60 Minutes

On 60 Minutes Tara Brown speaks with actor Madeleine West about confronting a perpetrator from her past in her pursuit for justice.

Acting for Real
For much-loved Australian actor Madeleine West, it was a role that came with caveats. She was told there would be no audience to admire the part, no applause and certainly no awards. Madeleine desperately didn't want to do it, but she knew she couldn't refuse. She also knew it had to be her finest performance ever. And that's because she'd be acting for real. As Tara Brown reports, the role was about a dark chapter in Madeleine's own life that she'd kept hidden for 40 years, and taking it on was the only way to help police put a monster behind bars.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producers: Garry McNab, Laura Sparkes

The Power of One
People all over the world are now wondering if, politically at least, Donald Trump is indestructible. The former United States president is facing 91 charges in four criminal trials, and the very real threat of going to prison. On top of that, last week he was ordered to pay more than $120 million in damages to a woman he defamed. For anyone else, any one of these setbacks would mean political death. But not Donald Trump, who just gets stronger, louder and more belligerent. And more likely to make a triumphant return to the White House after the US election later this year. Amelia Adams travels to Trump's heartland to investigate his secret to turning scandal into success.
Reporter: Amelia Adams
Producer: Laura Sparkes, Sheree Gibson

Dimity Clancey files her first 60 Minutes report on the pursuit of weight-loss drug Ozempic, plus more on the federal Department of Home Affairs.

Reshaping Our World
Blame it on our success as a wealthy western nation, but we live with an enormous problem. Our size. Too many Australians are too big. Everyone knows excess weight is bad for our health, but battling the bulge is a fight too few of us win. And that's the reason drugs like Ozempic are in such demand. They promise a quick fix to losing kilos, even though they're not designed as weight-loss remedies. But as Dimity Clancey reports, users need to be very cautious. The Ozempic hype is starting to wither, replaced with the reality that it and similar drugs are risky, even deadly.
Reporter: Dimity Clancey
Producer: Serge Negus

Deadline for Justice
Next Friday marks a significant development in the 17-year-long Madeleine McCann case. The prime suspect in her abduction and presumed murder, convicted paedophile Christian Brueckner, goes on trial in Germany. But not for what it's thought he did to Maddie. Instead, he will be facing court charged with multiple sex offences against other children and a number of women. Now while it's not technically about Madeleine, the trial will be an important step for prosecutors in their pursuit of the truth about her death. And as Tara Brown reports, that's because of the evidence of their star witness, a man who has now spoken publicly for the first time.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Lisa Brown

Home Truths
In this joint investigation by 60 Minutes, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Nick McKenzie continues his major probe into the federal Department of Home Affairs, revealing even more questionable dealings in the way it handles contracts worth billions of dollars.
Reporter: Nick McKenzie
Producer: Amelia Ballinger

60 Minutes speaks to Jimmy Barnes this Sunday following his open-heart surgery, plus more on the JonBenét murder saga.

Rock N Recovery
Aussie rock icon Jimmy Barnes has lived his life fast and hard. He is the first to admit he has done plenty of things that haven't been conducive to longevity. But that's not the reason he's so thankful, and lucky, to be alive today. Late last year Barnesy was struck down with an infection in his blood that spread to his heart. He was rushed to hospital where doctors gave him grim news. He was close to death and emergency open-heart surgery was his only option. It was touch and go for a while, and there was more screaming in pain than screaming out hits, but as Nine's Sylvia Jeffreys reports, Jimmy is now out of danger and can't wait to get back on stage.
Reporter: Sylvia Jeffreys
Producer: Lisa Brown

Follow the Evidence
There is a simple rule every detective learns early in their policing career: Follow the evidence. But it's a principle that appears to have been forgotten when child beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey was found strangled in the basement of her family home. Her murder 27 years ago remains unsolved. A substantial reason is that local police investigating her death were convinced JonBenét's parents were the perpetrators. Other suspects, along with crucial evidence, were ignored. On 60 Minutes, Amelia Adams reveals a breakthrough in the case which JonBenét's family hope could result in this gruesome mystery finally being solved.
Reporter: Amelia Adams
Producer: Laura Sparkes

Adam Hegarty makes his 60 Minutes debut with a report on a British teen who was kidnapped by family, but then made a daring escape.

MH370: A Decade of Despair
Early next month will mark ten years since Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 was lost somewhere in the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean. For the families of the 239 passengers and crew on board the Boeing 777, it has been a decade of despair. Since the plane vanished, they've been living with the never-ending pain of not knowing what happened to their loved ones. Many of them also have feelings of anger, directed at governments around the world that seem reluctant to do more to find the truth about this disaster. As Dimity Clancey reports, it is a frustration that has amplified because new and credible information continues to be collected. Put simply, MH370 is a mystery that can and must be solved.
Reporter: Dimity Clancey
Producers: Natalie Clancy, Sammi Taylor

The Long Way Home
At only 18, Alex Batty has already packed a lot into his life. Much of it though has happened against his will. When he was 11, he was stolen by his own mother and grandfather. The young Brit was then hidden away in hippy communes in Spain and France. For six years he was at the centre of a baffling, and unsuccessful, missing persons investigation. But then Alex took control of his own destiny. In his debut report for 60 Minutes, Adam Hegarty meets the very impressive Alex Batty and reveals the intriguing story of this young man's daring escape and long journey back to a normal life.
Reporter: Adam Hegarty
Producers: Garry McNab, Naomi Shivaraman

Net Prophet
There's not much Andre Agassi doesn't know about tennis. He's one of the finest players to ever swing a racquet: a former number one who won multiple tournaments, including eight grand slam titles. But what the champ has to say about the game is not what many might expect. As he confesses to Tara Brown, for much of his time at the top he loathed the sport. However, these days Andre is proof that there is life after tennis. At 53, happily married to fellow legend Steffi Graf, he is the dad to their two children. And away from the court, he can be found in the classroom, where he's raising billions to help underprivileged kids get an education.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Lisa Brown

On Sunday's 60 Minutes, ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess, the Salt Creek monster and Australia's BMX Olympic hope, Saya Sakakibara.

Security Insecurity
As Australia's top spy, ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess has one of the most important roles in the country. This week he had a stark announcement for all Australians. He warned that unless we smarten up our ways, the security of the nation is in immediate danger. Burgess revealed that more Australians are being targeted for espionage and foreign interference than ever before. To prove his point, he also controversially highlighted the case of a former politician who sold out Australia after being recruited by a foreign power. On 60 Minutes, Burgess tells Nick McKenzie even more alarming details about the threats to our way of life.
Reporter: Nick McKenzie
Producer: Hannah Bowers

The Monster's Daughter
Children of criminals are often forgotten victims. Trying to reconcile feelings of love and loathing for a lawbreaking parent, can be confusing and damaging. And even if the children are adults, they can face challenges, as 36-year-old Kendehl knows too well. She's the daughter of Roman Heinze, better known as the Salt Creek monster. In 2016, he lured two backpackers to a remote camp site and violently assaulted them sexually and physically. That they managed to escape Heinze is remarkable. Accepting that her father committed this evil act remains difficult for Kendehl, but as she tells Tara Brown in an intriguing interview, adding to her conflict now is that even though he is locked away, he has turned his aggression on her.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Naomi Shivaraman

Bumps in the Road
The sport of BMX racing is not for the meek. It's fast, fiercely competitive and highly dangerous. On the track, it's no wonder Australia's Saya Sakakibara is the world number one. She combines supreme athleticism with breathtaking skill. But it's her mental strength that's really being tested as she prepares for the Paris Olympics. As Adam Hegarty reports, Saya's road to the top of her sport has not been without bumps, but successfully overcoming them is the mark of this champion rider.
Reporter: Adam Hegarty
Producer: Natalie Clancy

On Sunday's 60 Minutes a mother reveals how the criminal justice system let down her daughter, plus a profile on Matchbox Twenty.

Fatal Obsession
Celeste Manno was a smart and beautiful young Australian. Five years ago, her future was as bright as her personality. But then a man she'd very briefly worked with became obsessed with her. It was attention Celeste neither wanted nor reciprocated. That didn't stop Luay Sako though. For more than a year, the then 35-year-old stalked her, making her life miserable. Celeste tried everything to stop him, without success. In November 2020, he broke into her home in the middle of the night and murdered Celeste, who was then 23, while she was sleeping. Last week Sako was sentenced to 36 years in prison for his horrendous crime. But it's a punishment that's nowhere near satisfactory for Celeste's mother. In an exclusive interview with 60 Minutes and The Age, Aggie Di Mauro tells Dimity Clancey how the criminal justice system let down her daughter, and why Luay Sako must never be released.
Reporter: Dimity Clancey
Producers: Lisa Brown, Sammi Taylor, Simone Fox Koob

Burning Bright
With the recent Swiftie invasion, Australia may well have gone "cray-cray for Tay-Tay", but Taylor Swift has not been the only musical act in town. American band Matchbox Twenty, led by the very candid Rob Thomas, has also been here, not-so-quietly going about the business of belting out hits. And it's clear from the sold-out arenas they've been playing that after 30 years their music still strikes the right note. They are not only burning brightly on stage, there's also a new album. It's meant to celebrate getting older, but as Tara Brown finds out, the boys of Matchbox Twenty are not quite ready to grow up just yet.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Garry McNab

On Sunday's 60 Minutes Adam Hegarty talks to Royal insiders plus advocates of cryogenics.

Crown and Out
It's not what mere commoners would ever expect to see: the Royal Family in disarray, seemingly incapable of escaping it. Yet that's the reality of the past few weeks. With King Charles largely out of action as he receives treatment for cancer, the firm is floundering. How, for example, did a simple photograph of a supposedly happy Princess Catherine and her children turn into a worldwide photoshopping scandal? That PR fiasco must surely go down as one of the palace's greatest stuff-ups. Reporting from London, Adam Hegarty asks Royal insiders what's really going on? And which member of the family might be competent enough to restore the shine to the crown?
Reporter: Adam Hegarty
Producers: Garry McNab, Sheree Gibson

Dying for Life
For as long as mankind has been capable of thought, we have known the truth about life: that it ends in death. But as our scientific knowledge increases, there are more and more believers who think humans will soon be clever enough to halt the inevitability of their mortality. Others of course will never be convinced living forever is either possible or desirable. They say the idea that death could one day be considered a curable disease is nonsense. But advocates of cryonics, including many Australians, tell Amelia Adams now is the time to start getting ready for life after life.
Reporter: Amelia Adams
Producer: Laura Sparkes

MH370: A Decade of Despair
Last week's tenth anniversary of the loss of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 quite rightly focused on remembering the 239 passengers and crew who died. But it was also a rallying call to resume the search for the wreckage. And it seems the Malaysian government could be receptive to the idea. If it happens, most expect Ocean Infinity, the company which unsuccessfully looked for MH370 in 2018, will again be tasked with the job. But on 60 Minutes, as Dimity Clancey reports, another group of experienced deep-sea explorers are standing by, ready to head to the Indian Ocean almost immediately.
Reporter: Dimity Clancey
Producer: Sammi Taylor

On 60 Minutes Adam Hegarty continues his royal family reports with more "Crown and Out" scrutiny, while Nick McKenzie reports on Chinese influence in Fiji.

Power in Paradise
When China's powerful foreign minister Wang Yi met his Australian counterpart Penny Wong a few days ago, the pair, albeit awkwardly, smiled and shook hands for the cameras. But behind closed doors there's no doubt the atmosphere would have been much less cordial. Both nations have plenty of differences to work through, including the ongoing battle for influence in the Pacific. While Canberra takes a more softly-softly approach to our near neighbours, that's not Beijing's way of doing business. In a joint investigation by 60 Minutes, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Nick McKenzie reveals some of the downright dirty tactics China uses to assert its dominance over tiny nations like Fiji.
Reporter: Nick McKenzie
Producer: Amelia Ballinger

Intensive Care
The weather is spectacular and the swimming pool is always inviting. The rooms have all the mod-cons and the food is great. At the Vivo Bene resort in northern Thailand, pampering is the priority. But while the intensive care is very deliberate, this is no ordinary holiday paradise. That's because the guests are elderly and most have dementia. Unlike other aged-care providers though, the world-renowned treatment at Vivo Bene is not dominated by medication. Instead, it includes love, laughter, and giving vulnerable humans the time – and respect – they deserve. For reporter Dimity Clancey, providing the best care possible for dementia patients is a cause close to her heart. Her mother, Lorraine, has battled the disease for more than a decade and currently lives in an aged-care home in Sydney. In this special report for 60 Minutes, Clancey asks why can't there be facilities like Vivo Bene in Australia?
Reporter: Dimity Clancey
Producer: Natalie Clancy

Crown and Out
Just when it seemed it couldn't get any worse for the Royal Family, it did. This time last week the palace was attempting but failing to mop up the scandal of Princess Catherine's photoshopping blunder, while at the same time trying to deflect attention away from the fact the star royal hadn't been seen in public for so long. This week things appeared to be brighter when Kate and Prince William were filmed, looking quite happy, at their local shops. But then there was more drama after it was reported that attempts had been made to access the Princess of Wales' hospital records. As Adam Hegarty reports, speculation about the Royal family is now so rife, it's ridiculous.
Reporter: Adam Hegarty
Producers: Garry McNab, Sheree Gibson

Elon Musk's Crash Course
He's not only one of the world's wealthiest men, Elon Musk is also one of the smartest. There's no doubt he's an impressive high-tech visionary. As the boss of electric car maker Tesla, Musk's long-held dream has been to produce fully autonomous vehicles. For the last decade he has repeatedly declared Tesla's vaunted "autopilot" feature has been on the verge of solving the complex challenges of self-driving technology. But in a special edition of 60 Minutes, Musk is accused of exaggerating the capability of Tesla's achievements and lulling drivers into a false sense of security. This investigation, produced by The New York Times, reveals a serious gap between expectation and reality that's already led to several fatal crashes.
Producer: Emma Schwartz, The New York Times

Trial and Terror
They are statistics that could not be more damning: One in five women in Australia over the age of 15 has experienced sexual violence. Yet only 13 per cent of sexual assaults are ever reported. But then the numbers get even worse. Few of the cases that are reported make it to court, and even fewer end in a conviction or a substantial punishment. It's no surprise many survivors of these attacks accuse the justice system of causing more harm than good. They say that when giving evidence, they're often made to feel blamed. But as Amelia Adams reports, some women have now had enough and are courageously fighting to force change.
Reporter: Amelia Adams
Producers: Anne Worthington, Serge Negus, Nina Funnell

Bombs Away
For the competitors, the indelicately named Shitbox Rally is a gruelling, week-long trek through the Australian Outback in a bomb of a car that's likely to break down. But behind the larrikin humour and endless potholes, it's serious business. Over the years the event has raised $44 million for cancer research, prevention and treatment. And that's why this year's rally will have a special guest entrant. Caroline Kennedy is not only part of America's most famous political dynasty, she is also the United States Ambassador to Australia and, as she tells Tara Brown, by entering the Shitbox, she wants to recognise an initiative between our two countries that's making impressive progress in the hunt for a cure for cancer.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producers: Hannah Bowers, Sheree Gibson

Womb to Move
At almost four months old, little Henry Bryant is not only very cute, he's also a history maker. As are his mum Kirsty and grandmother Michelle. Last year, in an Australian medical first, Michelle donated her womb to her daughter in the hope of giving Kirsty a chance at becoming pregnant. It was a risky procedure for both women and there were no guarantees the transplant would succeed. But as Sylvia Jeffreys reports, Henry is now joyous proof it did.
Reporter: Sylvia Jeffreys
Producer: Lisa Brown

Bondi Massacre
An interview with the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who says the Bondi Junction stabbing attack has "shocked the nation."
"So many families would've been out and about yesterday,"  Albanese told 60 Minutes.

"It's a very large shopping centre that I'm very familiar with, and the thought that people have lost their lives and many others injured, and of course thousands traumatised by the events of yesterday directly, comes as a great shock in a peace-loving nation like Australia."

Albanese said he has spoken to some of the families of the five women and one man who have died.

Three more people are critical in hospital.

Albanese praised some of the heroes who tried to stop the attacker.

"I believe that tragically amidst the carnage and the atrocity that was yesterday, we do have as well to give thanks to some of the best of our Australian character that was shown," he said.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producers: Hannah Bowers & Nichola Younger

Couldn't Care Less
It's not a proud boast, but this Sunday 60 Minutes will broadcast what is without doubt some of the cruellest, most horrific vision ever seen on Australian television. It's part of a major investigation by Tara Brown focusing on shocking accusations that disability support workers were mistreating a vulnerable person they were employed to look after. However, instead of caring for the woman, their attitude and actions screamed that they couldn't care less. As Brown reveals, the workers smugly assumed that because the victim was unable to speak, their abuse would go undetected. But they were proved wrong when, in an extraordinary act of love, the woman's elderly parents took the law into their own hands and used a hidden camera to expose the terrible truth.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producers: Serge Negus & Anthony Dowsley

Saving Paradise
If you were to imagine the perfect tropical paradise – sunny skies, sparkling warm water and pristine beaches – Tuvalu is as close to it as anywhere on Earth. The country is a narrow strip of tiny islands halfway between Australia and Hawaii that's made all the more special by its isolation. Yet for all its wonder, the people of Tuvalu are facing a devastating threat. Rising sea levels mean their home is disappearing. And what's really frightening is how quickly it's happening. But as Adam Hegarty reports, all is not lost yet. On 60 MINUTES, he travels to Tuvalu to meet the ingenious Australians who are working to raise the height of the island in an extraordinary engineering feat that also has significant political implications.
Reporter: Adam Hegarty
Producer: Natalie Clancy

The Menace of the Taipans
They look mightily impressive. They're relatively young. And they've cost more than three-and-a-half billion dollars to buy and operate. According to the top brass at the Defence Department though, Australia's 46 MRH-90 Taipan helicopters are useless junk. Others say that they're dangerous, as the country tragically saw last July when one crashed near Hamilton Island killing four Australian airmen from the 6th Aviation Regiment. It seems no surprise then that the helicopters have been taken out of service, and as the story goes, are about to be dumped in a great big hole at a secret Defence location. But what if it turns out that these machines aren't as bad as we're being told? In a special report for 60 Minutes, Andrew Probyn, the National Affairs Editor for 9News, investigates the very real possibility that there's another reason for the terrible accident, and it's one that has nothing to do with the reliability, or otherwise, of the MRH-90.
Reporter: Andrew Probyn
Producer: Hannah Bowers

Wonky Wonka
It seemed like a good idea at the time. Scottish entrepreneur Billy Coull thought he'd make money, and just as importantly make a whole lot of children happy, by staging a Willy Wonka spectacular in Glasgow. His idea was to take an empty warehouse and fill it with the wonder of Roald Dahl's imagination. Coull promised it'd be like nothing the kids had ever seen before. And he was right. But for all the wrong reasons. The show was a disaster of monumental proportions. Turns out, among Coull's many failings, his greatest was to rely on artificial intelligence to plan and then sell the extravaganza. As Adam Hegarty discovered though, AI simply wasn't smart enough to understand the magic of Willy Wonka. This attempt at fun not only turned to farce, it also became the subject of worldwide ridicule.
Reporter: Adam Hegarty
Producer: Sammi Taylor

On 60 Minutes how has a secret weapon brought down hundreds of high-ranking United States government workers? Plus kayaker Jess Fox is profiled.

Havana Syndrome
Some people might applaud the ingenuity; most though would condemn the barbarity. A secret new weapon has apparently been developed and is being used to target hundreds of high-ranking United States government workers. Those affected include diplomats, military officials, and spies, who believe they've been struck down in mysterious circumstances by strange energy waves. After being attacked, the victims report a range of debilitating neurological ailments that have seriously impaired their lives. In this special report for 60 Minutes, Dimity Clancey investigates the so-called "Havana Syndrome". The condition got its name because it was first detected in Cuba, but there are no prizes for guessing it's another country accused of engineering it.
Reporter: Dimity Clancey
Producers: Garry McNab, Nichola Younger

Rapid Success
Between them, Jess Fox's parents, Richard Fox and Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi, won 18 world titles in paddling, and were trailblazers in the sport. It's little surprise then that from the moment Jess was born, she was destined to have the considerable skills and daring needed to race down rapids in a kayak and a canoe. What wasn't predicted was just how successful she'd become. Experts now say Jess Fox is the greatest paddler of all time. And as Adam Hegarty reports, that's the best news for Australia as this champion prepares for the Paris Games. It will be her fourth Olympics, another extraordinary feat, but even more significantly for Jess, this time there's the strong chance she'll be joined by a very special team mate: her sister, Noemie Fox.
Reporter: Adam Hegarty
Producer: Lisa Brown