Three-month-old was found dead at his mother’s home in January 2022 but the cause of death is unknown, inquest hears
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The circumstances of the death of an apparently “thriving” three-month-old baby remain unknown, an inquest has concluded.
“It is tragic, but we simply don’t know what happened to KP,” NSW deputy state coroner Kasey Pearce said on Friday.
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Continue reading...Final Senate result confirms pathway for Labor to pass legislation with either Coalition or Greens support alone, or majority of diverse crossbench
Full federal election results: live Australian Senate seat count
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One Nation has gained an unexpected Senate seat in New South Wales, taking Pauline Hanson’s party to four members in the upper house – equalling its best-ever result in a federal election.
Warwick Stacey, a former member of the British army, has snagged the sixth Senate seat in NSW and will join fellow new senator Tyron Whitten who was yesterday elected in Western Australia.
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Continue reading...Kiama MP allegedly sexually assaulted political staffer after offering him place to stay following mid-week event
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A political staffer has accepted he could be confused about his movements before and after he was allegedly sexually assaulted by a state MP who invited him to his house.
Kiama MP Gareth Ward, 44, is on trial in the New South Wales district court after pleading not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent and indecent assault charges.
Continue reading...Elizabeth Young, who is mourning her ‘slightly goofy’ daughter Jade, gives emotional evidence that 2024 attack was due to ‘cumulative failures’
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The mother of Jade Young, a victim of the Bondi Junction stabbings, has described her daughter’s murder as the “stuff of nightmares” and the result of “years of neglect” within the mental health system.
Elizabeth Young told the New South Wales coroner’s court on Thursday that her words were “both a distillation and a manifestation of anguish”.
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Continue reading...Rate of people moving to Australia’s regions increases by more than 10% in March quarter
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While the Geelong Cats are fifth on the AFL ladder, their home city is the reigning champion.
The Victorian region has become the most popular place for people escaping capital cities to settle, with its picturesque coastline and thriving industry making it an ideal sea-change destination.
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Continue reading...Independent MP for Kiama has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting a 24-year-old in 2015 and an 18-year-old in 2013
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New South Wales independent MP Gareth Ward allegedly raped a political staffer in his home in 2015 after he invited the man to stay over following an event at Parliament House, a court has heard.
Ward, who at the time of the alleged offending was the Liberal MP for Kiama, is facing an expected four-week trial at Sydney’s Downing Centre after being charged with five criminal offences.
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Continue reading...Premier says he is ‘disappointed’ after Rosehill decision and ‘it feels like a golden opportunity has slipped through our fingers’
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The Minns government has had a major hole punched in its strategy to boost housing in Sydney after the Australian Turf Club members voted not to sell Rosehill racecourse, earmarked for a major housing development.
The New South Wales government had offered $5bn for the site, and proposed it would accommodate 25,000 new homes and a proposed Metro stop.
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Continue reading...NSW police assistant commissioner tells inquest media guidelines ‘not always rigid’ and individuals might use discretion in ‘extraordinary circumstances’
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The family of some victims of the Westfield Bondi Junction stabbing attack believe there is a “major issue” in the way New South Wales police officers treated confidential information after the incident, a court has heard.
Joel Cauchi, 40, killed Ashlee Good, 38, Jade Young, 47, Yixuan Cheng, 27, Pikria Darchia, 55, Dawn Singleton, 25, and Faraz Tahir, 30, and injured 10 others at the Sydney shopping centre on 13 April 2024 before he was shot and killed by police officer Amy Scott.
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Continue reading...After fatal flooding and disruption, rain moves south and SES aims to resupply isolated communities. But strong winds will pose new threat
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Over 50,000 people remain isolated on the NSW mid-north coast with recovery efforts expected begin on Saturday after the heavy rainfall that has battered the region moved south out of the state.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) said on Friday that 50,000 people in 15 communities, including Kempsey and Taree, remain isolated by flood waters with 160 active warnings, 39 of which were at emergency warning and 76 at watch and act.
Continue reading...Court hears both parties in class action against state of NSW over conduct of Wayne Astill ‘keen to explore the possibility of settlement’
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The New South Wales government has admitted in an ongoing class action that it is vicariously liable for former notorious prison guard Wayne Astill’s sexual abuse of a female inmate.
Court documents filed in the NSW supreme court earlier this month also reveal the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) admits that “from time to time” some guards knew about “some inappropriate conduct” by Astill towards inmates.
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Continue reading...BoM says heavy rainfall will extend south through NSW today with some areas set to receive up to 160mm. Follow Australia news and NSW floods live updates today.
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Darren Chester says focus on Coalition split ‘frustrating’
Nationals MP Darren Chester says “there are bigger issues” than the makeup of the coalition.
It’s been frustrating to be talking about ourselves at a time when, you know, much of the mid coast, the central coast and north coast of New South Wales is facing devastating floods including loss of life. And in close to home in Victoria central and western Victoria and northern Victoria right through South Australia there’s a devastating drought.
We need to resolve our issues as quickly as we can, because there are bigger issues facing rural and regional Australians than the make-up of the coalition. We need to make sure we get back being a strong and incredible opposition as quickly as possible and I’m hoping that these negotiations can consider – can continue now in a positive and constructive way.
Continue reading...Joel Cauchi suffered deterioration in ‘performance IQ’ and some cognitive functions leading up to attack, expert tells Sydney coroner’s court
Joel Cauchi’s psychiatrist of eight years discharged him into the care of his doctor at a time when he was at “significant risk” of relapsing into psychosis, an expert has said amid a probe into the mental health and care of Cauchi.
On Thursday, the coronial inquest examining the fatal stabbing of six people by Cauchi at Westfield Bondi Junction in April 2024 heard from a panel of psychiatrists who provided expert opinions on Cauchi’s treatment.
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Continue reading...Nationals leader hints there might still be a possibility of joint tickets in 2028 if state officials from the two parties can come to agreement. Follow today’s news live
People trapped by flooding as river rise breaks record
Intense falls and major flooding have hit Australia’s most populous state as a slow-moving system dumps rain, causing a major river to rise to the highest level in almost 100 years.
Continue reading...Two days of heavy rainfall still on way as SES carries out 130 rescues amid floods in Taree and nearby areas
Residents of the mid-north coast of New South Wales have described anxious waits for rescue in the dark as unprecedented flooding inundates homes and businesses across the region.
The State Emergency Service has performed 130 rescues in the past 24 hours, the bulk of those occurring in Taree, Wingham and Glenthorne.
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Continue reading...Mid-north coast and Hunter region cops barrage of extreme weather, with more than 30 schools closed and people in Taree advised to take shelter
Persistent and heavy rain that has brought significant flash flooding to New South Wales is showing no signs of stopping, after forcing a stack of emergency calls and evacuations.
Much of NSW’s mid-north coast and Hunter region has copped the barrage, with 22 flood rescues performed overnight in those areas.
Continue reading...Nicolette Boele declared provisional winner over Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian. Follow today’s news live
Flood watches in place for rivers in Hunter and mid-north coast
Due to the prolonged period of wet weather for New South Wales – with rain expected to fall across the same regions for several days in a row – flood watches are in place for many rivers through the Hunter and the mid-north coast districts, where minor to moderate flooding is anticipated throughout the week, Hines says.
… and we can’t rule out the chance that one or two of them could see major flooding in the coming days.
Continue reading...AEC vote recount expected in Sydney north shore seat after Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian overtaken in final surge
Nicolette Boele has been declared the provisional winner of Bradfield in Sydney’s north shore after a nail-biting count which saw her take a last-minute 40-vote lead over the Liberal candidate, Gisele Kapterian.
Counting continued on Monday as the final postal votes were processed in the former blue ribbon seat.
Continue reading...Counter-terrorism expert tells inquest into 2024 stabbing attack by Joel Cauchi guard ‘talks about shots being fired with an armed offender’ in triple-zero call
A triple-zero call made by a security control room operator on duty at Westfield Bondi Junction was made too late and was so unclear it risked confusing police into thinking there was another attacker armed with a gun still at large inside the shopping centre, a counter-terrorism expert has said.
The security officer, who cannot be named, had left the control room for a toilet break when Joel Cauchi, 40, launched his stabbing attack that killed six people and injured 10 others at the Sydney shopping centre in April 2024.
Continue reading...The 28-year-old Tongan national was being moved from Villawood immigration detention centre before alleged attack and escape
New South Wales police have charged a 28-year-old man for allegedly stabbing one man and assaulting another while he was being transported from the Villawood immigration detention centre.
Tongan national Paea Teu was being taken from the detention centre to Sydney airport on Thursday when police allege he attacked two men who were transporting him. He then went on the run for two days.
Continue reading...Country hospital brought back from the ashes wins top heritage prize
A colonial country hospital almost totally destroyed by fire more than two decades ago has won the top prize in the National Trust of Australia (NSW) heritage awards.
The recognition of heritage architecture and conservation projects in the built and natural environment takes place across each state annually. New South Wales staged its awards on Friday, announcing 20 winners across 10 categories.
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