A lawyer has been charged over an alleged violent kidnapping and ransom plot in western Sydney late last year.

A 31-year-old man was making a phone call inside his car in Granville on November 23 when he was allegedly attacked by three unknown men armed with bats, bound with cable ties and driven to a second location, believed to be a home in St Marys, and tortured.

Robbery and Serious Crime Squad Commander Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks said the alleged assault was recorded on a mobile phone and used to demand ransom from the man's brother.

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"The offences were very organised and they were very violent crimes," he told reporters today.

The man's brother paid the sum in cash, but the group allegedly demanded more money.

During an alleged exchange in Panania the following day, a fight broke out and the 31-year-old was able to escape.

The man was rushed to hospital and treated for injuries that included a black eye, cuts to his head and a deep wound on his left hand. 

Three men have previously been charged and remain before the courts.

Last night, detectives arrested a 26-year-old lawyer in Austral and searched his home on Ulm Street in Ermington.

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He was taken to Liverpool Police Station, where he was charged with seven offences, including two counts of knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group, taking/detaining a person in company with the intent to ransom and wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Marks alleged that the lawyer was linked to a long-running drug supply operation and had told a gang to organise and commit the kidnapping and ransom through encrypted apps.

"In relation to this investigation, it was conducted in close collaboration with other supporting law enforcement agencies, linking the male that was arrested yesterday to a sophisticated drug supply operation dating back to 2022," he said.

"Police allege that the encrypted communications showed the male planned to kidnap or kill a drug runner that he suspected had stolen drugs." 

Marks was unable to say whether the man had known the three other men charged over the incident through his work.

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The lawyer has been refused bail and faced the Liverpool Local Court today.

Detectives are continuing to investigate members of the involved gang.

"Those that are responsible or were involved, we will ensure that we'll do everything we can to get them before the courts," Marks said.

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The Australian economy has grown at 0.6 per cent in the last quarter, and by 1.8 per cent annually, driven by rising household and government spending.

The figures published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today showed stronger activity than the 0.5 per cent quarterly growth that the Reserve Bank and economists had anticipated, following the weak 0.3 per cent results in the March quarter due to impacts from Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

"Economic growth rebounded in the June quarter following subdued growth in the March quarter, which was heavily impacted by weather events," ABS head of national accounts Tom Lay said. 

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The ABS said the 0.9 per cent rise in household spending and 1 per cent increase in government spending were the main drivers of the strong quarter.

Household spending was lifted by Australians extending their holiday breaks from Easter to Anzac Day — which fell on the same week this year — end-of-financial-year sales, and increased demand for medical services due to the particularly strong flu season.

"End of financial year sales and new product releases contributed to rises in discretionary spending on goods including furnishings and household equipment, motor vehicles and recreation and culture goods," Lay said.

"Households took advantage of the proximity of Easter to Anzac Day to extend their holiday break, resulting in rises in discretionary services such as hotels, cafes and restaurants and recreation and culture services."

Australians also bought more food as major supermarket chains, including Coles and Woolworths, increased their promotional sales.

The Albanese government's spending, excluding defence investments and including costs like holding the federal election in May, was the largest contributor to growth.

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High demand for health services also led to more spending on the Medicare Benefits Schedule and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Trade also increased on the back of iron ore and LNG export rebound after the effects of severe weather in the March quarter.

A rise in short-term visitors, particularly those visiting friends and family in Australia, led to an increase in service exports.

Private investment remained relatively unchanged, increasing 0.1 per cent in the June quarter.

The ABS said the largest detractor from growth was the 3.9 per cent decrease in public investment — the largest fall, excluding the COVID-19 period, since September 2017.

This was due to state and territory governments spending less on transport and health infrastructure.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said today's results were equal to the fastest quarterly growth in almost three years and the fastest annual growth rate in almost two years. 

"Today's National Accounts show Australia's economy is gathering momentum in the face of global economic uncertainty," he said.

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But experts questioned the treasurer's optimism. 

CreditorWatch chief economist Ivan Colhoun said the figures were largely driven by temporary factors like the weather events last quarter, federal election spending and end-of-financial-year sales.

"At face value, this outcome could be seen as confirming the RBA's anticipated strengthening in economic growth, though I'm not so sure about that," he said.

"There was a host of special factors impacting the data this quarter, most of which acted to boost growth temporarily."

Oxford Economics Australia head of macroeconomic forecasting Sean Langcake said while the results were "encouraging confirmation" that worse global uncertainty did not have a heavy toll on the economy, it may be a "high watermark" for growth this year.

"The June quarter benefited from a rebound from a soft first quarter, business and consumer confidence are still a little shaky, and the labour market appears to be cooling," he said.

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Two families have been left traumatised after their children were mixed up at a Sydney childcare centre, with one baby sent home with the wrong family for hours.

On Monday, a mother went to collect her child from First Steps learning centre in Bangor only to be told that her one-year-old had "already been taken" by a man hours earlier.

After reviewing security footage, it was discovered that a grandfather of another baby was given the wrong child.

He didn't realise and was equally disturbed by the mishap.

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Former First Steps employee Annabelle Murray told 9News the incident "was catastrophic and could have been so much worse".

"That's what scares the life out of me, is you had no idea who that man was," Murray said.

"He could have been anybody. It's just so lucky that he brought the baby back," she continued.

Parents and former employees are all furious over the enormous lapse in protocol.

"You just ring the doorbell and you're let in," said a mother.

"Their policy says they need to ask who's at the door, what your name is, and who you're picking up, and they never did that," she continued.

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First Steps learning centre has apologised in a letter to parent and has promised to strengthen their drop-off and pick-up protocols.

The letter also reveals the educator involved in the mix-up has been stood down following the incident.

"This Educator has been provided thorough induction training and is aware of the policies and processes regarding drop off and pick up. We have made the decision not to allow her back to the Bangor Service," the letter reads.

"We are working closely with Department of Education, Office of the Children's Guardian and NSW Police, to investigate this incident and to consider whether there is the option to engage in further rehabilitation training. However, we can assure you this will not be at the Bangor Service."

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