3 part special Trump Russia starts next Monday, June 4.
Trump/Russia
Monday 4 June at 8pm
It’s the story of the century: The US President and his connections to Russia.
In a Four Corners special series, award winning investigative reporter Sarah Ferguson follows the spies and the money trail from Washington, to London, to Moscow.
In this three-part series, Four Corners delivers a riveting account of the allegations and evidence from the characters central to the drama that has gripped the world.
On Monday night, the story begins:
Follow the Money: Four Corners follows the money trail from New York to Moscow, tracking the ties between Trump, his business empire and Russia.
Secrets, spies and useful idiots: in part two, Four Corners speaks to key protagonists at the centre of the unfolding drama over members of the Trump team accused of being compromised by Russia.
Moscow Rules: in part three, Four Corners investigates the central allegations that members of the Trump team, including possibly the President himself, actively colluded with Russia to subvert American democracy.
Months in the making, filmed across the United States, the United Kingdom and Russia, Sarah Ferguson charts the extraordinary allegations, interrogating the evidence and interviewing central characters in this unfolding story that could be lifted from the pages of a blockbuster spy novel.
A three-part investigative special series reported and presented by Sarah Ferguson, begins Monday 4th June at 8.30pm. It is replayed on Tuesday 5th June at 1.00pm and Wednesday 6th at 11.20pm. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEST, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.
Second Chance Kids
Monday 25 June at 8.30pm.
“How much punishment is enough?” Lawyer
Being tough on crime has become a popular mantra for political parties. Law and order debates are frequently fuelled by tabloid headlines calling for a crackdown on crime. The result is often harsher sentencing. In the United States it’s led to thousands of prisoners facing mandatory life sentences for crimes they committed as teenagers.
“A super predator is a young juvenile criminal who is so impulsive, so remorseless that he can kill, rape, maim without giving it a second thought.” Forensic psychologist
Now there’s debate over whether these prisoners should be given a second chance at life.
“To say to any child of 13 that you’re only fit to die in prison is cruel.” US Lawyer
In this compelling documentary, the film makers follow the cases of two of these now adult prisoners who expected to spend their entire lives behind bars.
“I was a bad kid. I was an angry kid. But I don’t think I was so to the point where OK now you’re going to be a kid that dies in prison.” Prisoner
With exclusive access, the film closely documents their legal bid for freedom following a landmark court case.
“I’ve changed and I’m not the same individual. But I feel ashamed of what I did.” PrisonerWe witness the confrontation between the perpetrators, guilty of murder, and the families of their victims in emotionally charged parole hearings.
“He was my only son and I’ll never forgive him, ever!” Victim’s mother
As juvenile offenders across the US await their potential re-sentencing, Second Chance Kids asks tough questions about crime and punishment.
“There are some people who should never be released…there are some crimes, in my opinion, that are so deleterious to our community that individuals deserve to go to jail for life.” Prosecutor
For the two prisoners, their chance of a new life presents them with the challenge of how to live after decades behind bars.
Second Chance Kids, from PBS Frontline and presented by Sarah Ferguson, goes to air on Monday 25th June at 8.30pm. It is replayed on Tuesday 26th June at 1.00pm and Wednesday 27th at 11.20pm. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEST, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.
OUTBREAK
Monday 2 July 2018
Outbreak: The quarantine failures putting the Australian economy at risk.
On Monday night Four Corners investigates some of the worst biosecurity breaches in Australian history, uncovering sophisticated smuggling operations, inadequate enforcement and corruption.
“The department has a problem. There is a vast number of containers coming in…They’re struggling to maintain the barrier.” Investigator
Last year a devastating exotic disease wiped out much of Queensland’s prawn industry, threatening a lucrative trade based on our “clean” reputation and undermining faith in Australia’s supposedly fortress-like borders.
“It’s the canary in the coal mine… there are some problems with our border security that obviously need to be addressed to make sure this doesn’t happen again.” Scientist
Official inquiries narrowed in on contaminated seafood illegally imported from Asia.
“These are low-grade prawns, you don’t want them inspected by anybody. They probably glow in the dark.” Biosecurity official
Now a Four Corners investigation will reveal how Australia’s biosecurity measures were defeated by sophisticated smugglers.
“A substantial number…were deliberately and cold-bloodedly gaming the department. The profits to be made from getting a container past the department were huge.” Investigator
The program pieces together the dramatic fight to contain the outbreak and uncover the cause.
“I’ll never forget that day because I was out in my boat in the morning just working on reefs and I got this phone call saying, ‘Can you keep a secret?’” Marine scientist
Insiders talk about the cut-throat nature of the industry and the huge profits to be made by those breaking the law.
“We had to choose whether we were going to follow their lead, or we were going to say no and act properly.” Importer
Investigators warn that Australia’s biosecurity regime can be easily exploited.
“Would you put a burglar in charge of a bank? That’s what self-regulation is about. There is no incentive for an importer to do the right thing.” Investigator
The concern goes well beyond the seafood industry, with the program set to detail another significant breach that threatened a multi-billion-dollar industry.
“It was like a rotten onion. We were peeling away a layer to find a more rotten layer underneath. So, everywhere we turned, everywhere we looked things were getting worse.” Executive
Outbreak, reported by Linton Besser and presented by Michael Brissenden, goes to air on Monday 2nd July at 8.30pm. It is replayed on Tuesday 3rd July at 1.00pm and Wednesday 4th at 11.20pm. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEST, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.
Off Track
Monday 9 July at 8.30pm.
Off Track: The Secrets and Scandals of Australian Horse Racing.
On the surface, Australia’s racing industry has never been better. With a prize pool that’s grown to more than $600 million it’s one of the biggest industries in the country, employing more than 50,000 people. But away from the glamour all is not well in the sport of kings.
“People are leaving this sport in droves.” Horse Trainer
Die-hard racing identities are worried.
"We all love our horses. But we seem to get knocked from pillar to post, one scandal after another.” Thoroughbred Owner
On Monday Four Corners examines the secrets and scandals in Australia’s horse racing industry.
“A scandal like this certainly does rank right up there. This is a big one.” Racing commentator
In 2017 an astonishingly audacious doping conspiracy was uncovered. Five trainers and three stable hands were found guilty of taking part in Victoria’s Aquanita doping scandal, but questions remain.
“How anyone could look at this situation and say, well that’s it, all done, we’ve got the guilty people, and move on, just has you shaking your head.” Racing Industry analyst
In the wake of the scandal, described as one of the darkest and longest chapters in the history of the sport, high profile racing figures are questioning how the sport is being policed.
“How did this happen for so long, what processes were in place that failed the racing industry, failed punters, failed the horses?” Racing form analyst
The damage done by the Aquanita doping conspiracy isn’t the only problem facing the industry. The loss of high profile sponsors, the difficulty in attracting racegoers and concerns about animal cruelty have the racing fraternity on edge.
“Once punters lose confidence in the sport the whole system breaks down because without punters racing doesn’t exist, without owners who put on the show racing doesn’t exist.” Racing Commentator.
Off Track, reported by Michael Brissenden, goes to air on Monday 9th July at 8.30pm. It is replayed on Tuesday 10th July at 1.00pm and Wednesday 11th at 11.20pm. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEST, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.
Out Of The Dark:
The extraordinary rescue mission to save Thailand’s lost boys
Monday 16 July at 8.30pm
The story of a brave young soccer team gripped the world.
The extraordinary international effort to find and rescue 12 boys and their coach from a remote cave in northern Thailand was watched closely by millions.
On Monday Four Corners documents this wonderful and tragic tale from the day the boys first disappeared until the joyous moment the last person left the cave.
Reporter Mark Willacy is in northern Thailand for this special report.
Out Of The Dark, reported by Mark Willacy and presented by Sarah Ferguson, goes to air on Monday 16th July at 8.30pm. It is replayed on Tuesday 17h July at 1.00pm and Wednesday 18th at 11.20pm. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEST, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.
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Money for Nothing
How corporate greed and deception cost AMP its trusted place in Australian life
Monday 23 July at 8.30pm
“Working Australians have been hurt by what’s happened at AMP. People need to be held to account.” Investor
AMP was once a trusted blue chip Australian company but it’s reputation is now in tatters following evidence before the Financial Services Royal Commission that it charged customers fees for no service and repeatedly lied about it to the corporate regulator.“Taking money for no service is essentially theft. It would be regarded as theft in any other walk of life.” Corporate Governance expert
On Monday Four Corners investigates how AMP ripped off its customers and details the extraordinary measures it took to conceal its actions.
“Did they really think they could do this legally and get away with it?” Corporate Governance expert
In a revealing interview a former financial planner gives an insider’s account of the tactics used by AMP to cheat customers out of their own money.“The AMP clients were being charged every month automatically and not receiving a red razoo.” Former AMP financial planner
The former planner also blows the whistle on the company practice of pressuring financial planners to sell in house AMP products even if it meant a client would be financially worse off.
“Every time (a recommendation) came back, regardless of what I had put as an adviser, the product at the end of the advice or the structure was an AMP product.” Former AMP financial planner
AMP began selling life insurance in 1849. Four Corners examines how an iconic company with a trusted place in Australian life could have such a spectacular fall from grace.
“I would never have thought that any of that sort of thing would have been going on in such an institution that has been around for so many years and has been trusted by the shareholders and by the public at large.” AMP Shareholder
Money for Nothing, reported by Sean Nicholls and presented by Sarah Ferguson, goes to air on Monday 23rd July at 8.30pm. It is replayed on Tuesday 24th July 2018 at 1.00pm and Wednesday 25th at 11.20pm. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEST, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners
Champagne with Dictators
Monday 30 July 2018
Champagne with Dictators: Australia accused of failing to stand up for democracy as Cambodia descends into dictatorship.
“You don’t drink champagne with the dictators.” Opposition Leader
For more than three decades Cambodia has been ruled by one man, Prime Minister Hun Sen, who came to power in the country’s first democratic elections after the horror years of the Khmer Rouge. Australia played a key role in the peace deal that ended the bloody civil war, but the once bright hopes for democracy have long since faded.
"We were tremendously successful in bringing peace to Cambodia, but we weren’t at all successful in bringing democracy and human rights.” Former Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans
Ahead of this weekend’s elections, the Hun Sen regime launched a ruthless crackdown on the political opposition and free press. On Monday, in her first story for Four Corners, reporter Sophie McNeill travels to Cambodia to confront the man whose political opponents have been imprisoned and assassinated in mysterious circumstances.Sophie McNeil: The world says this is not a democracy…
Hun Sen: No, no, no. No this is not (right).While steadily cementing their grip on power, Hun Sen and his family and cronies are accused of amassing enormous wealth through a corrupt and nepotistic system.
“There’s nothing that happens there that they don’t control, and that is corruption in its most egregious form. That’s what it’s like in Cambodia. It is a Mafia state.” Patrick Alley, Director Global Witness
Four Corners has uncovered evidence of how the regime’s wealth has been used to buy properties and businesses in Australia, where some of Hun Sen’s relatives have established a base for building support, sometimes through threats and intimidation.
“They allow this foreign government to intimidate our people, Australian citizens, and those who come here to study. This is not right.” Hong Lim, Victorian MP
Since 2014, Australia has granted the regime $40 million in additional aid, in return for taking some of Australia’s unwanted refugees, and the Turnbull government upgraded ties with Cambodia last year. While the US has begun moves to sanction the regime by freezing assets and blocking visas, international observers accuse the Australian government of cosying up to Hun Sen.
“I would like to see Australia take a strong stance, (to) come out openly and condemn the Hun Sen regime. They’re not doing that.” US Congressman
While hopes for democracy have disintegrated, China has moved to dramatically expand its presence and power in the country.
"Cambodia has the coast, Cambodia has minerals, Cambodia has forest, Cambodia has a dictator. You can buy it all.” Opposition Leader
As Hun Sen prepares to tighten his grip on power after this weekend’s elections, Cambodia’s democracy campaigners say they feel abandoned.
“Cambodia look up at the people of Australia. We envy you. You live in a world of democracy, but your government is disappointing. Very disappointing.” Opposition Leader
Champagne with Dictators, reported by Sophie McNeill and presented by Sarah Ferguson, goes to air on Monday 30th July at 8.30 pm. It is replayed on Tuesday 31st July at 1.00pm and Wednesday 2nd August at 11.20pm. It can also be seen on the ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEST, on ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.
Inside Facebook
Monday 6 August at 8:30pm
The undercover investigation exposing how Facebook decides what you see.
“Video of someone dying is not necessarily going to be a delete but it might be a ‘Mark as Disturbing’.” Trainer
Facebook says it’s on a mission to be the place where people connect and “bring the world closer together”. More than a billion people are on the social networking site every day, posting their thoughts, pictures, and videos. But alongside the family photos and FOMO inducing holiday videos is content that is truly disturbing.
“That’s self-harm. And they look fresh, those cuts.” ModeratorThe decision making by Facebook over what it will, or will not allow on its platform has been opaque, until now.
“Just bear in mind that we all have to follow the Facebook policy no matter what our personal opinions are. We have to follow this.” TrainerA British investigation has exposed the inner workings of the social media giant to reveal how and why content moderation decisions are made.
“If you start censoring too much then people lose interest in the platform.” Moderator
An undercover reporter, training as a content moderator, is taken through the rules of the network, secretly filming the process, as judgements are made on everything from child abuse to the human consumption of live rats and the racist ranting of a far-right activists.
“‘He looks after stinking Muslim immigrants’ – I think that’s fine.” Moderator
The film, which premiered in Britain three weeks ago, caused uproar in the UK and prompted an apology from Facebook for the practices revealed.
“It’s for spreading awareness. If they wanted to put up ‘This is what these girls did’ or ‘Look, I want to find these girls and bring them to justice’…It would be unfair for Facebook to say you can’t have it on the site.” Moderator
And it examines the consequences for people personally affected by Facebook’s decision making.“My friend phoned me up and she’s like, ‘have you been on Facebook’? And she’s like, ‘there’s a video of your daughter’.” Mother
Concerns about Facebook’s practices and its business model have prompted one of its early influential backers to issue a warning.
“When you have $40 billion in sales and tens of billions of profit per year you pretty much have an obligation to do everything in your power to make sure that you’re not making the world worse for the users of your product.” Facebook investor and mentor to Mark Zuckerberg
Inside Facebook, from Ch 4 Dispatches, presented by Sarah Ferguson, goes to air on Monday 6th August at 8.30pm. It is replayed on Tuesday 7th August at 1.00pm and Wednesday 8th at 11.20pm. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEST, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.
Beauty’s New Normal
Monday 13 August at 8:30pm
“Hi guys! So this is my boob job vlog, I’m sooo excited! This is how you choose your breast size!” YouTube star
Welcome to the new world of enhanced “beauty” where there’s nothing natural about the faces and bodies created by cosmetic procedures.
Fuelled by social media influencers on Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat, cosmetic surgery has entered the mainstream.
“What I’m finding is, instead of hiding it, like they would have a few years ago, most people are kind of flaunting it…I’ve had my lips done, I’ve had my cheeks done. I’ve had a little bit in my jaw.” Social media influencer
The “Insta Effect” of social media has seen growing numbers of young women choosing to alter their appearance, as though it’s as simple as buying a new set of clothes.
“The problem I get is that people perceive a cosmetic procedure to have limited or no risk and only upside, and that’s not the case.” Surgeon
Doctors offering cosmetic surgery are becoming social media stars in their own right and it’s redefining the meaning of their doctor/patient relations.
“They write to you… ‘Look, here’s my Insta page, I’ve got this many loyal followers. If you perform surgery for me, I will promote you on my page.’” Surgeon
From dermal fillers and Botox, to butt lifts and breast implants, women are undergoing treatments that could change their lives forever, and not in the ways they were expecting.
“It looked deformed. It was sitting way higher than the other one. It was very out of shape.” Patient
Reporter Louise Milligan has uncovered cases of women left disfigured and in pain, struggling to find the money to afford corrective surgery to give them back their dignity.
Underpinning the growth in the industry is a business model targeting women who can barely afford the procedures by selling the dream of a dream of a “new you”.
“It was all about accessible surgery, advertising price point, that you can change your life for a coffee a day. You know, someone who has low self-esteem, who has low confidence, especially after going through a divorce or being on a single parenting pension.”
As this investigation shows, when things go wrong, the physical and financial costs are devastating.
“I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t do anything but sit there and cry in agony because it got to the point where it was so bad.” Patient
Doctors left to pick up the pieces are warning that the booming industry is creating a dangerous legacy.
“It scares me. This is a big problem. And it’s going to get bigger.” Surgeon
Beauty’s New Normal, reported by Louise Milligan and presented by Sarah Ferguson, goes to air on Monday 13th August at 8.30pm. It is replayed on Tuesday 14th at 1.00pm and Wednesday 15th at 11.20pm. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEST, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.
Parenting 101
Monday 20 August 2018
Learning how to become a better parent.
“You don’t naturally know what to do as a mum. It doesn’t come to you like that, it’s learnt. You have to work at being a parent.” Mother of two
Having a child is supposed to be the most natural thing in the world, but knowing how to raise one can be another thing entirely. Even in the most loving families, parenthood can be incredibly daunting.
“Sometimes things can be a facade.Things can be all well and done, and dressed beautifully, but I think we have to recognise what’s happening inside.” Mother of two
Some parents struggle to know how to keep their children safe and happy, leaving them feeling inadequate and in real need of help.
“I kind of hit a bit of a brick wall in terms of my emotions. I think when you suppress a lot of it, you kind of, you’re going to blow, in a sense, if things kind of keep building up. There is a point. There is a limit.” Mother of two
On Monday, Four Corners brings you the story of three mothers determined to learn how to change the way they raise their children.
“Everything I’ve been learning I have been trying to implement in our day to day life to improve everything for the children.” Mother of two
With extensive access to the pioneering Safecare program for parents whose children are at risk of neglect or harm, Four Corners follows these families, and the social workers teaching them, as they learn back to basic skills .
“It is not good for children to not have that routine and not going to bed at proper times and not getting the sleep they require.” Social worker
With great honesty, these mothers open up about dealing with difficult children, who need more than just their love.
“He’s a nightmare, I know that sounds horrible, but that is the way he is…He’s very wild, out of control, rebellious. He’s not so affectionate.” Mother of three
Four Corners charts how the parenting program helps these families get their lives back on track.
“The house for the children now is a lot safer than it used to be. There’s still things for me to work on and improve but Bev is going to help me out, getting me sorted and pointing in the right direction to fix it all.” Mother of two
With the support of their social workers and their own determination to make a difference, changes start to happen.
“The change in (his) behaviour: it’s a lot less aggressive. A lot less physical…Much happier. …He is much more loving. So I guess that fighting taken out every day made him much more loving, which is nice.” Mother of a toddler
The course is not just bringing practical skills into the home, it’s giving these mothers hope for the future.
“It’s amazing where life can bring you and how new things can happen but I’d say I am a lot more calmer, a lot more relaxed.” Mother of two
“I’ve got my fingers crossed…I think (she) could really finish this course and really make a big change in her life.” Social worker
Parenting 101, written and directed by Janine Cohen and presented by Sarah Ferguson, goes to air on Monday 20thAugust at 8.30pm. It is replayed on Tuesday 21st August at 1.00pm and Wednesday 22nd at 11.20pm. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEST, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.
A Form of Madness
Monday 27 August 2018
This special Four Corners investigation takes you inside a political catastrophe.
We chart the rise and fall of Malcolm Turnbull and the enemies that stalked him from within.
A Form of Madness, goes to air on Monday 27th August at 8.30pm. It is replayed on Tuesday 21st August at 1.00pm and Wednesday 22nd at 11.20pm. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEST, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.
Posting this here to avoid the ratings thread being clogged
I was disappointed by that Four Corners special - it was merely a timeline of the events which lead to last week’s events interspersed with interviews which didn’t really offer a lot of new insights not already known. The way the episode was built up over the weekend, was expecting a bit more than it delivered
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Populist Revolution
Monday 3 September at 8:30pm
Populist Revolution: Steve Bannon’s new world disorder.
“This revolution is global. It’s coming to Australia.” Steve Bannon
As the Liberal Party tries to piece itself back together after the chaos of last week, Four Corners brings you an interview with the man hoping to overthrow the entire political class.
“I think that Australia is going to be a hotbed of populism.”
Steve Bannon put Donald Trump in the White House and rewrote the rules of modern politics along the way. Described as the most dangerous political operative in America, the strategist, renegade Republican and professional provocateur channeled the anger and disappointment of those who felt left behind by globalism to install Donald Trump as president.
“There’s a lot of anger out there and I think that this anger can be harnessed.”
Now, he’s taking his cause to the world in a crusade to “save” western civilisation, as the leader of a global populist-nationalist movement. He calls it a revolution.
“Populism is about getting decision making away from a set of kind of global elites…and get it back to working class people.”
In an age of upheaval, he sees opportunity. After playing a key role in Britain’s Brexit campaign, he’s been forging links with right wing nationalist groups across Europe, including the French National Front.
Australia is next on his radar. He’s identified Australia as ripe for his brand of revolution and plans to bring it here.
“ Australia is at the tip of the spear on this .”
In an interview with Sarah Ferguson, Bannon outlines his manifesto for change and why it resonates with people around the world.
"It doesn’t matter how many liberal journalists come in here and say ‘Oh this is a bunch of fascists, this is a bunch of Nazis, this is a bunch of racists.’ This… is not going to stop.” Steve Bannon
Populist Revolution, reported and presented by Sarah Ferguson, goes to air on Monday 3rd September at 8.30pm. It is replayed on Tuesday 4th August at 1.00pm and Wednesday 5th at 11.20pm. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEST, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.
Agree with you somewhat, don’t forget though most Four Corners reports takes weeks, often months to get to air, this was done in days.
I imagine late 2019 we’ll see a three part series on what happened last week.
Manchester Bomb - Our Story
10 September at 8:30pm
The teenage survivors rebuilding their lives.
“My main present for Christmas last year was my Ariana Grande ticket…I’d never been to a concert before, so we were absolutely buzzing!” Caitlin
They were young girls and teenagers, on a night out to see their favourite pop star. Many were attending a concert, without their parents for the first time.
“Everything was just really exciting, really, it was new.” Izzy
As the show ended, a terrorist detonated a home-made bomb packed with shrapnel.
“There was, like, music playing while we got up and I was just making my way out onto the stairs and then we heard, like, a boom sound.” Niamh
22 people were killed, more than 250 injured and countless lives were impacted.
“We ran, and we were running for our lives. We didn’t know what the hell was going to happen next.” Charlotte
Filmed over many months, this program tells the story of several young survivors as they, and their families try to reclaim their lives.
“She wears a mask that to the outside world, she’s fine. She’s really not fine…People see this bright, bubbly, carefree girl, and I just think she wears this mask so well that sometimes she fools herself.” Erin’s mum
Some are able to return to their old routines, but in the privacy of their bedrooms, the girls reveal their struggles.
“It’s times when you kind of let your guard down a little bit and you try and enjoy yourself and then you feel guilty for feeling that way and you feel guilty for getting on with your life when other people can’t.” Niamh
Despite their darker days, some are trying to find inspiration for the future.
“It’s kind of made me realise like life is short and I want to do stuff and I want to get out there.” Amelia
Manchester Bomb - Our Story, from the BBC, and presented by Sarah Ferguson, goes to air on Monday 10th September at 8.30pm. It is replayed on Tuesday 11th at 1.00pm and Wednesday 12th at 11.20pm. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEST, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners .
Who Cares
Monday 17 September at 8:30pm
Who Cares? “They’re all someone’s mum, someone’s dad.”
A special two-part investigation of the failings in aged care.
“They’re all someone’s mum, someone’s dad, someone’s brother, someone’s sister. They were all young once and they’re just forgotten.” Senior aged care consultant, NSW
On Monday Four Corners launches the first of a two-part special investigation into the treatment of the elderly in aged care homes.
“I was a personal carer in an aged care facility and I’m speaking out because people need to know what it’s really like in a nursing home.” Aged care worker, NSW
In the ABC’s biggest crowd sourced investigation, we asked our audience to share with us their experiences of the aged care industry. More than 4,000 responded.
“I’m speaking up today for people that don’t have a voice.” Senior aged care consultant, Victoria
Many of those who have come forward are professionals who have extensive experience in the industry and are concerned by what they have seen.
“I believe our elderly deserve to have better care.” Senior aged care consultant, NSW
In part one of this investigation, Four Corners examines the business of aged care and what that means for the vulnerable residents left in its care.
“When they go into have a look at a facility, they do see the glamour. They might see a sing along or a coffee club or something like that. They see the glitzy pictures and they don’t know about the ground level care.” Diversional therapist, Victoria
Families have also decided to speak out, with disturbing accounts of overworked staff and neglected residents.
“Within three weeks, she was no longer the person that she had been. Nan would never want to complain about things and when I was there I would verbally bring up things with the staff. No resolution was ever evident. And so I started filming it.” Granddaughter
With families and aged care workers from around the country, Four Corners reveals the shameful lack of care and dignity experienced by many elderly Australians.
Who Cares? reported by Anne Connolly and presented by Sarah Ferguson, goes to air on Monday 17th September at 8.30pm. It is replayed on Tuesday 18th September at 1.00pm and Wednesday 19th at 11.20pm. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEST, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.
Who Cares - Part 2
Monday 24 September at 8:30pm
PROUD COUNTRY
Monday 1 October 2018
Proud Country: A portrait of a community surviving the drought.
“You may be on a bed of roses today, but the thorns always prick. So you just got to pull yourself together. Everyone pull together.” Country Women’s Association Branch Secretary
On Monday night, Four Corners brings you a story from the heart of the drought, a portrait of the land and its people, where the lack of rain is biting hard.
“I’d be joking to say that it’s not tiring and I’m bit too old for this sort of stuff, but anyway, that’s how it is.” Farmer
It’s pushing some to breaking point, but many in this proud country community are doing all they can to give others the strength to carry on.
“Yesterday was very emotional. A little old lady rings me up and she said to me ‘I’m 92 I’m going to give you $2000’ and I thought ‘oh my godfather!’” Country Women’s Association Branch Secretary
The people of Quirindi live and work on rich black soil country that they like to boast is the best in the land. Except when it hasn’t rained properly for more than a year.
“I can remember looking at the cows and thinking, ‘Bloody hell, what are we going to do?’” Farmer
They opened their homes and their lives to reporter Michael Brissenden. Along the way, he encountered characters so large, they could have walked from the pages of Banjo Paterson story.
“Drought has no respect for a person, whether you’re rich or poor.” Country Women’s Association Branch Secretary
From the thriving hub of the Country Women’s Association, to an unexpected local victory on the dusty rugby field, he found people trying to find a sense of purpose and some joy under the relentless sun.
“It’s a tough time at the moment so it’s just good for the town to have something to rally around.” Captain of the Quirindi Lions
Some are finding practical ways to make life that little more bearable with the donation of a haircut or a new pair of jeans.
“If we can make a few people feel a little bit better about themselves and know that there are people out there that care, I think that’s just some small little gesture that we can do.” Hairdresser
Despite their best efforts, you can sense the quiet desperation sitting just below the surface.
“Every week it’s getting worse. You wouldn’t think it could get worse, but it is. It’s just got that real bad feel about it.” Grain supplier
The parched landscape, exquisitely captured by Four Corners’ cameras, reveals the profound impact this drought has had. And with winter slipping away, there are fears for what summer may bring.
“We’re going into the hottest time of the year… the days are hotter, people haven’t got water and there’s no feed. So, time will tell.” Contractor
Proud Country, reported by Michael Brissenden and presented by Sarah Ferguson, goes to air on Monday 1st October at 8.30pm. It is replayed on Tuesday 2nd October at 1.00pm and Wednesday 3rd at 11.20pm. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEST, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.
