About this episode

This episode introduces a three-part investigation into the challenges of bringing a proton therapy machine to Australia.

It's a plan so good that everyone wants to believe it. Bring a life-saving cancer machine to Australia so desperate families don't have to travel overseas for treatment. But the plan keeps failing. The latest idea is to build a half-billion-dollar health science precinct in the heart of Sydney to house Australia's first proton therapy machine. It's got some big names backing it, support from a federal politician, and the green light from state government and local council. So why, when reporters Julia Bergin and Loretta Florance take a closer look, is it so hard to get a clear answer about what's going on? Is it happening? And what will it take to bring this machine to Australia? This Bloody Machine is a three-part Background Briefing investigation that follows a trail of money, egos, secret plans and changing stories to find out if the proton therapy dream is too good to be true.

Topics covered

• cancer treatment
• healthcare
• investigation
• government policy
• medical technology

Keywords

• cancer
• proton therapy
• health science
• Sydney
• investigation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: ABC Australia, Australian government

Products: proton therapy machine

Places: Sydney

More episodes of Background Briefing

• 02 'This Bloody Machine' | The Other Plan · September 3, 2026 · 32 min
• 01 'This Bloody Machine' | Jewel in the Crown · August 27, 2026 · 31 min
• Long Read | The Girl Who Vanished From Her Bed: Part Two · July 23, 2026 · 15 min

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