Four Corners (TV series)

Four Corners
Four Corners logo
Genre	Documentary
Presented by	Michael Charlton (1961) Gerald Lyons (1962–63) Frank Bennett (1964) Robert Moore (1964) John Penlington (1964) Richard Oxenburgh (1964) Robert Moore (1965–67) John Temple (1968) Mike Willesee (1969–71) David Flatman (1971–72) Caroline Jones (1973–81) Andrew Olle (1985–94) Liz Jackson (1995–99) Unpresented (1999-2010) Kerry O'Brien (2011–15) Sarah Ferguson (2016 – present)
Theme music composer	Rick Turk
Country of origin	Australia
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	54
Production
Producer(s)	Bob Raymond (1961–62) Allan Ashbolt (1963) Gerald Lyons (1963) John Power (1964) Robert Moore (1965–67) Sam Lipski (1968) Allan Martin (1968–72) Tony Ferguson (1973) Peter Reid (1973–80) Brian Davies (1980–81) Paul Lyneham (1980–81) John Penlington (1980–81) John Temple (1980–81) Jonathan Holmes (1982–85) Peter Manning (1985–88) Ian Macintosh (1989–90) Marian Wilkinson (1991–92) Ian Carroll (1992–95) Ian Allen (1994) Harry Bardwell (1995) Paul Williams (1995) John Budd (1995–96) Bruce Belsham (1996–2007)
Running time	45 minutes
Release
Original network	ABC
Picture format	Black & White TV (1961-1975) PAL (1975-2006) 576i (SDTV) (2007-present) 720p (HDTV) (2008-present)
Audio format	Stereo (1961-1992) Dolby Surround (1993-2004) Dolby Digital 5.1 (2005-present)
Original release	19 August 1961 (1961-08-19) – present
External links
Website

Four Corners report on the 1998 Australian waterfront dispute, presented by David Hardaker.

Four Corners is an Australian investigative journalism/current affairs documentary television program, the longest of its kind nationally. Broadcast on ABC in HDTV, Australia, it premiered on 19 August 1961^[1] and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011. Founding producer Robert Raymond (1961–62) and his successor Allan Ashbolt (1963) did much to set the ongoing tone of the program.

Based on the Panorama concept, the program addresses a single issue in depth each week, showing either a locally produced program or a relevant documentary from overseas. The program has won many awards for investigative journalism.^[2] It has also broken many high-profile stories. A notable early example of this was the show's 1962 exposé on the appalling living conditions endured by many Aboriginal Australians living in rural New South Wales.

Notable episodes

In sharp contrast to print media, television was the medium for critical accounts of Australia's role in the war in Vietnam. Four Corners, regardless of modest ratings, favoured the viewpoint of the antiwar and anticonscription movements.^[3]

In 1983, Four Corners aired allegations that then New South Wales Premier Neville Wran had tried to influence the magistracy over the dropping of fraud charges against Kevin Humphreys, charged with misappropriation of funds from the Balmain Leagues Club. Wran stood down and the Street Royal Commission, headed by the Chief Justice of NSW, Sir Laurence Street, was set up to inquire into this matter. Street found that the chief magistrate, Murray Farquhar, had used the premier's name to get the Humphreys case dismissed, but exonerated Wran of any involvement. Farquhar was subsequently sent to prison.

Together with articles in The Courier-Mail, a 1987 Four Corners story entitled "The Moonlight State" reported on police corruption in Queensland. The subsequent Royal Commission, known as the Fitzgerald Inquiry, found systematic corruption in various levels of government and led to the gaoling of police commissioner Terry Lewis, and the resignation and subsequent criminal trial of Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen.

The program has investigated other cases of corruption in the New South Wales and Victorian police forces.

Another memorable report from 1985 helped to reveal that the French secret service had been responsible for the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior.

A 2006 episode titled "Greenhouse Mafia", exposed the influence of the fossil fuel lobby on Australian climate change policy.

In March 2009, an episode titled "The Dishonouring of Marcus Einfeld" aired; it detailed the events leading up to the first conviction and sentencing of an Australian judge, Marcus Einfeld (former Australian Federal Court Judge). Einfeld was convicted on various charges including perjury and perverting the course of justice over a speeding ticket.

"The Code of Silence", which aired 11 May 2009, was an investigative report on the attitudes towards and the treatment of women by National Rugby League players. The report focused primarily on two incidents involving NRL players and women who felt they had been exploited sexually. The mainstream media reported heavily^[4][5][6] on the subject for a number of weeks following the airing of "The Code of Silence".

The Four Corners website has also won multiple awards, including two Walkley Awards and three AIMIA Awards for its Broadband Editions of the programs, which include exclusive interviews, analysis and background information on selected programs.

On 8 March 2010 was aired a program shedding light on ex-members of the controversial Church of Scientology, many speaking of abuse and other inhumane treatment, for example coerced abortions and disconnection.^[7][8] The program was of note due to Church spokesperson Tommy Davis "categorically [denying]" all allegations put forward by ex-members. His interview, as well as uncut interviews with two Australian ex-members, transcripts and resources about the program can be viewed in full on the Four Corners official website.^[9] The entire episode was made available to watch online from 9 March. All interviews were conducted by Four Corners journalist Quentin McDermott, and aired the same week that a Parliamentary vote was held for an inquiry into the Church after South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon brought Church abuse to light in November 2009.^[10][11]

On 30 May 2011, the program aired an exposé on cruelty inflicted on Australian cattle exported to Indonesian abattoirs. As a result, there was a major public outcry at the practices and a petition launched by activist group GetUp! received more than 10,000 signatures overnight. This petition has now received over 200,000 signatures.^[12] The next day, independent MP Andrew Wilkie and independent Senator Nick Xenophon lobbied hard for an immediate ban on live export to Indonesia, which was backed by the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Joe Ludwig. There was an immediate ban on the abattoirs featured in the Four Corners program, which was followed by a six-month ban on all live trade to Indonesia.

In February 2015, Four Corners uncovered widespread live baiting in the greyhound racing industry. The investigation revealed the use of live piglets, possums and rabbits to train racing greyhounds in three states. The revelation led to suspensions, resignations, inquiries and condemnation of the practice. The NSW Greyhound racing board was dismissed,^[13] and the Queensland Government dissolved all the Racing Queensland boards.^[14]

On July 26 2016, "Four Corners" aired footage of systematic physical and verbal abuse of young Indigenous children and teenagers in the Northern Territory at Don Dale Youth Detention Centre. The episode caused outrage from the Australian public, prompting Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to announce a Royal Commission into the abuse occurring in the Northern Territory. This episode also resulted in the head of the detention centre, John Elfernik, being stood down from his position.^[15]

Comperes

• Michael Charlton, 1961
• Mike Willesee, 1969–71
• Caroline Jones, 1973–81
• Andrew Olle, 1985–94
• Liz Jackson, 1995–99
• Kerry O'Brien, 2011–15^[16]
• Sarah Ferguson (2016 – present)

Producers

• Sam Lipski (1968)
• Paul Lyneham (1980–81)

See also

• List of longest-running Australian television series

References

External links

• Official website
• Four Corners at the Internet Movie Database
• Four Corners at the National Film and Sound Archive