Police dogs are digging up backyards in search for missing toddler.

We’ve rounded up all the latest stories from Australia and around the world – so you don’t have to go searching.

1. Police dig up backyard in search for a toddler. 

Police have started digging up the backyard of a Queensland home in search for a New South Wales toddler who went missing almost a decade ago.

Police established a crime scene in Woodridge, south of Brisbane, with officers from NSW and Queensland working together to identify any links to the boy.

So far, some items have been seized from the area which will undergo forensic testing for solid conclusions to be drawn.

In 2007, when the 22-month-old boy went missing, he had begun living with some relatives from his extended family.

However, it was only in January of this year that his immediate family reported him missing, by force of a NSW magistrate.

The magistrate was hearing a case involving the boy’s family when he questioned the location of the toddler, who would now be aged around 11.

The family informed the magistrate that he had gone to live with relatives elsewhere, and after police investigated their claims, they failed to find him.

The family of the child had never tried to find him.

Police have also been searching other property they believe may be involved in the toddler’s disappearance, which is being investigated by the homicide squad.

The Brisbane Times says the little boy has not been seen by relatives since 2007.

2. Stopping offshore detention could save almost $3 billion. 

Data released by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) shows if the Government ceased to have offshore detention, they could boost the budget by $2.47 billion.

The modelling was requested from Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young where asylum seekers were moved from detention and a time limit was introduced for onshore detainees.

However, PBO said the data has “low reliability” as they can’t predict the changes in asylum seekers coming to Australia if the policy was to change.

Overall, the office found the closure of offshore detention centres would save the Government $2.47 billion and then imposing a 30-day time limit for those onshore would save an additional $448 million.

Hanson-Young has released a statement condemning the government for allowing people to live in detention, especially with such a hefty price tag.

“The Parliamentary Budget Office has shown that this policy would save $2.9233 billion over the forward estimates and $8.4745 billion over the next year years.

“The Government is spending billions of dollars on Naura and Manus Island and they have no exit strategy,” said the senator.

“Just think of what the amount of money could be spent on. We could be using it to improve health and education outcomes here in Australia, guaranteeing a better future for the next generation. Instead, the government is blowing that money on exposing men, women and children to abuse on Naura and Manus Island.”

3. Innocent father killed as men fight on a suburban street in Sydney. 

Two men have been charged over the death of an “innocent father” after they accidentally shot him in an altercation on Friday night.

Qusay Al Mhanawi died at the scene of the crime after he was shot by a “stray bullet” as a result of a fight between three men.

It is alleged that Mhanawi was seated in his car and on his phone, when two men on the street were confronted by another motorist. Then, at 6:30pm, shots were fired and Mhanawi was hit in the head. Consequently, his car rolled backwards and hit a pedestrian, who was taken to hospital with a broken collar bone.

Police report says two pedestrians have been identified as brothers, Tyson and Latu Vakauto and may have had a pre-existing relationship with the motorist.

9 News reports police are raiding home in search for the gunmen, believed to be Matthew Russell, who is currently on the run.

It is urged that if anyone identifies Matthew Russell to not approach him, and instead call triple zero.

The family of Mhanawi told 9 News he was a dearly loved man, father to a two-year-old girl and a carer for his disabled father. When he was shot, he was going to pick up his elderly mother.

4. Man appeals to federal government for “act of grace” compensation.

A man who was shot in the head in 2002 has launched a new appeal to the federal government for an “act of grace” compensation to help him with his ongoing medical care.

Luke Quintano, now 37 years old, was shot from close range in a toilet almost 15 years ago, which left him nearly dead.

Azam Alameddine was charged with attempted murder, but fled to Lebanon the day after the attack, and was eventually acquitted in 2006.

After the criminal proceedings were dropped, Quintano filed a case for negligence and was awarded over $4 million in damages. However, the insurance company went bankrupt so he was never paid out.

Quintano’s father, Stephen, has had to stop work to care for his son and they both now live off pensions from the government.

The only option the two have left is to receive a special “act of grace” payment from the government. This is the second time the family has applied for the payment, after it was rejected in 2011 by then special minister of state Mark Dreyfus.

In their new application, the Quintanos note that former speaker of the House, Peter Slipper, received acts of grace payments to help fund his case against James Ashby.

“Surely my son’s case is far more deserving than Mr Slippers,” Stephen Quintano said.

“We think we are being protected by the governing bodies, but they are grossly incompetent or worse, because the shareholders are involved, who were trading insolvent, are still managers of companies today — still trading as the heads of other companies at the moment.”

5. Referendum looks to be successful in Queensland.

A referendum held in Queensland, asking voters whether they were in favour of increasing parliamentary terms to four years on a fixed date, looks to be passed successfully.

Currently, 47.20% of the vote has been counted, with 53.24% YES so far.

The ABC reports 72 of the 89 seats in Queensland voted in favour of the referendum, with resounding support across the state.

The referendum has received bi-partisan support from the Labor government and opposition and National Party.

The campaign against has been led by the Australian Katter Party and independent members.

It was not expected for the referendum to be passed.

Do you have a news tip? We’d love to hear it. E-mail us at: news@mamamia.com.au