents work in the shadows, but there's one group who seemingly don't care about secrecy. They're from Iran, and in defiance of Australian laws they're doing all they can to silence anyone who speaks out about the oppressive regime in Tehran. Put simply, if someone dares criticise Iran, even on Australian soil, they should prepare for payback. Amelia Adams reports that hundreds of people say they've been targeted by these thug-like operatives, and while our government is fully aware of what's going on, so far they've done very little to stop it.
Reporter: Amelia Adams
Producers: Tracey Hannaford, Amelia Ballinger
Gone Girl, What Were They Thinking?
Gone Girl
On 60 Minutes, startling developments in a confounding 30-year mystery, the disappearance and likely murder of Revelle Balmain. Back in 1994, Revelle, then 22, was making a career as a model and dancer but she was also keeping a secret. To earn extra money she worked as an escort. When she vanished one night in November that year suspicion fell on her last client, the last person to see her alive. At the time there wasn't enough evidence to bring charges, so the case gathered dust until a fresh team of detectives was assigned to investigate. Now they reveal a major breakthrough. As Tara Brown reports, they've uncovered new clues and new persons of interest. And for those who knew and loved Revelle, that means there's finally genuine hope for long-awaited answers.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Natalie Clancy
What Were They Thinking?
One-time sitcom actor and well-known devotee of Scientology, Danny Masterson, is now also a convicted rapist. Last week he was jailed for 30 years for drugging and sexually assaulting two women in 2003. Masterson's trial attracted enormous attention, not only because of his fame and violent crimes. The Church of Scientology was also condemned, accused of going to extraordinary lengths to protect its star recruit from prosecution. But what's been revealed since Masterson's sentencing is causing more controversy. The disgraced actor received substantial support from fellow Hollywood celebrities including Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis. In letters to the judge asking for leniency for Masterson, the married couple described their friend more like a saint than a sinner. They said he was a role model and an exceptional character. Not surprisingly their comments have caused outrage.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Naomi Shivaraman
Brand Damage, The Power Player, Perfectly Imperfect
Brand Damage
From famous funny man to loathsome creep, Russell Brand's star has sunk like a brick in less than a week. But the reason for his demise couldn't be more serious. It's been claimed by numerous women that he is a sexual predator. Brand admits to being a promiscuous man but strenuously denies any wrongdoing. He says all of his sexual encounters have always been consensual. On assignment for 60 Minutes, 9News North American correspondent Alison Piotrowski reports the terrifying account of an Australian woman living in Los Angeles who has now joined the growing list of Russell Brand accusers.
Reporter: Alison Piotrowski
Producer: Garry McNab
The Power Player
Running Australia is a big job.
But if you think it's the government of the day in Canberra that's calling all the shots, after seeing this story you might think again.
Encrypted text messages obtained legally and leaked to 60 Minutes, The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Age expose the highly inappropriate actions of one of our most senior public servants.
Michael Pezzullo is the boss of Home Affairs, the department responsible for Australia's national security.
He's supposed to be independent and apolitical but that's not the way he operates.
Pezzullo has been wielding extraordinary power from the shadows, interfering in government and doing all he can to build an impenetrable empire.
Reporter: Nick McKenzie
Producer: Amelia Ballinger
Perfectly Imperfect
A strange thing has happened to Dawn French. At 65, this very funny woman, an award-winning actress and best-selling author, has found herself at career crossroads. She feels as though she's actually suffering from being too successful. But what to do? Well, as she explains to Tara Brown in a delightful interview, she has decided to hell with being hilarious, she's going to turn her attention to her failings. There's only one problem though. Dawn's imperfections are even more amusing than her virtues.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Lisa Brown
What Now?, Hell in the Holy Land, Cops v Cartels, For Dad
60 Minutes looks at the outcome of the Referendum plus the latest developments in Israel and Gaza and Sarah Abo on winning the war on drugs.
What Now?
"Yes" or "No"? On 60 Minutes, Amelia Adams reports on the Voice referendum and asks what the outcome of the vote now means for Australia's First Nations people.
Reporter: Amelia Adams
Producer: Natalie Clancy
Hell in the Holy Land
The unfolding horror in the Holy Land has stunned the world. Tara Brown reports on the latest developments in Israel and Gaza, and interviews high-ranking officials on both sides of the conflict, including a senior leader of Hamas and a retired Israeli army general and Mossad chief.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Naomi Shivaraman
Cops v Cartels
More than a million Australians use cocaine every year. The white powder costs more than gold, but it's a price that consumers are happy to pay. Happier still are the bosses of the international drug cartels who are reaping enormous riches, despite state and federal law enforcement agencies doing all they can to stop cocaine getting into the country. How the officers go about their work is mostly done in secret. But not always. On 60 Minutes, Sarah Abo goes inside the Australian Border Force battle to outwit the criminals responsible for smuggling massive amounts of illegal narcotics.
Reporter: Sarah Abo
Producers: Serge Negus, Sammi Taylor
For Dad
The very best athletes in the world all know success is not achieved without pain. The relentless preparation and training needed to make it to the top of any sport hurts. But the agony Australia's backstroke golden girl, Kaylee McKeown, has endured is much more than physical. Three years ago, on the cusp of her Olympic debut, her dad Sholto died. The heartbreak of losing him could so easily have ended Kaylee's swimming career. Instead, she did something remarkable. On assignment for 60 Minutes, Nine's Sylvia Jeffreys reports how Kaylee turned her sorrow into a superhuman strength.
Reporter: Sylvia Jeffreys
Producer: Natalie Clancy
All the President's Friends, Meet the Matildas
All the President's Friends
60 minutes uncovers tape recordings of Australian Billionaire Anthony Pratt sharing the classified information former president Donald Trump told him.
Meet the Matildas
60 Minutes this weekend sees Tom Steinfort travel to Europe to meet Matildas players (as made famous by Seven's FIFA World Cup).
To be honest, until a few months ago the mere mention of women's soccer in Australia left most people shrugging their shoulders. But then something truly incredible happened. The World Cup came to town and the nation fell in love with the Matildas. In an instant, their star power grew so large that only first names were necessary to know them. Sam, Mary, Caitlin, Mackenzie and the others amazed everyone with their skill. And they didn't only fill stadiums. One of their matches was the most watched event ever on Australian television. Now, on a special 60 Minutes assignment, reporter and football fanatic Tom Steinfort embarks on an excellent adventure to catch up with the Matildas. He travels to the United Kingdom and across Europe to discover if the team has been able to turn its winter of wonder down under into even greater glory.
Reporter: Tom Steinfort
Producer: Lisa Brown
Irreconcilable, The Battle of Britney, Rare Opportunity
Irreconcilable
Natalie Sands lives with immeasurable torment. Early one morning four years ago, a crazed man killed her mother and her five-year-old son. Natalie, too, almost died after the attacker set her on fire. She suffered horrific burns, the scars of which will never disappear. While the physical trauma she has endured is one thing, the mental anguish is even more agonising. On assignment for 60 Minutes, Nine's Dimity Clancey reports how Natalie's pain is compounded by two details she finds impossible to reconcile: The perpetrator of the crime has escaped trial due to mental illness. And even worse, he's her father.
Reporter: Dimity Clancey
Producer: Garry McNab
The Battle of Britney
For anyone wanting a crash course in the pitfalls of celebrity, Britney Spears' recently released tell-all memoir, The Woman In Me, is a must-read. It's a confronting account of a tortured pop superstar. Looking back, the young woman once known as "America's Sweetheart" says she was hounded, exploited and humiliated by almost everyone she came into contact with, including her family, friends and lovers. It's hoped that by revealing the darker side of her life's battle, Britney feels a sense of liberation, and even more importantly, now has a chance to hit the reset button on her many years of turbulence.
Reporter: Tom Steinfort
Producer: Naomi Shivaraman
Rare Opportunity
At a secretive location a few hundred kilometres north of Perth, there's a stockpile of what looks like ordinary beach sand. At first glance it's undeserving of a second look. Except it's not sand. It's actually a mountain of money; a stash of in-demand heavy metal minerals that's worth more than a billion dollars. Australia has an abundance of these so-called "rare earth" minerals but until very recently we didn't care. China, though, has long known how valuable this resource is and has been buying it up and processing it to make defence weaponry. And as Nine's Christine Ahern reports, that has a lot of people very worried.
Reporter: Christine Ahern
Producer: Laura Sparkes
Too Much to Lose & Devil in Disguise?
Too Much to Lose
Much has been written about the drug Ozempic lately. Originally developed to help in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, the product's popularity exploded when it was discovered that a side effect for users was dramatic weight loss. From that point, perhaps not surprisingly, anyone, diabetic or not, looking to quickly lose a few kilos or more joined the race to get hold of Ozempic. And when Hollywood's most glamorous stars started showing off their slimmed-down selves, the drug gained even more buzz. But now, as Nine's Dimity Clancey reports in a special investigation for 60 Minutes, experts are warning there could be another side effect from the often-unsupervised use of Ozempic: death.
Reporter: Dimity Clancey
Producer: Serge Negus
Devil in Disguise?
When Elvis Presley first took to the stage in the mid-1950s, his wild hip thrusting and sultry voice gave conservative America a heart attack. But his young fans, particularly his young female fans, couldn't get enough of the soon-to-be King of rock 'n' roll. Many of those devotees are now distinguished elders, and while they continue to adore Elvis, they're also revealing some long-held secrets. Amelia Adams discovers the King actually dated quite a few of them when they were young teenagers. And for those with suspicious minds, it raises questions about whether Elvis Presley's obsession with 14-year-olds means he was really a devil in disguise.
Reporter: Amelia Adams
Producer: Laura Sparkes
Unlucky 13th ; Everyone's Friend ; OMG! & This is Your Liz
Unlucky 13th
Australians with a mortgage copped another crippling cost of living hit on Tuesday when the Reserve Bank raised the official cash rate to 4.35%. It's the 13th interest rate rise in the last 18 months and means many people will now have to become magicians and conjure up money they don't have if they're to avoid defaulting on their home loans. Cruelly, the rate rise came in the same week as two of the four major banks announced enormous profits. Westpac and NAB made more than seven billion dollars each. As Tom Steinfort reports, the current state of Australia's economy raises many questions, but perhaps the most important is how much more pain can mortgage holders endure?
Reporter: Tom Steinfort
Producers: Garry McNab, Sheree Gibson
Everyone's Friend
From almost the very first episode, the Hollywood sitcom Friends was destined to be a hit. Its brilliance came from its simplicity. Each episode was beautifully crafted and lovingly performed by a charming cast. For ten seasons the friends on the show made us laugh so much we felt like they were our friends. It's the reason why, in the two weeks since actor Matthew Perry died, so many tears have been shed around the world. One person who knew Matthew better than most is award-winning television director James Burrows. He worked on the very first episodes of Friends, forging a fatherly bond with the entire cast. In an emotional interview with Karl Stefanovic, James remembers the best of times with his great friend Matthew.
Reporter: Karl Stefanovic
Producers: Laura Sparkes, Sheree Gibson
OMG!
There's no doubt Georgia Flipo is a great name, but G Flip is even better. It has a distinct rock star ring to it which the 30-year-old Australian singer and drummer matches with great talent. It's little surprise the world is now taking notice, but the road to stardom hasn't been straightforward for G Flip. Growing up in the Melbourne suburbs, G was confused about life and for years hid an important truth. Now though, openly and proudly queer and non-binary, a burden has lifted. And as Nine's Sylvia Jeffreys finds out, that means G can concentrate on their music as well as their recent marriage to American TV star Chrishell Stause.
Reporter: Sylvia Jeffreys
Producer: Hannah Bowers
This is Your Liz
Liz Hayes is one of Australia's most well-known and revered journalists. Over an incredible 50-year career, she has perfected the art of exposing, questioning and celebrating thousands of other people's stories. Now she has taken on what could be her most difficult assignment. She's telling her own story. Liz has written a memoir, which Tara Brown discovers is a surprisingly candid portrait of the usually private and rather enigmatic reporter.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Natalie Clancy
School's Out, Every Six Minutes, Russian Roulette
School's Out
There's a complex and confounding issue affecting an increasing number of Australian school students. They are pupils who want to learn but are refusing to go into the classroom. The reason? They feel physically unable to attend school because they are so overwhelmed by anxiety. It has nothing to do with wagging, and as Nine's Sylvia Jeffreys reports, it's not a case of them simply needing to toughen up. The reality is the phenomenon of school refusal is a problem that has many teachers and parents very worried.
Reporter: Sylvia Jeffreys
Producers: Sammi Taylor, Lisa Brown
Every Six Minutes
The facts are frightening. More than half the population of Australia has now been impacted by cyber-crime. The cost to the country is at least thirty billion dollars a year, and despite all the warnings, every six minutes there's a new report of someone becoming a victim to an online attack. It's now time to face the truth that the war against cyber criminals can't be won. But as Amelia Adams reports, that doesn't mean Australia is surrendering. Far from it.
Reporter: Amelia Adams
Producers: Amelia Ballinger, Anthony Dowsley
Russian Roulette
The conflict raging in the Middle East has distracted much of the world's attention from the ongoing war in Ukraine, where sadly the fighting goes on as fiercely and deadly as ever. A drawn-out campaign, however, is not what Russian President Vladimir Putin expected when he launched his illegal invasion early last year. The failure of the dictator's war effort and his stubborn insistence to continue the fight is causing increased unrest in Russia. As Tom Steinfort reports, it has also led to strange things happening to Putin's opponents. Many have been dying in highly suspicious circumstances. Mysterious accidents, unexplained suicides, even plain old-fashioned murders have seriously reduced the ranks of Putin's foes.
Reporter: Tom Steinfort
Producer: Sheree Gibson
Breaking Cover, First Aid, Sole Destroying
Breaking Cover
Being a police officer can often be dangerous, but within the Australian Federal Police there's a special division of cops whose role is so constantly treacherous that every day is a matter of life and death. They're undercover operatives who work at the very front line of crime-fighting in Australia and internationally. The protection of these officers should be a priority, but remarkably, when the AFP conducted a high-level inquiry into its own undercover program, it found major failings that risked compromising operations and lives. In a major investigation by 60 Minutes, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Nick McKenzie reports that police insiders are now so worried about the safety of their brave colleagues they're breaking cover in the hope of achieving long-term accountability and reform.
Reporter: Nick McKenzie
Producers: Amelia Ballinger, Hannah Bowers, Serge Negus
First Aid
Over the past 15 years Australia has given the Solomon Islands more than three billion dollars in aid – far more than any other country has given. Without doubt the help is much needed, but whether it's appreciated is another matter. It seems the Solomon Islands government is much more grateful for the far less aid it receives from China. In a special report for 60 Minutes, Eryk Bagshaw, North Asia correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, travels to the Solomons to investigate the very determined battle between east and west to win hearts and minds in this strategically important Pacific nation.
Reporter: Eryk Bagshaw
Producer: Natalie Clancy
Sole Destroying
When someone goes to a doctor or a surgeon for treatment, the expectation is they will be seen by a professional with a properly accredited medical qualification, right? Well, it's hard to believe, but that's not always the case. In Australia there's a group of practitioners performing complicated operations who don't have medical degrees. They quite lawfully call themselves podiatric surgeons and they say they have their own special credentials which enable them to treat foot and ankle problems. But in this joint investigation with The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Amelia Adams meets patients who have been left in chronic pain and with life-long scars, after surgeries they wish they had never agreed to.
Reporter: Amelia Adams
Producers: Serge Negus, Charlotte Grieve
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