Monday, October 27, 2025

Australia news live: police to resume search for body in infamous cold case of Indigenous child killed in 1990

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Australia news live: police to resume search for body in infamous cold case of Indigenous child killed in 1990

8.41pm BST Police to resume search for body in infamous cold case of Indigenous child killed in 1990 Detectives from the NSW homicide squad detectives investigating the murder of Colleen Walker-Craig from Bowraville in 1990 have begun a two-day search for her remains. Colleen was just 16 when she was last seen in Bowraville in September 1990. Her family reported her missing, and her weighted down clothes were later found in the Nambucca River. Although Colleen’s body has never been found, the NSW coroner found she had died and had most likely been murdered. She was one of three Indigenous children killed over a five-month period in 1990. The remains of two of the children – Evelyn Greenup, four, who was Colleen’s cousin, and Clinton Speedy-Duroux, 16 – were discovered within months. The three alleged murders were originally investigated separately before being linked by the homicide squad. Detectives returned to Bowraville a year ago to continue the search for Colleen. Related: ‘Now is the time’: NSW homicide detectives return to Bowraville almost 35 years after children murdered According to a police statement on Friday strike force investigators – with assistance from Marine Area Command – will commence a water search in parts of the Nambucca River in both Bowraville and Macksville today and tomorrow A $1m reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Colleen’s murder remains in place, as well as for information leading to the location and recovery of Colleen’s remains. Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Updated at 8.49pm BST 8.30pm BST 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. NSW police are resuming the search today in an infamous cold case murder investigation: they will be combing the Nambucca River in Bowraville for the remains of Colleen Walker-Craig, one of three Indigenous children killed over a five-month period in 1990. Also today: the workplace tribunal system is being swamped by an “unsustainable” number of unfair dismissal claims as employers blame workers trying to win payouts rather than settle grievances, according to reports. And we’re likely to hear more in the political tug-of-war over Labor’s proposed new environment laws.