South Australia’s Premier has announced a $1 million reward for anyone who can provide critical information about the disappearance of Gus Lamont.
It has been almost a year since the four-year-old was reported missing from his home at Oak Park Station, a vast property near Yunta in South Australia’s outback.
SA Police have said the investigation has been one of the largest and most intensive missing persons operations they have undertaken, with 11 ground searches conducted over 30 days as well as aerial efforts.
Premier Peter Malinauskas made the announcement of a reward at a media conference on Wednesday afternoon, where a video statement was played from Gus’s parents.
It was the first time the public has heard directly from Gus’s parents.
Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke from SA Police’s Major Crime Investigation Branch also spoke at the media conference, and at times became emotional.
Look back at how the news unfolded in the blog below.
Wed 23 Sep 2026 at 1:50pmWed 23 Sep 2026 at 1:50pm
End of the blog
The media conference has now wrapped up.
The main developments have been the announcement of a reward, and the release of a direct and emotional appeal from Gus’s parents.
SA Police and the SA Premier announced a $1 million reward for information that leads to a conviction in the case or to the whereabouts of Gus.
For the first time, we heard directly from Gus’s parents Jess and Josh.
(ABC News: Che Chorley)
In a video statement in which they sat side by side, they desperately urged anyone with information to come forward.
“We miss Gus more than we can describe. We are desperate to have him return home to us and we are desperate for answers,” Josh said.
“Even the smallest detail could be helpful,” Jess said.
Thanks for joining us.
Wed 23 Sep 2026 at 1:38pmWed 23 Sep 2026 at 1:38pmParents’ video statement in full
Watch the full video statement from Gus’s parents Jess and Josh, including their desperate appeals for information.
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Wed 23 Sep 2026 at 1:30pmWed 23 Sep 2026 at 1:30pm
Reward request ‘one of the easiest’ to approve
Premier Peter Malinauskas says the request for a $1 million reward was “one of the easiest cabinet submissions we’ve ever had to approve”.
“Any assistance and resources that the government can facilitate – we will. So as soon as the request came in, we approved it,” he said.
“Police apply various tactics in an investigation as complex as this one, with the utmost consideration and professionalism, and we take our guidance from them and we’re very grateful for the efforts that they’ve applied in the deliberation about the reward.”
(ABC News: Che Chorley)
Wed 23 Sep 2026 at 1:26pmWed 23 Sep 2026 at 1:26pm
Will a reward lead to more conspiracy theories?
Superintendent Fielke is asked whether a reward would lead to an increase of callers with theories of their own.
He says it’s always a risk, and police expect an influx of calls.
He says they’ll assess all information.
Wed 23 Sep 2026 at 1:24pmWed 23 Sep 2026 at 1:24pm
Fielke describes parents as ‘brave’
Superintendent Fielke says Gus’s parents are private people who have been “thrust into the limelight, not of their doing”.
He describes the parents as brave for speaking, given their private nature.
“You can see they are grieving and they want their child back,” he says.
Wed 23 Sep 2026 at 1:21pmWed 23 Sep 2026 at 1:21pm
Information wanted, not conspiracies
Superintendent Fielke is taking questions from the media.
He’s asked about whether he has a message to the public about the conspiracy theories and chatter around the case.
He says “enough is enough”.
“When you want to speculate and you want to make stuff up, and you want to drive clicks, and inflate stories or convolute fact, it’s unhelpful,” he says.
Superintendent Darren Fielke (ABC News: Che Chorley)
Superintendent Fielke says it’s unhelpful for investigators who have to spend time following up information that isn’t valid.
He says police want information that will help drive the investigation forward, not theories or conspiracies.
Wed 23 Sep 2026 at 1:19pmWed 23 Sep 2026 at 1:19pmDad Josh’s statement in full
“The love and support we’ve had from family and friends has been overwhelming. It’s kept us going and helped us remain strong and hopeful for the future. We’ll never be able to thank them enough. We would also like to sincerely thank the community members, the SES volunteers, Australian Defence Force members and the police for working so hard to search.
“We miss Gus more than we can describe. We are desperate to have him return home to us and we are desperate for answers. We believe that someone knows something. Someone knows what happened to Gus and may even know where he is.”
Wed 23 Sep 2026 at 1:13pmWed 23 Sep 2026 at 1:13pmMum’s statement in full
Gus’s parents, Josh and Jess, had previously released a written statement but we today heard from them for the first time.
A video statement from Gus’s parents is being played at the presser (ABC News: Che Chorley)
Below is the statement from Gus’s mum, Jess:
“The disappearance of our son Gus has been the most devastating and inexplicable event we have ever experienced. We love him more than words can convey, and every single day without him has been incredibly difficult. Our heartache only grows as time passes and an entire year without any answers is upon us. Our memories of Gus are of a beautiful sweet and unique little boy who loved music, listening to stories, and playing in the natural world. Gus was growing up in an amazing environment – one that I cherish as my childhood home. He was learning so much and had such a bright future ahead of him. All of this has now been taken away from him. During the time Gus has been missing he should have celebrated his fifth birthday and his little brother’s first birthday with us. One of the most heartbreaking things is that Gus and his little brother will not grow up and share their lives together. Gus was adored by his little brother.
“Even if you are feeling scared or unsure, if you know anything at all we are imploring you to help us. Even the smallest detail could be helpful. Please come forward and cooperate with police.”
Wed 23 Sep 2026 at 1:06pmWed 23 Sep 2026 at 1:06pm
Police are ‘focused and determined’
Superintendent Fielke says police are going to continue to thoroughly and meticulously investigate the disappearance “until we get a resolution”.
“We are focused and determined,” he says.
He urges anyone with information to come forward.
“Now is the time,” he says.
Wed 23 Sep 2026 at 1:05pmWed 23 Sep 2026 at 1:05pm
Fielke becomes emotional as he speaks
Superintendent Fielke holds back tears as he thanks the police team who have been investigating Gus’s disappearance.
“Amazing people, unwavering commitment,” he says.
Superintendent Darren Fielke spoke to the media. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
Wed 23 Sep 2026 at 1:02pmWed 23 Sep 2026 at 1:02pm
‘We are desperate for answers’
Josh is emotional as he speaks.
“We are desperate to have him return home to us and we are desperate for answers,” he says.
“We believe that someone knows something. Someone knows what happened to Gus and may even know where he is.”
Gus’s parents in a video statement (ABC News)
Jess adds they are imploring anyone who knows anything to help them by coming forward and speaking to police.
Wed 23 Sep 2026 at 12:59pmWed 23 Sep 2026 at 12:59pm
Gus’s dad is speaking now
Gus’s dad Josh is now speaking via the video statement. He thanks family and friends for the love and support they have been shown. He also thanks the community and emergency services for their efforts.
Wed 23 Sep 2026 at 12:59pmWed 23 Sep 2026 at 12:59pm
Grandparent still a suspect, police say
Police say they continue to believe someone known to Gus has been involved in his disappearance and suspected death.
“As you’re aware I’ve previously stated one of the grandparents is a suspect in our investigation,” Superintendent Fielke said.
“That has not changed but I’m not going today to make any more comment or elaborate any further about the suspect in this investigation.”
Gus’s grandparents have previously released a statement saying the family had cooperated fully with the investigation.
(ABC News: Che Chorley)
Wed 23 Sep 2026 at 12:58pmWed 23 Sep 2026 at 12:58pm
An ‘adored’ big brother
Jess says Gus was growing up in an “amazing environment”, one that she cherished as her childhood home.
She says he was learning so much and had a bright future ahead of him but “all this has now been taken away from him”.
She says he should have celebrated his 5th birthday as well as his little brother’s first birthday in the time since he went missing.
She talks about her heartbreak that he and his little brother will not grow up and share their lives together.
“Gus was adored by his little brother,” she says.
Wed 23 Sep 2026 at 12:57pmWed 23 Sep 2026 at 12:57pm
Gus’s parents speak via video
Gus’s parents, Josh and Jess, have provided a video statement which is being played at the presser.
It’s the first time we’ve heard from Gus’s parents.
In the video, Jess says the disappearance of Gus has been the “most devastating and inexplicable event we have ever experienced”.
“We love him more than words can convey and every single day without him has been incredibly difficult,” she says.
“Our heartache only grows as time passes and an entire year without any answers is upon us.”
She describes Gus as a “beautiful, sweet, and unique little boy who loved music, listening to stories and playing in the natural world”.
Wed 23 Sep 2026 at 12:54pmWed 23 Sep 2026 at 12:54pm
Abduction unlikely, police insist
Police say they continue to believe it unlikely that Gus wandered off or was abducted.
“So far we have no evidence to support those theories, despite consistent … investigative efforts,” Superintendent Fielke said.
Wed 23 Sep 2026 at 12:51pmWed 23 Sep 2026 at 12:51pm
Who is speaking at the presser?
Speaking today is Premier Peter Malinauskas, Police Minister Michael Brown and the Major Crime Investigation Branch’s Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke.
Police are providing an update now (ABC News: Che Chorley)
Wed 23 Sep 2026 at 12:51pmWed 23 Sep 2026 at 12:51pm
Anomalies identified in analysis
Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke is now recapping the investigation.
He says Taskforce Horizon recently conducted a “painstaking, methodical, forensically detailed manual search” of aerial imagery.
He said that was in addition to the AI analysis that was done.
“As a result of that manual searching, we have identified some anomalies,” he said.
Wed 23 Sep 2026 at 12:48pmWed 23 Sep 2026 at 12:48pm$1 million for key information
Major Crime Investigation Branch’s Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said the reward amount was in line with what had been offered in other cases of missing children, and was a “life-changing amount”.
“There is a reward now available of up to $1 million to be paid to anyone with information that leads to the conviction of … persons responsible for the disappearance of Gus and/or the location of his remains,” he said.
“$1 million is a life-changing amount of money for someone. Now is the time to come forward.
“We’re grateful for [government] support and I can give them an undertaking then we’ll do everything, as we’ve continued to do, to locate Gus and reunite him with his family.”
Wed 23 Sep 2026 at 12:44pmWed 23 Sep 2026 at 12:44pm
Michael Brown is speaking now
Police Minister Michael Brown says SA Police asked the government to issue a reward and they have “immediately done so”.
He says the government stands ready to provide any support SAPOL needs.
He also urges anyone with information to come forward.
“Someone out there knows something,” he says.
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