Tag Archives: oceania

Aerial images provide the closest look yet at Dezi Freeman’s hideout

Fresh pictures of Dezi Freeman's High Country hideout provide the closest look yet into the life the double police killer was living on the run.

Police last night left the Thologolong property where the double police killer died in a volley of gunfire on Monday.

Detectives and forensics had spent three days combing through the 35-hectare property in a bid to unearth clues about anyone who may have been helping the fugitive during his seven months on the run.

READ MORE: Marles defends PM's no-news national address

Fresh pictures of Dezi Freeman's high country hideout give new insight into the life the double police killer was living on the run.Dezi Freeman

The crime scene has now been cleaned and locked up, but fresh aerial images lay bare the extent of the squalor Freeman had been living amongst.

Two pairs of sunglasses, similar to those Freeman had been photographed in previously, were captured resting on a trestle table next to a portable stove and a dirty plate.

Bullet holes were peppered across a tinny boat behind the container, pointing to how Freeman's last stand may have ended.

Two large gas cylinders and a kitchen sink, featuring a drying rack with crockery and pots, suggest someone had been living in the shipping container, or intended to stay, for a prolonged period.

Also of interest to police were several chairs dotted across the front of the container, including two positioned side-by-side.

READ MORE: DNA confirms notorious killer carried out unsolved 1974 murder

Fresh pictures of Dezi Freeman's high country hideout give new insight into the life the double police killer was living on the run.Fresh pictures of Dezi Freeman's high country hideout give new insight into the life the double police killer was living on the run.

Police left behind fingerprint dustings from several items of interest, which will be tested in the hopes it will help detectives track down Freeman's associates.

It's unknown whether the set-up, or any of the items on the property were owned by Freeman, were transported there by an associate, or belonged to the owner of the property.

Those are questions police are hoping to get answers to when the property's owner, who has been living in Tasmania for several months, returns to Thologolong in the next few days.

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PM details $1bn plan, defends lacklustre national address

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used his National Press Club speech to fill in some of the gaps left from his rare yet inconsequential address to the nation, including details of a $1 billion plan to help fuel-impacted businesses.

The PM outlined the government's economic agenda as Australians battle spiralling costs triggered by the war on Iran and offered reassurances that there is a plan if the conflict rages on for longer than expected.

His speech was also peppered with key updates on the federal government's sweeping gambling reform and a small preview of the May federal budget.

READ MORE: Donald Trump storms out of Supreme Court as he faces loss

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during an address to the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra on Thursday 2 April 2026. fedpol Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

READ MORE: Trump is refusing to deal with the Strait of Hormuz. But he might be bluffing

Fuel-hit businesses to get $1bn in loans

Among the key takeaways from the PM's speech was the announcement of $1 billion in interest-free loans offered to truck drivers, freight companies, fuel and fertiliser producers buckling under the rising cost of petrol and diesel.

The cash will come from the off-budget National Reconstruction Fund and will act as a "shock absorber" for some of the pressures faced by businesses.

"These firms are not just being affected by this crisis, they are essential to Australia getting through this crisis," Albanese said.

"So our government will extend their credit to help them, and the farmers and producers who rely on these supply chains, to weather the storm.

"No government can promise to eliminate the pressures this global crisis will impose.

"But we can be a buffer against the worst of it."

Cars and trucks, inbound traffic on the Monash freeway M1. 7th March 2025,

PM defends lacklustre national address

Albanese had been widely expected to offer more details during yesterday's national address, a televised message usually reserved for wart-time presidents or major announcements.

The PM defended his remarks and said it was a device to "talk directly to the nation" rather than deliver any specific news.

"I took the opportunity to talk directly to the nation, that is more important than ever, because of the nature of the noise that is out there… the conspiracy theories out there," Albanese said.

He added that the spike in fuel demand had necessitated his call for calm.

READ MORE: As fuel excise set to be halved, when will fuel prices in Australia go down?

Anthony Albanese address to nation looper

Fuel excise savings to reach 32c per litre

The federal government has reached an agreement with the states and territories to negotiate an increased reduction of the fuel excise.

Combined with the extra cuts, the PM said drivers will now save a total of 32 cents per litre at the pump.

The change was signed into law by Treasurer Jim Chalmers today.

Albanese said he hoped this would immediately impact prices for Australian motorists.

"We want this added relief to start showing up at our petrol stations straight away," he said.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 30: Fuel costs are displayed on March 30, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. Prime minister Anthony Albanese announced Monday that the government would halve the fuel excise on petrol and diesel from April 1st through June 30th, reducing prices by 26.3 cents per litre, as part of emergency measures to ease a national fuel crisis driven by the ongoing conflict in Iran. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

A preview of May's federal budget

The PM also offered a brief preview into next month's federal budget.

The ever-present issue of the cost of living will remain at the top of the agenda, Albanese said.

He flagged it will be his government's "most important" budget since he came into power in 2022.

"One priority remains helping people with the cost of living. And that is the balance that we will strike next month's budget," the PM said.

"It is our government's most important budget to date and ambitious.

"It has to be."

READ MORE: Easter trading hours 2026: When shops are open this long weekend

'We will get through this'

There is a contingency plan in place if the war "deteriorates" our economy further, Albanese said.

He assured Australians that the nation will "get through this" but could not offer any timeline for when the war may end.

"We don't know how long this will go for, we don't know when it will end and therefore the consequences of this are connected with that," Albanese said.

"We'll come through this. And my job is to provide appropriate reassurance which is what we're doing," he said.

Albanese also tempered fears over any COVID-style mandates or lockdowns.

"This will not be like COVID," he added.

"Partly because the nature of this global crisis is very different.

"But also because we have learned from that time – and we are deliberately taking a different approach."

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Expert reveals whether Aussies will need to ration fuel

Australians may have to ration fuel as a "last resort", according to an energy expert, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese encourages people to avoid driving where they can.

The Grattan Institute Energy and Climate Change Program director Alison Reeve said the federal government will likely consider rationing fuel supply if all other contingencies fail.

"The first one is to make sure that we are keeping the Asian refineries supplying fuel to Australia, because that's where most of our refined fuel comes from," she said.

READ MORE: Red meat shortage, price hikes coming if farmers can't secure more fuel

A petrol station in Sydney

"If those supplies don't end up being adequate, and that may happen because all of those refineries rely on oil from the Middle East, the second layer is that we start importing fuel from further away, so possibly from the US.

"The third layer is an informal demand management situation."

Australia is currently in phase two of its four-point national fuel plan: keep Australia moving.

Fuel rationing could be implemented at phase four if ongoing supply chain disruptions require government intervention to protect critical services.

The federal government has made it clear that it's trying to avoid fuel rationing and any COVID-style interventions. 

But Albanese used his rare national address last night to advise people to switch to public transport if they can to save fuel for those who have no choice but to drive.

READ MORE: Trump told US allies to 'get your own oil'. But he might be bluffing

"Farmers and miners and tradies who need diesel, every single day, and all those shift workers and nurses, who do so much for our country," he said.

Reeve said the remarks were a way to signal "well ahead of time" who would be exempt from potential fuel rationing measures.

"He's building a social expectation around what the priority order will be without actually having to legislate it," she said.

Australia currently has 39 days of petrol, 30 days of diesel and 30 days of jet fuel available and the federal government has secured fuel shipments through to May.

While the figures seem alarming on the surface, Reeve said the reserves are a buffer that can be extended if demand drops.

"If we drop fuel consumption by 20 per cent, the 30 days of diesel reserves will actually last for 150 days," she said. 

READ MORE: Was Albanese's prime-time address really worth all that bother?

The Strait of Hormuz.

The war in Iran seems far from over as US President Donald Trump today declared that operations will only intensify in the coming two to three weeks.

He left it to allies to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, after previously calling for their support and receiving little to none, or suggested they buy their oil from the US.

"They should take the lead in protecting the oil that they so desperately depend on," he said in a national address.

"Build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait and get it, take it. Protect it, use it for yourselves."

The global conflict has raised fuel prices past $3 a litre, caused panic-buying and left hundreds of petrol stations running low across Australia.

Reeve warned that supply chains and fuel prices will never go back to what they were.

READ MORE: WA premier enacts emergency fuel powers as PM urges calm

Cars and trucks, inbound traffic on the Monash freeway M1. 7th March 2025,

"We will probably all adjust in the meantime," she said.

"One of the things that happens, and this is similar to what we saw with COVID, it's similar to what we saw in the 1970s and 80s with oil shocks, people actually permanently change their behaviour.

"People buy smaller cars, for example. The big option that we've got now is switching to electric cars. Maybe we start to use fertiliser differently.

"That actually means that things never go back to exactly the same set of supply chains and prices that you had before, but they'll get to a new kind of equilibrium point where everyone's got what they need, and that's because the supply is adjusted, but also because the demand has adjusted."

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Major gambling reforms to cap betting TV ads between 6am and 8.30pm

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has flagged major gambling reform in his National Press Club address today in Canberra.

The federal government is expected to act on some of the 31 recommendations from the gambling harm inquiry, which landed on desks over 1000 days ago.

"We don't want kids growing up thinking that footy and gambling are inextricably linked," Albanese said.

LIVE UPDATES: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to give National Press Club address

He announced sweeping changes to how gambling is advertised in Australia.

There will be a cap of three TV advertisements per hour for betting agencies between 6am and 8.30pm.

Gambling ads will also be banned on radio during school pick-up and drop-off hours.

More significantly, the government will also outlaw gambling advertising on jerseys, jumpers and in stadiums.

Cross-promotion content that mixes commentary with odds will also be banned, as will illegal, offshore gaming sites and online Keno-type products.

Online advertising will only be allowed to be served to users who verify they're over 18, and it must include a means for users to opt-out.

LIVE UPDATES: Iran says Trump's ceasefire remarks are 'false and baseless'

Closeup of Gambler Pressing the Spin Button While Playing Slot Machine in the Casino. Gambling Industry Theme.

The government also intends to keep building on its BetStop national self-exclusion program.

"We are getting the balance right," Albanese said.

"Letting adults have a punt if they want to, but making sure our children don't see betting ads everywhere they look."

A 2025 report from The Australia Institute found that up to 600,000 underage teens aged 12 to 17 were gambling a combined $18 million annually.

Overall gambling losses in Australia topped $31 billion in 2022-2023, the highest recorded figure in the last 20 years.

Per capita losses were estimated at around $1527, up by nearly $100 from $1461 in 2021–22.

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Markets crash, oil skyrockets after Trump speech

Donald Trump has vowed to bomb Iran "back to the Stone Age" in a national address in which he claimed victory while palming off responsibility for the Strait of Hormuz to other countries.

In a 20-minute primetime speech, the visibly tired US president made no new announcements and repeated many of his old talking points.

Trump said US operations in Iran are going to get more intense in coming weeks.

READ MORE: Major airport to be renamed for Donald Trump

Donald Trump during his primetime address.

But he also claimed his strategic objectives were "near completion".

"We are going to finish the job, we're going to finish it very fast," he said.

It's not a new claim from Trump. Throughout the war he has repeatedly claimed it would soon be over.

He threatened the Iranian regime with more violence if they didn't make a deal.

"We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks," he said.

"We are going to hit them back to the Stone Age where they belong."

Trump also expressed his indifference to Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz.

READ MORE: Trump on shaky ground after Democrats win Mar-a-Lago seat

Stranded tankers sit anchored in Muscat, Oman, unable to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

"We don't have to be there. We don't need their oil. We're here to help our allies," he said.

He claimed Iran would "soon have missiles that would reach the American homeland".

"They had some weapons that nobody believed they would have," he said.

"Their race for a nuclear bomb, a nuclear weapon that nobody's ever seen before. They were right at the doorstep."

He made some odd deviations, including emphasising that Barack Obama's deal with Iran involved a lot of "green, green cash".

Trump began his speech by congratulating the team at NASA over the successful takeoff of the Artemis rocket.

"They are on the way and God bless them," he said.

He then started talking about the military operation in Venezuela in January.

The president "as always, lied" said top Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen.

"Over two weeks ago he said 'we won'. If so, then why are we still there? What's next?" he said on Bluesky.

"All we can count on is more lies from Trump. This delusional man is a danger to our country and the world."

Trump's speech has not been well received on Wall Street.

Dow Jones and Nasdaq futures plummeted during his speech, well below the market close.

Meanwhile crude oil and natural gas prices have skyrocketed.

After dropping to below $US100 a barrel yesterday, it is now over $US104 and climbing.

READ MORE: Donald Trump storms out of Supreme Court as he faces loss

Donald Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of ending the war in Iran.

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Easter travel shifts: Fuels prices hit Long weekend holiday bookings

The escalating fuel crisis is having a major impact on regional tourism ahead of the Easter holidays, with some venues reporting a big drop-off in last-minute bookings.

One NSW holiday park owner says he has seen a major shift in booking patterns this year, with tourists worried about being stranded because of a fuel shortage.

Frank, the owner and manager of a tourist parkin NSW said rising fuel costs had "impacted us very quickly", with a noticeable drop in last-minute reservations.

"We usually get lots of last-minute bookings, but [the fuel crisis] has killed all of that inquiry," he added.

READ MORE: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warns 'economic shocks' to be 'with us for months' in rare national address

Dolphin Point Tourist Park

Rising fuel prices are beginning to reshape Easter travel plans, with holiday parks and accommodation providers reporting changes in booking behaviour ahead of the long weekend.

While some operators remain fully booked, others say uncertainty around travel costs is already affecting demand.

Frank said tourists would typically make their bookings in the week or two leading up to the Easter long weekend, but that pattern had seen a shift this year.

"We have not seen any of that this year. 

"It is looking very quiet."

Australia reacts to PM's national address

The holiday park manager added that uncertainty around travel costs was contributing to the hesitation, with some travellers unsure whether they could afford the trip.

"People don't know if they will be able to make it home." 

However, some parks remain busy, thanks mainly to accommodation being booked well in advance of the war in the Middle East.

One employee from a caravan park in Coffs Harbour told nine.com.au the venue had seen some cancellations in recent weeks, particularly towards the school holiday period, but demand for Easter remained strong.

Petrol prices and fuel crisis

"We are fully booked for this Easter weekend," she said, adding that bookings are typically made well in advance, often up to a year ahead.

But a manager from another Coffs Harbour motel confirmed there had been some cancellations.

The mixed responses highlight a shift in travel behaviour as Australians weigh up the cost of road trips during a traditionally busy holiday period, with some destinations holding strong while others face a quieter lead-up to Easter.

Some regional holiday parks and accommodation providers have found it necessary to offer fuel vouchers and adjust their booking systems allowing flexibility in uncertain times.

The Easter period is one of the most important times of year for regional tourism, supporting thousands of jobs across the country.

The Australian Tourism Industry Council says regional tourism generates $15.4 billion in visitor spending and supports more than 53,000 jobs.

In a media release, the council backed measures aimed at easing pressure on travellers, including the temporary cut to fuel excise, and encouraged Australians to continue supporting regional tourism.

"That message is especially important heading into the Easter school holidays.

"Every trip taken – particularly to a regional destination – directly supports local businesses and the people they employ," said Erin McLeod, CEO of the Australian Tourism Industry Council.

National cabinet meetng today to address fuel crisis

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the nation on Wednesday night in a live broadcast.

He sent out a message to Australia that "the economic shocks caused by this war will be with us for months.

"The months ahead may not be easy.

"I want to be up-front about that."

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Donald Trump storms out of Supreme Court as he faces loss

Donald Trump has stormed out of the Supreme Court as one of his keystone policies came under the scrutiny of a sceptical bench.

Trump became the first president to attend a Supreme Court hearing in person to hear arguments on his birthright citizenship policy.

The president entered the courtroom without fanfare and was not acknowledged by the judges.

READ MORE: 'Construction has to stop!': Judge orders a halt to Trump's ballroom

Donald Trump walked out of court during oral arguments.

After an hour sitting several rows back from the front of the public gallery, he got up and walked out.

He did not have another event on his schedule for 90 minutes after he left.

The president is looking to overturn a 1868 constitutional amendment, which automatically grants citizenship to anybody born on US soil.

But the judges did not appear to be impressed by his administration's case.

Solicitor-general John Sauer argued the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment "was adopted just after the Civil War to grant citizenship to the newly freed slaves and their children".

"The clause thus does not extend citizenship to the children of temporary visa holders or illegal aliens," Sauer said.

"Unlike the newly freed slaves, those visitors lack direct and immediate allegiance to the United States."

READ MORE: Iran attacks Pete Hegseth on reports he sought to profit from the war

Trump only stayed in the court for about an hour.

Even the conservative wing of the Supreme Court was sceptical of Sauer's argument.

"The examples you give to support that strike me as very quirky, children of ambassadors, children of enemies during a hostile invasion, children on warships," Chief Justice John Roberts said.

"Then you expand it to a whole class of illegal aliens are – are here in the country."

Sauer said there were eight billion people who were a plane ride away from having a child who is a US citizen.

"Well, it's a new world," Roberts said. "It's the same constitution."

Trump-appointed judge Neil Gorsuch pointed out that immigration laws were far stricter now than they were in 1868.

The president later wrote about the case on Truth Social.

"We are the only Country in the World STUPID enough to allow 'Birthright' Citizenship!" Trump said.

READ MORE: It takes two to TACO: Why Trump can't end war with Iran by himself

Donald Trump wants to abolish birthright citizenship.

That claim, which has been made multiple times by the administration, is not true. About 30 countries, mostly in the Americas, have birthright citizenship.

The Supreme Court likely won't issue a ruling on this case for several months, but judicial experts believe they will likely side against Trump.

The Trump administration would look to replace birthright citizenship with one where a child's status would be determined by their parents' citizenship.

Trump's Scottish-born mother became a US citizen in 1942, four years before he was born.

His father Fred was born to German immigrant parents.

READ MORE: Major airport to be renamed for Donald Trump

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Red meat shortage, price hikes coming if farmers can’t secure more fuel

Fuel supplies are quickly drying up on farms and abattoirs around Australia, which could result in a nationwide red meat shortage.

A survey conducted by the Red Meat ­Advisory Council (RMAC) has found that 85 per cent of red meat producers only have enough fuel to keep operations going for one more week.

Less that half of producers are confident that they could stretch their supplies to meet supermarket quotas for the remainder of the US-led war on Iran, which Donald Trump flagged could last for at least another three weeks.

READ MORE: Trump told US allies to 'get your own oil'. But he might be bluffing

Red meat

April and May are peak periods for red meat producers, with demand ramping up during the Easter holidays and pre-winter season.

"This isn't a future problem – it's happening now," council independent chair John McKillop said.

"Producers are already facing difficult decisions, including the potential early slaughter of ­animals, where access to feed, water and transport cannot be guaranteed."

The RMAC has warned that the industry could soon be under "severe strain" if fuel supplies are not directed back to farming and regional communities.

"Up to 76 per cent of producers identified April and May as a peak period when reliable fuel access is absolutely critical," he said.

"Without it, they simply cannot operate."

READ MORE: Tech giant slashes 30,000 jobs in 6am email

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 30: Fuel costs are displayed on March 30, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. Prime minister Anthony Albanese announced Monday that the government would halve the fuel excise on petrol and diesel from April 1st through June 30th, reducing prices by 26.3 cents per litre, as part of emergency measures to ease a national fuel crisis driven by the ongoing conflict in Iran. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

Shoppers won't arrive to empty supermarket fridges, but the variety of meats could reduce and prices could rise over the next fortnight.

Australian farmers rely heavily on diesel to operate machinery and feed stock.

Rising freight costs may also contribute to the increased price of red meat at the checkout.

The National Farmers Federation (NFF) previously urged the federal government to devise a plan to keep fuel flowing to regional areas – and fast.

While the government announced a three-month reduction of the fuel excise, producers say this isn't enough.

"Halving the fuel excise will provide relief for consumers, but it does little directly for farmers and we hold concerns about the impact this policy may have on overall fuel demand," NFF President Hamish McIntyre said.

"Now we have the beginnings of a national framework, farmers and fishers need a clear, agriculture-specific plan so they can make informed decisions about planting, harvesting and keeping food moving across the country."

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NASA launches four astronauts to the moon in first lunar voyage in 53 years

History has been made today with NASA's rocket blasting off to the moon with four astronauts on board.

It is humanity's first trip to the moon in more than half a century.

Crowds cheered and whooped at Florida's Space View Park as they watched the astronauts take off for the Artemis II mission at 9.38am AEDT.

READ MORE: Passengers stranded in moving traffic after robotaxi outage

ARTEMIS II ROCKET LAUNCH

Three male and one female astronauts are on board the rocket for the 10-day mission: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen.

Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, the launch director, bid farewell to the astronauts with these words: "On this historic mission, you take with you the heart of this Artemis team, the daring spirit of the American people and our partners across the globe, and the hopes and dreams of a new generation.

"Good luck, Godspeed Artemis II. Let's go."

Five minutes into the flight, Commander Wiseman had his eye on the team's target: "We have a beautiful moonrise, we're headed right at it," he said from the capsule.

The rocket will travel a few thousand kilometres beyond the moon, perform a U-turn and then come straight back. There will be no moon landing this time, but the mission is a pivotal step towards NASA's push towards humans setting foot on the moon again in two years.

The rocket launch appeared to go almost seamlessly, after engineers performed a last-minute check on an abnormal battery reading, before giving it the all clear. 

Earlier today, NASA fuelled its moon rocket. Tensions were high as hydrogen fuel started flowing into the rocket hours ahead of the planned launch.

Dangerous hydrogen leaks erupted during a countdown test earlier this year, forcing a lengthy flight delay.

NASA's Artermis II moon rocket

But no significant leaks occurred by the time Wednesday's fuelling wrapped up.

The launch team loaded more than 2.6 million litres of fuel into the 32-story Space Launch System rocket on the pad, setting the stage for the Artemis II crew to board.

"It is time to fly," Commander Reid Wiseman said on the eve of launch via X.

Three Americans and one Canadian will fly around the moon without stopping or even orbiting – then head straight back for a Pacific splashdown.

They will set a new distance record for the farthest humans have travelled from Earth as they zoom some 6,400 kilometres beyond the moon and then hang a U-turn.

Astronauts last flew to the moon during Apollo 17 in 1972.

Artemis II is the opening shot of NASA's grand plans for a permanent moon base. The space program is aiming for a moon landing near the lunar south pole in 2028.

"The next era of exploration begins," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted on X.

Best wishes have already started to pour in, including from King Charles III to Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, from left, Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot, Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist, right, in a group photographNASA's Artermis II moon rocket

Hansen will become the first non-US citizen to launch to the moon. The crew also includes Christina Koch and Victor Glover, the first woman and first Black astronaut, respectively, destined for the moon.

"In this historic moment, you stand as a bridge between nations and generations," the King wrote in a letter to Hansen, "and I commend you for your courage, discipline and vision that have brought you to this threshold".

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Prosecutors assisting police in ex-prince Andrew investigation

UK prosecutors have confirmed they are providing advice to police during the investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's links to Jeffrey Epstein.

Mountbatten-Windsor, who was arrested as part of a police investigation and detained for hours earlier this year, is being investigated over suspicions he possibly passed on classified information to Epstein while acting as the UK's trade envoy.

The former prince was released without charge after his arrest and two properties where he had resided were searched by officers.

ANALYSIS: Was Albanese's prime-time address really worth all that bother?

Prince Andrew, Marsh Farm cottage

Now, multiple UK outlets, including the BBC, are reporting the Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed it is providing advice to police on the case.

"We can confirm that we are now providing early investigative advice to the Metropolitan Police Service regarding the force's investigation into a 72-year-old man and will continue to liaise as requested," a statement provided to the BBC read.

"We can now also confirm that we are providing early investigative advice to Thames Valley Police in relation to a 66-year-old man."

LIVE UPDATES: Trump threatens to pull US from NATO

Jeffrey Epstein is seen in this image released by the Department of Justice on December 19.

Mountbatten-Windsor is the 66-year-old man, while the 72-year-old man is understood to be former UK ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson, who has also been linked to Epstein.

Mandelson is suspected of passing on market-sensitive information to Epstein while serving as a UK government minister.

Both Mountbatten-Windsor and Mandelson have had communications with Esptein published by the US Justice Department.

READ MORE: NASA readies to launch astronauts on first lunar trip in half a century

This undated photo released by the U.S. Department of Justice, shows Jeffrey Epstein, center, sitting with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson. (U.S. Department of Justice via AP)

Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied wrongdoing in his association with the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, who died by suicide in US custody in 2019.

Mandelson, who was arrested and released without charge earlier this year on suspicion of misconduct in public office, has claimed he was unaware of any criminal activities by Epstein and expressed sympathy for his victims.

Crown prosecutors often provide advice to police during investigations, particularly those that are high-profile or stretch back years.

If you or someone you know is in need of support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue. In the event of an emergency dial Triple Zero (000).

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