60 Minutes: July 23

60 Minutes reports on a radical Baptist ministry, political ‘kingmaker’ Graham Richardson and even the infamous feud between ice skaters Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan.

Sins of the Father
There’s never been more scrutiny of the world’s major religions, with a series of sex abuse scandals and cover-ups testing the most faithful. But there’s an equally sinister doctrine being openly preached in small suburban churches scattered around Australia. They call themselves the Independent Baptists, a radical, non-aligned movement with no connection to the mainstream Australian Baptist Ministries. Under the extreme teachings of this church, women must submit to their husband’s every whim. Now one very brave victim of this evil doctrine has decided enough is enough. She lived through hell by being married to a so-called Christian pastor who raped her several times a day. She unfortunately discovered that this cruel dogma runs deep, as her own son, also a pastor, has now turned against her.
Reporter: Liam Bartlett
Producer: Steve Jackson

Thin Ice
Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan are two of the most famous ice skaters in the world, known not only for their performances but also for one of the biggest scandals in sporting history. The then darling of the rink, Nancy, was knee-capped as she competed for a place on the 1994 US Olympic team. Tonya Harding was accused of being the mastermind of the attack. She was kicked out of ice skating quicker than she could perform the triple axel jump she helped make famous, but that was not the end of this long-running and very ugly sporting spat.
Reporter: Peter Stefanovic
Producer: Michelle Tapper

Richo
If you think politics is bitter and twisted today, it’s nothing compared to when Graham Richardson strode the corridors of power. “Richo” was the numbers man back in the heyday of the Hawke and Keating governments, and there was no one tougher than this head-kicking kingmaker. Twenty-three years ago, however, Senator Richardson unexpectedly quit parliament. As it turns out, he did it because he had an even greater foe to beat: chondrosarcoma, a devastating cancer in the pelvis. At first Richo battled admirably in his fight, but last year the disease did the unthinkable and began dictating terms to a man very unaccustomed to losing. What this politician did next was both desperate and drastic.
Reporter: Charles Wooley
Producer: Sandra Odorisio

8:45pm Sunday July 23 on Nine.