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Linton Besser
Linton Besser is a multi-award-winning investigative journalist and former foreign correspondent who has reported from around the world for Four Corners, Foreign Correspondent and 730. His work, which has also appeared in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Bulletin, has prompted public inquiries, including a royal commission, as well as corruption findings and criminal prosecutions against business figures, politicians and other public officials. Email Linton at lintonbesser@protonmail.com.
Latest by Linton Besser
Analysis
analysis:Why political parties don't want you to know where their campaign donations are coming from
"Why should well-heeled corporate types get to spend time at a table with a minister ... when a normal voter would not even get an audience?" a retired teacher asked the inquiry. That's a question we'd all like an answer to, writes Linton Besser.
Controversial consulting giant KPMG charged Defence twice for same work, review finds
A Defence data project involving a $100 million contract issued to KPMG is rife with serious governance failures, conflicts of interests and a "lack of accountability", according to an external review.
Analysis
analysis:Growing antibiotic resistance is a grave threat to humanity. Here's what animal farming has to do with it
Antimicrobial resistance is corroding one of the core pillars of modern pharmaceuticals, and it is rampant. Yet we do not know how many AMR incidents are occurring across Australia, nor how many antibiotics are in circulation, writes Linton Besser.
Analysis
analysis:Britain's 'unbearable' sewerage problem is a warning against privatisation in Australia
What contribution has privatisation made to the creation of a better, fairer, more harmonious society? Britain's experience with the sale of its water and sewage network suggests not all industries come out on top, writes Linton Besser.
Analysis
analysis:The super rich have a golden ticket to Australia — but what is it costing?
Australia's 888 visa system that has granted 26,000 "golden visas' to the super rich is out of step with the rest of the world, writes Linton Besser.
Analysis
analysis:With the lies and disinformation of Voice referendum exposed, Australia is sleepwalking towards the future
Of the many lessons of Saturday's referendum on the Voice to Parliament, there is one which must be more urgently addressed — our appetite for mistruths, writes Linton Besser.
Analysis
analysis:A 'sham' workforce in WA has exposed the shadowy ways of global oil and gas — and workers are paying the price
Australia may be a quarry to the world, and the mining of its natural resources might underpin our national budget. But we can and must demand better corporate ethics than this, writes Linton Besser.
Analysis
analysis:Our waters are awash with ageing gas and oil infrastructure. What happens when these behemoths are no longer needed?
In waters around Australia's coastline are about 1 million tonnes of pipelines, moorings, fixed rigs and floating vessels. Many are due for "decommissioning" and operators are contractually obliged to remediate the sites. But the cost is gargantuan, and not everyone wants to pay, writes Linton Besser.
Analysis
analysis:Will the new corruption body learn the lessons of the botched Robodebt investigation?
Finally a reality, the National Anti-Corruption Commission must now prove its worth. And that will be a test not of its design, nor of its powers. It will be a test of leadership, writes Linton Besser.
Analysis
analysis:A new generation of former MPs has turned to big business
In Australia there has long been disquiet about the revolving door between high political office and big business. Look at the defence industry, for example, writes Linton Besser.
Analysis
analysis:How the long shadow of drink giants pushes public health into the shade
In April, the nation's doctors called again for the introduction of a tax on sugar-sweetened drinks. They are not alone, but here's an insight into why it's still not happening, writes Linton Besser.
'I was told to shut up': Australian Catholic University accused of ignoring concerns about security contractor
The Australian Catholic University has launched an internal inquiry after the ABC discovered the founder of the company providing its on-campus security has been charged with corruption — and had a secret business relationship with an employee overseeing its security contract.
PwC's failure to disclose interest in private education provider 'completely unacceptable'
The education minister describes PwC's failure to disclose its interest in Top Education Group, while conducting a confidential review into the regulator of private colleges, as "completely unacceptable".
PwC worked for tertiary education regulator as it acquired stake in college
PricewaterhouseCoopers began work on a top-level consulting contract with the federal government's regulator of tertiary colleges 24 hours before agreeing to acquire a $5.5 million stake in one such college, the controversial Top Education Group.
Family kept Rolf Harris's death a secret for almost two weeks
Rolf Harris, the disgraced Australian entertainer who was convicted in 2014 of sexual offences against girls and young women, died nearly two weeks ago, but the details have only just been made public.
Sydney Catholic Schools paid almost $400k to a firm linked to a mysterious Arthur Thorogood. Who is he?
The organisation responsible for Catholic schools in the Sydney Archdiocese paid almost $400,000 to a mysterious recruitment firm whose emails were signed by a man named Arthur Thorogood. An investigation was never able to find him.
The former chair of a company that profited off the pandemic reveals how it got political 'access'
The former chairman and co-founder of Aspen Medical tells Four Corners how the company obtained access to senior ranks of the Coalition government before it made more than $1 billion from the pandemic.
How a politically connected company earned more than $1 billion from the pandemic
Private healthcare company Aspen Medical was given more than $1 billion in government PPE contracts, despite having no experience in large-scale procurement, a Four Corners investigation reveals.
Trade minister Dan Tehan says free trade deal with UK ready by June
If the negotiations are conducted at such a pace, an Australia-UK free trade deal will likely be the first major agreement struck by Britain since it cleaved from the European Union.
‘Fertile ground’: Banned in Canada and Europe, neo-Nazi groups set sights on Australia
Four neo-Nazi groups banned in Europe and North America are operating in Australia, it has been revealed, as police and terrorism experts warn of an increasing global threat posed by lone-wolf, far-right extremists.
'Charted their own path': British foreign minister explains why Scott Morrison's climate invitation was withdrawn
Prime Minister Scott Morrison failed to meet the required terms for his attendance at a global leaders climate summit last December, Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab confirms to the ABC.
Australia warned inaction on climate could sabotage European trade deal
Australian exporters to Europe are likely to face millions of dollars in new tariffs after the European Parliament votes to move forward with a carbon levy on products from countries lacking serious pollution reduction programs.
Senior British MP, media outlets condemn 'bully' Facebook over Australia move
The head of the UK Parliament's digital and media committee says Facebook should be "ashamed" of its behaviour after it blocked access to news content for Australian users.
Emirates suspends flights, stranding hundreds of Australians trying to get home
More Australians are to be stranded overseas as Emirates announces its last flight into Brisbane from Dubai will be today, while the last flights into Sydney and Melbourne will be on Tuesday, after flight caps into Australia were slashed again.
Analysis
analysis:Boris Johnson yields to reality, but Brexit will come back to haunt Britain
Just as the British Prime Minister ceded whatever was necessary to steam his way into Number 10, it now seems clear he's done much of the same to get his Brexit trade deal and his tabloid applause, writes Europe correspondent Linton Besser.