Background Briefing
255 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 20 ratingsBackground Briefing is daring narrative journalism: Australian investigations with impact. Our award-winning reporters forensically uncover the hidden stories at the heart of the country’s biggest issues.
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Episodes
The rural stoush fuelled by our chicken meat obsession
June 05, 2021 22:05 - 39 minutes - 53.9 MBAs Australians eat more and more chicken, we need to find places to raise the animals. But as broiler sheds pop up across rural Victoria, the neighbours are learning that there are more downsides than the smell. A chicken shed next door can stop you building on your own land. Rachael Brown heads to Gippsland to investigate why Rosedale locals are worried that their area will soon be nicknamed 'Chickendale'.
The memo that erased a scandal
April 24, 2021 22:05 - 42 minutes - 58.3 MBBallarat orphanage superintendent Hylton Sedgman was due to face nine child abuse charges. Buried in a 1964 file is the reason he never stood trial. Charlotte King investigates why.
The Archbishop, the luxury pad, and the COVID-ravaged aged care home
April 17, 2021 22:05 - 38 minutes - 52.5 MBIt was the site of Australia's deadliest coronavirus outbreak. This week, Ashlynne McGhee investigates how Melbourne's St Basil's Homes for the Aged has been funnelling tens of millions of taxpayer dollars into the Greek Orthodox Church.
The hidden park of last resort
April 10, 2021 22:05 - 44 minutes - 61.5 MBIt’s one of the last affordable caravan parks near Sydney's CBD where people can actually make a home. Many of the residents were driven here in one of life's desperate moments, but as Mridula Amin discovers, not everyone wants to leave.
The Base Tapes | Part 2
April 03, 2021 22:05 - 45 minutes - 62 MBIn the second and final episode of his investigation, Alex Mann tracks down the two youngest candidates who applied to join the neo-Nazi group and tries to find out how they were radicalised.
The Base Tapes | Part 1
March 27, 2021 21:05 - 41 minutes - 57.5 MBSecret recordings reveal how a global white supremacist terror group dedicated to inciting a race war recruited young Australian men. Alex Mann investigates.
The small town torn apart by big bets
March 13, 2021 21:05 - 38 minutes - 52.5 MBPeter and Kath were investors in a secret punters' club that turned out to be a multi-million dollar scam. When the kingpin pleaded guilty, there were nearly two thousand victims left desperate to find out where their money went. Rachael Brown investigates whether the middlemen know.
The place where people mysteriously disappear
March 06, 2021 21:05 - 43 minutes - 59.7 MBWarren Meyer was a keen bushwalker who always came prepared for a hike. When he vanished in the wild terrain of the Yarra Ranges, police were baffled. Ashlynne McGhee investigates whether his disappearance could be linked to the other unsolved mysteries of Victoria's high country.
The chilling secrets of a Melbourne guru
February 27, 2021 21:05 - 44 minutes - 61 MBFor decades people have flocked to a bucolic ashram in one of Melbourne’s most exclusive suburbs to hear Russell Kruckman spin his folksy brand of meditation, yoga and spirituality. But as Dan Oakes reveals, there's something rotten in this Shangri La: a horrific list of sexual abuse allegations.
A nearby nurse and the firefighter left to wait in agony
February 20, 2021 21:05 - 40 minutes - 56 MBVolunteer firefighter Rodney O'Keeffe survived a fire tornado, but it left him with broken ribs and severe burns. A mere 800 metres away, there was a remote area nurse desperately trying to reach him. Jess Davis investigates why she couldn't.
The fight to stop a tiny battery from killing kids
February 13, 2021 21:05 - 39 minutes - 54.6 MBAndrea and Allison formed an unlikely friendship after their daughters died in remarkably similar circumstances. Annie Gaffney investigates how they turned their grief into action to prevent that kind of tragedy from happening again.
Summer Season: how one school failed its students
January 02, 2021 21:05 - 39 minutes - 54.8 MBKimberly's sunny, athletic and inquisitive about everything. But for years she harboured terrible secrets about what happened to her. This week, Janine Fitzpatrick investigates why her school failed to heed credible warnings that she was in danger. This is a repeat of a program that aired in October 2020.
Summer Season: This judge’s unfair decisions upended people’s lives. What can be done about it?
December 26, 2020 21:05 - 41 minutes - 56.4 MBThese Australians were denied a fair hearing by one controversial judge. Now, for the first time, they're speaking out about their experiences. Hagar Cohen investigates what happens when the behaviour of a judge inside a courtroom is called into question. This is a repeat of a program that aired in February 2020.
Summer Season: He wanted an ambulance. He got a police "dog box".
December 19, 2020 21:05 - 41 minutes - 56.5 MBTristan was a kind and gentle 23-year-old surfer from Byron Bay. One night he suffered a drug-induced psychotic episode. And ended up driven to hospital in a small steel cage. Police say it is probably the worst place he could be. Tristan later died in hospital. Mario Christodoulou investigates the series of tragic events that led to Tristan's death that raise questions about how emergency services treat young drug-affected people in New South Wa...
Summer season: Inside the brazen tax scam where the homeless are made company directors
December 12, 2020 21:05 - 39 minutes - 53.9 MBIt's a long-running ‘dummy director’ scam that’s siphoned tens of millions of dollars from workers, small businesses and the taxpayer. In Victoria, a small group of accountants spent 15 years signing on drug users and homeless Australians to help their clients cheat the system. Reporter Dan Oakes investigates how this was allowed to go on for so long. This is a repeat of a program that aired in February 2020.
Summer Season: Inside the brazen tax scam where the homeless are made company directors
December 12, 2020 21:05 - 53.9 MBIt's a long-running ‘dummy director’ scam that’s siphoned tens of millions of dollars from workers, small businesses and the taxpayer. In Victoria, a small group of accountants spent 15 years signing on drug users and homeless Australians to help their clients cheat the system. Reporter Dan Oakes investigates how this was allowed to go on for so long. This is a repeat of a program that aired in February 2020.
Buyer Wanted - Mothballed Oil Rig
December 05, 2020 21:05 - 34 minutes - 47.7 MBDid you know you're the lucky operator of a rusty oil rig floating in the Timor Sea? You, along with 25-odd-million others, that is. This week, reporter Alex Mann investigates why Australian taxpayers are forking out four million dollars a month for this facility, some 550km off the coast of Darwin.
The billion dollar sports industry that can't keep up with the cheats.
November 28, 2020 21:05 - 35 minutes - 48.7 MBIt's got audiences bigger than the Superbowl. It's star players earn more for a single tournament than the winner of the Australian Open. Mario Christodoulou investigates how esports became such a success with the match-fixers too.
The billion-dollar sports industry that can't keep up with the cheats
November 28, 2020 21:05 - 35 minutes - 48.7 MBIt's got audiences bigger than the Superbowl. Its star players earn more for a single tournament than the winner of the Australian Open. Mario Christodoulou investigates how esports became such a success with the match-fixers too.
450 days trapped on a cargo ship
November 21, 2020 21:05 - 39 minutes - 53.7 MBRonbert has sailed into bustling ports all over the world. But he can't get home or even set foot on dry land. Geoff Thompson investigates how the closure of borders has left 400,000 seafarers stuck on ships and what can be done to save them.
How contact tracers confront lies on the COVID frontline
November 14, 2020 21:05 - 40 minutes - 56.2 MBThey helped stamp out coronavirus by relying on human intelligence. But as Rachael Brown discovered, there was a weakness in the system. Sometimes people can't be trusted.
Introducing: Thin Black Line
November 07, 2020 21:05 - 7 minutes - 9.86 MBOn a spring afternoon in Brisbane's Musgrave Park, 18-year-old traditional dancer and amateur boxer Daniel Yock is drinking with his mates. But when a police van arrives, the mood suddenly changes, triggering a dramatic chain of events. Presented by Allan Clarke, Thin Black Line is a deep dive into what happened that day — according to the one eyewitness who saw it all unfold, speaking publicly for the first time in almost three decades. ...
The Ponzi scheme that preyed on faith
October 31, 2020 21:05 - 37 minutes - 50.9 MBBhavesh was in trouble. His wife had just suffered three heart attacks and he couldn't afford treatment. So he turned to trusted members of his spiritual community for help. But as reporter Meghna Bali discovers, Bhavesh soon started getting death threats instead, and he found himself at the wrong end of one of Australia's biggest cryptocurrency Ponzi schemes.
The ponzi scheme that preyed on faith
October 31, 2020 21:05 - 37 minutes - 50.9 MBBhavesh was in trouble. His wife had just suffered three heart attacks and he couldn't afford treatment. So he turned to trusted members of his spiritual community for help. But as reporter Meghna Bali discovers, Bhavesh soon started getting death threats instead, and he found himself at the wrong end of one of Australia's biggest cryptocurrency ponzi schemes.
Welcome to Tent City, the underside of WA's coronavirus success story
October 24, 2020 21:05 - 33 minutes - 46.2 MBThe thin walls of Neville Riley’s makeshift tent do little to block the constant sound of passing cars and trains. And if he was living in a different city when COVID-19 hit Australia, chances are Neville would have been given emergency accommodation months ago. This week, Alex Mann investigates whether a historic opportunity to address homelessness in Western Australia has been lost.
A horrific playground incident: how one school failed its students
October 17, 2020 21:05 - 39 minutes - 54.5 MBKimberly's sunny, athletic and inquisitive about everything. But for years she harboured terrible secrets about what happened to her. This week, Janine Fitzpatrick investigates why her school failed to heed credible warnings that she was in danger.
Are these two scholars really a threat to Australia's security?
October 10, 2020 21:05 - 38 minutes - 52.6 MBOne's a former translator for Bob Hawke, the other loves Henry Lawson's poetry. So when Professor Chen Hong and Li Jianjun got caught up in a police investigation into foreign influence, many of their colleagues expressed surprise. This week, Hagar Cohen investigates why ASIO declared them to be a potential risk to Australia.
How banks help criminals get rich: Part 2
October 03, 2020 21:05 - 36 minutes - 49.6 MBThe FINCEN Files have revealed how Australian businesses are involved suspicious transactions worth billions of dollars. This week, Mario Christodoulou follows the money trail home to downtown Sydney and investigates why the system designed to stop it often fails.
How banks help criminals get rich
September 26, 2020 22:05 - 31 minutes - 42.7 MBAn unprecedented leak of secret US Government reports has revealed how two trillion dollars of suspected dirty money snakes around the globe. This week on Background Briefing, Mario Christodoulou shows how terrorists and mobsters smuggle staggering sums of money through some of the world's largest banks - and often get away with it. This never-before-told story is the culmination of a 16-month-long investigation by 400 journalists for the Internati...
Assange's extradition: what's really at stake?
September 12, 2020 22:05 - 37 minutes - 51.1 MBHuman rights advocates describe the pursuit of the Wikileaks founder as "a threat to global media freedom". But when a magistrate decides whether he'll be extradited to the United States, how much will the public's right to know actually matter? This week on Background Briefing, Meghna Bali goes inside his quest for freedom and uncovers never-before-told stories.
Response from Falun Dafa Association of Australia
August 24, 2020 22:00 - 5 minutes - 7.01 MBIn this podcast extra, Hagar Cohen interviews John Deller from the Falun Dafa Association of Australia about the allegations raised in the series.
The Power of Falun Gong, Part 3
August 08, 2020 22:05 - 38 minutes - 53.3 MBFledgling media organisations affiliated with Falun Gong have formed strange alliances with far right movements overseas. But what about here in Australia? This week on Background Briefing, Hagar Cohen investigates what happens when a pursuit for religious freedom comes into conflict with the transparency and independence required of Australia's fourth estate.
The Power of Falun Gong, Part 2
August 01, 2020 22:05 - 38 minutes - 52.8 MBSecluded in dense forest, two hours north of New York City, there's a hidden headquarters for a new religious order. This otherworldly place is called Dragon Springs and it's sacred to Falun Gong devotees the world over. In this week's Background Briefing, Hagar Cohen reveals what goes on inside this gated compound, and how it's led to a strange alliance forged with the Trump Administration.
The Power of Falun Gong, Part 1
July 25, 2020 22:05 - 43 minutes - 59.7 MBWhen you think of Falun Gong – you might think of quiet groups meditating or silently protesting in city parks. But a joint investigation by Background Briefing and Foreign Correspondent has uncovered accounts by former Falun Gong insiders, who reveal that in Australia and overseas, the movement has teachings that could be dangerous. Hagar Cohen reports.
No one told these country mums why their babies died
July 18, 2020 22:05 - 36 minutes - 50.3 MBClaire doesn't know if her daughter's death could have been prevented - and she's not alone. Today, babies are more likely to be stillborn in Australia's regional centres than they were 20 years ago. This week on Background Briefing, Charlotte King investigates why the gap between these parts of the country and the big cities is only getting bigger.
Meet the debt monster
July 11, 2020 22:05 - 33 minutes - 46.3 MBIn little over two months' time, the support payments keeping millions of Australians afloat through the pandemic are due to end. Banks' deferrals on mortgage payments are meant to wind up soon after too. This week on Background Briefing, Geoff Thompson shows how the country is driving towards an economic cliff.
Why was this woman sent to a men's prison?
July 04, 2020 22:05 - 40 minutes - 55.3 MBAs she entered one of Australia's largest male prisons, Mara Ellis was strip-searched by four prison guards: two men and two women. She says it was the last time the justice system acknowledged she is a woman before Mara was locked away in solitary confinement. This week on Background Briefing, Meghna Bali investigates what happens to women in men's prisons.
The rallying cry heard the world over
June 27, 2020 22:05 - 53 minutes - 73.7 MBCould Australia's Black Lives Matter movement bring about real world change? Jared Goyette, Bridget Brennan and Allan Clarke trace how the brutal death of George Floyd has resonated with so many, from the scorched streets of Minneapolis to downtown Melbourne.
Who seeks to profit from the trauma of abuse survivors?
June 20, 2020 22:05 - 45 minutes - 62.3 MBUncle Justin has waited a long time for an acknowledgement that he has survived institutional child sexual abuse. When the National Redress Scheme was established, he was offered help from a private legal firm. But what Uncle Justin and other survivors hadn't realised, Jeremy Story Carter discovered, was their trauma had become a honeypot.
Why Australia's spies think the far right could find a foothold during coronavirus
June 13, 2020 22:05 - 34 minutes - 47.6 MBSince Australia's coronavirus shutdown began, there's been a spike in reports of racist attacks, where people are targeted because they just happen to look Asian. Intelligence agencies are now warning that far right groups are exploiting the pandemic to further their own radical agendas. For some, that involves fomenting unrest to bring about a "race war". Mario Christodoulou investigates.
The controversial push to rebrand raw milk
June 06, 2020 22:05 - 39 minutes - 54.2 MBAdvocates of raw milk say its safe for people to drink the stuff, so long as dairies take proper precautions. But Australian health authorities are wary about re-opening the trade, especially since the death of a toddler was linked to drinking unpasteurised milk. Kathryn Gregory investigates that link and asks whether there could be a valid case to re-open the raw milk trade.
How were the kids in this town contaminated?
May 30, 2020 22:05 - 40 minutes - 56.1 MBFor children in Port Pirie there is no 10 second rule. When you grow up in a “lead town” eating off the floor is forbidden, and could be harmful to your health. But when a mum follows all the strict and unusual rules of the town to keep her son safe and his blood lead still continues to rise, she asks: what am I doing wrong? Can a town coexist with a lead smelter? Paul Culliver investigates
Having a baby alone: How the pandemic has changed how we give birth
May 21, 2020 18:00 - 13 minutes - 18.7 MBPregnancies and births around the world have been radically changed by the spread of COVID-19. Background Briefing reporter Katherine Gregory is 39 weeks pregnant, and has been watching this news closely. In this episode, as she goes through her own pregnancy journey, she uncovers how maternal health experts are trying to prevent any long-lasting impacts on new mothers and their babies. This is the final episode of our three-part series on how Au...
Drive-by dinners: Food relief in the time of Corona
May 19, 2020 18:00 - 10 minutes - 14.8 MBSocial distancing measures have robbed many charities of the human connection so crucial to their already vulnerable clients. But, as our reporter Geoff Thompson finds out, one charity has radically transformed its service, and still feeds almost eight thousand people a week. This is part two of a three part series into how Australia is coping with COVID-19 Pandemic.
Prison outbreak: Prisoners released to protect them from COVID-19
May 14, 2020 18:00 - 13 minutes - 18.4 MBAustralian prison operators say they're well equipped to deal with a possible COVID-19 outbreak inside their walls. But inmates claim unhygienic conditions are making them fear for their lives. Now, some are being released early to protect them from getting the virus. Reporter Meghna Bali speaks to one prisoner about her early release. This is part one of a three part series into how Australia is coping with COVID-19 Pandemic. ...
Hotel Corona: How the pandemic could fix homelessness
April 25, 2020 22:05 - 39 minutes - 54.4 MBPeople experiencing homelessness are being moved from the street and shelters into four-star hotels. The radical plan is meant to protect them from the pandemic and it's temporary. But as Hagar Cohen discovers, there are questions about what happens once the virus crisis is over.
Who's profiting from the pandemic?
April 18, 2020 22:05 - 41 minutes - 57 MBThe coronavirus pandemic is causing pain and suffering the world over, but then there are always those who never let a good crisis go to waste. Some are benefiting from COVID-19 for legitimate reasons: just think of companies that make video conferencing apps, ventilators, or canny investors. But there are also more nefarious players looking to bank a win off the back of coronavirus fear and confusion: scam artists, fraudsters, counterfeiters. Thi...
'People will die': Country hospital fears it won't cope with coronavirus
April 04, 2020 22:05 - 38 minutes - 53 MBWhat does it take to prepare for a pandemic? Many hospitals around the world are already overwhelmed by patients infected with COVID-19. Australian doctors and nurses are bracing for something most of them have never faced before. In our country hospitals, resources are already stretched: beds are in short supply and there’s a greater proportion of older people. Preparation will, in many cases, be the difference between life and death. ABC Nati...
How we're getting through this
March 28, 2020 21:05 - 53 minutes - 73.2 MBCoronavirus is changing the way the entire human race lives. Emergency workers are scrambling together contingency plans, fearing hospitals could soon be overwhelmed. Scientists are racing to invent a faster, cheaper Covid-19 test kit available for us all. Restaurants are reinventing themselves as delivery services, artists are turning to live-streaming to make a living. This week, the entire Background Briefing team investigates how each of us are fi...
He wanted an ambulance. He got a police "dog box".
March 21, 2020 21:05 - 41 minutes - 57.4 MBTristan was a kind and gentle 23-year-old surfer from Byron Bay. One night he suffered a drug-induced psychotic episode. And ended up driven to hospital in a small steel cage. Police say it is probably the worst place he could be. Tristan later died in hospital. Mario Christodoulou investigates the series of tragic events that led to Tristan's death that raise questions about how emergency services treat young drug-affected people in New South Wa...