ABC Rewind

The story of the Surafend massacre of December 1918, an event described by one historian as the worst war crime ever committed by  New Zealand and Australian military personnel.

It’s 1994 and fugitive billionaire tycoon Christopher Skase lies in a Majorcan hospital bed under police guard. A Spanish court has ordered he is well enough to be extradited back to Australia to face corporate crime charges. But Skase is appealing. When the decision finally comes, it’s a shock.

Jake Morecambe, a producer and expert on the Christopher Skase saga, dives deep into the drama surrounding Lawrence van der Plaat, Skase's right-hand man. Jake reveals how Lawrence's disillusionment grew amid mismanagement at Halcyon and intimidation tactics as he tried to leave Skase's orbit. They discuss the critical evidence Lawrence brought to regulators and his harrowing demands for cooperation. The podcast explores Skase’s elaborate attempts to evade extradition, including health claims and courtroom theatrics, painting a vivid picture of this high-stakes chase.

In April 1989, Christopher Skase made a shocking $1.2 billion bid for MGM—without the funds to back it up. The podcast dives into the lavish yet doomed empire of Quintex, revealing the chaotic fallout of debt and corporate malpractice. Tensions escalated when Rupert Murdoch outbid Skase, triggering a market panic. As investigations began, Skase attempted to evade scrutiny and engaged in questionable financial maneuvers. The story unfolds with his dramatic escape plans and the media frenzy that ensued, showcasing a lavish lifestyle spiraling into criminal controversy.

The lavish life of Christopher and Pixie Skase comes to life as they build luxurious Mirage resorts and throw extravagant parties in the 1980s. Pixie's over-the-top style and their corporate tactics spotlight a world where business theater meets celebrity culture. Yet, as debts pile up and skepticism grows, their dazzling facade begins to crack. From political maneuvering to environmental concerns, and a risky football team purchase, the rise and fall of their opulent dreams reveals the fragility behind their success.

The tale of Christopher Skase unfolds as he transitions from a glamorous tycoon to a controversial figure. His rise in business was marked by calculated risks, savvy networking, and a flair for luxury branding. Pixie's influence played a crucial role in transforming their public image, helping Quintex gain elite access and investor trust. As his media empire ballooned, so did his lavish lifestyle, ultimately leading to catastrophic overreach and eventual downfall. The thrilling narrative captures the wild ride of ambition and hubris.

It's 1980s Australia and everyone wants to be seen with billionaire power couple Christopher and Pixie Skase. They have it all — money, power, fame and big hair. Then, in the blink of an eye, they don't.This is the story of Australia's most famous fugitive entrepreneur, his epic fall from grace and the multi-million-dollar chase for Skase.By the age of 40, Christopher Skase's Qintex empire is worth $2 billion, his extravagance legendary, the couple's lavish taste questionable. It's said a glass dome sits in his home office with a million dollars inside. Shredded. An homage to his first mill.But when Skase makes an audacious tilt at Hollywood, his empire collapses.In one of the greatest escapes Australia's ever seen, Christopher and Pixie skip the country owing a whopping $1.5 billion.The Australian courts, government and media are baying for blood. But the billion-dollar question is — will Skase outfox them all?To binge more incredible podcast episodes about 'Australia's fugitive entrepreneur,' the billionaire con man Christopher Skase, hosted by Mark Humphries; search 'Rewind Skase: Fall of a Tycoon podcast' on the ABC listen App (Australia), or wherever you get your podcasts.

Mercia Masson is one of Australia’s longest serving undercover spies in Cold War era Australia. But her double life remains a secret to those closest to her, including her family, for nearly 50 years 

Young Alexandrina Grant is an audacious liar. Host Richard Roxburgh follows this clever and ambitious crook as she travels from the alleys of Aberdeen to a convict cell in Van Diemen's Land, then onto the streets of colonial Melbourne. It's there that Alexandrina Askew emerges, transformed into a squatter’s wife, with a distinguished pedigree and connections. But when her disguise is revealed, the newspapers pounce. And this notorious fraudster has serious questions to answer. 

It's May 1971, and Qantas flight 755 takes off from Sydney on a routine flight to Hong Kong. Then a man calls the airline, saying he wants a half a million dollars, or else 'the plane will blow up'.The public anxiously watch the skies above Sydney, as bomb experts are called in, and the plane's fuel runs dangerously low.How can someone hold a plane full of passengers to ransom?  Host Richard Roxburgh takes a deep dive into the events of that fateful day.