What we learned today, Saturday 24 September
That’s it for today, thanks for reading. Here are the main stories of the day:
The AFP is investigating following reports data obtained from the Optus hack is up for sale on the internet.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, says the UN security council should be reformed to better uphold its values
The Labor government has ended aspects of the cashless debit card program while introducing a “enhanced” scheme in the Northern Territory.
The body of a five-year-old boy has been pulled from a car submerged in flood waters in central western NSW.
The Sydney Swans are heading for a crushing defeat in the AFL grand final.
We will see you all back here tomorrow.
Updated
Police find body of five-year-old boy lost in NSW flood waters
New South Wales police have found the body of a young boy caught in a car swept away by flood waters overnight.
Police officers among the first responders who had stayed in the area of the incident began a search on Saturday morning to find the Toyota Hilux that had been swept away with a five-year-old boy trapped inside.
Police divers found the boy’s body in the car at 3.20pm.
Just before 11pm on Friday emergency services were called to the McGrane Way at Tullamore, near Parkes in the state’s central west, following reports two cars had been swept into flood waters.
One car, the Hilux with five passengers, had become submerged at the Genaren Creek crossing at 8pm.
Four passengers – a 37-year-old man, a 28-year-old woman along with a young boy and girl – were able to escape and cling to trees but a five-year-old boy became trapped in the car before it submerged.
Three hours later the second car entered the flood crossing. The occupants of the second vehicle were able to escape the car before it submerged where they found the passengers of the first still clinging to trees.
They alerted emergency services and a multi-agency response was initiated with officers from central west police district, the SES, Rural Fire Service and ambulance paramedics.
A boat was used to rescue the family who were all taken to Dubbo base hospital for observation. No one in the second car was injured.
The car has since been retrieved and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is under way.
A report will be prepared for the information of the coroner.
Roads in the area remain closed due to flooding, and motorists are urged to check www.livetraffic.com prior to travelling.
Updated
