30 PACIFIC JOURNALISM REVIEW 18 (1) 2012 ‘BACK TO THE SOURCE’ 3. Panel discussion—investigative case studies The transcript of a panel discussion on two Australian investiga- tive journalism case studies, moderated by Helen Vatsikopoulos: 1. Dirty Money: The Age and ABC Four Corners investigations in 2009 and 2010 into the Federal Reserve Bank and the allegedly corrupt activi- ties of some staff of a subsidiary company, Securency—Richard Baker, Nick McKenzie and Sue Spencer; 2. Crime Does Pay: a Sydney Morning Herald investigation into how the law enforcement agency NSW Crime Commission has been sharing the proceeds of crime with organised crime igures, cutting deals that allow them to walk away with millions of dol- lars—Dylan Welch, Linton Besser. HELEN VATSIKOPOULOS, RICHARD BAKER, NICK MCKENZIE, SUE SPENCER, DYLAN WELCH AND LINTON BESSER Case 1: Dirty Money R ICHARD BAKER: I irst got a whiff of the story in September 2008. An acquaintance who I’d got to know through journalism wandered up and said he knew a guy with a hell of a story. I said What’s it about? He replied that the Reserve Bank had these companies, Securency and Note Printing Australia. I had to admit I’d never heard of them. He said in a nutshell his mate knew a bit about it and they were paying massive bribes to foreign politicians and oficials all over the world to secure con- tracts. So I thought it sounded pretty good. Naturally, I asked if I could meet this guy. So he set up a meeting. We haven’t revealed the identity of this person because they asked to remain conidential, so I might refer to him as the Insider for ease. The Insider and I met at this little café in Spencer Street in Melbourne. The Insider had recently resigned from Securency and he explained how the company was 50 percent owned by the Reserve Bank of Australia and its board was controlled and overseen by Reserve Bank appointees. COMMENTARY