Australia news live: NT police still seek answers over 25 year-old murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio

From

48m ago

NT police release unseen photos from Peter Falconio murder investigation

Northern Territory police have opened evidence boxes to uncover several previously unseen photographs from the investigation of the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio and attempted abduction of his girlfriend, Joanne Lees.

Tuesday is the 25th anniversary of the infamous outback disappearance.

Bradley John Murdoch was convicted of the 28-year-old’s murder but he died on 15 July 2025 without ever admitting to what he had done or disclosing the location of Falconio’s remains.

The photographs show a stunned looking Lees in the hours after her encounter with Murdoch on a remote part of the Stuart Highway on the fateful evening of 14 July 2001.

Another shows Murdoch as photographed by police, staring back at the camera.

Despite Murdoch being convicted and sentenced to life, the investigation into Falconio’s murder would stay open until his remains were found, the NT police commissioner, Martin Dole, said.

A reward of $500,000 remains on offer for information leading directly to the discovery of Falconio’s remains.

“No piece of information is too small; what may seem insignificant could prove critical in helping investigators finally resolve this case,” Dole said.

Key events

48m ago

NT police release unseen photos from Peter Falconio murder investigation

1h ago

Welcome

More cancer in young people, but survival rates improving

Young people are increasingly being diagnosed with cancers but survival rates are improving, according to the most detailed picture of the disease, Australian Associated Press reports.

Some improvement in cancer outcomes for First Nations people has also been reported in Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data released today.

Though First Nations people are twice as likely to be diagnosed with cancers with low survival rates than other Australians, the number of cases is in decline.

Cancer incidence has dropped from 342 cases per 100,000 people to 315 between 2011 and 2025, while the mortality rate dropped from 148 deaths to 105.

The detailed figures could help better direct healthcare, the Institute’s spokesperson Justin Harvey said.

“This is the most comprehensive cancer data available for First Nations people to date,” Harvey said in a statement.

With a more complete picture of cancer outcomes, alongside more detailed information about geography and socio-economic status, it becomes possible to identify where disparities are greatest and where targeted action can make the biggest difference.

The analysis also confirmed cancer among younger people is on the rise with rates for those in their 30s increasing over the past 25 years, largely driven by more colorectal and thyroid cancers.

Good morning, Nick Visser here to pick up the blog. Let’s dive in.

Four more charged over alleged murder of Chris Baghsarian

Four more people have been charged over the alleged kidnapping and murder of 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian in Sydney in February.

NSW police have now charged 11 men over the alleged crimes. They say one of the four men charged include the “alleged coordinator”.

Baghsarian was taken from his home in North Ryde on 13 February and his remains were found near a golf club in Pitt Town on 24 February.

Police say he was not the intended target of the kidnapping and was taken in a case of mistaken identity.

A 32-year-old man arrested in February over an unrelated investigation was re-arrested on 8 July and charged with detaining in company with intention to ransom, occasioning actual bodily harm, and murder. He was refused bail and remanded in custody to appear next on 17 July.

Last Thursday a 22 year old man was charged with detaining in company with intention to ransom, occasioning actual bodily harm, and murder.

On Monday morning police arrested a 21 year old man and a 19 year old man and charged them with being “accessory before the fact” to murder. The latter is due to appear in court today.

NT police release unseen photos from Peter Falconio murder investigation

Northern Territory police have opened evidence boxes to uncover several previously unseen photographs from the investigation of the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio and attempted abduction of his girlfriend, Joanne Lees.

Tuesday is the 25th anniversary of the infamous outback disappearance.

Bradley John Murdoch was convicted of the 28-year-old’s murder but he died on 15 July 2025 without ever admitting to what he had done or disclosing the location of Falconio’s remains.

The photographs show a stunned looking Lees in the hours after her encounter with Murdoch on a remote part of the Stuart Highway on the fateful evening of 14 July 2001.

Another shows Murdoch as photographed by police, staring back at the camera.

Despite Murdoch being convicted and sentenced to life, the investigation into Falconio’s murder would stay open until his remains were found, the NT police commissioner, Martin Dole, said.

A reward of $500,000 remains on offer for information leading directly to the discovery of Falconio’s remains.

“No piece of information is too small; what may seem insignificant could prove critical in helping investigators finally resolve this case,” Dole said.

Welcome

Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Nick Visser with the main action.

Young people are increasingly being diagnosed with cancers but survival rates are improving, according to the most detailed picture of how the disease affects Australians.

There have been four more charges over the alleged kidnapping and murder of New South Wales man Chris Baghsarian, and NT police have issued a renewed plea for tips before the 25th anniversary of the murder of backpacker Peter Falconio, whose body was never found.