Browse all episodes of 60 Minutes Australia

Features current affairs stories from across Australia and the globe. Join the team of reporters, including Liz Hayes, Tara Brown, Liam Bartlett, Michael Usher and Charles Wooley, as they investigate, analyse and uncover the issues affecting all Australians. Each week, Peter Harvey brings your opinions to the table in his mailbag segment.

Episode 31

5.15

After the Crash: Tegan Lloyd, a story of drunk driving

Going to Pot: Cracking down on Cannibus - is money being wasted on a futile effort.

Talking to Elephants: Learning the language of elephants

5.30

Includes stories: 

Cup of Dreams: Germany & Australia

The Moon Children: Children allergic to sunlight

Poison Tide: Gulf Oil Crisis

6.13

6.27

A Matter of Justice: Australia's part in the Bore war. Fighting for a Full Pardon.

To Infinity and Beyond: A story about the Pixar film studios and how the movie is made.

Beyond Redemption: Two teens torture and kill a ten year old boy.

7.04

Features current affairs stories from across Australia and the globe. Join the team of reporters as they investigate, analyse and uncover the issues affecting all Australians.

2011-02-13

2011-02-20

2011-02-27

2011-03-13

2011-03-20

2011-03-27

2011-04-03

2011-04-10

Tonight, Liam Bartlett revists QLD after the floods and how the insurance companies arnt paying up. Ray Martin looks at lap-banding and how children as young as 13 are opting for this procedure instead of a healthier lifestyle.

2011-04-17

2011-04-24

Victorian plumber Peter Walsh was struck down with the dreaded pneumococcal bug and lost his hands and feet, but that was til an extraordinary micro-surgeon decided to give him a helping hand, literally. Also Michael Usher is in London, post the big wedding.

2011-05-01

2011-05-08

Liam Bartlett looks at our immigration system at breaking point and the influx of asylum seekers. Ali Langdon examines how our Asian students are topping the class and Michael Usher checks out the increased cases of female adultery.

2011-05-15

Olympic champion Alisa Camplin tells of her son Finnan's congenital heart disease. Liz Hayes goes deep into the American South to meet the folk of Westboro Baptist Church who hate Australia and celebrate our natural disasters. Also how can a 24 year old Aussie working in Canada disappear without a trace?

2011-05-22

Tonight Alison Langdon investigates the very dangerous sport of cave diving. Liam is with a band of bushies and backpaers in the Kimberley to take out the ugly and unstoppable cane toad population that is wiping out native wildlife. Also New York's latest serial killer and no one's sure how many women he's murdered, but more bodies are turning up...

2011-05-29

2011-06-05

2011-06-19

Just one click. That's all it takes to wreck a young life forever. Liz Hayes explores the dangers of sexting and explains how it can destroy your life forever. Plus, who could ever forget Stacy Keep? The young mum lost her 18-month old daughter, her mother and mother-in law in the Queensland floods. Well, six weeks ago, the Keep family welcomed a little baby girl into their lives. She's helping them heal but it's hard to move forward when there are still so many questions about the events of the past.

2011-06-26

It was the most sickening and cruellest of crimes. Last year, Rachelle D'Argent's estranged partner kidnapped their three-year-old daughter, Yazmina and did the unthinkable. Tonight, Rachelle tells her tells her harrowing story for the first time. Also, Ray Martin meets a group of returned Aussie diggers who have overcome their catastrophic injuries in the hope of representing Australia once again - only this time it's on the sporting field.

2011-07-03

There really is magic in the story of Harry Potter. Almost 15 years since J.K. Rowling published that first Potter novel, Harry is finally packing up his wand for good and Charles Wooley was in London to witness the magical final chapter. Plus, it's been hyped as the comedy event of the year. And "The Hangover 2" is certainly a very funny movie. But there haven't been too many laughs behind the scenes. Tonight, meet the Aussie stuntman who, after a horrific accident on set, was that was left fighting for his life.

2011-07-10

Kidnapped and held captive for 18 years, Jaycee Lee Dugard not only had her youth stolen from her but was forced to mother children to her captor. 60 Minutes presents a compelling exclusive with this young woman who triumphed over evil.

2011-07-17

Just last Thursday, Derryn Hinch was sentenced to five months home detention. A fortnight before that, he was on an operating table, receiving a life-saving liver transplant. We've been following the highs and lows of Derryn's battle to survive for five years now and more than anything, he's incredibly grateful for this second shot at life. Plus, meet the blokes who have travelled to the very ends of the earth to find love.

2011-07-24

Imagine the shock, 50-years-old and staring down at two blue lines on a pregnancy test. Plus, Charles Wooley catches up with music legend, Rod Stewart at his home in London.

2011-07-31

Meet two young Australians who refuse to accept the doctor's verdict that they 'will never walk again'. Plus, every year, hundreds try it, all determined to conquer swimming's Mt Everest and cross the English Channel. However, if they saw what happened to Melbourne girl Chloe McCardel, they may think twice before taking the plunge.

2011-08-07

Michael Usher has just returned from an extraordinary encounter with Sarah Ferguson, Liam Bartlett is on the ground in England to make sense of the madness of late, and for two decades now The Wiggles have been enchanting children worldwide and making millions along the way. But on the eve of a massive tour to mark their 20 year milestone, came a frightening blow.

2011-08-14

According to the latest research, when it comes to binge drinking, young women are now doing their best to match the blokes. What was once considered embarrassing and outrageous behaviour is now celebrated as the norm. So why do they do it? Plus, Charles Wooley explores the world that is Internet shopping.

2011-08-28

Eight years ago, Bruce and Denise Morcombe were like any other parents. Then their 13-year-old son, Daniel, was abducted. Now they're trying to protect other children in the hope that no family will ever have to go through such agony again. Plus, meet Mike Rutzen - a man who happily goes swimming with Great Whites, even hitching a ride, now and then.

2011-09-11

Marathon runner Heather Scott recounts the moments she and her fellow competitors stared death in the face - trapped in a narrow gorge, a raging fire bearing down and no escape in any direction. Plus, take a look inside Australia's toughest boy's school. For decades now, Frank Dando has been picking up the pieces and at 81 years of age, Frank and his committed band of teachers have never met a teenage rebel they couldn't tame.

2011-09-18

Allison Langdon’s report ‘The Awakening’ will prove that true love and devotion can produce miracles. This story follows brain injured Sam Goddard who would be unable to walk and talk if not for the dedication of his fiance, Sally Neilsen.

Liz Hayes’ report ‘Haunted’  looks at Robert Geeves, a man unlucky in love. With two of the women in his life experiencing tragic and suspicious ends, 60 Minutes meets a a third woman who also claims her life was shattered by Geeves.

Liam Bartlett’s report ‘Drama Queen’ features the Hollywood legend Joan Collins who emerged from the Golden age of Hollywood.

2011-09-25

Features current affairs stories from across Australia and the globe. Dr Hellfried Sartori claims he can cure terminal cancer. It isn't true, of course. But what makes Dr Sartori's scam truly despicable is that he doesn't just empty out his victims' bank accounts, he poisons them. Plus, less than a year out from the London Olympics, Liam Bartlett catches up with world champion hurdler, Sally Pearson.

2011-10-09

The Love Trap

Most of us have figured out by now, that transferring our life savings into a Nigerian bank account is a mug’s game. We know there’s no royal fortune. No multi-million dollar return. In fact, no hope of ever seeing our money again. Maybe that’s why the men behind those dodgy emails have moved on to scams that are more sophisticated and far more callous. Now they don’t just bankrupt their victims, they break their hearts as well. So we decided to take them on at their own game. We set up a sting of our own and it wasn’t long before the sharks took the bait.

Reporter: Liam Bartlett

Producer: David Alrich

Cliffhanger

What you’re about to see on Sunday night defies belief and the laws of gravity. A young man, clinging to the side of a sheer rock face, a thousand metres up – with no ropes, no harness, nothing to catch his fall. All that’s keeping him from plunging to his death are his toes and finger tips. This madness is called free-soloing and no rock climber in the world does it better than 26-year-old Alex Honnald. Using only his body strength and amazing mental stamina, Alex scales sheer cliff walls as high as the world’s tallest buildings – completely unassisted, simply for the thrill. And if you’re anything like us, just watching this report from American 60 Minutes’ Lara Logan, will have you clinging to the edge of your seat.

Reporter: Lara Logan, CBS 60 Minutes

Producer: Jeff Newton

Thinking Positive

It wasn’t so long ago, that AIDS was a guaranteed death sentence. And thanks to those confronting ads in the 80s, we all knew it. They weren’t exactly subtle – in fact, they scared the hell out of us. But the shock tactics worked and the rate of HIV infection in Australia plummeted. We thought we had it all under control. That we were playing it safe. But guess what. The infection rate has shot up again. And surprisingly it’s now straight women who are among the most vulnerable.

Reporter: Michael Usher

Producers: Steve Burling, Danny Keens

2011-10-30

The Empty Nesters

It had to happen, eventually. That generation of stay-at-home kids has finally grown up and flown the coop. Peter Overton first met these coddled twenty and thirty-somethings five years ago. Back then, they were sleeping in their childhood bedrooms, letting their parents pay the bills and stashing away money for a future that never seemed to arrive. Well, it has now. And their Mums and Dads couldn’t be more pleased, most of them, anyway. They’re celebrating, happily spending their hard-earned savings on something completely different – themselves.

Reporter: Peter Overton/ Producer: Sandra Cleary

Time Bomb

Heart attack is only supposed to happen to the middle-aged and the elderly. But every week, up to ten young Australians die because their hearts simply stop. They suffer from a condition known as SADS – Sudden Arrhythmic Disease. And for most victims, a heart attack is their first and only indication that anything is wrong. Only a lucky few discover they carry the rogue gene before it’s too late. But as Ellen Fanning reports, sometimes that knowledge can be a terrible burden.

Reporter: Ellen Fanning/ Producer: Paul Steindl

Dame Helen

Sometimes, it’s the late starters who finish first but it’s a rule that doesn’t often apply to Hollywood.

Dame Helen Mirren is a spectacular exception. Her career only took off when she was in her forties. And when it did, she managed to shatter another movie star myth, by proving an actress could combine beauty and brains. Along the way, she’s become a Dame of the British Empire, and an international pin-up girl for ageing gracefully. But when Liam Bartlett was granted an audience with Dame Helen in Berlin, he soon found this Oscar-winning screen queen is not one for airs and graces.

Reporter: Liam Bartlett/ Producers: Gareth Harvey, Sandra Cleary

2011-11-06

High Stakes

Everyone knows it. Even police admit they’re fighting a losing battle against the illegal drug industry. But the war just got even harder. Right now, in Australia, you can get the potent effects of ecstasy, cocaine or cannabis straight over the counter and completely legally – thanks to the booming industry in synthetic drugs. By mimicking their illicit counterparts with clever chemistry, the drug makers can stay one step ahead of the law. And while our police and politicians play catch up, the men behind these crafty alternatives have become a new breed of drug lord – untouchable, unstoppable and very, very rich.

Reporter: Liz Hayes

Producer: Stephen Rice

Being Brad

He’s got the most confident swagger in the business. And who could blame him? Even compared to other Hollywood stars, Brad Pitt’s life is utterly charmed. With looks that make women go weak at the knees, he shares his life with the equally stunning Angelina Jolie. Together they balance their happy brood of children with careers that go from strength to strength. But when Tara Brown spent some time with him in Tokyo this week, the man who has it all, dropped a bombshell. At the peak of his fame, the world’s biggest film star is ready to call it a day.

Reporter: Tara Brown

Producers: Stephen Taylor, Sandra Cleary

Time Bomb

Imagine a job where the slip of your finger can mean sudden death. Every day, Australia’s navy clearance divers put their lives on the line, dismantling bombs on battlefields like Afghanistan and Iraq. But lately their steady hands have been needed closer to home. In Papua New Guinea there are areas that hold deadly reminders of World War Two – bombs, mines and mortars left behind by the Japanese occupation. Just watching these guys work is heart-stopping and fascinating. Because our bomb disposal exercise became a mission of discovery.

Reporter: Liam Bartlett

Producer: Nick Greenaway

2011-11-13

Trouble in Paradise

It’s Australia’s playground. Tourists from all over the country and around the globe, are drawn by the Gold Coast’s glittering image of surf, sand and sun-drenched beaches. But the sleek high rises and glossy billboards, can no longer hide the fact that our premier holiday strip has also become Australia’s crime capital. Rapid growth and high unemployment have fuelled an underworld culture of drugs and violence and a crime rate spiralling out of control. And no wonder, when you discover, local police are being denied even the most basic crime-fighting resources. The city may be celebrating at the prospect of hosting the 2018 Commonwealth Games, but for many who live there, the Gold Coast has lost its shine.

Reporter: Liam Bartlett

Producers: Steve Burling, Ali Smith

Cyber War

Right now, a bitter global war is raging. But you won’t be seeing military hardware or armed troops on the evening news. This is a silent, covert battle, waged in the secrecy of cyberspace for the control of our information and data. And we are not just talking about identity theft or corporate sabotage. By accessing highly sensitive computer files, hostile governments can now cripple power grids, water supplies, even nuclear facilities without firing a single shot. Creating a national catastrophe has never been easier. And the new weapon of choice for the world’s terrorists is the humble laptop.

Reporter: Michael Usher

Producers: Danny Keens, Hannah Boocock

The Guru Busters

It’s a land steeped in superstition and for thousands of years Indians have revered the otherworldly and the fantastical. But that’s made them easy targets for self-proclaimed gurus eager to make a quick rupee. Right now, a million or so of these spiritual shysters are peddling their trade across the length and breadth of the subcontinent. They spruik miracle cures and perform seemingly impossible feats of magic, charging extravagantly for their dubious services. They’ve always done a brisk business. That is, until the guru busters came along.

Reporter: Allison Langdon

Producer: Gareth Harvey

2011-11-20

Broken Hearts

Who could forget that smile? Or the amazing tale of bravery that went with it? Alisa Camplin stole our hearts when she won gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Only later did we discover that she did it with two fractured ankles. But Alisa knows that broken bones are nothing. In March, her son Finnan, was born with congenital heart disease. His fight to beat his illness was as inspiring and heroic as any of his mother’s achievements.

Reporter: Allison Langdon

Producers: Stephen Taylor, Julia Timms

Eminem

His real name is Marshall Mathers. But you probably know him as Eminem – that firebrand American rap star playing sold out shows in Melbourne and Sydney. Depending on your tastes, he’s either a foul-mouthed gangster wannabe or a song writing genius. But whatever you think of Eminem’s music, you have to admire his fight. Here is the poor white kid who never made it past year nine but somehow managed to claw his way to the top. And that’s not the half of it, as Anderson Cooper of American 60 Minutes discovered when he took the singer on a stroll down memory lane.

Reporter: Anderson Cooper, CBS 60 Minutes

Producer: Tanya Simon

Frozen Fortunes

Liam Bartlett wondered what on earth he’d done wrong when we packed him off to the desolate wilds of Siberia. After all, it’s not the kind of place you generally visit willingly. People used to be dragged there in chains and then worked to death. But this gigantic frozen slab of Russia is getting an image makeover. It may never rival New York or Paris as a tourist destination. But, right now, there’s a minerals boom going on that dwarfs anything that’s happening in Australia. And, if you’re an investor right now, icy Siberia is hot, hot, hot.

Reporter: Liam Bartlett

Producer: Howard Sacre

2011-11-27

Death in Paradise

It's the ultimate holiday destination - a party paradise for young Aussies looking for adventure on the cheap. But Asia can also be deadly dangerous, especially the latest hot spot - the tiny landlocked country of Laos. Every year, thousands of backpackers head there, completely unaware of the risks. Australian Lee Hudswell was one of them. He just wanted to have a good time with his mates. But like dozens before him, he never made it home.

Reporter: Liz Hayes

Producer: Steve Burling

Toxic Time Bomb

Right now, in homes around the country, thousands of Australian women are worried sick. They're living with the terrible possibility that a toxic time bomb is ticking away inside their bodies. For the last ten years, one of the largest manufacturers of breast implants has been involved in a monstrous fraud - filling its products with cheap industrial gels. What makes this scandal so alarming is that no one fully understands the health implications of what's happened. All over the world, governments are rallying to help women at risk. But not here.

Reporter: Allison Langdon

Producers: Gareth Harvey, Hannah Boocock

Golden Girl

There's no mistaking THAT voice or the heartbreaking songs that have catapulted her to the top of the music world. But Grammy award winner Adele isn't the bitter, angst-ridden soul you might expect. In fact, she's a very relaxed and funny woman - quick to laugh and swear. As Anderson Cooper of the American 60 Minutes program discovered, in the often phony world of pop, Adele is refreshingly real.

Reporter: Anderson Cooper, CBS 60 Minutes

Producer: John Hamlin

2012-03-11

A Brave Face

In this job, we’re constantly surprised and inspired by the strength of the human spirit. But Liz Hayes has never met anyone quite like Charla Nash. Two years ago, Charla was savagely mauled by a friend's pet chimpanzee. She lost her hands, eyelids, nose and lips in the frenzied attack. In fact, by the time help arrived, there was nothing much left of her face at all. It's a wonder she survived. But Charla wanted more than that - she wanted to live. And thanks to an extraordinary face transplant, and her own fierce will, that's just what she's doing.

Reporter: Liz Hayes

Producer: Phil Goyen

The Crystal Cave

Michael Usher has just returned from a spectacular and perilous journey to the centre of the earth, to a magical place known as the Crystal Cave. To reach it, Michael descended underground, deep into the deadly heart of a Mexican lead mine. The furnace-like heat and soaring humidity there can kill you in minutes. But when you see what Michael saw, you'll understand why it was worth every suffocating gasp for breath.

Reporter: Micheal Usher

Producer: Danny Keens

Manhunt

He's Australia's most wanted man and the most elusive. Malcolm Naden has been on the run for seven years, crisscrossing some of our harshest terrain. It seems every time the police get close, Naden slips back into the scrub and the shadows. He's becoming a legend of sorts - like those bushrangers of old. And just like them, there's a bounty on his head. But Malcolm Naden is no hero. He's a desperate man, armed and dangerous and he needs to be caught. But join this manhunt for a few days, as Charles Wooley did and you soon realise just what the police are up against.

Reporter: Charles Wooley

Producer: Danny Keens

2012-03-18

Deep Trouble

From the start, he was branded the Honeymoon Killer. The police were convinced Gabe Watson murdered his wife Tina while diving on the Great Barrier Reef and the media and public agreed. The view was, how could a newly-married man abandon his drowning wife? It just didn't make sense. It's taken almost 9 years for this quietly-spoken businessman to finally clear his name. But, even now, the suspicions linger. On Sunday night, in his only Australian interview, Gabe Watson tells what really happened that day on the Barrier Reef.

Reporter: Liz Hayes

Producers: Phil Goyen, Hannah Boocock 

Good Will

He's one of the funniest blokes around and Hollywood's power brokers know it. Add Will Ferrell's name to a movie and chances are it will be a box office smash. Think hits like Blades of Glory, Anchor Man and Talladega Nights. Ferrell has made some serious cash playing the fool. He's reportedly worth 80 million dollars. But as Michael Usher discovered when he caught up with him recently, it's not the money or the fame that drives this thoroughly likeable bloke.

Reporter: Michael Usher

Producer: Phil Goyen

2012-03-25

By Design

Just imagine it. Seven kids and every one of them a boy. You’d give up trying for a girl wouldn’t you? Well not Andrew and Jody McMahon. They wanted a daughter so badly they decided to have one more go. But this time, there was no rolling the dice. Like thousands of other Australian couples, Andrew and Jody headed overseas where it’s legal to choose the sex of your baby. Gender selection is banned here and often condemned as a first step towards designer babies. But for the McMahons, it’s nothing short of a miracle.

Reporter: Tara Brown

Producer: Sandra Cleary

God’s Angels

Get ready to meet some real teenage Hell raisers. Brianna, Savannah and Tess are trainee exorcists – all- American school girls who slay demons in their spare time. Armed with just a bible, holy water and a hand-bag-sized cross, they fearlessly take on the forces of darkness wherever they may lurk. And, nowadays, that seems to be everywhere. The Catholic Church is performing more exorcisms than ever before, while the girls can scarcely keep up with demand. And we’ll give them this much. They do put on one devil of a show.

Reporter: Michael Usher

Producer: Phil Goyen

Chilling Out

Liam Bartlett has just returned from a place so piercingly cold, it gives him the shivers just thinking about it. It’s not Antarctica or even the top of Mount Everest. No. It’s actually a tiny village in Central Siberia. In Oymiakon, it’s so cold your eyelashes freeze together and you’re constantly on guard against frostbite. If it’s warmer than minus 55 degrees Celsius, then it’s a good day. So rug up as we venture to the coldest town in the world.

Reporter: Liam Bartlett

Producer: Howard Sacre

2012-04-01

The Big Picture

It's the curse of every dieter. Shed a few kilos. Then pile them all back on again. We've always blamed ourselves, we should have kept up with the exercise, shown more self-control. But researchers in Melbourne have come up with another more "palatable" explanation. They're discovered that a person's weight is predestined, that genetically your body will fight to put the weight back on again. All without you even knowing about it. There is some good news though: the new findings are turning the science of weight loss on its head.

Reporter: Liam Bartlett

Producer: Howard Sacre

Ships of Shame

They're sold to us as floating pleasure domes - luxury hotels on the sea - where every day is perfect and the party never stops. But scratch the surface of the cruise ship industry and the truth isn't so dazzling. Behind the pina coladas and the smiles lies a murky world of sexual assault, drugs and violence, even murder. Incredibly, one passenger goes missing overboard every two weeks. Now, you'd think the big cruise companies would be desperate to get their industry shipshape. You couldn't be more wrong.

Reporter: Allison Langdon

Producer: Gareth Harvey

Living on the Edge

Bands don't get much bigger or louder than Aerosmith. For 40 years, Stephen Tyler and his crew have been rocking stadiums full of adoring fans. Backstage, though, things haven't been quite so harmonious. There's been bitter feuds, battles with drug addiction and major health scares. Yet through it all, they've kept performing. Their live concerts are legendary. But as Lara Logan from the American 60 Minutes program discovered, the real entertainment happens behind the scenes.

Reporter: Lara Logan, CBS 60 Minutes

Producer: John Hamlin

2012-04-08

The Trials of Gordon Wood

It was a case that had it all, a flamboyant stockbroker, a beautiful model, murky business dealings and, a deadly mystery. And at the centre of it all was chauffeur Gordon Wood. Everyone believed Gordon Wood had murdered his girlfriend, Caroline Byrne, that he’d thrown her off The Gap, a well-known Sydney suicide spot. He was convicted and given a lengthy prison sentence. But Gordon Wood is now free after winning a sensational appeal. He is an innocent man but it seems public opinion isn’t swayed so easily. On Sunday night, Gordon Wood tells his story.

Reporter: Liz Hayes

Producer: Steven Burling

A Hero’s Journey

There are few Australians who can be called a genuine living legend but Ron Barassi is, without doubt, one of them. His achievements are quite incredible, a record 10 AFL premierships, a decorated public life, he’s as revered now as the day he retired. But in recent times, Ron has been quietly facing a burden that is slowly changing his life. It’s inspired an epic pilgrimage through a strife-torn country. Michael Usher was privileged to join Ron on that emotional journey, and tells us, he’s as brave and determined today as he ever was out on the paddock.

Reporter: Michael Usher

Producer: Jo Townsend

Taylor Made

Six Grammies, twenty million albums and one of the healthiest bank accounts in the music business. All this and Taylor Swift is barely into her twenties. It’s not just that she’s a gifted songwriter with a super-sweet voice and a girl-next-door image. What makes this country singer so beloved by her legion of teenage fans is the way she taps into their inner lives. As Lesley Stahl from the American 60 Minutes program discovered, Taylor Swift turns everyday high school angst into poetry. And it’s paying off – big time.

Reporter: Lesley Stahl, CBS 60 Minutes

Producer: Shari Finkelstein

2012-04-29

Revenge

Lust, sex, betrayal and revenge – this story is as juicy as any soap opera and almost

as farfetched. It started out as a love triangle between an international model, her

sports star boyfriend, and her unscrupulous and obsessed mother. And it spiralled out

of control from there. There was a murder plot, a couple of Nigerian hit men, and a sensational trial. But what makes this tale truly incredible is how a wronged daughter chose to deal with her mother’s treachery.

Reporter: Tara Brown

Producer: Nick Greenaway

The Longest Run

You can’t help but be inspired by the young woman you’re about to meet. Quite simply, it’s amazing Turia Pitt is even alive today. Six months ago, she was caught in a bushfire while competing in an ultra-marathon race through the Kimberley. She and another competitor, Kate Sanderson, suffered terrible burns. Doctors warned Turia probably wouldn’t make it. But the dogged, fighting spirit of this long distance runner pulled her back from the brink. That and the love of a remarkable young man.

Reporter: Michael Usher

Producers: Ali Smith, Stephen Rice

The Final Frontier

James Cameron thinks big whether directing a movie epic like Titanic or creating the awesome alien world of Avatar. And he loves a challenge when he’s away from Hollywood, as well. His latest adventure is as sweeping in scope as anything he’s conjured for the silver screen. Cameron decided to explore the blackest depths of our oceans, as far as man has ever ventured, piloting a tiny sub eleven kilometres below

the water’s surface. It was a treacherous, some might say foolhardy, undertaking.

But he did it – with the help of a little Aussie know how.

Reporter: Allison Langdon

Producer: David Alrich

2012-05-06

The Smack

To smack or not to smack, it’s an issue that goes right to the heart of parenting.

And there doesn’t seem to be any middle ground – you either believe that smacking is good old fashioned discipline or you consider it a form of child abuse. Dozens of countries around the world have banned it. Now there’s a big push to do the same here. That’s despite the fact that most Australians think that an occasional slap is OK. Still, very few will admit to it, let alone smack their kids in public, like one mother you’ll meet on Sunday night.

Reporter: Michael Usher

Packer’s Punt

The Packers know a thing or two about business, so when they talk we tend to listen. Now, James Packer wants to talk about tourism but in typical billionaire style it’s a blunt message; The industry has seen much sunnier days. The big question then is how do we fix it?  Packer says by getting Asia, and especially China, to visit us. And forget cuddly koalas and shrimps on the barbie, give them gambling. Of course, Packer would say that, he’s our biggest casino operator but he’s also promising that if we follow his plan, all of Australia will win.

Reporter: Karl Stefanovic

The Big Bang Theory

Have you ever wondered how it all began? Humankind has been pondering that question since the moment we first gazed up at the stars. Now a million or so years later, a team of scientists in Europe is on the verge of unlocking the secret of the big bang, that explosive split-second when our universe was created. The scale of this experiment in a bunker deep beneath the Swiss Alps is, frankly, mind-blowing. It’s the largest engineering project since man went to the moon and, if it works, we may finally get an answer to the most baffling mystery of all.

Reporter: Liam Bartlett

2012-05-13

The Impossible Choice

It’s the toughest choice any woman could make. You’ve tried so hard to get pregnant and suddenly you have an instant family – two, three even more little lives, a multiple pregnancy. It’s either the ultimate gift or a terrible burden. For many women, they have no choice, it would simply be too dangerous to carry all the babies full term. So they turn to a controversial and little known procedure called selective reduction where a doctor decides which foetuses to terminate. In fertility treatment it’s known as the dirty little secret. It’s a heartbreaking decision so it’s surprising then that some women actually choose selective reduction for lifestyle reasons. And a warning, parts of this story are confronting.

Reporter: Michael Usher

Producer: Phil Goyen

The Fall Guys

We’ve witnessed plenty of courageous and often crazy feats over the years. But in all of Charles Wooley’s time working on this program, he’s never encountered anything quite so jaw-droppingly insane as extreme kayaking. The guys who love this sport don’t so much live on the edge as throw themselves off it. They paddle their tiny kayaks over massive twenty-storey high waterfalls, reaching speeds of two hundred kilometres an hour as they plummet, nose first into the churning water below. They’ve shattered bones and broken backs. But, in their world, coming face to face with death is the only way to really live.

Reporter: Charles Wooley

Producer: Danny Keens

Absolutely Fabulous

Liz Hayes wasn’t quite sure what to expect. After all, it’s hard to separate the real life Joanna Lumley from the chain-smoking, Bollinger-sodden character Patsy she plays so convincingly in “Absolutely Fabulous”. But when Liz caught up with Lumley in London what she found was a witty, self-aware and thoroughly charming woman. Although, like her famous alter ego, she is partial to the occasional glass of champers.

Reporter: Liz Hayes

Producer: Sandra Clear

2012-05-20

The Inside Story

Whatever you think of Schapelle Corby’s guilt or innocence, it’s fair to say most Australians think she’s served enough time in prison. It’s been 8 years since she entered the notorious Kerobokan prison – sentenced to 20 years for having 4 kilograms of marijuana stashed in her boogie board bag. And it’s been a very tough eight years. Kerobokan is a hell hole and Schapelle has been diagnosed with mental health problems. But this week – an act of mercy – as the Indonesian President dramaticallycut Schapelle’s sentence by five years, raising hopes that she could be free within months. Liz Hayes has been in Bali for the exclusive inside story on Schapelle, her life in prison and the breakthrough deal to set her free.

Reporter: Liz Hayes

Producers: Kathryn Bonella, Nick Greenaway

The Amazing Hogan Twins

Imagine being able to read another person’s mind, to see what they see, to feel what they feel. Well, Michael Usher has just met two amazing little girls who can do just that. Tatiana and Krista Hogan are conjoined twins. Their physical bond is obvious. They’re joined at the head. But it’s what you can’t see that makes these sisters so special.

Reporter: Michael Usher

Producer: Phil Goyen

Forever Young

Nothing used to scream mid-life crisis more loudly or more eloquently than a sports car, a toupee and an ill-advised affair. But times are changing, for men and women. Nowadays, we’re more likely to stave off old age with a $12,000 push bike and a wardrobe full of passion-resistant lycra. Ocean swims, iron man events, triathlons, marathons, take your pick. But before you pull on the joggers and sprint out the door, a word of caution, getting fit and healthy later in life can actually kill you.

Reporter: Karl Stefanovic

Producers: Nick Greenaway, Hannah Boocock

2012-05-27

Delta Force

Love her or loathe her, there’s no denying Delta Goodrem is hot right now. She’s a coach on the wildly popular Channel Nine show “The Voice”. And she’s got yet another hit in the charts. She’s already had eight number one singles since breaking into the music business at the age of fifteen. No doubt, Delta’s enormously talented but it’s her tumultuous love life that grabs the lion’s share of the attention. There have been the bad boy lovers, the cheats, even the recent teenage boyfriend, all the stuff that’s normally ruled off limits in interviews. But when we sat down together recently, Delta announced “anything goes”. And she actually meant it.

Reporter: Karl Stefanovic

Producer: Sandra Cleary

Deadly Pursuit

It can happen in an instant. The police make a split-second decision to give chase – a young driver, high on adrenalin, takes a crazy risk and an unsuspecting motorist strays right into the middle of it all with tragic consequences. A quarter of all those who die in police pursuits aren’t hoons, they’re ordinary people who find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. Without a doubt, it’s a tough call for the officers involved – do they let suspected criminals speed away or do they chase them down at all costs? For the shattered families left behind, there’s only one answer. No crime is worth the risk to innocent lives.

Reporter: Tara Brown

Producer: Steven Burling

The Reunion

On Sunday night you’ll witness a truly amazing display of love and trust – one that’s as moving as it is unique. It’s an unforgettable reunion between a gorilla called Kwibi and the man who raised him and then released him into the wild. Zookeeper Damian Aspinall waited five years before returning to Africa to check up on his old mate. He didn’t really expect Kwibi to remember him. He couldn’t have been more wrong.

Reporter: Michael Usher

Producer: Danny Keens

2012-06-03

In the Name of Evil

Milat – just the name is enough to make you shudder. Back in the early nineties, Ivan Milat stalked, tortured and killed seven young backpackers in the Belanglo State Forest just south  of Sydney. When he was finally locked up – never to be released – we thought we’d heard the last of that terrible name. But there was another monster lurking in the Milat family. Matthew Milat.Matthew idolised his evil uncle and fantasised about taking a life. Then, in a callous and premeditated crime in the very same forest that uncle Ivan butchered his victims, Matthew Milat committed cold blooded murder. Now a last chilling postscript to this modern-day saga of brutality and horror.

Reporter: Tara Brown

Producer: David Alrich

Sweet Poison

For years, we’ve been warned about the evils of fat. We’ve checked what’s in our food, cut out the cheese and sworn off the fries. Well, it turns out we’ve been way off target. Controversial new research suggests that the real enemy is sugar. And this stuff isn’t just making us fat, it’s slowly killing us. Tens of thousands of Australians are already suffering serious health problems due to sugar overload. But, as Allison Langdon discovered, what’s truly alarming is that this sweet poison is as addictive as the hardest of illicit drugs.

Reporter: Allison Langdon

Producer: Jo Townsend

A Fairytale Life

There’s nothing quite like a fairytale to deliver a little box office magic. And the big movie right now is “Snow White and the Huntsman”. Charlize Theron is one of the major stars – appropriate perhaps given that her life reads like a Grimm Brothers fable. She was born a poor but beautiful farm girl in South Africa. And despite a troubled childhood and unthinkable personal tragedy, she rose to become a world famous movie star. Now she’s basking in her happily ever after – with a hit film, an Oscar and a gorgeous new addition to the family.

Reporter: Charles Wooley

Producers: Danny Keens, Sandra Cleary

2012-06-10

Fall From Grace

He was Australia’s Golden Boy, a superstar in the pool and a much admired role model out if it. Grant Hackett had it all – Olympic medals, world records, a beautiful young family and a stellar career. Then his world came crashing down. On Sunday night, Grant speaks for the first time about his dramatic fall from grace, about the night he trashed his apartment, the collapse of his marriage and the allegations that he physically abused his wife. It’s been an excruciatingly painful few months but now this former champion is ready to own up to his mistakes.

Reporter: Tara Brown

Producer: Steven Burling

Black Beauty

She’s the pride of the nation, a big bold Australian mare who’s broken all the records and captured the hearts of millions of fans. Black Caviar has been first past the post in each of her twenty one Australian starts. She’s pretty much achieved it all on home turf. So, like the great Phar Lap before her, Black Caviar headed overseas to take on the best in the world. Liz Hayes has been following her campaign from the start and is lucky enough to be at England’s Royal Ascot track for the most important race of her career this weekend.

Reporter: Liz Hayes

Producers: David Alrich, Ali Smith

The Power of One

It takes a lot of guts to stand up against a foreign government and the might of the US military. But Catherine Fisher is one brave and determined Australian. Ten years ago, she was raped in Japan by an American sailor. Neither the local police nor the US navy did anything to help. So Catherine began a long, painful and often frustrating investigation of her own. She discovered that her rapist got away with it because of a secret agreement between the Japanese government and the American military. What’s truly disturbing is that same deal applies here in Australia and U.S. sailors have already taken advantage of it.

Reporter: Liam Bartlett

Producer: Stephen Rice

2012-06-24

Mr Grizzly

Allison Langdon has never experienced a rush like it, standing her ground as a giant Grizzly Bear threatened to charge. And for a few heart-stopping moments in the Canadian wilderness, Allison didn’t think she’d make it home to tell this story. But thankfully she was with a man who has a way with Grizzlies, even very cranky ones. His name is Doug Seus and he’s worked on some of Hollywood’s biggest films. Doug is a bear trainer and conservationist. He’s so confident around these magnificent creatures that he’ll willingly stick his head inside their jaws. And that’s something you just have to see.

Reporter: Allison Langdon

Producer: Nick Greenaway

The Carbon Cowboy

This has to be one of the most brazen and potentially disastrous scams Liam Bartlett has ever come across. David Nilsson was once accused in Parliament of selling non-existent plots of land in Queensland. Now he’s popped up in the Amazon jungle, of all places, where the fledgling carbon trading market has opened up huge opportunities for unscrupulous operators. It’s a multi-billion dollar industry that’s emerged now countries like Australia have introduced a carbon tax. Rainforests are suddenly worth big money. And the natives who own them are sitting on a fortune. Or at least they should be, but that all changes when David Nilsson comes calling.

Reporter: Liam Bartlett

Producer: Stephen Rice

Olympic Pin-ups

She’s the glamour girl of the pool, famous for her high profile romances and party girl antics. He’s the cocky freestyle champion who basks in the limelight. Stephanie Rice and James Magnussen are our favourite Olympic pin-ups. They’re rarely out of the news. Now with the Games almost upon us, they intend to make even more headlines – right around the world.

Reporter: Tara Brown

Producer: David Alrich

2012-07-08

Deadly Encounter

On Sunday night you will witness an underwater drama that is quite simply mind blowing – a face-to-face encounter with a four-and-a-half metre wild crocodile. There are no cages here, no guns, no tranquilisers, just one brave diver and a giant prehistoric man-eater. Dangerous? You betcha! But this isn’t some kind of extreme sport. This is scientific research in the scariest laboratory on earth.

Reporter: Liz Hayes

Producers: David Alrich, Stephen Rice

My Son, the Monster

It was a crime as bewildering as it was monstrous. One year ago, almost to the day, thirty-three-year-old Anders Breivik went on a bloody rampage that became the deadliest massacre in the history of peacetime Europe. Seventy seven people were killed – most of them teenagers on a camping holiday. You have to wonder how a seemingly ordinary man could do something so utterly evil. If anyone can answer that question it’s Breivik’s father. On Sunday night, in a world exclusive interview, Jens Breivik talks about what drove his son to kill and how an intelligent, churchgoing teen turned into Norway’s worst mass murderer.

Reporter: Liam Bartlett

Producer: Gareth Harvey

Wrong Place, Wrong Time

Thomas Kelly had his whole life ahead of him. He was just 18 years old – with a promising job, a new girlfriend, some great mates and a close and loving family. Then, last Saturday night, in a single, mindless act of violence… it was all taken away. Thomas was walking along a busy street in Sydney’s Kings Cross, hand in hand with his girlfriend, when he was viciously king-hit in an unprovoked attack. Two days later, his mum and dad made the heartbreaking decision to switch off his life support. On Sunday night, we talk to the people closest to this tragedy – to Thomas’ terrified girlfriend, to the mate who stuck by him during the mad dash to hospital. And to his parents, Ralph and Kathy, who are determined to give their son’s death some meaning.

Reporter: Allison Langdon

Producer: Nick Greenaway

2012-07-15

On Demand

What you will see on Sunday night challenges all conventional notions about parenting. It may offend – perhaps even anger many of you. It’s called “attachment parenting” – a back-to-basics approach to child raising that’s becoming more and more popular with Mums here and around the world. The idea is that mothers agree to every demand a child makes – any time – day or night. They ask their permission to change a nappy, let them sleep in the grown-ups’ bed and even breastfeed them through preschool and beyond. But don’t just dismiss all of this as new age extremism. There is some compelling science behind it.

Reporter: Michael Usher

Producers: Phil Goyen, Hannah Boocock

Bitter Pill

It was the greatest medical tragedy of all time – a so-called wonder drug for pregnant women that devastated thousands of lives. Thalidomide was developed by German pharmaceutical giant Grunenthal in the 1950s and sold in millions of doses to an unsuspecting world. No one knows just how many babies died. But those that did survive suffered horrific birth defects. This week brought dramatic developments in a story we’ve been following for months. And on Sunday night, in a special investigation, we reveal chilling details about the origins and creators of this evil drug.

Reporter: Allison Langdon

Producer: Gareth Harvey

At Any Cost

They’ve been pushing their bodies to the limit, training like maniacs for their shot at sporting immortality. Now, in just a week’s time, our Olympic athletes will take on the best in the world. We’d like to think they’ll be competing on a level playing field. But the sad fact is, there will always be athletes who are prepared to cheat. Triple gold medallist Marion Jones caused a massive scandal when she admitted using performance enhancing drugs at the Sydney Games. And nowadays those drugs are even more sophisticated and difficult to detect. So when London organisers claim these will be the cleanest games ever, Marion isn’t convinced. Because with so much at stake, the cheats will always be a few paces ahead.

Reporter: Charles Wooley

Producer: Danny Keens

2012-07-22

Full House

Knock on Richard Wallace’s front door and you’ll be shocked – even horrified by what’s waiting for you on the other side. His home is so crammed full of rubbish that you have to crawl just to get from room to room. You see Richard is a hoarder – it’s a bizarre obsession that’s shared by millions around the world. But what’s truly remarkable about Richard is how he faces his demons with a quiet dignity and a firm belief that life will be better one day.

Reporter: Liz Hayes

Producers: David Alrich, Stephen Rice

Baby Jack

It’s a tragedy that can strike any one of us – a friend, a neighbor, even an Olympic champion. A little over a year ago, swimmer Brooke Hanson gave birth to her second son – Jack Hanson Clarke. It should have been an event to rival anything Brooke had achieved in the pool. But her little boy arrived in the world far too early. Unimaginably tiny, weighing just 663 grams and about as long as a school ruler, Jack bravely clung onto life for 9 desperate months. On Sunday night, for the first time Brooke and her husband, Jared, talk about their very private loss and share what their dearly loved son taught them about courage and life.

Reporter: Tara Brown

Producers: Stephen Taylor, Hannah Boocock

The Diva

Who do you think is the world’s most powerful celebrity? Oprah Winfrey? Tom Cruise? A Kardashian perhaps? Well, apparently, the answer is Jennifer Lopez. J Lo earned a whopping 50 million dollars last year – not bad for a humble Puerto Rican back-up dancer from the wrong end of town. It’s a triumphant return to the top for Jennifer, who reignited her career as a judge on the hugely successful American Idol. She’s now embarked on a massive six-month world tour and Allison Langdon got a taste of what we can expect when she caught up with Jennifer, and her new and much younger man, back stage in California.

Reporter: Allison Langdon

Producers: Steven Burling, Sandra Cleary

2012-08-19

License to Kill

It’s monstrously unjust. A husband or boyfriend kills in a fit of rage – then blames his victim to wiggle out of a murder charge. It’s called the Provocation Defence. The man says that his wife or girlfriend drove him to it -that she was a nag or cheat. And that’s all the excuse he needs to get his murder charge reduced to manslaughter and to receive a much lighter sentence. It’s a license to kill. Yet our courts are buying it, letting the meanest and most brutal in our society get away with murder.

Reporter: Tara Brown

Producer: Stephen Rice

The Good Wife

It’s a big call but the lady you’re about to meet is convinced other women hate her just because she’s pretty. Anti-feminist crusader Samantha Brick claims her fabulous good looks have been a curse, that they’ve lost her friends and made her life Hell. But perhaps the problem isn’t her beauty but rather her outspoken views on marriage and relationships. She wants to return to the dark ages where the dutiful wife cooks, cleans and obeys.

Reporter: Liam Bartlett

Producer: Gareth Harvey

A Wild Life

He’s a living legend – as old as the Queen and to me at least – just as impressive. He’s made seventy documentaries, entertaining half a billion people. And he’s observed more species of animal than anyone else on Earth. We are talking of course about the inimitable Sir David Attenborough. Charles Wooley was privileged enough to be granted his only Australian interview during his recent tour of this country. More than a decade

has past since Charles last met Sir David and he’s delighted to say the years have treated Sir David very well, indeed. He only wishes they’d been so kind to the planet.

Reporter: Charles Wooley

Producer: Sandra Cleary

2012-08-26

Charlotte’s Hell

On the internet, they’re known as trolls. But let’s name them for what they really are – bullies, plain and simple. These cowards lurk in the shadows of the online world, using false names to spread their messages of hate. Their attacks can be vicious, intensely personal and, with the growth of social media like Twitter and Facebook, dangerous as well. Just days ago, television celebrity Charlotte Dawson was pushed to the very brink by these creeps. She was still shaken when Tara Brown spoke to her but she somehow found the strength to share her story. Her hope is that by speaking out, she can save someone else from the Hell that she only just survived.

Reporter: Tara Brown

Producers: Stephen Taylor, Hannah Boocock

DIY Mums

They’re the newest and most controversial operators on the fertility scene. Private sperm donation websites operate like online dating services, matching up would-be mums with donor dads, for free. Unlike traditional sperm banks, the woman actually gets to meet the potential dad. And he’s encouraged to become involved in his new baby’s life. This is a do-it-yourself method of getting pregnant so it’s light on romance and there are possible health risks. But, as Allison Langdon discovered, it’s also produced lots of little love stories and some very modern families for the mums brave enough to try.

Reporter: Allison Langdon

Producer: Jo Townsend

Licence to Thrill

His name is Bond. James Bond. And he has to be the coolest chap on the planet. He’s triumphed over scores of unforgettable villains, bedded hundreds of beautiful women and saved the world over and over again. Fifty years have passed since Sean Connery first shrugged on a dinner jacket and ordered his martini shaken, not stirred. And now we’re gearing up for movie number 23. “Skyfall” stars the famously muscle-bound Daniel Craig. And no doubt, it will be another blockbuster for a franchise that’s become one of the most successful in movie history.

Reporter: Charles Wooley

Producers: Danny Keens, Sandra Cleary

The Great Escape

On Sunday night you will witness one of the most extraordinary acts of survival you’ll ever see. Ken Peters was performing in a show at Sea World in San Diego when a killer whale suddenly turned on him. For the next ten minutes, Ken was locked in a life-and-death struggle with the three-tonne predator. It’s incredible that he kept his composure and made it out of that tank alive. Others haven’t been so lucky.

Reporter: Michael Usher

Producer: Stephen Rice

2012-09-02

Walking Tall

We all want to fit in. That’s just the way we’re wired. But for the young man you’ll meet on Sunday night, blending into the crowd is an impossible dream. Igor is dangerously tall – 8 foot – and getting bigger by the day. While the first thing you notice about Igor is undoubtedly his height, spend some time with him and you realise he’s also charming, funny, complex and heartbreakingly lonely. He also has the biggest smile you’ll ever see – you just have to find a way to coax it out of him.

Reporter: Michael Usher

Producer: Phil Goyen

Kidnapped!

It’s the kidnap capital of the world – a city where someone is snatched off the street every three hours. In Sao Paulo, just walking outside your front door can be dangerous. Not even children are safe. The men and women who track down and rescue the hostages are members of Brazil’s crack anti-kidnapping unit. Allison Langdon joined these courageous men and women for one incredibly intense week. At times, Allison felt like she had wandered onto the set of a Hollywood action movie – except on this beat the bad guys and the bullets are real.

Reporter: Allison Langdon

Producer: Steven Burling

Mental as Anything

She’s a chick from the ‘burbs – a down-to-earth Aussie sheila who’s risen to the top in Hollywood.Toni Collette got her start in that wonderfully odd little Australian movie “Muriel’s Wedding”. Her role as the dumpy, wedding-obsessed Muriel from Porpoise Spit set her on the road to international stardom. Of course, it didn’t hurt that she also happened to be blessed with bucket loads of talent. In the eighteen years since, Toni has won a Golden Globe and an Emmy as well as been nominated for an Oscar. Now she’s come full circle playing Shaz in the new Australian Film “Mental.” It’s another quirky local comedy. And it’s taken her back to the place she loves best – home.

Reporter: Charles Wooley

Producer: Sandra Cleary

Saint Catherine

In Africa, she’s considered a saint. And having seen her at work, we’re not about to disagree. Dr Catherine Hamlin has devoted her life to healing the broken bodies of Ethiopian girls who have been forced into marriage and then get pregnant at far too young an age. But today this gentle woman is angry – angry with the Australian charity that has collected millions in her name. She accuses the charity of not passing the donations on. It’s a 15-million-dollar rift that threatens a lifetime’s work.

Reporter: Tara Brown

Producer: Stephen Taylor

2012-09-09

In the Pink On stage, she’s a feisty rock chick – a woman with a big voice whose songs can make a bloke feel very small indeed. Just ask her husband. So it always surprises us how approachable and down to earth Pink is. When Peter Overton caught up with her in Los Angeles recently, she had hubbie Carey Hart and new daughter Willow in tow. They’re as normal a family as you’d find and incredibly welcoming. Motherhood clearly suits Pink, we would even say she’s mellowed since our last meeting. But some things don’t change. She still packs a wicked sense of humour. Reporter: Peter Overton Producer: Steven Burling Breaking the Silence We thought it was a haven, a model school where disadvantaged young boys and Catholic brothers all lived together as one big happy family. You may remember it from the famous lottery that raised millions in its name. But Boys Town, in Beaudesert Queensland, wasn’t the Godly place we all believed it to be. For many of the boys there, it was a pure hell. Those kids are grown men now. On Sunday night, after a lifetime of shame, they’ve found the courage to talk about what happened to them at Boys Town. Their stories are some of the hardest we’ve ever heard. But for the first time, the authorities are listening. And court action has now begun in what’s becoming one of the largest cases of its type in Australian legal history. Reporter: Michael Usher Producer: Danny Keens A Lethal Mix It’s the most dangerous of brews, a potentially lethal concoction of heavy spirits and high octane energy drinks. Young people love the stuff, whether they buy it readymade or mix their own. The alcohol gets them drunk and the energy drinks keep them awake. It can be like knocking back half a dozen cups of coffee, except they’re already buzzing from a skinful of booze. The idea is to make the fun last longer. But there’s nothing fun about landing in hospital. And that’s far from the worst that can happen. Reporter: Tara Brown Producers: Stephen Rice, Ali Smith

2012-09-16

Bali – 10th Anniversary Special We thought it could never happen to us, that Australia was immune to the horror of terrorism. But then, ten years ago, a series of bombs ripped through Bali’s nightclub district and we lost our innocence. 202 people died that night, including 88 Aussies. Over the past decade, we’ve followed the survivors as they’ve rebuilt their lives. Some have done it publicly, defiantly thumbing their noses at the terrorists. Others like Carren Smith have struggled out of view – until now. On Sunday night, we revisit some of our inspirational survivors and, for the first time, Carren shares her incredible story. Reporter: Peter Overton Producer: Jo Townsend Going Native Keeping wild animals locked up, whether in a zoo, a cage or a backyard will always be controversial. In Australia, we’re not allowed to keep our native animals as pets. But it’s quite another story over in America where Aussie wildlife has become the latest must-have accessory. Michael Usher found fully-grown kangaroos being fussed over like household cats and dogs and tiny marsupials marketed as pocket pets. It’s a multi-million dollar industry; it could also hold the key to saving our precious animals from extinction. Reporter: Michael Usher Producer: Phil Goyen Firestorm Allison Langdon has just been to the gates of Hell. A place, where right under your feet, under homes and roads, immense fires burn out of control, fuelled by enormous deposits of coal. These fires are scarring the land and poisoning the people in a forgotten corner of India. It’s an environmental disaster and it’s raged unchecked for close to a hundred years. Now, over a million people are quite literally living on top of a firestorm. Reporter: Allison Langdon Producer: Gareth Harvey

2012-09-30

Total Recall You have to wonder, what on Earth was Arnold Schwarzenegger thinking? There he was, one of the most famous men in the world, a massive movie star and the governor of California, with a glamorous political wife in Maria Shriver and a brood of kids. Then he goes and sleeps with the household help. And it wasn’t a simple one night stand either- the affair resulted in a child – a boy called Joseph who is now 15-years-old. The scandal broke in May last year and Schwarzenegger hasn’t said a word about any of it – until now. His confessional with Lesley Stahl of the American 60 Minutes program is one of the most compelling interviews we’ve ever seen. Schwarzenegger certainly regrets what he’s done but is he sorry? We’ll leave that for you to decide. Reporter: Lesley Stahl, CBS 60 Minutes Producer: Rich Bonin One Way Ticket Every year, thousands of young Australians fly off for a gap year adventure. Their travels take them all over the world, often to poor and dangerous places that make their mums and dads fret. But Karen Bourke wasn’t worried when she waved her son off at the airport. After all, Glenn was only going to New Zealand and that’s almost as safe as home – right? But the world capital of adventure tourism can be a deadly place as Glenn and eight others so tragically discovered. Reporter: Liam Bartlett Producers: Gareth Harvey, Ali Smith Terry Terrific Sometimes just leading an ordinary life can be an extraordinary achievement. That’s certainly the case for 17-year-old Terry Vo. Seven years ago, Terry was playing backyard basketball when an attempted slam dunk brought a brick wall crashing down on him. The accident severed both his hands and his left foot. World-first surgery reattached those limbs. But what really amazed us was how this brave little boy smiled through everything. Tara Brown has been following Terry’s progress from the start and is pleased to say his story just gets better and better. Reporter: Tara Brown Producer: Stephen Taylor

2012-10-07

Fatal Distraction Most of us have done it at some time or other. And it’s as dangerous as it is crazy. Now, new research has found that texting while driving is far riskier than we ever thought. Start punching out a conversation on your phone and your chance of having an accident jumps enormously. You may as well be hurtling down the highway blindfolded. Yes, we know it’s hard to resist a beeping mobile, but this story should make every one of us think twice before we text behind the wheel because a few seconds of distraction is all it takes to shatter lives. Reporter: Allison Langdon Producers: Nick Greenaway, Hannah Boocock Switched at Birth Imagine making a decision – just one decision – that would haunt you for life and rip away everything you loved. Back in 1991, Sandy Dawkins and Megs Clinton Parker discovered that their two-year-old sons had been switched at birth, that they were each raising a child that was not biologically their own. They could have swapped the boys over then and there. But they didn’t. For the next two decades, we watched as Sandy and Megs tried to make their bizarre relationship work. But, perhaps inevitably, it all fell apart. Now, 23 years later, there’s been yet another and even more extraordinary twist in this bitter family saga. Reporter: Peter Overton Producer: Nick Greenaway Trip of the Tongue Imagine waking up one morning and not sounding like yourself, in fact sounding like someone from an entirely different country. Liam Bartlett has just spent a few fascinating days with three otherwise normal women who have the medical world completely stumped. One day they felt sick, the next they were jabbering away with thick foreign accents. One can now pass for Russian. Another has developed a French lilt. The third sounds Chinese. It’s called Foreign Accent Syndrome and it’s a condition that’s as rare as it is strange. Reporter: Liam Bartlett Producers: Howard Sacre, Gareth Harvey

2012-10-14

Built on Lies Who could ever forget those images after the Christchurch earthquake, of the local television station reduced to rubble? One hundred and fifteen lives were lost in that building. Now one of the key people responsible for its construction has been revealed as a monumental impostor. Brisbane man Gerald Shirtcliff conned his way into the building trade. For 42 years, this fraud masqueraded as an English engineer called Will Fisher. He stole Mr Fisher’s name, his birthday and his professional qualifications. It was a monstrous deception, a real life “Catch me if you Can” – as audacious as it was evil. Reporter: Liam Bartlett Producer: Stephen Rice First Words Imagine not being able to communicate with your own child, never knowing what they’re thinking or how they feel. That’s what life’s like every day for the parents of severely autistic children. And it’s just as distressing for the kids who have no way of expressing themselves and often lash out in frustration. But finally, there’s a way. Just as computer apps have revolutionised our lives, they’re also changing how autistic children interact with their world. Now they’re truly connecting with their mums and dads for the first time. And if you think that’s remarkable, consider this: world first technology has made it possible for doctors to see how autism affects the brain, providing hope that we’ll one day find a cure to this most mysterious of conditions. Reporter: Michael Usher Producer: Phil Goyen Frozen Frontier As a 60 Minutes reporter, Charles Wooley has been lucky enough to have travelled to every continent on earth – bar one. Antarctica, that vast icy wilderness at the bottom of the world. Well, finally he made it. Charles spent an unforgettable week there and the images will stay with him forever. The incredible scale, the wildlife, the night-less skies, the frightening emptiness and, amazingly, the colours of ice. Australia is the biggest stakeholder in this beautiful land and we’ve pushed harder than anyone to protect it from exploitation. But, as Charles discovered, change is on its way. Reporter: Charles Wooley Producer: Nick Greenaway

2012-10-21

A Father’s Fight When Michael Roberts fell madly in love with a beautiful American woman, he never imagined his life would end up as strange and as chilling as any crime thriller. Theirs was a whirlwind online romance. Within weeks of meeting, Michael had packed his bags and moved halfway across the world. It proved a fatal mistake. You see, Michael’s new wife, the mother of his two young children, turned out to be a cold blooded killer. And just when you think it can’t get more sinister, more unbelievable, there’s another twist to the tale. Reporter: Michael Usher Producers: Danny Keens, Hannah Boocock The Contenders It’s the greatest show on Earth right now. And for good reason, this American election campaign has everything. There are Mormons and millionaires, celebrities and shock jocks. Then just when it seemed campaigning had settled into a steady rhythm, along came hurricane Sandy. That monster storm kept President Obama and his rival Mitt Romney off the hustings for a couple of days. But behind the scenes, the party machines kept chugging on. Liz Hayes sat down with two of the most influential and entertaining cogs. Reporter: Liz Hayes Producer: Phil Goyen The Majestic Mantas It has to be one of nature’s greatest shows. Certainly we’ve never witnessed anything like the dancing manta rays of the Maldives. Their mesmerising underwater ballet only happens at one place on Earth and, even then, only rarely. So, it’s devastating to think that these massive and majestic creatures are being hunted to extinction. And, if we’re not careful, the curtain will come down on their hauntingly beautiful performance forever. Reporter: Allison Langdon Producer: Gareth Harvey

2012-11-04

The GoPro Revolution They’ve revolutionised the way we see our world and created a new breed of film makers who are as crazy as they are daring. GoPro cameras are tiny; small enough to be attached to a bird, strapped to a base jumper’s helmet or swallowed by a shark. The video they produce is, quite simply, extraordinary. You feel like you’re right there in the middle of the action. As you’ll see it’s one wild ride but a ride you can safely enjoy from the comfort of your own sofa. Reporter: Liam Bartlett Producers: Stephen Rice, Howard Sacre Stopping the Clock It’s the great dilemma of young women everywhere – how to build a successful career, without missing out on motherhood. Now, doctors have found a new way for women to have babies well into middle age and beyond. This revolutionary procedure is called ovarian tissue freezing. It quite literally puts a woman’s biological clock on ice. But here in Australia, the surgery is considered so controversial, it’s only available to cancer patients; women who are left infertile by the very treatment that saves their lives. Reporter: Allison Langdon Producer: Sandra Cleary Driving Blind Right now, a young driver – probably a man – is about to make a potentially lethal decision. He’s blind drunk and he knows it. But he’s going to get behind the wheel of his car anyway. The terrifying thing is he’s probably done it before. And, worse still, there are others in the car in search of a good time. Gaol, stiff fines, the constant scare campaigns – nothing, it seems, can stop this stupidity. The result is carnage. A rising toll of young people killed and seriously injured. And behind the appalling statistics are shattered families. Look into the eyes of Ebony Dunsworth’s parents and, like us, you’ll despair. Reporter: Michael Usher Producer: Howard Sacre

2012-11-11

High Dive Whoever could forget that dive at the Beijing Olympics? Or the look of pure joy on Matthew Mitcham’s face when he realised he’d won gold. But behind the smiles and Matthew’s extraordinary athleticism, all was not as it seemed. You see, there’s another, darker side to Matthew. A tortured childhood, battles with depression and, most disturbingly, the revelation that he was hooked on drugs – addicted to crystal meth or ice, as it’s known. And as Matthew’s life unravelled, he feared he would lose everything he loved and had worked so hard for. Reporter: Liz Hayes Producer: Stephen Taylor Brute Force Reckless, dangerous, even thuggish. You’d think we were talking about a violent street gang. But these are the words used by the New South Wales coroner this past week to describe members of that state’s police force. She was ruling on the death of a Brazilian student during a Sydney arrest in March. That young man, Roberto Curti was tackled by eleven officers. He was doused in capsicum spray and tasered 14 times. It was a horrible way to die and one that continues to haunt the close-knit family he’s left behind. Reporter: Allison Langdon Producers: David Alrich, Steven Burling Song Bird She’s had one hundred hit singles and written songs for The Beatles, Aretha Franklin, Kylie Minogue and Adele. Carole King is, quite simply, the most successful and prolific female songwriter of all time. In fact, over the last fifty years, her music has been recorded by one thousand singers. For those too young or too befuddled to recall the 1960s and early seventies, the songs of Carole King provide a perfect snapshot of the time. It was an age when love and optimism reigned supreme and the earth moved in quite wonderful ways. Reporter: Charles Wooley Producer: Steven Burling, Phil Goyen

2012-11-18

Abducted! It's been the most public and bitter of family feuds - two parents, four children split across the world and splashed all over the media. The story begins with a desperate escape. Mum, Laura, flees Italy and her allegedly violent Italian husband, to return home with the couple's four daughters. Two years later, the Australian Federal Police arrive on the doorstep and literally drag the children onto a plane back to Italy. Watching those girls struggle against the police and scream for their mother, it all seemed so heavy handed and so wrong. But there are two sides to every story and this Sunday night for the first time, you'll hear what Dad's got to say. And there's a third player in this sorry tale: the Australian government which knowingly aided and abetted an international kidnap. Reporter: Tara Brown Producers: Gareth Harvey, Steven Burling Unlikely Princess A few years back, the British Royals were so unpopular they could do no right. Then came the wedding of William and Kate and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Now, with their recent trip to Australia, Prince Charles and Camilla proved The Firm is more popular than ever, much to the chagrin of Republicans like Charles Wooley. What you might not have noticed while you were out fluttering your Union Jacks, was that another Royal had slipped into town. Zara Phillips, the Queen's eldest granddaughter and darling of the English horsey set was on the Gold Coast doing a little bit of, dare we say, commercial business. Reporter: Charles Wooley Producer: Stephen Taylor The Seekers Before AC/DC, before INXS, before the Bee Gees, even before the Easybeats, Australia had a supergroup that was as big and as successful as any band in the world. They were and are The Seekers: Judith Durham, Athol Guy, Keith Potger and Bruce Woodley. The Seekers started out in 1962, an endearingly daggy folk group that, against all odds, outsold the Rolling Stones, played alongside The Beatles and drew two hundred thousand people to a single concert. They've been through their ups and downs, as you do over a half century but now, they're back and their songs are as contagious as ever. Reporter: Ray Martin Producer: Sandra Cleary By Design How far would you go to choose the sex of your baby? For Jodi and Andrew McMahon, the proud parents of seven sons, the answer was halfway around the world. Earlier this year, Tara Brown joined the McMahon tribe on their epic quest for a baby girl. The method they used - called gender selection - is extremely controversial, so much so that it's banned in this country. But, nine months on, it's hard to argue with the results. Reporter: Tara Brown Producer: Sandra Cleary

2012-11-25

Mind over Medicine We’ve all heard about placebos, those phoney sugar pills that doctors sometimes hand out to trick people into thinking they’ve been medicated. It’s all about using the extraordinary healing power of positive thinking. Well, now researchers are making revolutionary advances in the science of placebos. So much so, it’s gone way beyond swallowing fake tablets to cure minor ailments. They’ve now got patients undergoing pretend operations to fight disease and chronic pain, and the results are nothing short of remarkable. Reporter: Allison Langdon Producers: Jo Townsend, Phil Goyen Accidental Genius It sounds like the plot of a Hollywood movie, an ordinary bloke takes a blow to the head and then, suddenly, incredibly is transformed into a genius. Far fetched right? Well you’re about to meet three people who’ve gone through that experience in real life. They’ve all suffered some kind of brain damage and survived to become gifted musicians, mathematicians and artists. Scientists call them acquired savants. It’s a fascinating field of study and it could just hold the key to making us all a whole lot smarter. Reporter: Liam Bartlett Producer: Howard Sacre The Master He’s given us some of Hollywood’s most memorable moments: Jaws rearing from the ocean, a young Drew Barrymore face to face with E.T, Indiana Jones trapped in a snake pit. And those are just a few scenes from an incredible career that spans four decades and 27 films. Stephen Spielberg is the most successful film maker of his generation, maybe of all time. Yet, as Lesley Stahl of American 60 Minutes discovered, he still panics before every new project. Reporter: Lesley Stahl, CBS 60 Minutes Producers: Ruth Streeter, Rebecca Peterson The Vanishing When Liz Hayes first met conservationist Chris Darwin two years ago – great, great grandson of the naturalist Charles Darwin – she was a little taken aback. He’s unconventional to say the least. And unusually generous. To combat what he calls our “biggest extinction period in history”, he bought up vast tracts of prime Australian bush. So, when the miners and their trucks began to muscle in on his land, he embarked on a series of experiments just like his famous Great Great Granddaddy. (This story is an update to the original story broadcast on: 27th June, 2010) Reporter: Liz Hayes Producer: Jo Townsend

2012-12-02

The Treasure Hunter You're about to embark on a grand adventure with one of our last great explorers. Bob Ballard scours the world's oceans looking for submerged treasure and he's found plenty of it over the last fifty years. Deadly Encounter Witness an underwater drama that is quite simply mind blowing. A face-to-face encounter with a four-and-a-half metre wild crocodile. God's Angels Get ready to meet some real teenaged hell-raisers. Brynne, Savannah and Tess are trainee exorcists; all-American school girls who slay demons in their spare time. Armed with just a bible, holy water and a handbag-sized cross, they fearlessly take on the forces of darkness wherever they may lurk. And, nowadays, that seems to be everywhere. The Catholic Church is performing more exorcisms than ever before, while the girls can scarcely keep up with demand. And we’ll give them this much. They do put on one devil of a show.

2012-12-23

Wall to Wall It's an album that defined one generation and became a rallying cry for another. 33 years have past since Pink Floyd released "The Wall" but the music is as powerful and relevant as ever. Revenge Lust, sex, betrayal and revenge - this story is as juicy as any soap opera and almost as farfetched. It started out as a love triangle between an international model, her sports star boyfriend, and her unscrupulous and obsessed mother. And it spiralled out of control from there.There was a murder plot, a couple of Nigerian hit men, and a sensational trial. But what makes this tale truly incredible is how a wronged daughter chose to deal with her mother's treachery. Chilling Out Liam Bartlett has just returned from a place so piercingly cold, it gives him the shivers just thinking about it. It's not Antarctica or even the top of Mount Everest. It's actually a tiny village in central Siberia. In Oymiakon, it's so cold your eyelashes freeze together and you're constantly on guard against frostbite. If it's warmer than minus 55 degrees Celsius, then it's a good day. So rug up as we venture to the coldest town in the world.

2012-12-30

In the Pink On stage, she's a feisty rock chick — a woman with a big voice whose songs can make a bloke feel very small indeed. Just ask her husband. So it always surprises us how approachable and down to earth Pink is. When Peter Overton caught up with her in Los Angeles recently, she had hubbie Carey Hart and new daughter Willow in tow. They're as normal a family as you'd find and incredibly welcoming. Motherhood clearly suits Pink, we would even say she's mellowed since our last meeting. But some things don't change. She still packs a wicked sense of humour. Baby Jack It's a tragedy that can strike any one of us - a friend, a neighbour, even an Olympic champion. A little over a year ago, swimmer Brooke Hanson gave birth to her second son - Jack Hanson Clarke. It should have been an event to rival anything Brooke had achieved in the pool. But her little boy arrived in the world far too early. Unimaginably tiny, weighing just 663 grams and about as long as a school ruler, Jack bravely clung onto life for nine desperate months. On 60 Minutes, for the first time Brooke and her husband, Jared, talk about their very private loss and share what their dearly loved son taught them about courage and life. The Fall Guys We've witnessed plenty of courageous and often crazy feats over the years. But in all of Charles Wooley's time working on this program, he's never encountered anything quite so jaw-droppingly insane as extreme kayaking. The guys who love this sport don't so much live on the edge as throw themselves off it. They paddle their tiny kayaks over massive twenty-storey high waterfalls, reaching speeds of two hundred kilometres an hour as they plummet, nose first into the churning water below. They've shattered bones and broken backs. But, in their world, coming face to face with death is the only way to really live.

2013-01-06

Walking Tall We all want to fit in. That's just the way we're wired. But for the young man you’ll meet on Sunday night, blending into the crowd is an impossible dream. Igor is dangerously tall — 8 foot — and getting bigger by the day. While the first thing you notice about Igor is undoubtedly his height, spend some time with him and you realise he's also charming, funny, complex and heartbreakingly lonely. He also has the biggest smile you’ll ever see — you just have to find a way to coax it out of him. Kidnapped! In Sao Paulo, just walking outside your front door can be dangerous. Not even children are safe. The men and women who track down and rescue the hostages are members of Brazil's crack anti-kidnapping unit. Allison Langdon joined these courageous men and women for one incredibly intense week. At times, Allison felt like she had wandered onto the set of a Hollywood action movie — except on this beat the bad guys and the bullets are real. Face Blind Imagine if you always felt like you were surrounded by strangers, because you couldn't identify your own child or even recognise your own face in the mirror. Well, that's what life is like every day for sufferers of face blindness.

2013-01-27

Matthew Newton Say the name Matthew Newton and most people will offer an opinion. The view is that he’s either a violent boyfriend, or a mentally ill man. Repeatedly, courts here in Australia, and in the US, have judged Newton, on the grounds of his psychological state. Just last November, a Miami judge spared him jail, despite him punching a hotel receptionist. Now Matthew Newton says he’s on the road to recovery, but there are some extraordinary admissions along the way. Reporter: Liz Hayes Producer: Phil Goyen Mountain Madness The wonder of extreme adventure is, you never know how things will turn out. By its very nature, it involves pushing the limits of human endeavour and demands a bit of good luck. Australia’s Adrian McRae thought he’d dreamt up the ultimate adventure, to paraglide off the roof of Africa. Hundreds of daredevils joined his incredible quest up Mount Kilimanjaro. But as Allison Langdon discovered, none of them could know what the mountain had in store.

2013-02-17

Superbugs No-one would expect an innocuous little cut to threaten your life or cost you all 4 limbs. But that’s exactly what happened to Aimee Copeland, when her body was attacked by an aggressive flesh eating bug. She’s a living example of the rise and rise of superbugs. In this frightening new era in medicine, that our once faithful friends – antibiotics – simply don’t work. And this national health threat is so serious, our Government has now launched three separate Superbug inquiries. But, as Michael Usher discovered, some brilliant scientific minds here and overseas are working fast to find some amazing new cures. Reporter: Michael Usher Producers: Danny Keens, Hannah Boocock Howard’s Way By any measure, this is an unusual election year. With more than 200 days till polling day, it’s the longest campaign in Australian history. Then, there’s the growing uncertainty over the leaders.

2013-02-24

Titanic Clive

Mention the name Clive Palmer and everything that comes to mind is BIG. Big money. Big ideas. Big opinions. One of Australia’s richest men – he’s also one of the most outspoken. But what he loves even more than a good stoush – is a grand idea. His latest is titanic. Titanic Two. To be precise. You see, he’s building an updated, near-perfect, replica of the legendary luxury cruiseliner that sank 100 years ago. Clive doesn’t know what it will cost and in typical Clive style, he doesn’t seem to care.

Reporter: Ray Martin

Producer: Jo Townsend

Fore and Against

It’s been going on for thousands of years but it’s still controversial. We are talking about male circumcision. Not only is it contentious, it’s confusing. Depending on who you speak to, rates of circumcision in Australia are both rising and falling. It’s either a life or death decision or a complete waste of time. The only certainty in this debate – it’s sure to raise hackles.

Reporter: Tara Brown

Producers: Stephen Taylor, Jo Townsend

Wild at Heart

40 years ago, a glamorous young Italian woman, swapped her life of privilege for the wilds of Africa. Kuki Gallman turned a vast cattle ranch, into Kenya’s largest private wildlife sanctuary. It would prove such an adventure that Hollywood made her story into an epic film. But there was also great personal sacrifice. And now, everything Kuki has fought so hard to protect, is being threatened by the poachers’ bullets.

Reporter: Allison Langdon

Producer: Nick Greenaway

2013-03-03

For Better or Worse After 50 years together, you’d think Bill and Gladys Forward had seen-off all life could throw at them. That was until Gladys was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease 8 years ago. Gradually, Bill has come to care for Gladys more and more, and today, he does everything for his wife. But it’s not just what Bill does that’s so inspiring – it’s the way that he does it. Theirs is a remarkable story of love, commitment and a most unusual bicycle. Reporter: Allison Langdon Producer: Hannah Boocock Tony Abbott We’re still 6 months out from election day, but if the polls are to be believed, Tony Abbott is destined to be elected Australia’s 28th Prime Minister. After coming so close three years ago, the “new Tony” is determined to win this time, and is going to great lengths to convince us he’s a changed man. Even his gay sister is speaking out, to endorse the new and improved Tony Abbott – a 21st Century man who can admit the mistakes of his past.

2013-03-10

Justice Overboard To the police, she’s a cold blooded killer. To her supporters: the victim of justice denied. Susan Neil-Fraser is serving 23 years in a Hobart prison for the murder of her de facto husband and at first, it might seem like the perfect crime. You see there’s no body, no weapon, and no direct witnesses. And for Susan’s friends and family, that’s exactly the point: there was never any hard evidence to convict her. Legal experts are even likening her plight to the Lindy Chamberlain case. It’s the perfect murder mystery. Reporter: Charles Wooley Producer: David Alrich Holding Them Back It’s only six weeks since three hundred thousand Australian children took their first steps through the school gate. For many of their parents, along with the usual tears and butterflies, can be a niggling doubt – is their child ready? And if you’re looking for reassurance that you’ve made the right decision, the latest research doesn’t help.

2013-03-17

The Survivor Independents’ Day Loss of Faith The Survivor By now, most people know the incredible story of Australian woman, Gill Hicks. In 2005, both of her legs were blown off, during the terrorist attacks on London. Since that horrible day Gill has inspired the world with her superhuman recovery, her work to promote peace and her love of life. Late last year she called us with wonderful news, she’d moved back to Australia; she’d found a new man and at 44 she’d fallen pregnant. But Gill had devastating news to come that would require all of her inner strength. Reporter: Tara Brown Producer: Stephen Taylor Independents’ Day When Prime Minister Julia Gillard isn’t fending off Kevin Rudd in the party room her fate rests with 3 independent MPs, who hold unprecedented power. Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott and Bob Katter may represent just 290-thousand voters, but what they think, and how they vote in parliament, has a very real impact on every Australian.

2013-03-24

The Imposter Big Man, Big Heart Roam Free The Imposter Truth may be stranger than fiction but this story is simply gob-smacking. It begins with the disappearance of a teenage boy. His family searches for him, desperately but unsuccessfully. Then, 3 years after vanishing, Nicholas Barclay reappears on the other side of the world. There’s joy, jubilation, and there’s his harrowing account of what happened to him. But as you’ll see, something’s not quite right. Reporter: Karl Stefanovic Producer: Gareth Harvey Big Man, Big Heart David Foster is a World Champion woodchopper, the undisputed King of Australian Axemen. He’s been Tasmanian of the Year and won an Order of Australia. Then 3 years ago, a family illness cut David Foster’s life in half. His wife was sick, and doctors had given up all hope. But not Dave. This is a story of a big bloke, with an even bigger heart.

2013-03-31

Top End Fashion

The Missing

Brave Levi

Top End Fashion

The reporters on this show can find themselves in all manner of sticky situations but Michael Usher never thought he’d be dangling from a helicopter and dropped straight onto a very angry saltwater crocodile. It’s what a group of daredevil blokes in the Top End do for a living, all part of Australia’s rapidly growing crocodile skin export business currently valued at 25 million dollars. The crocs are grown from hatchlings to adults and their skins are sold to top French fashion houses, before they end up as handbags worth tens of thousands of dollars.

Reporter: Michael Usher

Producer: Nick Greenaway

The Missing

It’s almost too hard to fathom but every 15 minutes someone in Australia disappears. For the families left behind, the anguish of not knowing what’s happened to their loved one, can be overwhelming. It’s exactly what Lorrin Whitehead’s five children are facing, eight weeks ago their 43-year-old mother left home and vanished without a trace. The police have no firm leads, there are no suspicious circumstances and for Lorrin’s kids, they just want to know if their mum is ok.

Reporter: Charles Wooley

Producer: Stephen Burling

Brave Levi

Four years ago, we brought you the story of the brave and bubbly young boy, Levi McCormack. Levi was born with only half a working heart and a mysterious lung condition. His ability to take on every challenge, with a smile and a laugh, won your hearts. Since then, little Levi has gone on to attend school and recently had his 9th birthday. But amid the celebrations there are some very tough days ahead for Levi and his family.

Reporter: Karl Stefanovic

Producer: Ali Smith

2013-04-14

Joel Madden Lancaster 739 Brave Levi Joel Madden For most Australians Joel Madden is now a household name. As lead singer of American band Good Charlotte he'd already built a legion of fans, but in his role as a coach on The Voice he's won over an audience not even he expected. Lancaster 739 Ron Conley, an Air Force officer from Brisbane, was last heard from on June 6, 1944 while on a top secret bombing mission. For Ron's family, what happened to this young Australian navigator and his crew mates has always been a mystery. Brave Levi Four years ago, we brought you the story of the brave and bubbly young boy, Levi McCormack. Since then, little Levi has gone on to attend school and recently had his 9th birthday.

2013-04-21

Settling Scores

Leonardo

Frozen Waterfalls

Lauren’s Story

Settling Scores

This is a story about facing your demons head on. In 2009, Navy clearance diver Paul de Gelder lost his arm and leg in a bull shark attack, in Sydney Harbour. His zest for life and determination to succeed despite his horrific injuries inspired you all. He was seemingly impervious. But Paul’s been harbouring a secret. He still has one score to settle, to go face to face with his nemesis – The Bull shark.

Reporter: Peter Overton

Producer: David Alrich

Leonardo

Leonardo DiCaprio is one of Hollywood’s heavyweights, successfully evolving from a child star, over a career that has already spanned two decades. In Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of The Great Gatsby, he plays the title role of Jay Gatsby, a handsome social climber, trying to win the heart of a married woman. Baz and Leo first teamed up 17 years ago when Luhrmann gave DiCaprio a big break, casting him in the lead role of Romeo + Juliet. Now they’re at it again and Allison Langdon has just spent time with Leo ahead of The Great Gatsby’s world premiere.

Reporter: Allison Langdon

Producer: Steven Burling

Frozen Waterfalls

We’ve just witnessed an incredible death defying sport. In the bitter temperatures of winter, a growing number of adventurous and audacious climbers around the world are now scaling frozen waterfalls. As they cling to brittle ice their every move is heart-stopping, one false step and they can fall to their death. Even for the most experienced it is a serious test of their physical and mental skills.

Reporter: Liz Hayes

Producer: Phil Goyen

Lauren’s Story

Lauren Huxley is one of the great survival stories, a triumph of good over evil. The beautiful 18 year old was savagely attacked in her own home and left for dead by a man she’d never met. Now aged 26, Lauren is getting her life back, she’s working full-time, travelling overseas and there’s even some baby news.

Reporter: Ray Martin

Producer: Ali Smith

2013-04-28

Jungle Orphans

The People Smuggler

Dear Mum, Love Turia

Jungle Orphans

This is a story about Indonesia’s jungle orphanage. Not for humans but for baby orangutans. Hundreds of incredibly cute but sadly orphaned orangutans, are getting a second chance at life. They’re cared for by dedicated human mums, who raise these hairy little bundles into young adults before releasing them back into the wild. As Allison Langdon discovered, it’s their best hope of avoiding extinction.

Reporter: Allison Langdon

Producer: David Alrich

The People Smuggler

So far this year nearly 7000 refugees have tried to seek asylum in Australia by boat. It’s a desperate journey, and the numbers are only increasing. One of the reasons, too many People Smugglers are getting away with their deadly trade. In fact, one of the most ruthless, is living as a free man, collecting welfare, under the protection of a foreign government and our authorities can’t touch him. He helped load 400 people onto the doomed Siev X which sank on its way to Christmas Island. 353 people drowned. 146 of them were children. He’s been on the run for more than a decade and we’ve just tracked him down.

Reporter: Michael Usher

Producer: Stephen Rice

Dear Mum, Love Turia

Sunday, May 12 is Mother’s Day, a time to thank our mums for their unconditional love and unwavering selflessness. Over the years, 60 Minutes has met some very special mothers and Celestine Vaite is one of them. She’s nurtured her daughter, Turia Pitt back to health, after Turia was severely burnt while competing in the Kimberley ultra-marathon. For this Mother’s Day, Turia has written her mum a letter to say “thank you”.

Producer: Ali Smith

2013-05-05

Flight 447 A Cultural Revolution Flight 447 This Sunday, the story of Flight 447. It has been called the "Titanic of air disasters". A passenger aircraft so advanced that the chance of it falling out of the sky is unthinkable. But on a stormy June night in 2009 that's just what happened to an Air France A330. Its terrifying descent into the Atlantic Ocean took just four minutes. For three years, what happened inside the cockpit remained a mystery. But as you'll see now, the black box tapes have revealed a shocking and scary scenario of how quickly and easily a high tech passenger plane can crash. Reporter: Karl Stefanovic Producer: Gareth Harvey A Cultural Revolution There's an old Chinese proverb that says "women hold up half the sky". And in China today, there are plenty of tough, independent and very wealthy women who seem to prove it. Half of the world's female billionaires come from China. Not surprisingly, a lot of young women would like to follow in their footsteps.

2013-05-12

The Lost Pharoah Trail Blaiser Cleveland’s Evil The Lost Pharaoh In the modern history of Ancient Egypt, new world-headline-making discoveries are rare. This Sunday a Royal tomb full of golden treasure that is likely to be bigger and grander than the discovery of the famous boy king, Tutankhamen. Renowned archaeologist John Romer believes he’s found the tomb of the long lost Pharaoh, Herihor. Along with the King and his priceless relics, there could also be all of Ancient Egypt’s missing Queens. It’s an ambitious quest that takes us to a secret desert valley and could transform what we know about these exotic and remarkable people. Reporter: Tara Brown Producer: Stephen Taylor Trail Blaiser Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability among Australian children. 34 thousand people struggle through life with the crippling condition. And the little boy you’re about to meet, Blaise Wyatt, suffers from the most cruel form of this affliction.

2013-05-19

Genetic Curse Miracle at Sea Hazel Genetic Curse When Angelina Jolie announced she'd taken the drastic step of removing both her breasts to avoid cancer, she was widely lauded for her courage. Not only for undergoing such a radical procedure but for being so open about it. Sadly for one Australian family, Jolie's news was all too familiar. The Neave family has had to grapple with the same mutant breast cancer gene. Sisters, Veronica, Elisha and Chrissy are three of the most determined women you could ever hope to meet. Like Angelina, they've taken extreme steps to beat cancer, but the battle rages on. Reporter: Tara Brown Producer: Stephen Rice Miracle at Sea For decades we have listened to peoples stories and this is among the most riveting we've ever heard. Brett Archibald, a 50-year-old South African, on a surfing trip to Indonesia, falls overboard in the middle of the night. One man, all alone in the ocean fighting the elements, fending off sharks and battling to keep his sanity.

2013-05-26

Australian Rabies Scammed! Search for Truth Australian Rabies The deadly threat of Rabies has reached our shores. Earlier this year, the Australian Bat Lyssavirus, claimed its third human victim. And only a fortnight ago, a horse tested positive for the virus, the first known cross-species infection. Lyssavirus is Australia’s Rabies, spread the same way, with the same horrific symptoms, and just as deadly. Any one of the millions of native bats across the country could be carrying it. In February, 8-year-old Lincoln Flynn lost his life in the most devastating of circumstances, after being scratched by a bat. This Sunday Lincoln’s parents tell his story, in the hope they’ll save lives. Reporter: Liz Hayes Producer: Lincoln Howes Scammed! We’ve all heard of the Nigerian scammers, conmen who bombard us with tales of woe and get rich quick schemes. You’d think we’d be wise to them by now but they lure more than a hundred million dollars out of Australians every year.

2013-06-02

Invisible Threat Rag Trade Inside Scientology Tahlia's Story Invisible Threat It was brazen and brutal. When a British soldier was run down by a car in London and then hacked to death with meat cleavers, it signalled the beginning of a new and frightening form of terrorism. Two British born, Muslim men at the scene, hands bloodied and still carrying their weapons waited patiently for police to arrive - all the while spreading their message of hate to stunned onlookers. It raises the frightening question - how do you counter terrorism by young radicalised men, willing to act as individuals with no threat or warning? Reporter: Liz Hayes Producer: Stephen Rice Rag Trade This is a story our major retailers would prefer you didn't see. 60 Minutes has just been inside the third world factories where thousands of workers are making the cut-price clothes that we wear every day. Getting our cameras into the country, and then into the factories, was not easy.

2013-06-09

Emma

Everest ER

Outback Hope

Emma

It’s the most exciting day in a parent’s life – finding out whether their baby is a boy or a girl. But for some, the answer is not always clear-cut. Emma Hayes was just 5 years old, when she told her parents that, despite being born a boy, she wanted to live and dress as a girl. Diagnosed with gender dysphoria, Emma is among a growing number of children across the country, who insist they’re trapped in the wrong body. Now, Emma’s parents have agreed to let her live as a girl, and have re-enrolled her at the same school, as a female. This Sunday, Emma and her family are sharing their story, in the hope they’ll create awareness and acceptance.

Reporter: Karl Stefanovic

Producers: Steve Jackson, Lincoln Howes

Everest ER

On Sunday, join Michael Usher five and a half thousand metres above sea level, at Everest Base Camp, where mountaineers launch their quest for the summit. It’s a deadly pursuit and 60 years after Sir Edmund Hillary reached the peak, more people than ever, are risking their lives to scale Everest. But even the most experienced climbers can develop deadly altitude sickness and they end up in the world’s highest hospital. They call it “Everest ER”, a tiny tent where volunteer doctors try to rebuild broken bodies, and shattered dreams.

Reporter: Michael Usher

Producer: Jo Townsend

Outback Hope

For more than a century, outback Australia has been a place of hope, hardship and second chances. Generations of men and women have made their fortunes or lost them, on the whim of the land. Now, a legendary Queensland horse whisperer is giving back to the people who helped make his family prosperous. Damien Curr is taking young Aboriginal men with little opportunity and hope in life, and training them to be stockmen. With Damien’s help and skill, our Indigenous youth are saddling up and riding tall.

Reporter: Charles Wooley

Producer: Nick Greenaway

2013-06-16

Murder on Parole Lost and Found Murder on Parole As multiple rapist and murderer Adrian Bayley sits in his jail cell with no prospect of release for 35 years. This monster stalked, raped and then murdered Melbourne woman Jill Meagher, as she walked home from a night out. Adding to that horror, we now know that Bayley has been a sexual predator for the past 20 years, repeatedly raping women and repeatedly getting caught, only to serve minimum prison sentences, after convincing authorities he was safe to be released. Sarah Cafferkey was murdered by a violent repeat offender just 2 months after Jill Meagher was killed. On Sunday, Sarah’s mother breaks her silence, to call for tighter restrictions on the prison and parole system. Reporter: Tara Brown Producers: Stephen Taylor, Ali Smith Lost and Found Few life stories involve such impossible odds, incredible love, and sheer determination as Saroo Brierley’s.

2013-06-23

Ghost Cities Late Bloomers Hugh and Deb Ghost Cities We have a lot to thank our Chinese neighbours for. The Communist giant’s remarkable boom has shielded us here in Australia from the worst of the global economic downturn. Our mineral resources are fuelling a rush of urban development across China that is simply mind-boggling. Vast new megacities, bigger than London or New York are shooting up all over the country at a rate of 20 a year. But there are disturbing signs that the bubble is about to burst. Take a visit to some of these mega-cities and you’ll find them bizarrely empty. Brand new, shiny, ghost towns. Reporter: Michael Usher Producer: Stephen Rice Late Bloomers If you were one of those people shocked by the news that Lisa Curry was planning to have a baby at age 51 – take a deep breath. The former Olympic swim champ is part of a growing trend. In fact, at 51, she’s a mere pup compared to many older women taking the plunge into parenthood.

2013-06-30

Fatal Flaw Emma Known Unto God Fatal Flaw The Robinson R44 is one of the most popular helicopters in Australia. It’s commonly used by small business, tourism operators, and in regional Australia. For nearly twenty years it’s been allowed to fly, despite mounting proof it’s a death trap. It has a faulty fuel tank, that can explode on impact, turning minor and survivable accidents – into deadly infernos. In a special 2 year investigation, 60 Minutes has uncovered dozens of crashes – blamed for the deaths of 78 people in the past 10 years alone. And despite evidence they knew all along, the manufacturer Robinson, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, did nothing. Worse still, they’re now facing the same deadly problem with the smaller R22. Reporter: Allison Langdon Producer: Gareth Harvey Emma Last month, we broadcast the story of nine-year-old Emma Hayes. Emma has gender dysphoria – born as a boy, but in her mind she’s a girl.

2013-07-07

Reasonable Doubt

Ancient Giants

Reasonable Doubt

In 2003, Kathleen Folbigg was found guilty of killing her 3 babies and 1 toddler. Initially, all four children were found to have died of natural causes but after forensic pathologists learned of the other deaths, they changed their opinion. Kathleen was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Now 10 years on, leading criminal, medical, legal and psychological experts believe Kathleen Folbigg should be set free. In this special report, 60 Minutes details how the jury was misled, the dodgy evidence the conviction was based on and, tragically, how multiple infant deaths in the one family, while rare, can and have happened around the world. You’ll see never before seen parts of Kathleen’s police interview, hear her inner most thoughts from inside jail and meet ‘Team Kathleen’ – the supporters pushing for a judicial review. And viewers will get to have their say through a live poll on the 60 Minutes ipad App and the 60 Minutes facebook page.

Reporter: Tara Brown

Producer: Jo Townsend

Ancient Giants

The Nullarbor Plain is famous for its emptiness. Vast and Barren. But that wasn’t always the case. More than 50,000 years ago they resembled the plains of Africa. Giant creatures, scientists call mega fauna, roamed the outback. There was a giant kangaroo, a massive wombat, even an Australian lion. Today they have all gone, but the search for their remains is hotting up. It’s a quest that takes palaeontologists deep underground, into a secret cave, somewhere on the Nullarbor. It’s beautiful and breathtaking, and contains some of the most spectacular fossils you’ll ever see.

Reporter: Allison Langdon

Producer: Nick Greenaway

2013-07-14

Made of Steel

Trigger Happy

Bull Run

Made of Steel

Liam Knight is a living miracle. In January, he was at a friend’s 18th birthday party, when a two and a half metre steel pole was speared straight through his skull. Two teenagers have been charged in relation to the incident – and the events of that night will soon be heard by a court. On 60 Minutes, you’ll see the story of Liam’s amazing survival and recovery. Paramedics, emergency services, trauma specialists and surgeons all worked together to stabilise Liam; cut the end of the pole off, so he could fit inside the ambulance; perform an emergency roadside procedure to put Liam into a coma; and then once in surgery, painstakingly and delicately pull the steel rod back out of his head. Family and friends took up a bedside vigil as Liam lay in a coma for two weeks. Then this cheeky young man would wake up, telling his mum “I need to pee”. His sense of humour was back, but 6 months on, Liam is still struggling to regain his life. This story will make you wince, cry, laugh and wonder at the miracle of Liam Knight.

Reporter: Karl Stefanovic

Producer: Nick Greenaway

Trigger Happy

Since the shocking mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School last December, there have been more than 6 thousand people killed by a gun in America. With numbers like these, it would be reasonable to expect the U.S. would be doing everything it could to reduce access to firearms. Well, Liz Hayes just travelled across America and found quite the opposite. The gun lobby is more outspoken than ever. Women are signing up to “Pistol Packing Ladies” clubs. Kids as young as 7 years old are being taught to shoot. And we’ll take you to the town where they’ve passed a law to make it compulsory to own a gun.

Reporter: Liz Hayes

Producer: Phil Goyen

Bull Run

Every year, tens of thousands of people descend on Pamplona in Spain, for the Running of the Bulls. It’s a cultural festival that’s been commercialised and overrun by backpackers and booze-fuelled tourists. Injuries occur every day, and deaths are not uncommon. Traditionally, women don’t usually take part, but this year a 23 year old Australian woman was gored by a bull. Allison Langdon was there to witness the terrifying stampede and see the carnage that’s left behind.

Reporter: Allison Langdon

Producer: Gareth Harvey

2013-07-21

2013-08-04

P!NK Fighting Back Supernova P!NK Australia is tickled Pink! Once again the enigmatic singer has taken up residence and during this current national tour she’ll perform to more than half a million Aussies. It’s hard to imagine her trumping her 2009 tour, when she hung from ropes and performed death defying stunts – but that’s exactly what she’s done. Australia was the first country to embrace P!NK and it’s not surprising that an Aussie has been instrumental in guiding her career — from the earliest days. 60 Minutes has been given exclusive access to P!NK’s rehearsals, backstage as she prepares with the band, inside her spectacular arena shows and on tour with husband Carey, and daughter Willow. Reporter: Peter Overton Producer: Steven Burling Fighting Back The ad in the newspaper promised so much — the chance to work as a nanny aboard a luxury yacht. And many young women, in their late teens and early twenties, took the bait.

2013-08-11

Crude Solution Love Twist The Boss Crude Solution When petroleum giant BP spilled millions of litres of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico 3 years ago, it was the worst ever offshore oil disaster. To try and break up that massive slick, vast quantities of chemical dispersant was sprayed on the spill. It seemed to work: the oil disappeared. But people started getting sick and then people started dying. Now, this environmental disaster has become a health catastrophe. The dispersant, when mixed with the oil, increases in toxicity by 52 times. This sickly, invisible toxin, still lurks in the water and absorbs straight into peoples’ skin. In this special 60 Minutes investigation, we reveal the same chemical dispersants have been sprayed on the Great Barrier Reef and off the north west coast of Australia. They’re still approved for use and our authorities are clueless as to how deadly they are.

2013-08-18

60 Minutes, an Australian version of the U.S. television newsmagazine 60 Minutes, airs on Sunday nights on the Nine Network and is presented in much the same way as the American program on which it is based. The New Zealand version of the show has also featured segments of the Australian version.

Gerald Stone, the founding executive producer, was given the job by Kerry Packer and was told: "I don't give a f... what it takes. Just do it and get it right." After the first episode was broadcast on 11 February 1979, Packer was less than impressed, telling Stone: "You've blown it, son. You better fix it fast." Over the years, Stone's award winning 60 Minutes revolutionised Australian current affairs reporting and enhanced the careers of Ray Martin, Ian Leslie, George Negus, and later Jana Wendt.

Since it was first broadcast, 60 Minutes has won five Silver Logies, one Special Achievement Logie, and received nominations for a further six Logie awards.

All Episodes of 60 Minutes Australia

Season 1