

Background Briefing
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Background Briefing tells true stories not everyone will want you to hear. We infuse investigative reporting with captivating drama, following the thread of an individual story only to find that it leads us to something bigger. It's the only podcast in Australia that does this week in, week out.
Hosted by Thomas Oriti.
We want to hear from you too. If you have a tip-off, please contact us at backgroundbriefing[at]abc.net.au
Hosted by Thomas Oriti.
We want to hear from you too. If you have a tip-off, please contact us at backgroundbriefing[at]abc.net.au
Episodes
Mentioned books

10 snips
Apr 17, 2025 • 36min
01 Agents of Influence | The PM's secret strategists
Tynan King, a savvy reporter, dives into the world of online content creators and their surprising influence on Australian politics. She reveals how millennial influencers are shifting political engagement from traditional media to social platforms, resonating with younger voters. King highlights strategic moves in political campaigns, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and undisclosed relationships between politicians and content creators. Additionally, she examines ethical concerns surrounding media companies and their role in shaping political narratives.

Apr 16, 2025 • 37sec
Introducing... Agents of Influence
They're not household names. But they wield serious power under the radar.

Apr 11, 2025 • 22min
Long Read | How deepfakes, nudes and teen misogyny have changed growing up
This week, Bri Lee investigates tech-assisted gendered abuse by schoolboys against their peers and teachers.

Apr 4, 2025 • 21min
Long Read | The church’s disappearing women
Three decades after the first ordinations of women to the Anglican priesthood, women are still struggling to reach leadership — and now the congregation is changing too.

Mar 13, 2025 • 41min
05 The Invisible Killer | Did police miss a murder?
A court found that Garry Davis injected three victims with lethal doses of insulin during a 48 hour period. But what if there was another victim? Is it possible police failed to collect crucial evidence to prove someone else had also been killed?

Mar 4, 2025 • 35min
04 The Invisible Killer | Under the bed
When reporter Anne Connolly discovers that Garry Davis had a collection of strange items under his bed, it changes the course of her investigation, and raises new fears about the true scale of his crimes.

Feb 21, 2025 • 42min
03 The Invisible Killer | Reasonable Doubt
Garry Davis has now been convicted of murdering two residents at SummitCare and attempting to murder a third. But all the evidence against him is circumstantial. Is it possible someone else could have been responsible for the insulin injections?

Feb 14, 2025 • 35min
02 The Invisible Killer | 'Who did this?'
Someone injected three residents with lethal doses of insulin at an aged care facility in Newcastle. Now, the race is on to catch the killer. Will the police find the clues they need to catch the culprit before any more deaths occur?

Feb 14, 2025 • 33min
01 The Invisible Killer | Doctor’s discovery
When residents start falling ill at a nursing home in Newcastle, the workers don't think much of it. After all, people die in aged care all the time. But then, one eagle-eyed doctor finds something that makes him suspect a killer is on the loose.

Dec 29, 2024 • 14min
More to the story... Kathy Jackson’s missing millions
It looked like the Health Services Union might finally be returned millions of dollars owed by the whistleblower turned convicted fraudster, Kathy Jackson. Then, the money went missing again.