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Expanse S3: Spies in the Outback

Sold on a lie, built on stolen land and shrouded in secrecy; Pine Gap has been called a space base, a spy base, an obscenity hidden on the fringe of an outback Australian town.

Born from rising Cold War nuclear fear, Pine Gap eavesdrops on the world and

Season three of Expanse dives into the murky world of spies, lies and secrets surrounding the most secretive place in Australia.

Expanse explores big stories from across Australia — a vast continent where anything can happen.

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05: Spies in the Outback | The secrets of Pine Gap

Host Alex Barwick hears just how far Pine Gap’s reach is today, uncovers the secrets of stolen land and explores what it means for Australia to have a spy base hidden in the heart of the country.

Published: 14 May 2024Tue 14 May 2024 at 8:00pmwith Alex Barwick

Duration: 43 minutes 44 seconds

More from Expanse

04 Spies in the Outback | The spy who loved Alice

The Cold War has finally ended but Pine Gap, or ‘The Base’ as it’s become known, is expanding and it’s getting involved in conflicts across the world.

Duration: 30 minutes 5 seconds

Published: 7 May 2024Tue 7 May 2024 at 8:00pmwith Alex Barwick

03 Spies in the Outback | The women get wild

Nuclear fear prompts thousands to flood to Alice Springs in the 1980s to try and close Pine Gap and reveal its secrets. This time the woman are in charge and they don't want Australia involved in nuclear war.

Duration: 31 minutes 1 second

Published: 30 Apr 2024Tue 30 Apr 2024 at 8:00pmwith Alex Barwick

02 Spies in the Outback | Politics, pressure and protest

As the Cold War enters the 70s, it becomes clear that Pine Gap is really a spy base with eyes on the Soviets – and it's putting Alice Springs in the nuclear crosshairs.

Duration: 31 minutes 5 seconds

Published: 23 Apr 2024Tue 23 Apr 2024 at 8:00pmwith Alex Barwick

01 Spies in the Outback | Selling a space base

In the grip of a crippling drought in the 1960s, Alice Springs sees an economic lifeline when America promises to build a 'space base' on the edge of town.

Duration: 30 minutes 7 seconds

Published: 16 Apr 2024Tue 16 Apr 2024 at 8:00pmwith Alex Barwick

Series 1: Pink Diamond Heist

01 Pink Diamond Heist | The Argyle Intrigue

In all my years of journalism, there is one story that's stuck with me. Twenty years ago I was out bush chatting to diamond explorers about a heist that happened in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Duration: 22 minutes 24 seconds

Published: 12 Jun 2024Wed 12 Jun 2024 at 3:47amby Sinéad Mangan

02 Pink Diamond Heist | A Heist is Born

How do you pull off the perfect heist? Would you believe there's actually a recipe for it? While some heists are of Mission Impossible proportions, our caper is a little more domestic.

Duration: 30 minutes

Published: 12 Jun 2024Wed 12 Jun 2024 at 3:47amwith Sinéad Mangan

03 Pink Diamond Heist | Lynette

What would you do if you found your husband washing diamonds in the sink? For the woman at the centre of our story this was a life changing moment. How did Lynette go from lipstick sales to diamond courier?

Duration: 33 minutes

Published: 14 Jun 2024Fri 14 Jun 2024 at 3:39amby Sinéad Mangan

04 Pink Diamond Heist | How to catch a Thief

Our less than smooth criminals managed to out-fox and outlast their police pursuers for about four years, helped by suspect dealings.

Duration: 39 minutes

Published: 12 Jun 2024Wed 12 Jun 2024 at 6:08amby Sinéad Mangan

Expanse: From The Dead

01 From the Dead | The Blythe Star

As 18-year-old Mick Doleman farewelled young love to set sail on the Blythe Star, he could never have seen what was coming.

Duration: 28 minutes

Published: 4 Jun 2024Tue 4 Jun 2024 at 6:28amwith Piia Wirsu

02 From the Dead | Lost at Sea

When the Blythe Star fails to turn up at port as scheduled, the authorities are left scratching their heads. Meanwhile, the families of the crew reel at the news the ship is missing.

Duration: 32 minutes

Published: 4 Jun 2024Tue 4 Jun 2024 at 6:29amwith Piia Wirsu

03 From the Dead | The Search

When the Blythe Star fails to turn up at port as scheduled, the authorities are left scratching their heads. Meanwhile, the families of the crew reel at the news the ship is missing.

Duration: 32 minutes

Published: 4 Jun 2024Tue 4 Jun 2024 at 6:30amwith Piia Wirsu

04 From the Dead | Missing: Presumed Dead

The search is called off and the men are declared dead, leaving loved ones reeling. But on the raft, the men have one final hope for salvation. In this episode time runs out for the men, as they have a make-or-break opportunity.

Duration: 27 minutes

Published: 4 Jun 2024Tue 4 Jun 2024 at 6:32amwith Piia Wirsu

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