In December 2005, Richard Baker published a story about an obscure oil company called Tigris Petroleum, and its ties to Iraq. A few weeks later, Tigris would be linked to the AWB at the Cole inquiry. In this bonus episode, Richard revisits the story, and finally gets some key documents about Tigris released. 

Featured:

• Michael Long
• Alexander Downer
• Ross Fusca

Contact: [email protected] 

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Richard Baker interviews former Prime Minister John Howard, to find out why Australia went into the Iraq War, and ask how much his government knew about the AWB’s dealings.  

Featured:

• John Howard
• Caroline Overington 
• Alexander Downer
• Trevor Flugge

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The Cole inquiry recommends the AWB be investigated, and the Australian Federal Police set up a taskforce. Richard Baker speaks to former AFP officer Ross Fusca and finds out the taskforce mysteriously disappeared. The corporate regulator, ASIC, also attempts to hold the wheat men to account. 

Featured:

• Darryl Hockey
• Ross Fusca
• Michael Long
• Trevor Flugge
• Rod McLeod (voicing Mark Emons) 
• Dan Mullins (voicing lawyer)

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It’s Trevor Flugge and Michael Long’s turn in the witness box, though it couldn’t have come at a worse time. The media is fixated on photos of the pair in Baghdad holding guns, looking like cavalier cowboys. But they won’t be the only powerful men called to give evidence.  

Featured:

• Trevor Flugge
• Michael Long
• Nonee Walsh
• Kelvin Thomson
• Alexander Downer
• Darryl Hockey

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The Australian government announces an inquiry into the AWB, with the lawyers hoping to prove the AWB knew it was breaching sanctions. A whistleblower fronts the inquiry to give evidence... in secret. 

Featured:

• Trevor Flugge
• Darryl Hockey
• Michael Long
• Anwar Al-Rawi
• Rod McLeod (voicing Mark Emons) 
• Dan Mullins (voicing lawyer)

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Saddam Hussein has been found, weapons of mass destruction have not. The reason for the Iraq invasion crumbles, and the world’s attention is turned to corruption in the United Nations Oil For Food Program. The AWB’s dealings in Iraq are about to come under scrutiny from an international investigation. 

Featured:

• Darryl Hockey
• Alexander Downer
• Caroline Overington 
• Mark Pieth 

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The US invades Iraq, and good old Australia has joined. The Australian wheat men are on the ground a month later, and the secret mission begins – protect Australia’s lucrative wheat market. 

Featured:

• Robin Raphel 
• Trevor Flugge
• Michael Long
• Lieutenant Colonel Paul Wright
• Alexander Downer
• Alan Tracy

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The drums of war are beating, and the Australian Wheat Board’s multimillion-dollar trade with Iraq is at risk. Lucky for them, powerful sources promise to keep the AWB informed of any signs of war, while the public hears something different.  

Featured:

• Trevor Flugge
• Darryl Hockey
• Alexander Downer
• Anwar Al-Rawi
• Michael Long

Contact: [email protected]

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How did the Australian Wheat Board (AWB) fund Saddam Hussein’s regime? Richard Baker speaks with Michael Long and Trevor Flugge from the Australian Wheat Board (AWB) to find out how Australia built a strong trade relationship with Iraq.

Featured:

• Anwar Al-Rawi
• Maitham Al-alyawy
• Michael Long
• Trevor Flugge

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In the lead up to the Iraq War, the Australian Wheat Board (AWB), gave $300 million in illicit funds to Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Journalist Richard Baker meets Trevor Flugge, the AWB’s chairman who went on to be the poster boy for the corruption scandal, thanks to a leaked photo.  

Featured:

• Trevor Flugge

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It’s Australia’s biggest corruption scandal: $300 million funnelled to a notorious dictator via dodgy wheat contracts in the lead up to the Iraq War.   

Award-winning journalist Richard Baker takes you inside the scandal, with the help of three wheat salesmen caught in the middle of extraordinary world events. Were they cowboys who pocketed millions for their company? Scapegoats for a government stuff up? Or something in between...  

Secrets We Keep: Baghdad Nights launches August 6.  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.