Australia AUSTRALIA - 4YO AUGUST (GUS) Missing from rural family home in Outback, Yunta, South Australia, 27th Sept 2025

[Sillybilly]

ADMIN NOTE:

Some members have enquired or expressed concern about a link to Tik Tok. Although WS does not normally allow links to Tik Tok, we are allowing this specific one as it relates to an interaction between the reporter and a member of the family.

Most members are interested; those who don't appreciate our decision are welcome to scroll and roll.

 

[HoneyBunOne]

It is also relevant that no trespass charges have been laid. If this were a clear case of unlawful entry, it is hard to see why police would not have acted on it already. The absence of charges aligns with the actual legal position.

Snipped by me.
Just because you can, doesn't mean you will.
For example: You can complain about your neighbours occasional noisy parties, every bark their dog makes, their kids ball sometimes coming over the fence etc, but it doesn't mean you want to poke the bear and call in the regulators. Sometimes you just let things lie, especially after you've calmed down, or realised it's not worth your time or trouble.

 

[Ellery84]

Is she suggesting Josie made a statement the next day claiming the gun was for a snake?

Yes.

 

[Andreee]

<modsnip: quoted post was removed>

I don't dispute the law regarding trespassing in Australia. But I do dispute the motive and the intent of this DM reporter. They would have known full well that their walking up to the property and engaging in conversation would not be welcome at all. They got what they wanted amd it was not helpful to the missing child's whereabouts mystery at all. They were basically harassing the family, who made it very clear from day one that the media were not welcome there. Local LE emphasized this in the aftermath of this nonsensical event. DM especially has a history over the years of overstepping and creating drama and this is one such case. As a former community reporter myself, I know all the tricks of the trade, although I never chased ambulances and the like. The whole interaction accomplished absolutely nothing except this tabloid reporter making it about herself. She knew it was a hopeless endeavour from the get-go. I also blame the DM management who let her go there.

 

[essareem]

I am not a lawyer, but I went and looked this up because some of the claims being made here didn’t sound right. Considering the confidence with which people were posting legal takes, I thought it was worth actually checking.

A lot of people are saying that because police told the media not to attend the property, anyone who walked up to the house was automatically trespassing. That is not how the law works in Australia.

We have a common-law implied right of entry. The High Court confirmed this in Halliday v Nevill (1984) and Plenty v Dillon (1991). Members of the public are allowed to go onto private land for the lawful purpose of approaching the front door and attempting to speak to the occupier. Journalists do not gain special rights from their job, but they also do not lose the rights every other member of the public has.

Only the occupier can revoke that right. Police cannot do it on someone else’s behalf just by saying “do not go there” in a press conference. A police warning is not a legal revocation. To revoke implied entry, you need something like clear signage, a gate or fence, or the occupier directly telling the person to leave. If someone remains after that, then it becomes trespass.

It is also relevant that no trespass charges have been laid. If this were a clear case of unlawful entry, it is hard to see why police would not have acted on it already. The absence of charges aligns with the actual legal position.

This is not about defending the Daily Mail. People are free to dislike their reporting. But the law does not operate on personal preference or feelings about a media outlet, and the implied right of entry exists whether we approve of the visitor or not.

Here's a link to the SUMMARY OFFENCES ACT 1953 - SECT 17A which speaks to what trespass is also.

(edited to add links)

Just wanted to say, I really appreciate your posts, Total C. They're always well thought out and informative.

 

[Ellery84]

Just wanted to say, I really appreciate your posts, Total C. They're always well thought out and informative.

Likewise @Total_C . Love your posts.

 

[Ellery84]

She knew it was a hopeless endeavour from the get-go. I also blame the DM management who let her go there.

I sort of blame the editor also, for allowing this to happen, but Karleigh Smith had been to Oak Park to doornock before and didn't catch a weapon, so maybe they just assumed that there was no serious risk of harm.

I'm actually really concerned that a plain clothes police detective or an off-shift SES worker or CWA person with pumpkin scones will turn up, for a legal purpose, and get shot and killed.

And maybe that's why Ms Bray made the police report, because she didn't want anyone else to get hurt. Imo

She had a near miss. That's what we call it at work when an accident nearly happens.

It's a near miss.

 

[essareem]

I don't dispute the law regarding trespassing in Australia. But I do dispute the motive and the intent of this DM reporter. They would have known full well that their walking up to the property and engaging in conversation would not be welcome at all. They got what they wanted amd it was not helpful to the missing child's whereabouts mystery at all. They were basically harassing the family, who made it very clear from day one that the media were not welcome there. Local LE emphasized this in the aftermath of this nonsensical event. DM especially has a history over the years of overstepping and creating drama and this is one such case. As a former community reporter myself, I know all the tricks of the trade, although I never chased ambulances and the like. The whole interaction accomplished absolutely nothing except this tabloid reporter making it about herself. She knew it was a hopeless endeavour from the get-go. I also blame the DM management who let her go there.

I disagree, Jonica Bray seems to be a master at shoe-leather reporting. She goes where others don't, and she gets the details nobody else does. I do not believe she went there expecting it to be fruitless, or to just create a scene. I assume she was merely confident of her abilities, and rightly so.

 

[Ellery84]

I disagree, Jonica Bray seems to be a master at shoe-leather reporting. She goes where others don't, and she gets the details nobody else does. I do not believe she went there expecting it to be fruitless, or to just create a scene. I assume she was merely confident of her abilities, and rightly so.

100%.

Look what she achieved in the Phoebe Bishop case.

She's highly intelligent and in my opinion, probably over-qualified for the job she is doing.

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And don't think that her mission in the South Australian outback failed..... at all.

It's the weekend. Most staff reporters work Monday - Friday. The dust is still settling from her interstate reporting journey.

Let see what shakes out.

(And I'm predicting it won't be a snake.)

All imo

 

[Bats]

Only the occupier can revoke that right. Police cannot do it on someone else’s behalf just by saying “do not go there” in a press conference.

Interested as to how this may work if the occupier had previously asked someone to leave and the Police are reiterating and relaying what the occupier has asked on many occasions in the weeks earlier?

 

[sunspun]

Sinister theories emerge about search for Gus Lamont

Gus was last seen playing in a mound of dirt near his grandparents' homestead on a sheep station 40km south of Yunta, in eastern South Australia, at about 5pm on September 27.

www.dailymail.co.uk

They've copy pasted some of our theories.

"A few offered alternative theories.

'I have this sickly feeling he's fallen into a wombat burrow,' one wrote."

That's kinda funny, knowing they read this site, considering how many posts there are on here trashing their publication (but praising their photos!!) Somehow I'm sure they're not in the least bit bothered!

 

[Bats]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed>

I wonder when the next fresh faced DM reporter will be sent in so they can avoid the 'no trespassing' clause?

 

[Andreee]

I disagree, Jonica Bray seems to be a master at shoe-leather reporting. She goes where others don't, and she gets the details nobody else does. I do not believe she went there expecting it to be fruitless, or to just create a scene. I assume she was merely confident of her abilities, and rightly so.

Well, I have been in journalism most of my life and I disagree with what her intentions were, particularly as she works for the tabloid DM, which has been in hot water many times over the years. It was a distraction from the main mission, finding Gus IMO. But I will just agree to disagree as they say, and move on.

 

[Andreee]

I wonder when the next fresh faced DM reporter will be sent in so they can avoid the 'no trespassing' clause?

I suspect this will be it, for now at least!

 

[Ellery84]

I wonder when the next fresh faced DM reporter will be sent in so they can avoid the 'no trespassing' clause?

No, that won't happen. No media will be sent into that property to the homestead because it's unsafe.

Imo

 

[Lady-J]

Sinister theories emerge about search for Gus Lamont

Gus was last seen playing in a mound of dirt near his grandparents' homestead on a sheep station 40km south of Yunta, in eastern South Australia, at about 5pm on September 27.

www.dailymail.co.uk

They've copy pasted some of our theories.

"A few offered alternative theories.

'I have this sickly feeling he's fallen into a wombat burrow,' one wrote.

I would shoot a snake on my verandah. Especially if I have a one yo inside. I consider that self defence. The house is for humans, not snakes. That was always the rule when I lived on 'snake highway' in the bush.

My family use a spade to kill snakes on the verandah and a gun when they’re elsewhere

 

[Total_C]

I’ve been critical at times throughout this case, but I’ve also tried to think through the “why” behind things rather than just reacting to each moment. The reporter going out there, whether people liked it or not, did show us something real. Emotions on that property are clearly intense, and Josie’s reaction showed how quickly things can escalate under stress. That isn’t speculation, we all saw it play out.

What stood out just as much was the police reaction. They didn’t treat it like a straightforward trespass situation. Their tone was more along the lines of “this has made our job harder.” To me, that suggests they’re actively trying to maintain a workable relationship with the household and avoid shutting down comms or access. When someone reacts strongly to pressure, police may think cooperation only continues if things stay stable and non-confrontational.

Seen that way, the visit didn’t “show nothing.” It gave insight into temperament and stress response, and probably interrupted whatever rapport-building approach police have going. It might also explain why the family has stayed away from the spotlight. If public pressure sparks that kind of reaction, staying out of view is a strategy in itself.

So yeah, people can dislike the outlet or how it was done, that’s fine. But it still provided context, and the police response makes more sense if you assume they’re trying to keep lines of communication open rather than close them.

 

[Ellery84]

I’ve been critical at times throughout this case, but I’ve also tried to think through the “why” behind things rather than just reacting to each moment. The reporter going out there, whether people liked it or not, did show us something real. Emotions on that property are clearly intense, and Josie’s reaction showed how quickly things can escalate under stress. That isn’t speculation, we all saw it play out.

What stood out just as much was the police reaction. They didn’t treat it like a straightforward trespass situation. Their tone was more along the lines of “this has made our job harder.” To me, that suggests they’re actively trying to maintain a workable relationship with the household and avoid shutting down comms or access. When someone reacts strongly to pressure, police may think cooperation only continues if things stay stable and non-confrontational.

Seen that way, the visit didn’t “show nothing.” It gave insight into temperament and stress response, and probably interrupted whatever rapport-building approach police have going. It might also explain why the family has stayed away from the spotlight. If public pressure sparks that kind of reaction, staying out of view is a strategy in itself.

So yeah, people can dislike the outlet or how it was done, that’s fine. But it still provided context, and the police response makes more sense if you assume they’re trying to keep lines of communication open rather than close them.

Yes I agree that police are trying to keep the relationship positive I think, as much as possible between the family and the police.

But there might be something more to it....

Imo

 

[LadyL]

Another video of some of the area. Jonica's journey to Oak Park Station.

Why was she 'shocked and shaken'. She knew she wasn't supposed to be there. So annoying. As Josie said, Get Out! Stop trying to exploit this poor family.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

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