All Blacks great ‘Buck’ Shelford was dumped and forgotten by the NZ Rugby Union.

Police are beginning to search through a landfill site for the remains of an Adelaide father who was allegedly murdered and dismembered.

Geoffrey McLean went missing on August 29, 2022, and in October his torso was found in a wheelie bin in Salisbury South.

Four people have been charged with his murder.

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Detective Superintendent Des Bray said officers are beginning to search through the Uleybury Landfill in Adelaide's northern suburbs for the rest of McLean's remains.

"As part of the investigation, we were able to recover his torso but there are the body parts that have been missing," Bray said.

"The investigation has identified those remains were placed in rubbish bags and rubbish bins in the vicinity of where the offenders lived."

Bray said police have identified 70 per cent of the rubbish in the bins in the area was sent to the Uleybury Landfill site and packed into large bales similar in size to a wool bale.

Each weighs about 1.5 tonnes and there are between 100 to 150 bales to be searched.

"If his remains are in those bales, I'm confident we will find them," Bray said.

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But if the remains were in the other 30 per cent of rubbish, it is unclear where it was sent.

"We do need a little bit of luck because we know 30 per cent of the rubbish from the area, we do not know where it's gone," he said.

Police expect it to take several days to go through all the bales and are running two shifts a day for the search teams to sift through the rubbish wearing special suits and using rakes, tools and their hands.

"The people from the landfill will remove the bales and drag them out into the open about four to six at a time and then the search team will systematically pull them apart and look at the contents to see if we can find Geoffrey's remains," Bray said.

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Before his disappearance, McLean was subject to four separate attacks, police said last year.

These involved being attacked by a person with acid, being struck with a log splitter, having his car set alight and having a bucket of acid thrown at him.

Bray said police will continue searching for the remainder of McLean's remains for as long as it takes.

"I'm sure no one would want their loved ones discarded and put in the landfill and we're committed to do everything humanly possible to recover his remains no matter how difficult or challenging that might be," he said.

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A young couple with a baby on the way have died in a light plane crash in North Queensland.

Family and friends are grieving the loss of bush pilot Rhiley Kuhrt and his wife Maree, who was 27 weeks pregnant with a baby girl.

The couple was on board a Piper Cherokee plane which left a cattle station yesterday afternoon before crashing in the Clarke Ranges, west of Proserpine.

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Kuhrt is the son of a police officer, it has been confirmed. and the paid had been married for six months.

The wreckage was spotted by a rescue chopper more than 15 hours after the flight was reported missing when the couple failed to arrive at Lakeside Airpark.

Inspector Andrew Godbold from Queensland Police confirmed the crash site had been found and said it could take up to three days to retrieve the bodies.

"The only way in is via helicopter at this stage," he said.

"It's a very rugged terrain."

He said it was believed the plane got into difficulties during a storm and that the pair were on their way to visit family.

"There's a lot of trees there on that mountain, a very steep area." Godbold said.

"They would have been faced with a lot of showers, a lot of thunder and probably visibility down to nothing."

He said the plane, which belonged to Kuhrt, appeared to have turned back towards the mountains.

The plane's disappearance sparked a widescale search and rescue mission, which restarted today at first light.

The crash site was discovered at 10.15am by a QGAir Rescue helicopter based in Townsville.

https://twitter.com/katelambe_/status/1642717963030777856?s=20

The plane departed Natal Downs Station, a rural property near Charters Towers, at 2pm yesterday.

Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said he was devastated by the crash.

"The loss of life in aviation is really gut-wrenching," he said.

"General aviation accidents are very uncommon so to have this happen in our region is upsetting."

Investigations into what happened are now underway.

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Australians on the south and east coast will be hit with a mixed weather bag for the Easter long weekend as fine conditions give way to a cool change.

But as much of the country braces for rain and cold, one state is for an absolutely perfect spell of warm days.

Senior meteorologist at Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) Dean Narramore broke down what we can expect for the long weekend.

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"We will have cold fronts moving through the southern and south-eastern parts of the country from Thursday through to Sunday, which will lead to showers through Tasmania and up through to southern NSW," he told 9news.com.au.

"Warmer winds will drive up through mid to northern NSW and Queensland, while Western Australia will be dry and sunny.

"Southern parts of the country are looking at temperatures about 4 – 10C below average by Sunday.

"Western Australia will be hot and sunny."

Here is the forecast for the capitals over the Easter long weekend up until Sunday. Monday's forecast is not yet available.

Sydney

Friday: Good Friday will be sunny and warm with a maximum temperature of 28C.

Saturday: Similar conditions will play out on Saturday, with a high of 28C forecast.

Sunday: This is the day the weather will begin to turn. The temperature will dip to a maximum 23C and possible showers are forecast.

"A cooler change is expected to move through NSW on Monday," Narramore said.

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Brisbane

Friday: It will be a "nice day", with a sunny top of 30C forecast.

Saturday: There will be similar conditions on Saturday, with a high of 28C forecast.

Sunday: A high of 31C is forecast but showers are possible in the afternoon and evening.

Adelaide

Friday: It will be cold, wet and windy, with a top of 22C forecast.

Saturday: There will be cooler wet conditions, with a high of just 18C forecast.

Sunday: Rain, showers and a high of 19C are forecast.

Melbourne

Friday: Residents in Victoria's capital can expect a maximum temperature of 24C and showers are possible.

Saturday: It's going to be cooler on Saturday, with a top of 19C predicted. Showers could also hit.

Sunday: The maximum temperature expected for Easter Sunday is 15C. Rain is forecast.

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Hobart

Friday: A high of 21C is forecast for Tasmania's capital. It will be cold, wet, and windy.

Saturday: Showers are again forecast for Saturday, with a top of 19C predicted.

Sunday: It's going to be cloudy with a high chance of rain and a maximum temperature of 15C.

Perth

Friday: It will be a sunny day in Perth with a high of 23C forecast.

Saturday: Similar warm conditions will play out on Saturday. A maximum of 24C is forecast.

Sunday: It will be a warm and sunny 25C on Easter Sunday.

Darwin

Friday: A maximum of 33C is forecast, with showers and possible storms.

Saturday: Conditions will be similar to Friday.

Sunday: Easter Sunday will again bring the chance of showers and storms, with a 33C maximum.

Canberra 

Friday: Good Friday will be mostly sunny with a top temperature of 22C.

Saturday: The maximum temperature predicted is 20C and clouds are expected. The chances of showers increase in the afternoon.

Sunday: Showers and blustery conditions are expected on Easter Sunday, with a maximum of just 14C.

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Former Test cricketer Michael Slater has been charged with allegedly assaulting and obstructing police over an incident in a coastal Queensland holiday town.

Just before midnight on Friday, Queensland Police were called to an alleged domestic violence matter and a medical incident at a home in Noosa Heads.

When they arrived, Slater allegedly obstructed police and assaulted an officer, who suffered a small cut to his hand.

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No one else was physically injured in the incident, Queensland Police said.

Slater played 74 matches in the baggy green, scoring 5312 runs at an average of 42.83 after making his debut during the 1993 Ashes tour of England.

He also played 42 one-day internationals before retiring from major cricket in 2004 and embarked on a successful commentary career with Nine and Seven networks.

The 53-year-old is expected to appear at Noosa Magistrates Court on May 2.

Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyond blue on 1300 22 463

If you or someone you know is impacted by domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.

Go to the kitchen, flick the gas stove on, cook up a healthy meal chock-full of veggies and… increase the risk of your kids getting asthma?

It's not exactly what most Australians want to add to the menu, but there's ample research saying that's exactly what's happening – and a new poll suggests more than two-thirds of the country doesn't know about it.

With more evidence emerging about the health risks – not to mention costs and negative climate impact – of cooking with gas, and a push to stop the stoves being used, here's what you need to know about the issue.

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Are gas stoves bad for your health?

While they have so often been touted as the optimal cooking method, a number of studies have concluded gas stoves release pollutants and contribute to illness, namely the development of childhood asthma.

Research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in December last year concluded that 12.7 per cent of childhood asthma cases in the USA can be attributed to gas stove use, which the authors said was comparable to secondhand smoking.

The Australian Journal of General Practice puts the link down to nitrogen dioxide, an airway irritant that is a byproduct of gas stoves burning methane.

"(Nitrogen dioxide) is a respiratory irritant that can directly cause airway constriction and sensitisation to allergens," it said last December.

"In population studies, it is associated with both the development of asthma and asthma attacks."

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Why are we only just finding out about it?

While the US study is relatively new, its conclusions aren't.

Australian researchers from the University of Queensland made similar findings back in 2018.

"We found that 12 per cent of childhood asthma is attributable to exposure to gas stoves used for cooking, and eight per cent is linked to household dampness," lead researcher Dr Luke Knibbs said in announcing the study, which was published in the Medical Journal of Australia.

"Cooking with gas releases chemicals such as nitrogen dioxide and formaldehyde, which causes inflammation in the airways and exacerbates asthma.

"With 38 per cent of Australian homes using natural gas for stovetop cooking, this is a common problem."

An American study the year before also reached similar conclusions.

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What is more of a recent development is the push to remove gas from homes, not just in Australia but around the world.

This had somewhat of a flare-up earlier in the year when Richard Trumka Jr, a commissioner of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), told Bloomberg that, given the health risks, "any option is on the table. Products that can't be made safe can be banned".

That led to ultra-conservative politicians in the US creating a furore about the so-called attempt to ban gas stoves (the CPSC later clarified they had and have no such intentions).

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But there are genuine campaigns to phase out gas stoves.

The Climate Council, which commissioned a poll of over 1000 Australians that found only 32 per cent were aware of the health risks of gas stoves, has recently launched a campaign calling on state and territory governments to help facilitate households make the switch to all-electric appliances.

Last year, meanwhile, saw the launch of the Global Cooksafe Alliance – a group of property developers, chefs, scientists and doctors calling for a shift away from gas cooking to "improve our health, reduce climate change and help give low-income communities access to electricity".

Lendlease, one of Australia's largest property developers and a member of the coalition, announced in December it will stop piping gas into kitchens of new properties by 2030, while San Francisco and some other American states and cities banned the use of natural gas in new homes years ago.

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What can you do to reduce the risks?

The obvious option is to replace your gas stove with an electric alternative.

Traditional ceramic electric stovetops are slow to heat and cool, and struggle to reach the same high heat as gas burners.

However, modern induction stovetops have been found to boil water quicker than gas, be more energy efficient, and can change temperature immediately.

They do have some drawbacks though – as the heat is transferred from the stove to the cooking surface through a magnetic field, not all cookware is compatible with induction, but the most obvious barrier is the cost of making the switch.

The Climate Council found households can save between $500 and $1900 in yearly energy bills after changing from gas to induction.

But the initial cost of a stove and installation usually reaches the thousands.

If changing your stovetop isn't an option, the Australian Journal of General Practice recommends opening doors and windows while cooking to ensure the room is properly ventilated.

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A street fight has been caught on camera in Darwin, with some of the brawlers wielding small axes.

It came amid a weekend of crime in the Northern Territory's towns and cities, with police yesterday deploying extra officers to the greater Darwin region over a string of offences.

NT businessman Darren Clarke called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to return north to see the struggle locals were facing, 2GB reported.

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https://omny.fm/shows/ben-fordham-full-show/war-zone-axe-fight-breaks-out-in-the-top-end/embed

"If you're listening mate, this would have been a great weekend to come up," Clarke said in a recorded message.

"We could have sat here together, I could have told you some stories of what's going on, and we could have just waited for what's going to unfold.

"Something has to change up here mate, something has to change."

9news.com.au has contacted NT Police for comment on the axe fight.

Police claimed three stolen cars were involved in five unlawful entries and one attempted unlawful entry between 10.30pm on Friday and 5am on Saturday.

Officers allege people broke into two fuel stations, a licensed premise, and a business in Palmerston.

Another, unrelated, car was allegedly stolen just after 5am at a fuel station in Palmerston.

A man allegedly forced the family in the car out before fleeing behind the wheel.

Police claim he was on the wrong side of the road when he crashed into another car.

A 39-year-old man has been arrested.

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It has been almost two decades since Newcastle woman Roslyn Reay was found stabbed to death in her home.

Now, NSW Police have offered a $750,000 reward in the hopes of finally finding her killer.

Police officers were called to Reay's home on Laman Street, Cooks Hill, on April 3, 2005 after concerns were raised for her welfare.

The 52-year-old was found dead with multiple stab wounds.

To this day no-one has been charged with her murder.

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Her daughter, Mandii, said the reward had given her hope of finally finding some answers.

"Mum was such a gentle soul, who's greatest joy was derived from helping others," Mandii said.

"To think her final moments were so horrible is heartbreaking, it haunts me to this day.

"The past 18 years have been extremely challenging for mum's friends and family, I hope speaking out now jogs someone's memory and can help us find out what happened to her."

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Detectives from Strike Force Oro 2 began re-investigating the murder case in 2021, under the State Crime Command Homicide Squad's Unsolved Homicide framework.

"Roslyn was a well-liked and respected member of the Newcastle community and for her life to be cut short in such a violent manner was a shock to the neighbourhood," Homicide Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty, said. 

"Through our investigations with the renewed strike force, we have been going back through all evidence collated, including forensic material, to ensure we leave no stone unturned.

"We are hoping this reward may spark someone's memory who may have spoken to or associated with Roslyn in the March of 2005, and may be able to help us piece together her final movements."

Anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Oro 2 investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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An international arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin raises the prospect of the man whose country invaded Ukraine facing justice, but it complicates efforts to end that war in peace talks.

Both justice and peace appear to be only remote possibilities today, and the conflicting relationship between the two is a quandary at the heart of a March 17 decision by the International Criminal Court to seek the Russian leader's arrest.

Judges in The Hague found "reasonable grounds to believe" that Putin and his commissioner for children's rights were responsible for war crimes, specifically the unlawful deportation and unlawful transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia.

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As unlikely as Putin sitting in a Hague courtroom seems now, other leaders have faced justice in international courts.

Former Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic, a driving force behind the Balkan wars of the 1990s, went on trial for war crimes, including genocide, at a United Nations tribunal in The Hague after he lost power. He died in his cell in 2006 before a verdict could be reached.

Serbia, which wants European Union membership but has maintained close ties to Russia, is one of the countries that has criticised the ICC's action.

The warrants "will have bad political consequences" and create "a great reluctance to talk about peace (and) about truce" in Ukraine, populist Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said.

Others see consequences for Putin, and for anyone judged guilty of war crimes, as the primary desired outcome of international action.

"There will be no escape for the perpetrator and his henchmen," European Union leader Ursula von der Leyen said Friday in a speech to mark the one-year anniversary of the liberation of Bucha, the Ukraine town that saw some of the worst atrocities in the war.

"War criminals will be held accountable for their deeds."

Hungary did not join the other 26 EU members in signing a resolution in support of the ICC warrant for Putin. The government's chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, said Hungarian authorities would not arrest Putin if he were to enter the country.

He called the warrants "not the most fortunate because they lead toward escalation and not toward peace."

Putin appears to have a strong grip on power, and some analysts suspect the the warrant hanging over him could provide an incentive to prolong the fighting.

"The arrest warrant for Putin might undermine efforts to reach a peace deal in Ukraine," Daniel Krcmaric, an associate professor of political science at Northwestern University, said in emailed comments to The Associated Press.

One potential way of easing the way to peace talks could be for the United Nations Security Council to call on the International Criminal Court to suspend the Ukraine investigation for a year, which is allowed under Article 16 of the Rome Statute treaty that created the court.

But that appears unlikely, said Krcmaric, whose book The Justice Dilemma, deals with the tension between seeking justice and pursuing a negotiated end to conflicts.

"The Western democracies would have to worry about public opinion costs if they made the morally questionable decision to trade justice for peace in such an explicit fashion," he said, adding that Ukraine also is unlikely to support such a move.

Russia immediately rejected the warrants. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow doesn't recognise the ICC and considers its decisions "legally void".

And Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia's Security Council, which is chaired by Putin, suggested the ICC headquarters on the Netherlands' coastline could become a target for a Russian missile strike.

Alexander Baunov, an analyst with the Carnegie Endowment, observed in a commentary that the arrest warrant for Putin amounted to "an invitation to the Russian elite to abandon Putin" that could erode his support.

While welcoming the warrants for Putin and his commissioner for children's rights, rights groups also urged the international community not to forget the pursuit of justice in other conflicts.

"The ICC warrant for Putin reflects an evolving and multifaceted justice effort that is needed elsewhere in the world," Human Rights Watch associate international justice director Balkees Jarrah said in a statement.

"Similar justice initiatives are needed elsewhere to ensure that the rights of victims globally — whether in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Myanmar, or Palestine — are respected."

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Police are probing how a heavy cow statue ended up on a servo roof in Perth.

The animal was stolen from primary school students and somehow ended up in the unusual spot in the city's south east.

Byford residents woke to find the fibreglass heifer on top of the Vibe service station.

They thought it was a late April Fools joke, but were not sure how the culprits got the creature – Byford Primary's beloved missing 'Mooslie' – up there.

It took a team-effort by the close-knit community to get the beloved bovine down, with the help of a cherry picker.

School officials say 'Mooslie' was stolen from the Byford Primary School memorial garden last year, and they've been looking for her ever since, even making 'missing' posters.

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