The cocaine, the cruise ship and the Instagram influencers. Inside the $20 million high seas drug plot that came spectacularly unstuck on dry land. Also, more interest rate pain to come? How will Australia tame the inflation beast?
Here are the stories coming up tonight on 60 Minutes:
THE MULES OF INSTAGRAM
It doesn’t matter where in the world they ply their trade, criminals share common traits. Greed. Arrogance. And more often than not, high levels of stupidity. It’s certainly the case for Isabelle Legacé and Melina Roberge. Blinded by the promise of a small fortune, as well as a free luxury cruise from England to Australia, the two young Canadians agreed to help smuggle 95 kilograms of cocaine in their luggage. But as Karl Stefanovic reports, they came unstuck because they couldn’t stop sharing the happy snaps of their journey on Instagram. They seemed to believe that being drug mules was as easy as getting a South Pacific suntan. Little did they know, as they cruised towards Sydney, the Australian Border Force was ready and waiting and had arranged a special welcome party for them.
Reporter: Karl Stefanovic
Producers: Amelia Ballinger, Sammi Taylor, Sébastien Trahan
ROLL THE DICE
With economic ups and downs every other day, it’s not surprising that millions of Australians currently feel like they’re living in a giant game of snakes and ladders. On Wednesday a small drop in the rate of inflation was seen as a positive blip for people doing it tough. But sitting at seven per cent, the number is still way too high. Bringing inflation down isn’t difficult though. There’s a quick and easy fix. The problem, however, is that homeowners with mortgages will suffer even more because interest rates must rise further. In about 48 hours the country will know for sure if the under-siege Reserve Bank has the mettle to tame the inflation beast, but in the meantime, Tom Steinfort reports, it might be wise for everyone to assume the brace position.
Reporter: Tom Steinfort
Producer: Hannah Bowers
KATHLEEN FOLBIGG: REASONABLE DOUBT?
This week, in a Sydney courtroom, Australia’s worst female serial killer edged closer to freedom. For the last 20 years, Kathleen Folbigg has been languishing in prison for taking the lives of her four babies, Caleb, Patrick, Sarah and Laura. However, startling new scientific evidence could prove she’s not a villain but a victim who has been locked up for nothing.
In an extended program, we revisit 60 MINUTES’ 2021 story which revealed a group of 90 of the world’s most respected scientists, medical practitioners and academics had determined that an enormous miscarriage of justice had occurred in this case. The group, which included two Nobel Laureates, is backing some extraordinary research, headed by a professor of immunology at the Australian National University, that has put the murders under the microscope and identified a rare genetic mutation inherited by two of the babies. The experts say it’s breakthrough evidence that almost certainly explains the cause of the babies’ deaths. It’s a stunning twist in this tragic story, but is it enough to overturn the findings of multiple court cases and judicial inquiries, and set Kathleen Folbigg free?
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Tracey Hannaford
