This is Australian True Crime with Michelle Laurie, and this week documentary maker and all-round

terrific guy Mark Vennel joins us to talk about his latest production on SPS. It's about a case

that looms large in my memory, but is apparently largely forgotten by most Australians.

It's the story of John Friedrich, a maverick, whose obsession with public safety saw him lauded by prime ministers.

But shortly after, he became the most hunted fugitive in the country.

To be fair, the reason I remember it is because the comedy group, the Doug Anthony All-Stars, did a song about it,

that I re-watched hundreds of times because I was such a big fan.

He's a prince, a champ, a Swami with his own pride. that I rewatched hundreds of times because I was such a big fan.

He's a prince, a champ, a swami, with his own private army,

and he's fought for the rights of every man, woman and child.

Well, he took the cash and did the dash,

but no one knows where his head the stash.

Friedrich made a time on the inside.

The fact that they wrote the song reflects how massive a cultural moment John Friedrich was back in 1991.

But who was he really?

Was he a fraudster?

Was he a spy?

Mark Fennell joins us on the show to talk about it.

This is Australian True Crime. We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast is created,

the Wurundri, Woi Wurang people of the Koolan Nation. And a warning, this episode of the podcast

contains discussions around suicide.

The National Safety Council is the most boringly named organisation in the country, right?

...