Past Programs
Law, Crime and Justice - 2008
The tv interview as confession - the frost/nixon interviews of 1977
25/12/2008
In a series of three remarkable interviews in 1977, the British TV host David Frost made himself a household name by cornering the wiley ex-US president Richard Nixon. The story behind one of the first cases of chequebook journalism is the basis of a new film - join us Christmas Day for a discussion about this landmark media event.
Hidden Queensland
23/12/2008
Right now, Queensland is at the epicentre of national power. The Prime Minister, the federal Treasurer, the Governor General are all from Queensland. And the state is growing like there's no tomorrow - vast numbers of overseas and interstate migrants mean it's practically bursting at the seams. And it's got a burgeoning cultural sector - of which the Writer's festival is evidence. These days Queensland's the smart state.
But it wasn't always this way. How many of you remember when it was the Moonlight State? A mere twenty years ago Queensland was better known for its vice, cronyism, corruption and misconduct. The Fitzgerald Inquiry led to former government ministers and the police chief being thrown in jail. The state, back then, was a national embarrassment.
So how did it all turn around? Where is Queensland at now? And how did that era affect today's Queensland? No talkback today ... but Australia Talks ponders these question's ... some of them addressed in Hidden Queensland - the title of the Spring edition of the Griffith Review.
The jury system
12/08/2008
It's at the heart of our legal justice system but is trial by jury always the best way of delivering just outcomes? Questionable behaviour by some jurors has seen two recent trials aborted. Two other extremely high profile cases are to proceed, despite the accompanying media hysteria. So are there particular cases when decisions should be handed back to the judges? And with the number of exemptions and exclusions, does the jury still represent trial by peers?
Missing persons
05/08/2008
Around 35.000 persons go missing in Australia each year, two third of them are under the age of 18. While most are found - some don't want to be found. This week is National Missing Persons Week. Police data suggest there may be more people going missing than ever before. Some of these disappearances are the result of foul play, but in other cases it's just a matter of losing contact. Police and agencies such as the Australian Red Cross or the Salvation Army have their special methods to look for missing persons and we'll hear about some of them today.
What is the story behind missing persons and how are they found?
Palm Island and Indigenous deaths in custody
07/07/2008
The death of the Palm Island man now known as Mulrunji in the island's watchhouse in 2004 was a tragedy for the family and community and put the issue of Indigenous deaths in custody back on the national agenda. In June 2007, police officer Chris Hurley was found not guilty of manslaughter and assault: charges which arose from Mulrunji's death.
On Monday's program, Anthony Funnell will revisit the circumstances of the case with authors Chloe Hooper and Jeff Waters, lawyer Andrew Boe and academic and activist Gracelyn Smallwood. The discussion will also address what developments there have been in managing the extent of Indigenous deaths in custody since.
