Australia news as it happened: Gus Lamont disappearance declared ‘major crime’ by SA Police; Perth Invasion Day failed bombing declared terrorist act

Thanks for reading the national news blog. This is where we’ll end today’s coverage. We will be back tomorrow with the latest news in the national live blog and live coverage of the 2026 Sydney Summit.

To conclude, here’s a look back at some of the day’s major stories:

• A family member of missing 4-year-old South Australian boy Gus Lamont is now considered a suspect in his disappearance.
• A 31-year-old man has become the first person in WA to be charged with engaging in a terrorist act after a bomb was thrown into the crowd at an Invasion Day rally in Perth last week.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack, calling it an offence against Australian values and allegedly driven by racism and hatred.
• Nationals senator Matt Canavan called on his social media followers to protest his removal from parliamentary committees after the Coalition split and made the Nationals a minor party.
• The heartbroken parents of a teenager who was found dead surrounded by dingoes have arrived in Australia to visit the lonely beach where their daughter lost her life.
• And overseas, US morning news anchor Savannah Guthrie posted a video message addressing anyone who might be holding her missing mother, presumed abducted from her Arizona home this week, pleading for them to open a line of communication.

Thanks again for joining us. This is Isabel McMillan signing off.

Liberal MP Zoe McKenzie has brushed off criticism over the impending visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, describing his role as a largely apolitical one that is not deserving of criticism.

“We have to remember the president of Israel is largely a ceremonial role. In fact, he has been a politician in the past, but not of the current party’s ruling Israel,” McKenzie told ABC Afternoon Briefing.

“In the same way that if our governor-general, who does regularly go across the seas to represent Australia, does not carry with her the politics of the day of the country, it should be the same invitation and courtesy provided to the president of Israel, as we would expect our governor-general to receive overseas,” she said.

Herzog’s official visit, set to begin on Sunday and make stops in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, and has been condemned by activists and politicians from the crossbench, Greens and Labor. Many have cited Herzog’s comments on the collective responsibility of Palestinians for the actions of Hamas and his signing of a warhead to be used in Gaza as reasons he should not be welcomed to Australia.

“I think it’s appropriate that he’s coming. It sounds like it’s an appropriate engagement, especially with the Jewish communities across multiple important Australian cities. Israel is an ally of Australia. He is welcome here, and I hope it goes smoothly and carefully,” McKenzie said.

The Australian government’s special envoy to combat Islamophobia, Aftab Malik, has condemned a threatening letter sent to Sydney’s Lakemba mosque – the second it has received this year. Malik said the series of “systematic and intimidating threats” directed at the mosque had crossed a clear and unacceptable line.

The letter included a drawing of a mosque on fire, with people inside, alongside statements such as “human waste preaches here” and “deport Lebanese garbage waste”.

“These threats come exactly two weeks before Muslims across Australia observe the holy month of Ramadan, a time when thousands of Australians of all backgrounds visit mosques, stand alongside peaceful worshippers, and share in traditions, hospitality, and the pre-dawn meal known as Suhur,” Malik said in a statement.

“Attempts to intimidate or silence Australian Muslim communities are an attack on our shared values, not just on one faith group.”

He said intimidation, threats and hate-motivated acts needed to be treated seriously, investigated, and met with firm consequences. “Authorities have a responsibility to act early, decisively, and visibly to prevent escalation and to reassure communities that their safety is not negotiable,” he said. “Every Australian deserves to worship freely, safely, and without fear.”

Following a statement condemning the upcoming visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, independent MP Andrew Wilkie has said he will not attend the House of Representatives if the president visits the chamber next week.

“It was entirely inappropriate for the minister for home affairs to allow a visa to be issued for that visit, and it will be entirely inappropriate if the Israeli president visits Parliament House and attends the House of Representatives next week. If he does, I will not attend the chamber at that time, and I’m confident that that’s what the people I represent want me to do,” Wilkie told journalists in Canberra.

“This is a time to be bringing the country together, not driving a fault line through the country next week by dividing the country further, by allowing such an inflammatory visit to occur. Just as things are starting to calm down and settle down. We’re going to have this highly inflammatory, emotive, inappropriate visit next week that’s going to stir up problems and, in fact, make it less safe for Australia’s Jewish Australian community. This is a bad call by the PM.”

Wilkie was critical of Herzog signing a bomb that was to be used in Gaza.

Speaking alongside Wilkie were independents Zali Steggall and Sophie Scamps. Scamps said it was “probably the hardest press conference” she’s ever had to attend because of the “emotive” nature of the issue. She said there was still time for the government to rescind the invitation to Herzog before he arrives on Sunday.

Steggall said, given the timing, rescinding the invitation would be “difficult and problematic” but had been seeking further information on who would be attending and on what basis.

Shortly before leaving for Jakarta, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese characterised Australia’s new security agreement with Indonesia as a watershed moment in the bilateral relationship.

Albanese said the treaty would be “deepening the bond that we have, honouring our long shared history and looking ahead to our shared future”.

“Our mutual security treaty commits our two nations to consult, at a leader and ministerial level, on security matters together and to consider any security responses together,” he said.

“It is a watershed moment in the Australia-Indonesia partnership. A partnership that is based on friendship, trust, mutual respect and a shared commitment to peace and stability in our region. But it is also part of our broader engagement with nations in the region and our investment in our relationships.”