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Encore: The detective who led the hunt for Ivan Milat

November 10, 2026 · 50 min

Show notes

The late Clive Small on how he led the NSW Police task force which helped to put one of Australia’s worst serial killers behind bars.

In the 1990s, a series of young people’s bodies were found in makeshift graves in the Belanglo State Forest.

After many false leads, precious clues emerged pointing to one man – Ivan Milat.

Clive and his team followed an intricate process in carefully piecing together the evidence that led to Milat’s conviction.

In 1996, the former road worker was sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences for the murder of seven backpackers.

Clive went on to become Assistant Commissioner of the New South Wales Police, and was later chief investigator for NSW's ICAC: Independent Commission Against Corruption.

His book about the case is called Milat: Inside Australia's Biggest Manhunt

Clive Small died last year at the age of 79.

This episode was first broadcast in 2014

Further information

Milat: Inside Australia's Biggest Manhunt is published by Allen & UnwinThis episode of Conversations explores murder, serial killers, police work, detectives, Ivan Milat, evidence, the backpacker murders, Belanglo State Forest, NSW Police, Clive Small, Paul Onion, murder victims, prison, cruelty, The Milat Family, violence.

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