God Complex
For years, a star neurosurgeon operated inside Australia's hospital system despite repeated allegations of sexist and inappropriate behaviour, and a string of legal claims by devastated patients.
This is the hidden story of the toxic culture that enabled him.
In this Four Corners investigation, reporter Louise Milligan talks to senior surgeons and hospital insiders who are speaking out for the first time.
Through powerful testimonies, internal documents, and newly surfaced footage, God Complex reveals a culture of protection, silence and complicity in Australia's most elite medical circles, and the human cost of letting power go unchecked.
God Complex, reported by Louise Milligan and produced by Mayeta Clark, goes to air on Monday July 21 at 8.30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.
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Sydney Morning Herald
38 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Brisbane news live: Free flu jabs under cloud as people ignore $25m campaign
Go to latest 'It only does any good if it's in your arm': People ignoring free flu jabs By The health minister has left a cloud over Queensland's free flu vaccine program, saying continued increases in flu cases and low vaccine uptake this year was 'very concerning'. Speaking from Greenslopes yesterday, Tim Nicholls said about 90 per cent of the more than 3600 influenza hospitalisations recorded this year were for people who had not received a vaccine. Loading About 6.13 million Queenslanders have been vaccinated for influenza since March, about 34,000 fewer than 2024 – and more than 400,000 fewer than three years ago – with Queensland Health reporting at the same time a 16 per cent increase in case numbers from the same time last year. 'We've made public announcements about [the free vaccine program], it runs on our public health messages, it runs on social media … it's been a very substantial news story,' Nicholls said. 'There really is no reason why someone is not aware that there is a free flu vaccine available … there is no reason not to get the free flu vaccine – it does no good in a bottle, it only does any good if it's in your arm.' Nicholls said the state was 'always happy' to review the $25 million vaccination campaign, but said he would wait until the end of flu season. 'It's not too late to get the free flu vaccine, it is available, [and] the investment has been made in it.' 7.30am Albanese dismisses suggestion that Xi meeting should be explained to Trump By Paul Sakkal Anthony Albanese has dismissed a suggestion that his ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, should explain to the Trump administration the prime minister's intimate meeting with Xi Jinping, details of which were revealed in this masthead. Host of the ABC's 7.30 program Sarah Ferguson spent the first portion of her interview with Albanese on Monday night asking about last week's lunch in Beijing. This masthead reported on Monday the pair discussed their upbringing and global outlook in a humour-filled discussion the Australian prime minister said had fostered 'an element of trust'. Asked if US officials had raised any questions about closer relations between Albanese and China's paramount leader, Albanese said 'No'. Here's a section of the exchange: Ferguson: 'Can I come back to that question of trust? Because I do think it's an unusual word that you've used, and I want to know what you think that that word means, apart from having a slightly advanced, developed relationship with him. Would he, for example, take a phone call from you in the event of a crisis blowing up over Taiwan to discourage him from invading or blockading Taiwan?' Loading Albanese: 'Well, that's a hypothetical which I'm not going to go into. But I have said before that anything that he has said to me has been fulfilled. There hasn't been any breaches of personal commitments that he has given to me. That doesn't mean he's agreed with everything that I've put forward – far from it. But I'd rather that than someone on an international level saying, 'Yep, we can do all that', and then doing the opposite.' Ferguson: 'So you trust him that, when he says something, he's going to keep his word?' Albanese: 'I have no reason to point to any breach that has occurred up to this point.' Ferguson: 'That's about the past, what about the future?' Albanese: 'Well, all I can do is talk about the past. I can just talk about facts rather than going forward – we don't know what it will bring. We know there are significant differences. China and Australia have different political systems. We have different values. We have our alliance with the United States which is very important.' 7.21am 'It only does any good if it's in your arm': People ignoring free flu jabs By Catherine Strohfeldt The health minister has left a cloud over Queensland's free flu vaccine program, saying continued increases in flu cases and low vaccine uptake this year was 'very concerning'. Speaking from Greenslopes yesterday, Tim Nicholls said about 90 per cent of the more than 3600 influenza hospitalisations recorded this year were for people who had not received a vaccine. Loading About 6.13 million Queenslanders have been vaccinated for influenza since March, about 34,000 fewer than 2024 – and more than 400,000 fewer than three years ago – with Queensland Health reporting at the same time a 16 per cent increase in case numbers from the same time last year. 'We've made public announcements about [the free vaccine program], it runs on our public health messages, it runs on social media … it's been a very substantial news story,' Nicholls said. 'There really is no reason why someone is not aware that there is a free flu vaccine available … there is no reason not to get the free flu vaccine – it does no good in a bottle, it only does any good if it's in your arm.' Nicholls said the state was 'always happy' to review the $25 million vaccination campaign, but said he would wait until the end of flu season. 'It's not too late to get the free flu vaccine, it is available, [and] the investment has been made in it.' 7.16am A hazy shade of winter The forecast for Brisbane today spells a cool day with a chance of a shower or two. A top temperature of 22 degrees is expected, with much the same for the rest of the week. But while today is about a 50-50 chance of rain, tomorrow is almost guaranteed to be wet. Here's how the week ahead is looking: 7.14am While you were sleeping Here's what's making news further afield this morning: Voters are lukewarm to any surprise reforms from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, clearly oppose change to the GST and want the Coalition to work more closely with the government to reach consensus on new policies rather than oppose them outright, a survey has revealed. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has assured her colleagues the Liberal Party can only improve on its disastrous showing at the May federal election. The Greens co-founder booted from the party at the weekend has hit back, accusing the organisation of becoming 'too weird and unlikeable' and urging the federal leader to intervene. Justin Flowers has $300,000 in the bank and he can't get a home loan. The 52-year-old, who runs his own graphic design business, had bought and sold a few properties, upsizing to accommodate his family of four. 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A man has been jailed after a Queensland grandmother was killed and her daughter seriously injured when the stolen car he was driving crashed into theirs car at high speed and he fled. A banned e-scooter and e-bike company has returned to Brisbane streets – but not as you might expect, as the global micromobility hire company merges with one of its key competitors. Queensland authorities say they will investigate multiple reported crocodile sightings on the Sunshine Coast, hundreds of kilometres south of Queensland's 'croc country'. Fresh off his maiden starting appearance in Wallabies colours in defeat to the British and Irish Lions, Tom Lynagh will brace for a future in which he is pitted against his brother in an international club clash.
The Age
38 minutes ago
- The Age
Brisbane news live: Free flu jabs under cloud as people ignore $25m campaign
Go to latest 'It only does any good if it's in your arm': People ignoring free flu jabs By The health minister has left a cloud over Queensland's free flu vaccine program, saying continued increases in flu cases and low vaccine uptake this year was 'very concerning'. Speaking from Greenslopes yesterday, Tim Nicholls said about 90 per cent of the more than 3600 influenza hospitalisations recorded this year were for people who had not received a vaccine. Loading About 6.13 million Queenslanders have been vaccinated for influenza since March, about 34,000 fewer than 2024 – and more than 400,000 fewer than three years ago – with Queensland Health reporting at the same time a 16 per cent increase in case numbers from the same time last year. 'We've made public announcements about [the free vaccine program], it runs on our public health messages, it runs on social media … it's been a very substantial news story,' Nicholls said. 'There really is no reason why someone is not aware that there is a free flu vaccine available … there is no reason not to get the free flu vaccine – it does no good in a bottle, it only does any good if it's in your arm.' Nicholls said the state was 'always happy' to review the $25 million vaccination campaign, but said he would wait until the end of flu season. 'It's not too late to get the free flu vaccine, it is available, [and] the investment has been made in it.' 7.30am Albanese dismisses suggestion that Xi meeting should be explained to Trump By Paul Sakkal Anthony Albanese has dismissed a suggestion that his ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, should explain to the Trump administration the prime minister's intimate meeting with Xi Jinping, details of which were revealed in this masthead. Host of the ABC's 7.30 program Sarah Ferguson spent the first portion of her interview with Albanese on Monday night asking about last week's lunch in Beijing. This masthead reported on Monday the pair discussed their upbringing and global outlook in a humour-filled discussion the Australian prime minister said had fostered 'an element of trust'. Asked if US officials had raised any questions about closer relations between Albanese and China's paramount leader, Albanese said 'No'. Here's a section of the exchange: Ferguson: 'Can I come back to that question of trust? Because I do think it's an unusual word that you've used, and I want to know what you think that that word means, apart from having a slightly advanced, developed relationship with him. Would he, for example, take a phone call from you in the event of a crisis blowing up over Taiwan to discourage him from invading or blockading Taiwan?' Loading Albanese: 'Well, that's a hypothetical which I'm not going to go into. But I have said before that anything that he has said to me has been fulfilled. There hasn't been any breaches of personal commitments that he has given to me. That doesn't mean he's agreed with everything that I've put forward – far from it. But I'd rather that than someone on an international level saying, 'Yep, we can do all that', and then doing the opposite.' Ferguson: 'So you trust him that, when he says something, he's going to keep his word?' Albanese: 'I have no reason to point to any breach that has occurred up to this point.' Ferguson: 'That's about the past, what about the future?' Albanese: 'Well, all I can do is talk about the past. I can just talk about facts rather than going forward – we don't know what it will bring. We know there are significant differences. China and Australia have different political systems. We have different values. We have our alliance with the United States which is very important.' 7.21am 'It only does any good if it's in your arm': People ignoring free flu jabs By Catherine Strohfeldt The health minister has left a cloud over Queensland's free flu vaccine program, saying continued increases in flu cases and low vaccine uptake this year was 'very concerning'. Speaking from Greenslopes yesterday, Tim Nicholls said about 90 per cent of the more than 3600 influenza hospitalisations recorded this year were for people who had not received a vaccine. Loading About 6.13 million Queenslanders have been vaccinated for influenza since March, about 34,000 fewer than 2024 – and more than 400,000 fewer than three years ago – with Queensland Health reporting at the same time a 16 per cent increase in case numbers from the same time last year. 'We've made public announcements about [the free vaccine program], it runs on our public health messages, it runs on social media … it's been a very substantial news story,' Nicholls said. 'There really is no reason why someone is not aware that there is a free flu vaccine available … there is no reason not to get the free flu vaccine – it does no good in a bottle, it only does any good if it's in your arm.' Nicholls said the state was 'always happy' to review the $25 million vaccination campaign, but said he would wait until the end of flu season. 'It's not too late to get the free flu vaccine, it is available, [and] the investment has been made in it.' 7.16am A hazy shade of winter The forecast for Brisbane today spells a cool day with a chance of a shower or two. A top temperature of 22 degrees is expected, with much the same for the rest of the week. But while today is about a 50-50 chance of rain, tomorrow is almost guaranteed to be wet. Here's how the week ahead is looking: 7.14am While you were sleeping Here's what's making news further afield this morning: Voters are lukewarm to any surprise reforms from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, clearly oppose change to the GST and want the Coalition to work more closely with the government to reach consensus on new policies rather than oppose them outright, a survey has revealed. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has assured her colleagues the Liberal Party can only improve on its disastrous showing at the May federal election. The Greens co-founder booted from the party at the weekend has hit back, accusing the organisation of becoming 'too weird and unlikeable' and urging the federal leader to intervene. Justin Flowers has $300,000 in the bank and he can't get a home loan. The 52-year-old, who runs his own graphic design business, had bought and sold a few properties, upsizing to accommodate his family of four. But he divorced, and he is now single and renting without hope he can repurchase. As her newspaper prepared to publish details of a bawdy birthday card Donald Trump allegedly wrote to Jeffrey Epstein, Emma Tucker's phone rang. The British editor then stood her ground in face of a furious US president. And political and international editor Peter Hartcher writes that Trump's original White House strategist Steve Bannon still insists the 'deep state' runs the world. And while Bannon has many questions, he has few answers. 7.03am The top stories this morning Good morning, and welcome to Brisbane Times' live news coverage for Tuesday, July 22. Today should be cloudy, with a top temperature of 22 degrees. In this morning's local headlines: Complications with a 'once in a generation' under-river infrastructure project are forcing officials to dump millions of litres of raw sewage and stormwater directly into the Brisbane River. A man has been jailed after a Queensland grandmother was killed and her daughter seriously injured when the stolen car he was driving crashed into theirs car at high speed and he fled. A banned e-scooter and e-bike company has returned to Brisbane streets – but not as you might expect, as the global micromobility hire company merges with one of its key competitors. Queensland authorities say they will investigate multiple reported crocodile sightings on the Sunshine Coast, hundreds of kilometres south of Queensland's 'croc country'. Fresh off his maiden starting appearance in Wallabies colours in defeat to the British and Irish Lions, Tom Lynagh will brace for a future in which he is pitted against his brother in an international club clash.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
The unlikely killers near Australia's most dangerous river crossing
First Nations people living in the remote Northern Territory are still not expected to reach their 70th birthday. A rare visit inside one of the NT's oldest bush clinics demonstrates why. Kakadu National Park's notorious Cahills Crossing is the only road in and out of the Aboriginal community of Gunbalanya. Every day during the dry season, drivers plough their vehicles through the East Alligator River, navigating high tides and saltwater crocodiles as tourists look on. During the wet season, the remote community is cut off by road entirely. Cahills Crossing is known for its saltwater crocodiles and dangerous river conditions. ( ABC News: Tristan Hooft ) But it's not crocodiles harming locals out here — it's preventable diseases. In the Northern Territory's remote west Arnhem Land, common health problems are growing into unlikely killers. High blood pressure is leading to kidney dysfunction and skin infections are resulting in permanent heart damage. First Nations Territorians suffer disproportionately high rates of rheumatic heart disease. ( ABC News: Dane Hirst ) A patient waits to be treated at the Gunbalanya health clinic. ( ABC News: Dane Hirst ) The decades-old clinic is still operational. ( ABC News: Dane Hirst ) Despite the region's high burden of chronic illness, many patients dread going to Gunbalanya's makeshift health clinic. The decaying facility was originally built to manage a leprosy outbreak in the mid-20th century, according to Aboriginal health organisation Red Lily Health Board. "[It] was not designed to be a community health centre," its chief executive Brad Palmer said. The clinic was transferred from the NT health department to Red Lily Health Board earlier this month. Inside the asbestos-riddled building, paint is peeling off the walls and under-resourced health staff have become experts in compromise. Aboriginal health support worker Houston Manakgu finds patients and encourages them to visit the clinic. ( ABC News: Dane Hirst ) The clinic has fallen into disrepair. ( ABC News: Dane Hirst ) Health clinic staff make do with few resources. ( ABC News: Dane Hirst ) The biggest issue for patients is a lack of privacy. About 1,350 people from different clan groups live in Gunbalanya and everyone knows each other. The local clinic is so small that patients are sometimes asked to discuss personal health information in the same room as an acquaintance. Health support worker Houston Manakgu said the building's inappropriate design was a major deterrent for patients. "In Aboriginal culture way, man and female … have to be separate," he said. Avoiding "poison cousins" — certain relatives who must be avoided under Aboriginal kinship systems — is near impossible inside a bush clinic with one unisex toilet. Houston Manakgu says the Gunbalanya clinic does not consider cultural protocol. ( ABC News: Dane Hirst ) There's only one unisex toilet inside the building. ( ABC News: Dane Hirst ) The building is riddled with dangerous asbestos. ( ABC News: Dane Hirst ) Mr Manakgu said many people avoided the clinic altogether. "[They] say, 'Big mob in there, maybe we come back later'," he said. Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT chief executive John Paterson said delaying medical treatment was a common issue in remote communities, where chronic illnesses often developed into health emergencies. "If it goes untreated, then it worsens and worsens," he said. "It gets to the stage where it requires the patient being uplifted from remote communities and brought into an already overcrowded Royal Darwin Hospital." John Paterson says preventable diseases are turning into serious medical emergencies. ( ABC News: Dane Hirst ) Recognising the building's flaws, the former Labor government promised Gunbalanya a new health clinic in 2020. Five years later, the community is still waiting. Now, there's even further doubt after the Country Liberal Party government removed the $20 million project from its first budget. "My first reaction was surprise, because it had been promised," Mr Palmer said. "The design had been completed, the tender documents had been completed. It seemed it was a done deal." Red Lily Health Board chief executive Brad Palmer said his team was blindsided by the funding cut. ( ABC News: Dane Hirst ) Mr Palmer said Red Lily Health Board had since been kept in the dark about the project's future. "We just don't know anything," he said. "There hasn't really been any explanation of the reason why it was removed from the budget." In a statement, an NT government spokesperson blamed the previous Labor government for promising infrastructure projects it couldn't deliver. "Labor had announced a record number of projects but failed to allocate sufficient funding to deliver them," the spokesperson said. "We have not ruled out delivering a new health clinic at Gunbalanya, and it remains on the forward program for consideration." Mr Paterson said this kind of chopping and changing of government policy was holding Australia back from closing the gap on life expectancy. The NT has Australia's lowest life expectancy. ( ABC News: Dane Hirst ) Australia hopes to close the life expectancy gap by 2031. ( ABC News: Dane Hirst ) The most recent Productivity Commission data shows First Nations boys born in 2020-2022 are expected to live to about 72 years and girls to 75 years, while non-Indigenous children are expected to live to about 80 years and 84 years respectively. The gap is even wider in the remote Northern Territory, which has the lowest life expectancy in Australia. In communities like Gunbalanya, Aboriginal men are expected to live to about 65 years, while Aboriginal women are expected to live to about 69 years, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows. The data shows life expectancy for First Nations women in the NT is worse today than it was 15 years ago. "Politicians and governments will only do stuff on a three-year cycle in between each election," Mr Paterson said. "There's no long-term generational planning and funding commitment to really make a difference." Red Lily Health Board chairperson Marcia Brennan said listening to Aboriginal people was key to making progress. Marcia Brennan says improving First Nations health outcomes requires genuine collaboration. ( ABC News: Dane Hirst ) She said the government's failure to consider cultural protocol at the health clinic was just one example. "In our community, culture will always be there," she said. "It doesn't matter if we're in a balanda building or at home." Ms Brennan said the clinic's transition from the NT health department into Aboriginal community control was a step in the right direction. "Aboriginal staff need to be in Aboriginal clinics," she said. "We have to work together." Credits
