What we learned, 21 September 2025
With that we’re wrapping up the blog. Before we go, here are the major stories from Sunday:
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has arrived in New York ahead of a string of diplomatic meetings with world leaders, possibly including Donald Trump.
The federal emergency services minister, Kristy McBain, has blasted Optus outage as “absolutely disgraceful”.
A baby boy has died and a young woman seriously injured after a ute crashed into a parked car on the side of a busy freeway.
The climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, has accused the Nationals of betraying farmers for abandoning net zero.
Bowen has thrown his support behind Australian recognition of Palestinian statehood, saying that he believes “Israel will be truly free and secure when Palestine is”.
Optus CEO Stephen Rue addressed outrage over the telco’s outage that is thought to have contributed to the deaths of at three people nationwide.
South Australian police say the Optus outage was not involved in the death of an eight-year-old boy, but are still investigating its role in the death of a 68-year-old woman.
We’ll pick things up again tomorrow.
Updated
Teen arrested after pursuit in Sydney's west
A teenage boy has been arrested after a pursuit in Sydney’s west yesterday.
In a statement, NSW police said:
About 9.15pm on Saturday 20 September 2025, officers attached to Cumberland Highway Patrol attempted to stop a vehicle – believed to be stolen – travelling on Reservoir Road, Blacktown.
When the vehicle allegedly failed to stop as directed, a pursuit was initiated.
The vehicle allegedly travelled along the M4 Motorway towards Prospect and continued through to James Street, Leichhardt, where it will be alleged the vehicle crashed into a parked car.
Police attempted to remove the driver; however, an officer discharged their firearm at the vehicle, and another discharged a Taser, when the vehicle’s door allegedly hit and injured a police officer.
The driver allegedly crashed into two parked cars and rammed three police vehicles before driving away.
A 27-year-old male officer suffered a minor head injury and was taken to hospital for further treatment. He has since been discharged.
A short time later the vehicle was located abandoned on a driveway on Crystal Street, Petersham.
Following inquiries, about 2pm today (Sunday 21 September 2025), detectives attached to Leichhardt Police Area Command – with assistance of the Public Order and Riot Squad – arrested a 17-year-old boy at a home on George Street, Erskineville.
He was taken to Newtown police station and is assisting with inquiries.
Updated
