What we learned, Monday 2 February
This is where we’ll leave the blog for today. These were the day’s top stories:
Victoria police revealed they “strongly believe” Dezi Freeman won’t be found alive as they began a fresh search of the area where a gunshot was heard shortly after the fugitive’s fatal confrontation with two officers.
The federal Nationals leader, David Littleproud, was set for face-to-face talks with Sussan Ley about reuniting with the Liberals after surviving a leadership challenge.
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) released its 2024-25 annual financial disclosure return information, which revealed the source of more than $138m in donations to Australian political parties remains unknown.
New South Wales police announced they would examine the alleged domestic violence history of the Lake Cargelligo triple murder suspect, Julian Ingram, as part of a critical incident investigation into how officers handled his alleged offending.
The Victorian opposition leader, Jess Wilson, pulled out of an event headlined by Barnaby Joyce after the state premier accused her of “cosying up” to One Nation.
A 22-year-old Australian snowboarder died in a ski lift accident in Japan.
Broadcaster James Valentine announced he would retire from the ABC after almost 40 years, due to cancer, ending 25 years of hosting Sydney’s Afternoons program on ABC Radio.
And overseas, the 68th Grammy awards took place in Los Angeles. Bad Bunny and Kendrick Lamar took home major awards during a night in which musicians hit back at president Donald Trump’s ICE occupation. Tame Impala, one of several Australian acts up for awards, took home a Grammy for the best dance/electronic recording.
Updated
Police watchdog passes on recommendations to commissioner of the force
Here’s some more on that Lecc report about serious misconduct by two police officers in a regional town.
In a statement announcing the report had been tabled, the watchdog’s chief commissioner, Peter Johnson SC, said:
Working as a police officer in a regional or rural area has been likened to living in a fishbowl, with officers more likely to have to respond to calls relating to family and friends.
The actions of the officers considered in this report undermine the good reputation of the NSW police force and are contrary to the NSW police force code of conduct and ethics by showing that police are willing to overlook known or suspected criminal acts of friends.
These issues have extra significance as the NSW police force’s “Be a Cop in your Home Town” program is actively encouraging people to join the NSW police and then live and work in their own regional or rural community.
The Lecc has recommended to the police commissioner that the issues discussed in Operation Maddington be used as a case study in officer training.
