EXPOSING FAILINGS IN THE REGULATION OF AUSTRALIAN LIVE - EXPORT TRADE

With Encompass I

was able to accurately

understand the context

of the situation.

By seeing the full

picture, I uncovered

critical links that I may

have otherwise missed

Mario Christodoulou - researcher ABC Four Corners

CASE STUDY

The Challenge:ABC Four Corners wantedto uncover hidden links andcritical connections underextremely tight deadlines.

The Solution:Encompass revealed hidden links and connections through visualisation in a fraction of time.

Business ProblemIn 2012 Four Corners was investigating the brutal cull of more than 20,000 sheep in Pakistan. The aim was to investigate how the sheep came to be brutally killed in spite of government standards put in place for their protection. Mario was up against extremely tight deadlines. This was not only the last story of the year but also about a sensitive issue with potential geo-political and economic ramifications. To identify the links between key individuals traditionally Mario would have relied on printing paper reports like company extracts and directorship searches. For this investigation it was critical to identify various companies involved and the connections between directors.

Business Solution The OutcomeWorking to a deadline, Mario opted to use Encompass to research the story. By turning linear data into a picture Encompass instantly showed clear and important links.

Encompass showed an easily overlooked connection between Pakistani importer, Tariq Butt and Fremantle based live-export company, Wellard Exports. Encompass showed that the Australian office address for Butt was the same as the office address for Wellard, suggesting a closer relationship between the two than was first apparent. Without Encompass this connection may have been easily missed. Discovering this link prompted further questions. Further investigations revealed that Wellard Exports helped Tariq Butt set up his Australian directorship and also helped him acquire authorisation to import livestock in time for the arrival of the cargo of sheep.

The story ‘Another Bloody Business’, reported by Sarah Ferguson and presented by Kerry O’Brien, went to air on time on Monday 5 November. It exposed failings in the regulation of the live-export trade which contributed to the brutal cull of 20,000 Australian sheep in Pakistan. It was underpinned by rigorous research and scrupulous journalism upholding Four Corners’ reputation as one of the most trusted sources of investigative journalism.

Four Corners is the ABC’s flagship investigative journalism program. One of the most trusted sources of in depth journalism on television across Australia. Four Corners focuses on investigating systemic corruption or injustices based on rigorous research and often under tight deadlines. It is this attention to detail which has underpinned the success and popularity of the program for more than 50 years. The program seeks out and uses the best tools available to understand the full picture. Overlooking critical links between businesses and individuals in an investigation can often make or break a program.

Company Overview

The Bottom lineEncompass now plays a key role for ABC Four Corners in: » Conducting relational searches to uncover hidden links » Critical examination of multiple facts in a fraction of time » Redeployment of significant time savings into other activities » Thoroughly fact checking each story » Maintaining peace of mind that their stories are factually correct

and uphold the attention to detail which has earned the program such a trusted reputation

How ABC Four Corners used Encompass to uncover hidden links and identify critical connections for a program investigating the mistreatment of livestock in Pakistan.

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