Peter McCutcheon
Peter McCutcheon is a senior journalist and former foreign correspondent, who has been with the ABC's 7.30 Report in Brisbane since 2003.
Peter was the ABC's North Asia correspondent in Tokyo from 1996 to 1999, where he covered the Asian financial crisis as well as the 1997 Kyoto Climate Change Conference.
He also covered the 1996 Port Arthur massacre for the AM and PM radio current affairs programs, and was a national industrial correspondent during the dismantling of the centralised wage fixing system in the early 1990s.
Latest by Peter McCutcheon
Psychedelics can be used to treat mental health conditions but one doctor's social media moment has caused concern
In 2023 Australia's TGA made the decision to take some psychedelic drugs off the prohibited list but the medical fraternity is split over the expectation of what they can do for people versus the reality of prescribing them.
Psychologist doesn't understand why Qld government accepts 'abhorrent conditions' in police watch house
Inside a watch house in Cairns, children as young as 10 are locked into cells designed for adults, sometimes four at a time with their mattresses on the floor.
'Australians don't want more extinctions': Leading ecologist warns about climate change impact on biodiversity
One of Australia's leading ecologists says climate change should be specifically mentioned for the first time in revamped threatened species legislation, due to be released by the Albanese government in 2024.
Rising rents drive mum and four kids into homelessness
Single mum Jasmine Sloane has been homeless since her landlord put up the rent a month ago. She's part of a disturbing new trend in Queensland's housing crisis, with a growing number of families suddenly facing homelessness.
'Takes the wind out of you': Mick Gooda says backlash after failed Voice referendum greater than expected
Indigenous elder Mick Gooda says the backlash in Queensland after the failure of the Voice referendum has been greater than he expected.
Bob Katter says the Voice to Parliament won't help disadvantaged Indigenous communities
Indigenous leaders in Cape York and the Gulf say the Voice to Parliament can make a difference, provided it has strong grassroots participation.
'There was just nothing else': Expensive rents forcing older women into shared housing
Skyrocketing rents are pushing many older single women into a type of accommodation that is usually associated with young adults — shared housing.
Analysis
analysis:What's fuelling speculation about Annastacia Palaszczuk's leadership?
Annastacia Palaszczuk has been a favourite topic of discussion at just about every media event held by Queensland ministers over the past week, despite the Labor premier being more than 15,000 kilometres away on holidays in southern Italy, writes Peter McCutcheon.
Gareth died in a drilling rig tragedy. His parents had to wait a decade for answers.
The parents of a young man who was killed while working on a gas drilling rig 10 years ago say waiting to get answers has been like torture.
'As good as we can get it': Serious dingo attacks on K'gari prove difficult to reduce
A wildlife expert says reducing the number of serious dingo attacks on the world heritage sand island of K'gari is going to be difficult.
Border Force seizes 3 million illegal cigarettes in Queensland raids
Authorities say they have dismantled a large-scale illicit tobacco syndicate operating in south-east Queensland, seizing nearly 3 million illegal cigarettes and 380 kilograms of the drug.
'It will never get to Brisbane': Inland Rail project at a crossroads
The Inland Rail project from Melbourne to Brisbane was originally due to be completed in 2025. But with construction yet to get underway anywhere in Queensland, some are asking whether the entire project will ever be finished.
Revealing and mapping the secrets of one of Australia's most intriguing rivers
A group of scientists and traditional owners is carrying out a complete audit of one of Australia's most vulnerable rivers.
Truck blind spots still pose a danger to cyclists, nearly a decade after an inquest called for mandatory sensors
The recent cycling death of a celebrated rural doctor has highlighted the dangers of blind spots on trucks and prompted renewed calls for road safety reforms.
If you go under the knife, an insider says there could be a sales rep in the surgeon's ear
A former marketing manager for medical device companies says company reps would go into operating theatres ostensibly to give surgeons technical support, but with the prime aim of selling more products.
'Death by a thousand cuts': Boy fighting to save cockatoo habitat from aged care development
An 11-year-old boy's campaign to save the habitat of the vulnerable glossy black cockatoo is highlighting shortcomings in federal threatened species laws.
Artist William Robinson coming to terms with the death of his wife and muse
William Robinson's art studio has been mostly dormant since the death of his wife Shirley. Now he is marking the period of mourning with an exhibition in her honour.
'There's no going back': Queensland land clearances raise questions over vulnerable species' protections
The loss of habitat likely to contain threatened animal and plant species has raised further questions about the effectiveness of state and federal environmental protection laws.
Queensland inquiry into Star casino leaves many questions unanswered
Queensland's casino regulator and its actions should be scrutinised by the state's inquiry into the Star Entertainment Group, industry insiders say, as the commission prepares to release its final report.
'Dangerous experiment': Doctors sceptical over pharmacist prescription proposal as pilot program faces delays
Some Australians are waiting longer than ever to see their GP, and one state has come up with a possible solution that would allow pharmacists to take over some of the doctors' prescription work. But a trial that was due to begin in June has now been delayed, with no clear timeline for when it will begin.
Childcare sector reaching crisis point over workforce shortages and low wages
Childcare centres around Australia say they're rapidly losing staff, and there is broad agreement about the root cause of the problem — wages in the sector are just too low.
Young adult researchers with Down syndrome hoping to change the narrative
A new study of young adults with Down syndrome has found they often have high aspirations, usually grounded with a sense of realism.
Murder victim's requests for help were 'dismissed' by police, daughter says
The daughter of a domestic violence murder victim says women in Queensland are forced to play a game of "Russian roulette" as to whether they are going to get proper support from police.
'I can get my life back': Kerryn is looking forward to the end of the cashless debit card
For single mother Kerryn Griffis, who has been on the Cashless Debit Card for more than three years, its removal can't come soon enough. But not everyone wants it gone.
China-Solomon Islands security deal could lead to a 'difficult' situation for Australian troops in Honiara
Solomon Islands and China signed a wide-ranging security deal in April that opens the way for Beijing to send police and military forces to the Pacific nation, but there are questions over how the agreement will operate.