Sick to Death

Journalist Hedley Thomas joins us with a special insight into where his blockbuster podcast investigation The Poisoned Wife is heading. After the 1986 murder of Rosslyn McQueen, the Homicide Squad rolls into tiny Lockwood, Victoria to question husband Ray, who is infatuated with a teenage girl - and the police interview changes everything. 

He suspects a neighbour of poisoning his wife Ros. Meanwhile, Ray’s attention is focused on a vulnerable 17-year-old girl. 

Read more about this story at theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel.

Husband accused of murder sent ‘strange’ neighbour to find poisoned wife

Poisoned wife Rosslyn McQueen feared husband was having an affair with babysitter

McQueen marriage under ‘considerable stress’ due to finances, friend told police

This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Joshua Burton. Our team includes Lia Tsamoglou, Tiffany Dimmack, and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who killed Rosslyn McQueen? Today’s launch day for something very special here at The Australian: a new Hedley Thomas cold case investigation. The Poisoned Wife is a podcast examination of how a 30-year-old pregnant mother died of strychnine poisoning in her own home - and nobody has been brought to justice.

Who killed Rosslyn McQueen?

How key witness in Rosslyn McQueen murder broke her 40-year silence on case

Subscribers to The Australian hear new episodes first on Apple Podcasts, on The Australian’s app and thepoisonedwife.com, where you’ll find photos, videos, timelines, stories and more.

See the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel.

This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Joshua Burton. Our team includes Lia Tsamoglou, Tiffany Dimmack, and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From The Australian, this is The Flood. The true story of 60 Australian men and women trapped in a submarine deep under the Indian Ocean when an explosion threatens to sink the vessel and send its crew to the bottom.

After narrowly surviving a catastrophic flood, HMAS Dechaineux limps back to port, leaving the navy with a major strategic and public relations crisis. Episode 4 investigates the fallout of the near-disaster, exploring its impact on the Collins Class fleet and the traumatized crew.

Exclusive interviews with the captain, crew and top brass reveal the terror and emotion that still haunts this group of proud warriors, who risked their own lives every day in the defence of Australia. The Flood is a truly inspirational story of human courage, resilience, teamwork and ingenuity.

The Flood is a four-part audio and video series by Cameron Stewart, Claire Harvey and Jasper Leak. Listen to all of The Flood by searching ‘The Flood’ wherever you listen, or watch The Flood and find graphics, stories and pictures at thefloodpodcast.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From The Australian, this is The Flood. The true story of 60 Australian men and women trapped in a submarine deep under the Indian Ocean when an explosion threatens to sink the vessel and send its crew to the bottom.

Crippled by a seawater flood, the crew of HMAS Dechaineux fight to stop their submarine from sinking to the ocean floor. As the boat plummets further, Episode 3 reveals how the 60 men and women confront their mortality while battling to survive.

Exclusive interviews with the captain, crew and top brass reveal the terror and emotion that still haunts this group of proud warriors, who risked their own lives every day in the defence of Australia. The Flood is a truly inspirational story of human courage, resilience, teamwork and ingenuity.

The Flood is a four-part audio and video series by Cameron Stewart, Claire Harvey and Jasper Leak. Listen to all of The Flood by searching ‘The Flood’ wherever you listen, or watch The Flood and find graphics, stories and pictures at thefloodpodcast.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From The Australian, this is The Flood. The true story of 60 Australian men and women trapped in a submarine deep under the Indian Ocean when an explosion threatens to sink the vessel and send its crew to the bottom.

In Episode 2: Shut all hull valves, Commander Scott initiates emergency procedures, Petty Officer Bunting battles for his life in a submerged motor room.

Exclusive interviews with the captain, crew and top brass reveal the terror and emotion that still haunts this group of proud warriors, who risked their own lives every day in the defence of Australia. The Flood is a truly inspirational story of human courage, resilience, teamwork and ingenuity.

The Flood is a four-part audio and video series by Cameron Stewart, Claire Harvey and Jasper Leak. Listen to all of The Flood by searching ‘The Flood’ wherever you listen, or watch The Flood and find graphics, stories and pictures at thefloodpodcast.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From The Australian, this is The Flood. The true story of 60 Australian men and women trapped in a submarine deep under the Indian Ocean when an explosion threatens to sink the vessel and send its crew to the bottom.

In Episode 1: Explosion, the commander takes his submarine down to its deepest diving depth when a loud noise at the back of the boat changes the lives of everyone on board. An extraordinary battle for survival is just beginning.

Exclusive interviews with the captain, crew and top brass reveal the terror and emotion that still haunts this group of proud warriors, who risked their own lives every day in the defence of Australia. The Flood is a truly inspirational story of human courage, resilience, teamwork and ingenuity.

The Flood is a four-part audio and video series by Cameron Stewart, Claire Harvey and Jasper Leak. Listen to all of The Flood by searching ‘The Flood’ wherever you listen, or watch The Flood and find graphics, stories and pictures at thefloodpodcast.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This final episode of the Sick To Death podcast series unpacks the remaining rollercoaster ride in the Dr Jayant Patel saga.

Patel's fight within the criminal justice system goes high and low, marked by a successful appeal to the High Court of Australia in 2012 and two subsequent retrials for manslaughter and grievous bodily harm. With the criminal proceedings finally over, the Medical Board of Australia works to rub him out.

In fresh interviews, whistleblower nurse Toni Hoffman and patient advocate Beryl Crosby recall these events and their impact on those closely involved. 

King's Counsel Dr Ian Freckelton discloses his role in ensuring that Patel can never operate again. He also answers burning questions about Patel's conduct, psychology and the capacity of the system to deal with rogue surgeons.

And Jayant Patel reveals to The Australian's Ellie Dudley where his mind is at all these years later.

Do you know more? Contact Hedley Thomas and the team at [email protected]

Subscribers hear new episodes of Sick to Death first. Listen at sicktodeathpodcast.com, in The Australian’s app or search for “Sick to Death” on Apple Podcasts to connect your subscription.

Plus, get exclusive access to photos, videos, timelines, and more at the website. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The story of Dr Jayant Patel and others involved in the saga surrounding his two-year tenure at the Bundaberg Base Hospital was far from over when Hedley Thomas emailed the manuscript for his book Sick To Death in late 2006. Two bonus episodes of the Sick To Death podcast tell the rest of the gripping story.

This episode tracks the twists and turns in the pursuit of justice from 2007 to 2011, including Patel’s extradition from the United States in 2008, a lengthy jury trial in 2010 and an appeal by Patel the following year.

In fresh and archived interviews with whistleblower nurse Toni Hoffman and patient advocate Beryl Crosby, they describe and reflect upon the significant events. The Australian's senior reporter Sarah Elks reminisces about covering the trial in 2010 as a junior reporter.

Do you know more? Contact Hedley Thomas and the team at [email protected]

Subscribers hear new episodes of Sick to Death first. Listen at sicktodeathpodcast.com, in The Australian’s app or search for “Sick to Death” on Apple Podcasts to connect your subscription.

Plus, get exclusive access to photos, videos, timelines, and more at the website.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Hedley travels to the United States in hopes of a face-to-face interview with Jayant Patel, Geoff Davies delivers his findings to Premier Peter Beattie. The result is a multimillion-dollar cash injection into Queensland Health. 

Plus, life goes on for patients treated by the incompetent surgeon and Hedley picks up the story for The Australian. 

Two new episodes of Sick to Death will be available in the coming weeks. They include fresh interviews and careful analysis of how the criminal justice system dealt with Dr Patel and how it grappled with the extremely rare occurrence of of the prosecution of a surgeon for alleged criminal negligence.

These events aren't detailed in Hedley Thomas' book Sick to Death.The next two episodes, however, will document some remarkable highs and lows in this saga as it wound its way through the courts. 

Subscribers hear new episodes of Sick to Death first. Listen at sicktodeathpodcast.com, in The Australian’s app or search for “Sick to Death” on Apple Podcasts to connect your subscription.

Plus, get exclusive access to photos, videos, timelines, and more at the website. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Queenslanders are outraged when the Commission of Inquiry led by Tony Morris collapses following a successful court challenge by hospital administrators Peter Leck and Dr Darren Keating.

Premier Peter Beattie backflips on his promise to see the inquiry through, but relents in the face of voter fury and appoints the retired judge Geoff Davis as Commissioner. 

Do you know more? Contact Hedley Thomas and the team at [email protected]

Subscribers hear new episodes of Sick to Death first. Listen at sicktodeathpodcast.com, in The Australian’s app or search for “Sick to Death” on Apple Podcasts to connect your subscription.

Plus, get exclusive access to photos, videos, timelines, and more at the website.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.