Mark Don

Aug 15, 2023 | abc.net.au | Alex Mann |Jess O'Callaghan |Linda McGinness |Mark Don |Alice Brennan

Why would someone intentionally start a bushfire? And if authorities knew why, could they stop them? Background Briefing gains rare access to convicted arsonists and at-risk teens to find out. Alex Mann investigates a new approach that fire authorities say could split those with an interest in fire from those with a burning obsession. This is a repeat of a program that aired in November 2017.

Aug 15, 2023 | abc.net.au | Mario Christodoulou |Benjamin Sveen |Ali Russell |Mark Don |Alice Brennan |Leila Shunnar | +1 more

Pierre: Have a look at me mate. Can you see the bags under my eyes right. I have slept three hours in two days. Alice Brennan: This man is at the end of his tether. Pierre: Now they're coming after me full on this time, because it's easier to chop my head off than it is to pay half a million dollars to fix this shit. Alice Brennan: He's spent years haranguing his landlord to fix his building. Pierre: They chop my head off means they're gonna throw me out on the street.

Aug 15, 2023 | abc.net.au | Mario Christodoulou |Alice Brennan |Ali Russell |Benjamin Sveen |Leila Shunnar |Ingrid Wagner | +1 more

From piles of rubbish to leaking sewers, rats, and gas leaks. Pierre the Birdman is on a one-man mission to save his public housing block -- but he doesn’t own a computer, only just got a mobile phone, has never had legal training, and he barely finished high school. Despite this... he’s been winning cases against the NSW Government. Mario Christodoulou reports.