60 Minutes

The Rules of War
In any war, the battle to defeat the enemy is obviously paramount. But there's something equally important that's often forgotten. It might be an oxymoron, but for civilized combatants, how the fighting is conducted is as significant as any victory. War is not a free-for-all. It has rules and if they're broken, there are consequences. For instance, a soldier cannot kick an unarmed, handcuffed civilian off a cliff and then order his execution. However, that's one of the allegations facing Victoria Cross hero, Ben Roberts-Smith. On Tuesday he was charged with five counts of war crime murder, arising from his multiple tours of duty during the Afghanistan war. Predictably, Roberts-Smith's arrest created worldwide headlines, but of all the commentary since, nothing has been heard from the soldiers who fought alongside him. Until now. On 60 Minutes Nick McKenzie speaks with an SAS veteran who saw Ben Roberts-Smith in action in Afghanistan.
Reporter: Nick McKenzie
Producer: Garry McNab

Looksmaxxing
For people who don't already know what "looksmaxxing" is, their first reaction might be to laugh when they see it in action. But that would be wrong because this phenomenon, not surprisingly born from the internet, is not only non-sensical, it's incredibly dangerous. And it's causing damage to Australian adolescent boys and young men. On the face of it, "looksmaxxing" is just that, a kind of self-improvement that comes from maximising appearance. But as Adam Hegarty reveals, how it's done defies belief. "Looksmaxxers" advocate drugs, surgery and even self-harm, often in the form of using a hammer to smash their faces to try to re-align their bone structures.
Reporter: Adam Hegarty
Producers: Sammi Taylor, Serge Negus

On 60 Minutes the family of a grandmother left behind on an island cruise want answers; plus single women freezing eggs due to a shortage of men wanting to become a parent.

Left to Die
All her life, Suzanne Rees was driven by a wanderlust that took her to far-flung parts of the world. But it was what should have been the safest of adventures close to home that ended this experienced traveller's life prematurely. Last October, the 81-year-old mother and grandmother paid $30,000 for a luxury cruise around the top of Australia on the Coral Adventurer. Its first stop was remote Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef. But there the unthinkable occurred. The ship sailed off without her. Sue was left behind, alone, and died of heat exposure. For her grieving family, how this was ever allowed to happen is beyond shocking.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producers: Lisa Brown, Sheree Gibson

Going It Alone
Forget the joy of sex – for an increasing number of young heterosexual women in Australia, freezing their eggs has become the first step to motherhood. Fertility experts used to think the key reason for this was obvious. Having fought the good fight for equal opportunity, women would be able to enjoy the benefits of successful careers for longer. Now though, another reason has emerged. And as Dimity Clancey reports, it seems blokes are to blame. There just aren't enough good ones out there, men genuinely committed to lasting relationships, who want to be dads. The result is more and more older and single mothers.
Reporter: Dimity Clancey
Producer: Sandra Odorisio

60 Minutes this Sunday goes inside Jeffrey Epstein's Zorro Ranch in New Mexico, plus the struggle with cost of living.

The Struggle
For many, watching the decent, hardworking people Amelia Adams meets in this story might be like staring into a mirror. That's because in reality there are millions of Australians across the nation struggling through times that are beyond tough. Predictably, the country's leaders say none of this is their fault; that events out of their control, like war in the Middle East, are having a massive impact on the economy. Perhaps the politicians are right, perhaps not, but either way it doesn't ease the significant pain so many are feeling. And it doesn't pay the bills.
Reporter: Amelia Adams
Producer: Nichola Younger

The Evil at Zorro Ranch
At first glance, the Zorro Ranch in New Mexico, named after the fictional masked crusader, looks like it could be a desert Disneyland. It's an impressive mansion in a spectacular location. But the truth couldn't be starker. The remote property was in fact one of sex predator Jeffrey Epstein's lairs. And with the release of the damning Epstein Files, the world is learning much more about the horrors that went on there. As Tara Brown reports, not only was it the alleged scene of sexual abuse against minors and young women, it was where the maniacal Epstein dreamt of developing a designer baby farm. Shockingly, there are even suggestions of bodies buried at the Ranch. So what did the authorities know about this place? And when?
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Sammi Taylor

On Sunday's 60 Minutes, Meta under the magnifying glass over online safety of its younger users, plus the Eastern Paralysis Tick.

Tiny Terror
Few things are more typically Australian than a snag on the barbecue, somewhere out in the bush. For an increasing number of people though, this simple joy could be a date with death. It's because of a tiny creature called the Eastern Paralysis Tick. As Adam Hegarty reports, anyone who gets bitten by one runs the risk of contracting a largely unknown condition called mammalian meat allergy. For people who get it, and are diagnosed, the consequences mean they can't eat red meat or dairy products. However, for those who get it, but don't know they have it, the consequences can be fatal.
Reporter: Adam Hegarty
Producer: Anne Worthington

Get a Better Meta
The message is clear for high-profile CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his army of acolytes at the social media giant, Meta. The $2.4 trillion company needs to urgently improve the way it operates, especially when it comes to the online safety of young people who use its platforms, Facebook and Instagram. Until now Meta's line had always been, "We're doing our best." But significant losses in recent court cases, where many of Meta's long-held secrets were exposed, seem to prove the company could and should have done much better to protect users from harm. On 60 Minutes, Dimity Clancey reveals even more damning allegations about the way Meta works from two former executives no longer willing to be silent.
Reporter: Dimity Clancey
Producers: Natalie Clancy, Sheree Gibson