Background Briefing

Gun clubs report lots of new members, hunting is cool, and handguns are gangland chic. The hundreds of thousands of guns destroyed in buybacks since Port Arthur have been more than replaced by new ones. But guns are highly political and the national system for monitoring gun ownership is a mess. Reporter, Ian Townsend.

'Zyzz' was a ladies man and a puny boy's dream realised. From skinny teenager to rippling Adonis he epitomised a growing obsession with male body culture. His death had an unexpected impact and has re-opened concerns about steroid use. Reporter, Brendan King. Photo source: Facebook

The internet is awash with misinformation, manipulated identities, fake reviews, and dishonest comments. Politicians use astroturfing. So do businesses and marketing firms. Beware—it's infecting everyone. Reporter Hagar Cohen

As foreign troops withdraw, will foreign miners move in? They’ve known of Afghanistan’s mineral wealth for a century but it hasn’t been safe or easy enough to extract it. Now Western companies, including Australian miners, are behind the geopolitical eight-ball as China and India lock up mining rights. Reporter, Stan Correy

It started with a bang in Wall Street and spread to over a hundred cities worldwide. But, as the novelty wears off, the tent city occupations are facing their own crunch time with the weather, the police and internal disagreements threatening their survival. Reporter, Hagar Cohen.

Rural and remote Australia relies heavily on overseas trained doctors if it can attract a GP at all.  Background Briefing looks at how a town can survive when its medical services start shutting down, how to support what remains, and whether Australia needs to overhaul its policy on overseas trained doctors. Reporter: Di Martin

Freedom to advertise and the rise of the mobile app has led to a tripling of sports betting in Australia. The winning odds are now front and centre in the coverage of major sports and you can bet on all kinds of 'exotic' options. So what are the odds on a big corruption scandal or a new generation of problem gamblers? Reporter, Brendan King.

NSW Police and Customs officials have arrested four people in relation to a gun importation syndicate that they believe has illegally imported between 160 and 200 Glock pistols since this program by Ian Townsend went air in November last year. The program looks at the increasing number of guns in the community and how and why they are getting there.

University of Sydney research shows that Australia has replaced the number of guns destroyed after the Port Arthur massacre. Background Briefing researched this trend in 2011.

Qantas has opened a new industrial relations battlefront. The Labor government's Fair Work laws are being put to the test but there are bigger political implications for the Opposition, which is split over whether to re-embrace Workchoices, the IR policy that many believe brought an end to the Howard government. Reporter, Stan Correy Photo: AAP, Miles Godfrey