Four Corners (Australian TV program)

Four Corners
Company type	Television program
Industry	Investigative journalism, Current affairs
Founded	August 19, 1961; 65 years ago
Headquarters	Australia
Products	Television documentary series
Owner	Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Website	www.abc.net.au/4corners/

Four Corners is a prominent Australian investigative journalism and current affairs documentary series. It airs on ABC TV and first debuted on 19 August 1961, making it the longest-running television program in Australia. It is distinguished as one of the five shows honored with induction into the Logie Hall of Fame.

History

Modeled after the British current affairs series Panorama, Four Corners dedicates each episode to an in-depth examination of a single topic, featuring either locally produced reports or pertinent international documentaries. Over the years, it has garnered significant recognition, including 23 Logie Awards and 62 Walkley Awards, underscoring its influential role in investigative reporting. Among its early impactful coverage was a 1962 investigation revealing the substandard living conditions of Aboriginal communities in rural New South Wales. The program’s lasting editorial direction was shaped by its founding producers Robert Raymond (1961–62) and Allan Ashbolt (1963).

In 2021, the series celebrated its 60th year on air.

Notable episodes

Unlike print outlets, television played a crucial role in presenting critical perspectives on Australia's involvement in the war in Vietnam. Four Corners notably supported antiwar and anti-conscription viewpoints despite attracting modest viewership during that period.

1980s

In 1983, Four Corners broadcast allegations that New South Wales Premier Neville Wran attempted to pressure the judiciary to dismiss fraud charges against Kevin Humphreys (rugby league). This investigation triggered the Street Royal Commission, which ultimately exonerated Wran but found chief magistrate Murray Farquhar guilty of abusing his authority, leading to his imprisonment.

The 1987 episode "The Moonlight State" uncovered extensive police corruption within Queensland. The subsequent Fitzgerald Inquiry revealed entrenched government corruption, resulting in the incarceration of police commissioner Terry Lewis (police commissioner) and the resignation and prosecution of Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen.

Additionally, Four Corners exposed police misconduct in New South Wales and Victoria. A notable 1985 investigation detailed the involvement of the French secret service in the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior.

2000s

The 2006 report "Greenhouse Mafia" revealed how Australia's fossil fuel industry influenced national climate change policy decisions.

In March 2009, "The Dishonouring of Marcus Einfeld" documented the perjury conviction of former federal court judge Marcus Einfeld, linked to a falsified speeding offence.

May 2009's "The Code of Silence" examined National Rugby League players’ behaviors and their treatment of women, focusing on allegations of sexual exploitation. This episode sparked widespread coverage across mainstream media outlets.

The Four Corners online platform has received multiple accolades, including two Walkley Awards and three AIMIA Awards for its Broadband Editions, which offer exclusive interviews and analyses that complement the televised content.

2010s

On 8 March 2010, a broadcast unveiled accusations from former members of the contentious Church of Scientology, including claims of mistreatment and forced abortions. Tommy Davis, a representative for the Church, firmly rejected all allegations. This investigation coincided with a Parliamentary decision to consider an inquiry after South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon brought attention to abuses within the Church in November 2009.

On 30 May 2011, Four Corners exposed mistreatment of Australian cattle exported to slaughterhouses in Indonesia, provoking widespread public condemnation and a petition by activist group GetUp! that rapidly gathered over 200,000 signatures. Independent MP Andrew Wilkie and Senator Nick Xenophon advocated for an immediate suspension of live exports to Indonesia, a stance supported by Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig. Consequently, the implicated abattoirs were promptly shut down, and all live cattle exports to Indonesia were paused for six months.

In June 2014, the episode titled Being Me followed the journey of a transgender child, presenting gender-affirming medical care in a positive light. It included input from Dr Michelle Telfer, then serving as Director of Adolescent Medicine at Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. However, in 2025, Dr Telfer’s expert testimony endorsing puberty blockers was determined by a Federal Court ruling to be ideologically driven and lacking clinical validity.

In February 2015, Four Corners uncovered extensive use of live baiting in the Australian greyhound racing sector, involving live animals as training tools across three states. The revelations triggered suspensions, resignations, and official investigations; the NSW Greyhound Racing board was dismissed, while Queensland disbanded all Racing boards.

On 28 March 2016, the program broadcast State of Fear: Murder and Money in Malaysia, revealing allegations of significant financial transfers into Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's bank accounts.

On 26 July 2016, disturbing footage showing abuse of Indigenous youth at the Northern Territory's Don Dale Youth Detention Centre ignited national outrage. In response, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced a Royal Commission into youth detention mistreatment, and NT Corrections Minister John Elferink was suspended.

On 4 February 2019, Four Corners featured a report on women's rights in Saudi Arabia, spotlighting asylum seekers Rahaf Mohammed and Dina Ali Lasloom, alongside activists Mona Eltahawy and Manal al-Sharif. The episode attracted substantial viewership and underscored ongoing human rights issues.

2020s

On 16 March 2020, the program aired a report detailing allegations of war crimes committed by Australia's Special Air Service Regiment during Afghanistan, including prisoner executions.

In May 2021, ABC managing director David Anderson postponed a Four Corners episode concerning Prime Minister Scott Morrison's links to a supporter of QAnon, despite much information already being publicly available. The story was broadcast the following week.

In December 2022, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) criticised the program for lacking impartiality and found two violations of the ABC’s Code of Practice in a report examining Fox News's influence on the US elections. ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin stated that omitting key information meant the ABC failed to present all pertinent facts to its audience.

Hosts

Michael Charlton, 1961
Mike Willesee, 1969–1971
Caroline Jones, 1973–1981
Andrew Olle, 1985–1994
Liz Jackson, 1995–1999, 2005–2010
Kerry O'Brien, 2011–2015
Sarah Ferguson, 2016–2018
Michael Brissenden, 2019–present

Producers

Robert Moore (1965–1967)
Sam Lipski (1968)
Paul Lyneham (1980–1981)
Bruce Belsham (executive producer, 2002–2007)
Sue Spencer (executive producer, 2007–2015)
Sally Neighbour (executive producer, 2015–2022)
Matthew Carney (executive producer, 2022–present)

External links