Police appeal for information after serious ebike crash in Sydney’s south
Officials said emergency services were called to the suburb of Engadine about 3.30pm amid reports a child had been struck by an ebike rider. A five-year-old boy was treated at the scene by paramedics for serious leg injuries before he was taken to Sydney children’s hospital. He is in stable condition.
Officers were told the e-bike rider did not stop and left the scene before police arrived. They are searching for two people in relation to the incident.
Anyone with information related to the crash has been urged to contact police.
Updated at 00.52 EDT
Key events
What we learned, Wednesday 30 September
That’s a wrap on our live coverage, before we go let’s recap the day’s top headlines:
Thanks for sticking around, we’ll see you tomorrow!
‘I am ready to play hardball’: Hodgins-May vows to take drastic change in new role
Newly appointed Greens deputy leader Steph Hodgins-May said the role presented an opportunity to “reimagine what the future could look like if we put people ahead of those corporate profiteers”.
Speaking on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, she said she was determined to represent Australians calling for greater action from the government.
double quotation markI am ready to play hardball … I’m listening to the Victorians, the Australians who are every day telling me they are distraught at the fact that this government is not doing more to help people.
Incremental change doesn’t cut it when we are staring down the biggest El Niño on record, and the potential for immense droughts, floods, fires. Incrementalism won’t cut it on climate action. Incrementalism won’t cut it when we want to materially make lives better, so we are demanding more ambition and courage from the Labor party, but not expecting it.
Hodgins-May said she would “take that responsibility incredibly seriously”.
double quotation markIf that means playing hardball with the ALP and the Labor government, then absolutely. But if they turn around tomorrow and say, ‘Hang on, maybe we can do things differently,’ and serve us up some reforms that will genuinely change lives for the better, then I’m all ears and ready to go. We are ready to go as a team.
Senator Steph Hodgins-May at a press conference announcing the new leadership team of the Australian Greens. Photograph: George Chan/AAPShare
Updated at 03.09 EDT
Commbank becomes first of big four banks to increase home loan rates
Commonwealth Bank has announced it will increase variable home loan interest rates by 0.25% per annum following Tuesday’s RBA rate hike.
The changes will take effect from 9 October 2026.
CBA Executive of Retail Banking Angus Sullivan said:
double quotation markEach customer’s circumstances are different, and our teams are ready to provide support, help them understand their options and consider what might work best for their situation.
For some customers, the immediate priority might be understanding how their repayments and budget may change and where adjustments can be made. For others, it may be having a more detailed conversation with us about their finances.
Photograph: Hollie Adams/ReutersShare
Peugeot announces major recall of over 500 cars due to ‘software issue’
The European car brand has recalled hundreds of vehicles in Australia over a “software issue” that could increase the “risk of serious injury or death”.
A warning published on the Department for Transport’s website said the fault could cause the interior door handles to deactivate unexpectedly while the engine was running.
The issue may prevent passengers from opening the doors from inside the vehicle, potentially leaving them unable to escape in an emergency.
Peugeot estimated that 550 vehicles manufactured in 2024 and 2025 were affected.
Owners of affected vehicles are being urged to contact their local dealership to have the software updated at no cost.
Updated at 02.22 EDT
NSW’s Greens condemn state government’s extension approval of Hunter Valley Operations coalmine expansions
The party has criticised the state government’s planning commission for approving the proposal.
The approval will allow Glencore and Yancoal’s Hunter Valley Operations to continue until 2045. The Greens said the mine will produce an estimated 809m tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent – about seven times NSW’s annual emissions.
Greens climate and energy spokesperson, Cate Faehrmann, said the decision had “killed any chance of NSW meeting its own climate emissions reduction targets”.
double quotation markEach year, the Minns government falls further and further behind on reaching its net zero targets. The latest report from July shows that NSW is not set to reach its 2030 target until 2034 and its 2035 target until 2042.
The Minns Labor government doesn’t care about climate action. It prefers propping up a dying industry, with even the International Energy Agency saying that global demand will decline from 2030.
The signs of climate breakdown caused by the burning of fossil fuels are all around us and we’re facing a super El Niño here this summer. Meanwhile, the Minns government’s love affair with coal continues.
NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAPShare
Updated at 02.08 EDT
Police investigate public fights at SA beaches
South Australian police are investigating after reports of public fights at beaches.
The possible move comes after “several disturbances along the metropolitan coastline late yesterday”, including reports of fighting at Glenelg and Henley Beach.
Detective said it’s understood a small number of individuals were involved in public fights as several young people spectated.
Police said they were alerted to the incidents through social media videos. They said no reports had yet been made to police and no injuries had been reported.
Officers are working to identify and locate those involved.
The force’s annual Operation Jericho monitors crime, public disorder and road safety along Adelaide’s coastline during summer.
Updated at 02.33 EDT
Achol Arok
Good afternoon!
Thanks for sticking around, I’ll be taking the reins for the rest of the arvo.
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Nick Visser
That’s all from me. Achol Arok will take the blog from here. Enjoy your Wednesday.
ShareTrump’s man in Canberra starts work
Tom McIlroy
The new American ambassador to Australia, David Brat, has begun the new job, after presenting his diplomatic credentials to the governor general on Tuesday.
Brat met Sam Mostyn at a ceremony at Government House in Canberra.
The US embassy says Brat’s priorities in Australia include deepening the defence relationship, advancing the Aukus nuclear submarines pact, strengthening cooperation on critical minerals, and expanding trade and investment.
In his first official act, Brat paid tribute to Australian servicemen and women by laying a wreath at the Australian War Memorial.
“Australia has been our closest ally and friend for generations. It’s an honour to visit such an awe-inspiring tribute as Ambassador,” he said.
double quotation markUS and Australian soldiers have fought side-by-side and stood shoulder-to-shoulder for decades in times of war and times of peace. I look forward to furthering our longstanding defence partnership during my posting to Australia.
He said he looked forward to meeting Australians, including sport fans.
“Both of our nations are crazy about sports, and I can’t wait to get out there, whether it’s tennis, NRL, AFL, rugby, or cricket,” he said.
Updated at 01.51 EDT
Mother of Marco Tapia wants people to remember her son ‘beyond the circumstances of his death’
Claudia Tapia, the mother of Marco Tapia, the Sydney student mistakenly killed in an alleged crime hit gone wrong, has released a statement after her son’s death.
NSW police said earlier two men and a teenage boy had been charged in the shooting with a series of offences, including murder. A NSW official alleged the trio were “hired guns” by organised crime groups to commit the shooting, saying Tapia was a “completely innocent party”.
Claudia Tapia said her family was “so grateful to NSW Police and everyone continuing to work on this investigation”. She went on:
double quotation markFor our family, however, every development brings us back to the reality that Marco is no longer here. We want people to know who Marco was beyond the circumstances of his death.
Marco was a warm, caring and loving 23 years old, a biomedical engineering student, a committed Christian, a youth leader, a volunteer, a martial artist, a boyfriend, a brother and our deeply loved son. …
Marco had plans. He had purpose. He had a future, and he was already making a difference in the lives of others. His death is part of his story, but it must never become his identity. Marco was not simply a victim. He was our son, a brother, a boyfriend, a friend, a man of faith, a young leader and a biomedical engineer in the making, who was going to impact this sphere greatly.
An undated image of Marco Tapia. Photograph: Jessica Stilloni/GoFundMe/PR IMAGEShare
Updated at 00.40 EDT
Police appeal for information after serious ebike crash in Sydney’s south
Officials said emergency services were called to the suburb of Engadine about 3.30pm amid reports a child had been struck by an ebike rider. A five-year-old boy was treated at the scene by paramedics for serious leg injuries before he was taken to Sydney children’s hospital. He is in stable condition.
Officers were told the e-bike rider did not stop and left the scene before police arrived. They are searching for two people in relation to the incident.
Anyone with information related to the crash has been urged to contact police.
Updated at 00.52 EDT
Graham Readfearn
Antarctic winter sea ice falls to third-lowest level on record as scientists warn of ‘now problem’
Antarctica’s winter sea ice has peaked at its third-lowest level on record, falling 1m sq km short of the long-term average, scientists have confirmed.
Confirmation of the peak meant the four lowest years on record for the continent’s sea ice – a vital component of the planet’s climate and critical for marine life – had all occurred in the past four years.
Satellites have been watching the continent’s sea ice since 1979, and this year data showed the sea ice peaked on 14 September at 17.59m sq km, about 1m sq km short of the average maximum, or an area roughly twice the size of Spain.
Read more here:
Updated at 23.56 EDT