Logan Sinclair’s death comes after brother Blake died in a Clutha River tragedy in 2013.
Tag Archives: oceania
Two arrested as part of Dezi Freeman investigation
Two people have been arrested by police and are now being questioned as officers investigate how fugitive Dezi Freeman remained on the run after fatally shooting two police officers at Porepunkah in August last year.
Detectives from Taskforce Summit, a special group set up to track Freeman's movements, today arrested the pair "as part of their ongoing investigation into the movements of Desmond Freeman".
A 48-year-old man and a 35-year-old man, each arrested at different locations in north-east Victoria, are now being interviewed by police.
LIVE UPDATES: As Trump claims deal is close, Iran is spotted laying mines
"The investigation remains ongoing and as such, we are not in a position to provide further details at this immediate time," police said in a statement.
Freeman was shot and killed at a property in Thologolong in March this year, after seven months on the run.
At the time of his death, police pledged to follow every angle into his time on the run, including whether he received assistance from others.
Coroner's court hears of Freeman's last moments
The two arrests came a day after a coroner's court heard of the final moments before double police killer Dezi Freeman died in a hail of bullets.
Holding a police-issued handgun stolen from an officer he had left for dead months prior, Freeman was struck in a hail of police bullets on March 30 at a remote property in Thologolong, Victoria.
Fresh details of Freeman's death were detailed in a Coroners Court directions hearing yesterday.
READ MORE: Dozens of protesters shut down part of Parliament House
The court earlier heard the 56-year-old killed Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson on his Porepunkah property, 310km northwest of Melbourne, in August 2025.
The officers were executing a warrant after disclosure of an alleged sexual assault involving a child, as well as an attempt to involve a child in the production of child abuse material.
Seven months later, Freeman would point the stolen gun at a team of arresting officers before being shot himself.
READ MORE: Mother called police after allegedly murdering four-year-old daughter
Counsel assisting Lindsay Spence told the court officers tracked Freeman down to a shipping container in Thologolong.
Police surrounded the dwelling on the morning of March 30, attempting to negotiate with Freeman via loudspeaker.
After two hours of negotiations, police deployed gas inside the shipping container.
Freeman emerged with a green bag covering his hands, before dropping the bag and revealing a firearm.
READ MORE: Search for evidence in Gus Lamont disappearance renewed by police
"The deceased was struck and immediately fell to the ground," Spence told the court.
"The black handgun, which the deceased had pointed and discharged at the (Special Operations Group) members, was later confirmed as the police-issued handgun he had stolen from Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart."
Freeman had told the fatally wounded officer to die in hell moments before shooting him again, the court was earlier told.
Police had been attempting to arrest Freeman at Porepunkah, where he was living in a converted bus with his family, including wife Mali.
Five officers had knocked at the door, before Freeman had yelled and refused to come out, saying the police "could go to hell," Spence said.
READ MORE: Minns admits 'giant intelligence failure' led to Bondi terror attack
Freeman was eventually shown a copy of the search warrant, which he described as "bullshit".
The court heard an officer climbed onto the bus roof but was unable to gain access, before Freeman said he was coming out.
After failing to exit, Thompson lifted himself through a window to gain access to the bus, but as his feet touched the ground, he was shot.
He suffered a gunshot wound to the face and neck, and collapsed immediately.
READ MORE: Queensland school shut after students exposed to mercury
A second officer, standing near Thompson, yelled "gun" and ran, activating a duress alarm, the court heard.
Freeman then shot de Waart-Hottart as the other officers ran and sought cover behind a shipping container.
"I had no choice," Freeman said.
The court heard Freeman returned to the bus after the shooting and swore over the bodies of both fallen officers.
READ MORE: Famous chimney stacks reduced to rubble in massive blast
"F—ing scum, die in hell," he yelled at police before firing de Waart-Hottart's firearm at Thompson again.
Freeman then stepped out of the bus with two guns and fired at a third officer, injuring them.
"He was last sighted running down the hill towards the river," Spence told the court.
Freeman later sent a message to his wife.
"Get a mile away and keep going. See you in heaven, love," he texted.
Speculation has been rife over how Freeman came to be in Thologolong, about 150km from Porepunkah, where he fatally shot the officers.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Mother called police after allegedly murdering four-year-old daughter
A mother charged with the murder of her four-year-old daughter was the one who called police to her home near Ipswich last night.
Emergency services were called to a house in Lowood, around 66km west of Brisbane after 11pm, where they found the child unresponsive.
There were two other children in the house at the time; both were under the age of three, and the 31-year-old woman in the house was also their mother.
LIVE UPDATES: 'No retreat': Iranian leader vows vengeance
Despite attempts from paramedics and police to revive the four-year-old, she was declared dead at the scene.
The other two children were not injured, and are now in the care of family members, Detective Inspector Michael Manago said.
He also confirmed the mother was the only adult home at the time of the alleged murder, with all three children having different fathers, according to initial investigations.
QUEENSLAND: Queensland school shut after students exposed to mercury
"It would have been a confronting scene," he said.
"This is an incredibly tragic situation… even more tragic given the presence of other young children."
A man was reportedly seen distressed outside the home, and Manago speculated it could have been the father of one of the other children, not of the four-year-old who died.
A cause of death is currently not clear, with police still in the early stages of investigating exactly what happened.
Police said they were speaking to a 31-year-old woman who is known to all three children, and she has now been charged with one count of murder domestic violence against a child.
She will appear in Ipswich Magistrates' Court this afternoon.
A crime scene has been declared, with police continuing their investigations.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
Search for evidence in Gus Lamont disappearance renewed by police
A renewed search for evidence into the disappearance of Gus Lamont is underway at the rural South Australian station from which he disappeared.
Police have said they are returning to Oak Park Station for the next three days to search parts of the property for any evidence that may shed light on the disappearance of the four-year-old in September last year.
The search, which Major Crime detectives and specialist officers will conduct, is set to take advantage of the recent heavy rain, which may help in the search for clues into his disappearance.
READ MORE: Second cohort of seven 'ISIS brides' and 12 children expected to arrive in Sydney within hours
Authorities have said an update will be provided as the investigations continue.
Gus' disappearance is being considered a major crime by South Australian police.
South Australian police have repeatedly said that Gus's parents are not considered suspects in his disappearance.
In February, police confirmed a person with close ties to the household, who is not one of Gus' parents, had been speaking with detectives but then allegedly "withdrew cooperation" and has since been identified as a suspect.
During investigations, police charged his 75-year-old grandparent, Josie Murray, with firearms offences, but emphasised that the charges were not linked to the four-year-old's disappearance.
Josie Murray and Gus' other grandparent, Shannon Murray, released a statement through their lawyers, saying they were "absolutely devastated" by SA Police's statement on February 6.
"We are absolutely devastated by the media release of SAPOL Major Crime. The family has cooperated fully with the investigation and want nothing more than to find Gus and reunite him with his mum and dad," the statement read.
The lawyers also indicated they will not be making any further comments.
There is no suggestion that Josie or Shannon Murray is involved in the disappearance of Gus, and it is not unusual for anyone linked to an investigation to seek out legal advice.
The search for Gus
Gus was last seen playing on a dirt mound at Oak Park Station around 5pm on September 27.
Following his disappearance, a full-scale ground and air search of the property and the surrounding area was launched.
No evidence of Gus has been uncovered despite extensive searches of the property, which Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said has been the "largest and most intensive" missing person search ever undertaken by SA Police.
The most recent search was called off in March after police were unable to find any new evidence, despite heavy rainfall in the area.
The multi-agency search for the missing toddler has expanded more than 700 square kilometres with the assistance of 80 Australian Defence Force soldiers, drones, mounted officers and aircraft.
More than 160 South Australian police officers have also been deployed, and authorities have received more than 150 tips about the missing boy since February.
READ MORE: Chalmers flags bigger tax cuts for next election
NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.
- Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
- Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
- Sign up to our breaking newsletter here
Congressman hasn’t been seen for 12 weeks, won’t say why
For 12 weeks, Tom Kean hasn't shown up to work.
He hasn't explained why he's been away, or even said where he is.
But because of his job, there's no way to sack him, force him back into the office or replace him, at least until November.
READ MORE: Trump posts AI video of himself attacking Stephen Colbert
It's because Kean is a US congressman, representing a swing seat when his party holds the narrowest majority.
Since mid-March, Kean has not faced the media, appeared on camera, gone to the office or done any public events.
His staff have told the media he has a medical condition, but have not disclosed what it is.
But his public spending disclosures revealed he or someone in his office claimed travel expenses for three rideshare trips in San Francisco last month, the other side of the country from his home district.
He has also been trading stocks in his absence from the office.
When his father was asked why Kean had not been seen in weeks, he replied: "There's no cameras where Tom is."
"He has seen more than one doctor, and he's under a doctor's care," Kean Snr told NJ.com.
"All the doctors say he's gonna be fine. But it's gonna take some time."
But last week Republican officials in his state of New Jersey began receiving phone calls from Kean, offering a proof-of-life but no details as to his condition.
"I anticipate that in the next couple of weeks, I'll return to voting and to the campaign trail," he told the New Jersey Globe.
Kean is in for a difficult race no matter what.
His district in New Jersey is one of the closest in the country, with Kean eking out narrow victories in 2022 and 2024. He lost his first bid for Congress in 2020 by only a few thousand votes.
Long before his mysterious disappearance, Kean was a top target for Democrats.
His absence is odd but entirely permissible under US law.
Members of Congress don't answer to anybody but their voters, and in between elections there is no mechanism to force them to show up to work.
READ MORE: Donald Trump too busy to attend son's wedding
Florida Democrat Frederica Wilson missed a full month of votes, though her social media accounts were reposting photos as if she was busy at work.
She revealed last week she had been recovering from eye surgery and was unable to fly "under my doctors' orders".
The 83-year-old is planning on running for re-election.
READ MORE: Trump comes one vote away from being forced to end war in Iran
NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.
- Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
- Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
- Sign up to our breaking newsletter here
Vivid cancels shows after drones plummet due to ‘technical difficulties’
Vivid Sydney has been forced to cancel its centrepiece drone show for multiple nights, blaming "technical difficulties" after drones were seen falling out of the sky.
Nearly 90 drones plummeted into the harbour during the early show last night, sparking comments on social media.
A Vivid spokesperson said the 7.30pm Star-Bound show was called off, and the 9.30pm edition was also cancelled along with both shows today and tomorrow to allow for a "full technical and safety review".
READ MORE: House price slump could be coming after weeks of low auction sales
Organisers blamed "unforeseen technical difficulties" for the mishaps in the earlier show.
"Monday's 7.30pm Vivid Sydney 'Star-Bound' drone show was cancelled due to unforeseen technical difficulties at the start of the performance. We apologise for the disappointment and inconvenience caused to attendees," the spokesperson said.
"The specialist operators identified a technical issue and made the decision to safely discontinue the show in line with standard safety protocols.
"Public safety is always the number one priority and a full assessment is now underway with the specialist operators and relevant government agencies advising on next steps."
READ MORE: Man charged with murdering baby who died after weeks in hospital
https://x.com/Taraustralis/status/2058853168621207887
SKYMAGIC, the operator leading the drone show, said in a statement that 89 drones landed in the water around Cockle Bay due to "an unforeseen change in the radio frequency (RF) environment occurring after take-off".
"This anomaly caused a number of drones in the fleet to enact failsafe landing procedures in response to compromised positional accuracy."
"The pilot team encountering the issue immediately performed a stop command rendering the fleet stationary in the air, enabling time to safely assess the issue.
"Once stability had been evaluated, the team then activated the return to home protocol bringing the unaffected drones to a safe landing," SKYMAGIC said in a statement.
The festival, which kicked off on Sunday night, showcases light installations, music performances, food and other experiences.
This year is a comeback for the drone show, which proved so wildly popular in 2024 that it was cancelled last year due to safety concerns. There was also criticism from some attendees that the show was underwhelming.
Sunday night's 7.30pm edition of the drone show had to be cancelled due to rain, but the 9.30pm edition went ahead without a hitch.
NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.
- Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
- Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
- Sign up to our breaking newsletter here
Famous chimney stacks reduced to rubble in massive blast
A pair of famous chimney stacks, which defined the architecture of Liddell Power Station in the NSW Hunter Valley for 52 years, have now been reduced to rubble.
Energy giant AGL orchestrated a controlled demolition of the pair of 168-metre chimneys as the site undergoes a major demolition and redevelopment.
AGL hosted a livestream of the demolition and hundreds of people watched in real-time as the structures crumbled to the ground after explosives were detonated at the base.
READ MORE: Seven 'ISIS brides' and 12 children expected to arrive in Sydney within hours
LIVE UPDATES: Iran will not retreat, top security official says in first message to Iranian public
The chimneys came crashing down a little after 11am today.
The rest of the station will be demolished following the twin chimney blast.
The New England Highway was closed temporarily ahead of the detonation.
Liddell Power Station was opened near Muswellbrook in 1971.
The coal-fired power station was then decommissioned in April 2023 after 52 years and early demolition began in early 2024.
READ MORE: Rain to soak every state as multiple low-pressure systems collide
Over the past 18 months, the site has been slowly cleaned out and disconnected.
"The demolition of the Liddell Power Station is a large and complex project that will be executed by a specialist team following years of planning," AGL said.
The site will be redeveloped by AGL into a new industrial energy hub, which will include a 500 MW grid-scale battery.
Over half of the employees at the Liddell site were transfered to AGL's Bayswater location, while the remaining staff have either left the company or transitioned into retirement.
Liddell electrical tradesperson Jackson Channon said Liddell's demolition has been "bittersweet" for his colleagues and family.
"My grandfather drove one of the trucks when they were building Liddell, and my parents worked here – this place has meant a lot to my family, and for the people who work here, it's like a community of mates," he said.
NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.
- Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
- Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
- Sign up to our breaking newsletter here
Hundreds of dollars in power bill relief coming for millions
Millions of Australians will feel some welcome relief with power bills to drop in the second half of the year.
The Australian Energy Regulator has handed down its final default market offer for south-east Queensland, NSW, and South Australia.
Residential addresses will see prices fall in NSW (by 3.4 to 5 per cent) and south-east Queensland (by 7.2 per cent), while South Australia is bucking the trend with a 1.4 per cent increase.
LIVE UPDATES: Trump's demand stuns Arab leaders into silence
That's an average of $66 to $137 off the bill for NSW residents, and a $155 drop for Queensland, alongside a $33 increase for South Australia.
But small businesses in all three zones will enjoy a discount, of 9 to 11.3 per cent ($432 to $705) in NSW, 10.4 per cent in south-east Queensland ($445), and 6.8 per cent ($379) in South Australia.
The bill relief will kick in from July 1 this year.
READ MORE: Homicide investigation launched after child found dead in home
Victoria also received welcome news yesterday, with flat rate plans to drop by 3 to 8 eight per cent, saving a typical household between $50 and $160 a year.
The average saving is estimated to be a five per cent drop, or $84.
But experts have reminded consumers that default offers are a "safeguard price" for consumers who choose to not shop around, and there may still be cheaper options out there.
READ MORE: Rain to soak every state as multiple low-pressure systems collide
"I would urge electricity customers to use today's news to shop around for a better energy deal," iSelect comparison expert Sophie Ryan said.
Sophie said a failure to shop around for the best deal could be "costing Aussies dearly" and said consumers should review their plan.
"New prices take effect 1 July 2026, coinciding with the introduction of a new Solar Sharer Offer, giving smart meter households three hours of free electricity in the middle of the day – an opt-in opportunity to cut bills further by shifting usage like washing machines, EV charging or air conditioning to off-peak solar hours," she said.
Canstar found that the bill relief was driven partially by a fall in energy wholesale costs, despite the ongoing global fuel crisis.
It also costs less to deliver power to people's homes, and environmental costs have nearly halved.
Rain to soak every state as multiple low-pressure systems collide
Rain is on the way for every state and territory over the coming days, with some parts of south-eastern Australia expected to receive a drenching.
The mix of multiple low-pressure systems and upper-level cooler air is providing ideal conditions for wet, stormy and windy weather, reports weather data firm Weatherzone.
The unstable conditions took hold in South Australia, Queensland, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, the ACT and the southern Northern Territory early this week.
LIVE UPDATES: Iran will not retreat, top security official says
The rain is forecast to intensify across eastern Australia by Friday, before further showers spread over south-eastern states over the weekend.
Weather modelling suggests eastern and northern NSW and eastern Tasmania having a strong chance of heavy rain and potential flooding. Parts of the ACT, eastern Victoria and southern Queensland also have the possibility of major falls.
READ MORE: Vivid Sydney cancels shows after drones plummet from sky due to 'technical difficulties'
In addition to the wet conditions, there is a warning of stronger winds and hazardous waves off the coast of NSW, Victoria and Tasmania.
The Bureau of Meteorology today issued a hazardous surf warning for the Byron, Coffs, Macquarie and Hunter coasts in northern NSW.
Western Australia won't be spared the wet and stormy weather either.
The damp conditions will make their impact from tomorrow when rain, thunderstorms and blustery winds are expected in the state's south-west.
Later in the week, a complex low-pressure system is forecast, with a strong chance of heavy rain, damaging winds and severe thunderstorms.
Southern hemisphere’s largest wind farm stirs fierce debate in small town
Victoria has approved what's touted to become the largest wind farm in the southern hemisphere, clearing the way for a massive renewable energy project despite fierce opposition from locals.
The proposed Warracknabeal Energy Park will span about 26,000 hectares of the state's north-west and is slated to include up to 219 turbines. It could supply enough power for 1.2 million homes.
But the windfarm has ignited furious pushback on the ground, with community groups and farmers warning it will devastate the region's identity.
READ MORE: House price slump could be coming after weeks of low auction sales
Grassroots opponents argue the state government has largely dismissed the environmental and community impacts.
Wimmera Mallee Environmental and Agricultural Protection Association president Ross Johns was born and bred in Warracknabeal and attended all 19 days of the planning inquiry.
Johns claimed there were "glaring omissions" in the final approval and that the minister had ignored key planning panel recommendations, citing the rejection of guidelines on meteorological towers and sound emission levels.
READ MORE: Man charged with murdering baby who died after weeks in hospital
"This is completely unreasonable and has not protected Australia's best interests," he said.
Among his other concerns are the infrastructure demands required to get it off the ground.
"There are 144,800 truck movements needed to build the project … that will completely destroy rural roads."
For those who have watched the town change over decades, the sprawling wind farm arrives at a time of economic anxiety.
Among them is one local, who has decided to remain anonymous, whose family has lived in Warracknabeal for generations.
Having witnessed a steady downturn firsthand, he said the town's vulnerability had the community on edge.
"I am very invested in this town, but the decline many of us have seen over the years is undeniable," he said. "There have never been so many closed shops. We are even losing our local doctor, who is moving to Ballarat."
READ MORE: Cairns father and spearfisher identified as victim of horror shark attack
He noted that this economic stagnation had fuelled a massive political swing toward One Nation and cleared the path for what he described as "economically suicidal" local opposition.
"There is a severe lack of local counter-arguments to the massive misinformation being pushed out here regarding health effects, or claims that renewables simply don't work," he said.
Yarriambiack Shire Council said the approval came with a strict series of conditions covering biodiversity, water management, bushfire planning, traffic, cultural heritage, and environmental mitigation measures.
Mayor Andrew McLean described it as "a significant project not just for Yarriambiack, but for the state's energy transition plan". However, he stressed that the long-term impacts on agriculture and the local environment must be carefully managed.
While the council noted some concerns had been addressed – including water quality monitoring, road management responsibilities, and consultation with CFA brigades – it said several major issues remained unresolved, such as turbine setback distances and aviation safety hazards near Warracknabeal Airport.
The anonymous resident argued that the resistance was less about the turbines' physical footprint and more about what they represented to a changing community.
READ MORE: Two arrested over Ho Chi Minh City assassination of Australian gang figure
"Wind turbines and solar farms are visually associated with progressive politics, climate activism, and urban, elite values," he said.
"Conversely, coal, gas, and traditional grid infrastructure are associated with rural work, energy independence, and 'the way things were'."
"Opposing a wind farm isn't just about the wind farm – it's a way of resisting a worldview and a sense that rural communities are being remade to serve urban climate goals."
Despite the blowback, supporters maintain that such initiatives are critical as Australia moves to decommission its ageing coal-fired power fleet.
Monash University electrical and computer systems engineering Professor Behrooz Bahrani said investing in renewables is vital for national grid stability.
"Projects of this scale are important because Australia's electricity system needs large volumes of clean energy to replace ageing fossil fuel generation," Bahrani said.
"The more important question now is how these projects are integrated into the power system, including their connection design, control systems, storage integration, and ability to support the grid during disturbances."
The Warracknabeal Energy Park will still require federal environmental approval before construction can begin.
NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.
- Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
- Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
- Sign up to our breaking newsletter here