Police are searching for a mother after the body of a newborn baby boy was found in a bin in Sydney’s west.
Emergency services were called to Harrow Road, Auburn, at 11:20am on Monday after reports a baby’s body was found in a garbage bin.
If you or anyone you know needs help:Lifeline on 131 114Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800Beyond Blue on 1300 224 63613 YARN on 13 92 76Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978Headspace on 1800 650 890ReachOutSANE on 1800 187 263Call triple-0 if you need immediate care
Acting Superintendent of the Auburn Police Area Command Darren Sly told reporters a member of the public was using the garbage bins when she located the baby.
“It’s very traumatic for that particular lady who found that baby,” he said.
“It’s a newborn baby who now has passed away and of course it’s sad and a horrific set of circumstances.”
Superintendent Sly said the unclothed baby boy’s body was found in a plastic bag and placed in the bin of a unit block.
He said investigations were continuing into whether the baby had been born alive and the body may have been inside the bin for up to 36 hours.
“My officers are professional, they’ll do their jobs but like anybody they’re human,” Superintendent Sly said.
“We’re talking a newborn baby here … you’re going to have feelings about it … we will assist those police in anyway that we can.”
Members of the public with information have been asked to contact authorities. (ABC News: Abubakr Sajid)
Concern for mother’s welfare
Officers have set up a crime scene and urged the baby’s mother to come forward.
Asked whether the mother would face police action, Superintendent Sly said the officers’ focus was on the mother’s welfare.
“If there was to be any police action that is not our priority whatsoever, our only priority at the moment is for the welfare of that mother,” he said.
NSW Police set up a crime scene to investigate but said the priority is the mother’s welfare. (ABC News: Abubakr Sajid)
Police have urged the mother to attend her nearest hospital to receive urgent care for herself.
Anyone with information has been urged to contact Auburn Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Look back at how ABC readers and other Australians responded to this live
moment.
Mon 31 Aug 2026 at 4:27pmMon 31 Aug 2026 at 4:27pm
Police press conference ends
That is all from Acting Superintendent Sly.
For the latest information on this evolving news story, you can keep up to date via the ABC News website.
Mon 31 Aug 2026 at 4:25pmMon 31 Aug 2026 at 4:25pm
Baby’s body was inside a plastic bag, police say
When asked if the newborn was clothed or wrapped in any blankets when found, Acting Superintendent Sly says the infant was “unclothed”.
“At this stage we believe that he was placed into a garbage-style plastic bag.” he said.
Mon 31 Aug 2026 at 4:24pmMon 31 Aug 2026 at 4:24pm
Officers at the scene being supported
Acting Superintendent Sly is reflecting on the impact of the case for officers at the scene.
“My officers are professional, they’ll do their jobs but like anybody they’re human,” Acting Superintendent Sly said.
“We’re talking a newborn baby here … you’re going to have feelings about it … we will assist those police in anyway that we can.”
Show more