On 7 April 1998 Australians woke up to the startling news that dogs and security guards in balaclavas were invading the docks around the country, locking out workers.

A volatile mix of forces led up to this dramatic moment — a government determined to bring about change on the waterfront, an employer desperate as its share price tanked and a union with a reputation for fighting hard for its members.

In this ABC Rewind investigation into the Patricks waterfront dispute Jan Fran tells a story of high drama and political intrigue, a complex web of lies, double dealings, high-stakes leaks and guns. It takes us from Queensland's Ettamogah pub to the ports of Dubai, from low-rent motel rooms, to the highest court in the land. And all the way to the Prime Minister.