Four Corners - Season 53 / Year 2022

The first in a two-part special focusing on voters as they weigh up their options in key electorates. Voters assess the key moments of Scott Morrison's prime ministership, and share their opinions of his leadership.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese is facing the biggest test of his political life. Can he convince voters he is ready to run the country? Voters in key seats give their assessment of Anthony Albanese's performance so far.

In the magnificent high country of the Snowy Mountains, wild horses roam the land. But there is a bitter clash of culture dividing communities - national icon or feral pest? The ugly divide over Australia's brumbies.

President Vladimir Putin has gone on the attack, taking aim at western nations, accusing them of threatening the Russian state. Now activists who have risked everything speak out about the abusive political climate in Russia.

An investigation into the hidden and shameful failure in public health taking place in remote Australian communities. Incompetent and inexcusable medical care resulted in multiple preventable deaths. Louise Milligan reports.

Exposing the stories of Australians who say they've been virtually abducted by the state, stripped of their assets and stopped from speaking out, until now. How a system designed to protect the vulnerable, does the opposite.

"We're pleading with the whole world to hear us."  Military volunteer 

On Monday, Four Corners takes you into a city under siege - Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.  

"The Ukrainian army and the Ukrainian spirit prevail.  We are highly motivated, but Putin's number of jets, bombers and other weapons significantly outnumber ours."  Ukrainian member of parliament

With the city enduring indiscriminate bombing, and with Russian forces attempting to encircle the capital, Sarah Ferguson reports on the Ukrainian people resisting the Russian invasion

Our planet under threat and the terrible cost of extreme weather. Australia is not the only nation experiencing wild, dangerous and unprecedented weather. A sobering look at increasing extreme weather events around the world.

Two decades ago, Australia's military forces led an international armed intervention in East Timor to quell a wave of sickening violence. Mark Willacy reveals the untold story of a disturbing chapter in our military history.

The dark stain on Australia's proudest military mission. Mark Willacy reveals fresh allegations of serious misconduct, including torture, carried out by Australian soldiers during the intervention in East Timor in 1999.

Four Corners investigates the corporate colossus that has taken a major slice of Australia's food production sector while being exposed internationally for bribery, corruption and environmental vandalism. Grace Tobin reports.

How Aspen Medical cashed in on COVID. Linton Besser investigates the health contractor hand-picked by the federal government for lucrative contracts worth more than a billion dollars. Why was it chosen and did they deliver?

Four Corners investigates the new mining boom in critical minerals - necessary in mobile phones, renewable energy and electric vehicles. Angus Grigg finds Australia is in the box seat to exploit a surge in worldwide demand.

When Russia invaded Ukraine it overturned decades of stability. We trace Vladimir Putin's rise to power from his days as a KGB counterintelligence officer to his emergence as a global power player in the post Cold War era.

How the 2022 election was won and lost. Undecided voters talk about the leaders, policies and performance during the campaign and what influenced their vote. Plus political strategists pull apart the tactics and motivations.

Cryptocurrency is the hottest financial product in the world.  

The hype is everywhere, with forms of the digital currency endorsed and advertised by celebrities daring you to invest in this brave new world.  

Not everyone is convinced by the glossy ads and bold claims.

Four Corners investigates what lies behind the slick marketing and big promises to examine if it's a fad, a fraud or the future.

What happened to a group of young female athletes who were groomed and abused by their running coach. Charlie Webster uncovers the truth of what happened to her teenage running friends at the hands of a manipulative predator.

Dr Norman Swan reports on "Holding on to Hope", looking at lifestyle choices whch may help delay the onset of dementia.

"It's the number one fear that older people have. More than any other disease … more than anything else." (Dementia clinician)

Half a million Australians live with dementia and for the past two decades scientists have been working on a new drug treatment they hope will combat the most common form, Alzheimer's disease.

"If we can give people another five years of quality life, that's going to make a massive difference to people around the world. It's going to make a massive difference to healthcare systems around the world as well." (Neurologist)

ABC's health expert Dr Norman Swan investigates the science behind the treatment in the race to solve dementia.

We examine the failures in the investigation into the abduction and murder of 13-year-old Milly Dowler, featuring interviews with senior police and those covering the case. Plus we shed light on the role of the media.

Vaping was hailed as the new way to quit smoking but there are concerns it is now causing nicotine addiction in teens. Grace Tobin investigates the booming black market which is thriving due to a failure to police the rules.

How factional infighting contributed to the Liberal Party's election loss. Liberal insiders speak for the first time about deep divisions, pre-selections, branch stacking and the extraordinary measures by factional warriors.

The planning failures deepening Australia's flood crisis. Adam Harvey meets families struggling with current and past flood events. They tell stories of despair, abandonment, and financial ruin. Many have lost everything.

The plastic surgery industry in China is booming, estimated to be worth $US200bn by 2030. We meet social media influencers and ordinary young Chinese prepared to undergo extreme procedures to radically alter their appearance.

The race to make psychedelic drugs part of mainstream medicine. Elise Worthington looks into clinical trials to treat trauma, PTSD and mental health conditions, plus the dark side of abuse, malpractice and underground supply.

How Chinese money is buying the Solomon Islands. Angus Grigg investigates the extent of Chinese influence and control, plus new details about the Chinese money being used by PM Sogavare to secure his hold over the country.

Behind the scenes with some of the Independent women who defied the odds and defeated high profile politicians. With rare access we filmed personal moments away from the spotlight, documenting their transition to Canberra.

Almost 20,000 people have reportedly been killed since the military seized power in Myanmar in February 2021. Filmmakers risk their life to secretly document the army's brutal repression and use of lethal force on protesters.

The working-class investors duped by a man the regulators won't pursue. Caro Meldrum-Hanna goes in pursuit of the elusive businessman and the missing money people invested in the mining exploration company he spruiked.

The inside story of the decline of Qantas. Current and former staff talk about ruthless cost cutting and a divide and conquer culture. An airline in damage control, beset by customer complaints and a demoralised workforce.

Street gangs, drugs and organised crime. A turf war where teenagers are being attacked with knives. Grace Tobin has gained extraordinary access to the teenagers who are being drawn into the violence and criminal activities.

In a rare in-depth interview, Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton speaks about some of the issues that shaped him and his vision for Australia. Colleagues who've known him for many years also offer their insights.

In towns and cities across Australia, the critical lack of affordable and social housing now means people with low paying jobs are struggling to find accommodation. Louise Milligan reports on the new face of homelessness.

How genealogy databases are being used to solve crimes and cold cases. As DNA databases continue to grow, law enforcement agencies are becoming increasingly confident these new DNA detectives will expose criminals.

The real cost of Australia's worker shortage. From hospitals and hotels to farms and factories there's an urgent need for workers. The problem is particularly acute in regional towns where almost every sector is struggling.

In Australia Aboriginal women are among the most victimised groups in the world, murdered up to 12 times the national average. A special investigation by Bridget Brennan into Australia's murdered and missing Indigenous women.

What would conflict with China mean for Australia? Tensions between China and the US over Taiwan are the highest since the 1970s. Angus Grigg talks to the experts who are mapping the war games and the impact they would have.

Did Western powers fail to prevent war in Ukraine? Four Corners traces the current war in Ukraine back to 2014 when Russia invaded Crimea and supported the separatist movements in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas.

Australia's failure to protect children in detention. Four Corners will show for the first time the dangerous restraining practice used by WA officers on children.