2nd May 1996

Plod investigates two battlers who claim to have lost their life savings in a recent bank robbery; Gibbo's investigation of the forthcoming national budget leads to a strange offer from the Treasurer; and Georgi's expose of the relationship between a cabinet minister and a land developer causes unexpected retaliation by the government.

Plod finagles an exclusive interview with a woman who claims her sister was murdered; Tess smells news in the privatization of the city's sewerage farm; Georgi and Gibbo track down an elusive developer to get an interview; and cub reporter Nathan Cohen stumbles upon the biggest story of his life.

Rumors abound that the Mercury may be taken over by a West Australian media mogul; Bill has to decide whether or not to give the boot to an arrogant photographer; Georgi exposes a film studio; and Plod uncovers a strange link between Treasurer Clare Bannister and a murderer.

Nell takes over as editor while Bill is away being grilled by the company's new investor; Tess teams up with general reporter Karin Grunewald to expose the exploitation of migrant garment workers; Ross covers an exorcism that ended in tragedy.

Gibbo investigates pedophilia in high places; general reporter Kevin Kinsella manages to get an exclusive interview with the parents of a baby who has just survived a risky operation.

When labor troubles beset the Sunday Mercury, Bill Wyatt and Georgi Singer find themselves on opposite sides, and when the journalists are called on to strike, Tess and Nathan must sacrifice their hard-won stories and Bill and Nell have to get the paper out on their own.

Plod re-investigates a controversial police raid; Georgi and Gibbo try to expose crooked property developer Mil Pascoe.

Cub reporter Nathan Cohen almost blows Tess's exclusive story; Gibbo begins a dangerous relationship with Clare Bannister; Georgi has a fit when one of her stories is blown by the government, and she accuses Gibbo of leaking it.

Tess finds the experience intoxicating when she takes over Rocco's gossip column for the week; everyone comes together for Gibbo when tragedy overtakes the foreign correspondent.

Gibbo gets a story that threatens the Opposition Leader's career, but faces a crisis in his personal life; a sports figure just released from jail wants Sylvie Waterman to write his biography; and Georgi finally digs up some real dirt on the crooked dealings of developer Mil Pascoe.

Kevin Kinsella writes a moving story about his and his wife's attempts at In Vitro Fertilization; Georgi has to answer charges of breaching journalistic privilege before a parliamentary committee; Clare Bannister makes her long-anticipated run for the office of Premier.

It's the last week before a government-called election and it looks like an Opposition victory; Bill is beseiged by fans objecting to a rock star's obituary; and his story about a young cop shooting a psychiatric patient has Gibbo facing his own demons.