Category Archives: New South Wales

Transgrid under pressure as NSW inquiry examines how failed backup generators left Broken Hill in the dark

Posted on by

NSW premier Chris Minns says state’s far west let down by privatisation after region’s only working large-scale emergency generator failed

Chris Minns is flying to Broken Hill after a storm left about 20,000 people without power and put pressure on the energy operator Transgrid to explain why it did not have a backup plan to prevent the outage.

The New South Wales premier will meet affected residents on Thursday after announcing an inquiry and declaring a natural disaster to unlock emergency relief funding for the outback town and surrounding communities.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

Thorpe rebuffs Indigenous leaders’ criticism of protest – as it happened

Posted on by

This blog is now closed

More on news media bargaining code and funding of media publishers

One of the committee’s key recommendations was a digital platform levy on companies like Meta and Google, which some have described as a tech tax to fund public interest journalism.

So in parts of Europe, for example, there’s a 2% digital services tax. You could look at a public interest journalism levy.

The issue that we have fundamentally here is the … offshoring of the digital platform’s profits, where currently they pay very little tax because they argue that they don’t operate in Australia, even though they’re getting this enormous profit yield of the advertising on their platforms. So that’s another thing that has to be resolved within legislation in order to impose a tax.

But simply imposing a tax and feeding [it] into media organisations … won’t fix the issue if Meta continues to deprecate news content – that is, reduce the exposure of news content to its consumers.

Continue reading...

Thousands greet royals at opera house – as it happened

Posted on by

This blog has now closed

The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has been speaking with ABC RN about a range of issues – including Lidia Thorpe’s actions at King Charles’ parliamentary reception yesterday.

Dutton argued that “sometimes people make it all about themselves, and I think that’s what yesterday was.” He said it “didn’t advance anyone’s cause” and “add[s] to the self promotion … that she seeks.”

The vast majority of people have been very welcoming the king’s visit, and I think it’s been an opportunity to underscore the stability in our democracy, our rule of law, separation of powers, all of those institutions that we inherited from our British heritage.

That’s part of the success story of our country, and it’s a good reminder during his visit [that] if we change it, I think we want to be very careful about the system we’re changing to and whether or not we would be a safer, more secure, community and environment for decades to come or not.

Continue reading...

Woman wedged upside down between boulders for seven hours after trying to retrieve phone in regional NSW

Posted on by

Authorities say 500kg boulder moved with specialist winch as woman rescued from ‘unlikely predicament’ in Laguna through careful manoeuvring

A woman was wedged between boulders for seven hours after she slipped head-first into a three-metre crevice while trying to retrieve her phone in regional New South Wales.

The woman’s friends initially spent an hour attempting to free her while she was hanging upside down before they called triple zero for help, NSW Ambulance said this week.

Continue reading...

Cockatoo rescued after ‘living on brioche’ for four weeks inside Sydney supermarket

Posted on by

NSW environment minister hopes ‘Mickey will be flying free by tomorrow’ after successful capture by wildlife services

A sulphur-crested cockatoo called Mickey that had been “living on brioche” inside a Sydney supermarket for four weeks has been captured by wildlife services and is expected to be set free soon.

The New South Wales environment minister, Penny Sharpe, announced on Tuesday evening that the bird had “been safely captured by wildlife rescuers after spending way too long in Macarthur Square”.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

King Charles makes relaxed start to Australian tour but spends less than 10 minutes at lunch in his honour

Posted on by

After a day of rest, monarch appears at Sydney lunch in his honour and gives hosts an hourglass while joking about swift passage of time

King Charles III did not linger long at the luncheon put on in his honour, at the second scheduled event of his short Australian visit. And his gift to the gathering was a reminder of the fleeting passage of time.

There was a menu fit for a king, and very Sydney: chargrilled asparagus and olive dust; marinated octopus and squid ink wafer; barramundi and duck confit.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

Jane Hume defends Dutton over clashes with ABC journalists after testy exchange in WA – as it happened

Posted on by

This blog is now closed

The family of stabbing victim Vyleen White has helped the Queensland Liberal National party to launch its election campaign.

The LNP is promising to introduce “adult time for adult crime” amid claims of a youth crime “crisis” in the state.

In our family’s hour of need, both men came to our home. But there was only one who is a true leader.

We as a family will not allow her death to be in vain.

Continue reading...

Teal independent says likely byelection win in Sydney was a ‘race to the top’ with Liberals

Posted on by

Jacqui Scruby was on track to comfortably take Pittwater and said the results showed voters appreciated a ‘different way of doing politics’

Teal independent Jacqui Scruby, the likely winner of the NSW byelection in Pittwater, says the contest in the blue-ribbon seat has shown how strong candidates can encourage a “race to the top” in politics.

“It was a very competitive byelection,” Scruby said on Sunday.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

Teal independent Jacqui Scruby coasts to byelection win in Sydney Liberal heartland

Posted on by

Scruby was backed by Climate 200 in the fight for the northern beaches seat

A Climate 200-backed independent is on track to secure a comfortable victory in the latest contest between the Liberal party and teal candidates.

The Liberals were defending three heartland seats in northern Sydney byelections on Saturday, and were on track to easily hold two of those as votes were counted on Saturday night.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

Woman and two children found dead after being seen in distress in Sydney river

Posted on by

Emergency services recover bodies of children, aged five and seven, at Floyd Bay in Lansvale

A woman and two children, aged five and seven, have died after being seen in distress in waters in Sydney’s south-west.

Emergency services were called to a boat ramp at Floyd Bay on the Georges River in Lansvale on Saturday morning after a woman and two children were seen in the water in distress.

Continue reading...

Queensland warned of severe thunderstorms and large hail after east coast battered by wild weather

Posted on by

Storms and showers predicted to linger around Australia’s east coast over the weekend

Damaging conditions are due to ease after days of wild weather but the risk remains of major thunderstorms.

Residents in Queensland’s Wide Bay and surrounding land areas have been put on alert for a risk of severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and large hail on Saturday.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

Sydney beaches reopen after tar balls wash ashore but mystery remains over source

Posted on by

NSW Maritime executive director says balls appear to be made up of fatty acids, chemicals found in cleaning and cosmetic products, and fuel oil

A baffling tar ball emergency that closed major beaches in Sydney’s eastern suburbs appears to be over.

The remaining beaches closed to bathers at Coogee, Maroubra and Clovelly have been cleared to reopen on Saturday after Bondi and several others reopened on Friday.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

Australia news live: Bondi beach reopens after tar-ball pollution; tornado warning for Victoria

Posted on by

Waverley council says no remaining evidence of the debris could be found at Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama beaches. Follow today’s news live

Max Chandler-Mather continued, and told ABC News Breakfast:

I would argue in this instance in the context of one of the worst housing crises we have seen in generations … now is precisely the time where we need more than tinkering around the edges and we need substantial change.

There is a building consensus we need to scrap these tax handouts. Increasingly the biggest barrier is a prime minister [who has just] gone through multiple days of scandal for buying another property and being a property investor.

So I think there’s a real moment here the government should seize to make real substantial change to the lives of hundreds of thousands of renters, and the bottom line is the Greens are ready and willing to work with Labor to do it.

Continue reading...

King Charles has arrived in Australia for his first visit as monarch. Here’s where to see the royals

Posted on by

Sydney and Canberra are on the royal couple’s itinerary, with opportunities for the public to see them between official functions

King Charles and Queen Camilla have touched down in Australia for the couple’s first visit to the country since Charles became its reigning monarch.

They were last in Australia in 2018, when then Prince Charles opened the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. This shorter, more compact tour will take in just Canberra and Sydney, with dozens of engagements packed into the pair’s four days on the ground.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

Sydney Harbour Bridge closed after multi car crash leaves one dead

Posted on by

One person has died and a second is in a critical condition after a bus and multiple cars collided

One person has died and another is in a critical condition after multiple cars and a bus collided on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

New South Wales police said emergency services were called to the bridge at about 1.40pm on Thursday, following reports of the multi-vehicle crash. They found three cars and a bus had collided.

Continue reading...

Australia news live: Queensland LNP candidate alleges he was assaulted; Sydney Harbour Bridge closed after fatal crash

Posted on by

Follow the day’s new live

New polling from the Australia Institute shows that Australians view the supermarkets as “public enemy No 1” in the cost of living crisis.

The Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work surveyed 1,014 voters, and 83% said supermarkets deserve some blame – or a great deal of blame – for the soaring cost of living.

Australians are pointing the finger squarely at supermarkets as public enemy No 1 in the cost-of-living crisis … More people blame supermarkets for the cost-of-living crunch than governments or banks.

The public’s appetite for increased supermarket competition is unmistakable. Nearly two-thirds of voters see it as crucial for alleviating cost-of-living pressures … There’s likely to be political rewards for taking actions that increase supermarket competition.

Continue reading...

Coffs Harbour man charged for allegedly threatening and grooming 15-year-old girl online

Posted on by

The 28-year-old allegedly attempted to force her to send him footage of herself performing ‘various compromising acts’, court hears

A Coffs Harbour man has been charged after allegedly grooming a 15-year-old girl and threatening her in an attempt to force her to send videos of herself performing sexual and self-harm acts.

The 28-year-old man is alleged to have met the teenage girl online, groomed and threatened her in an attempt to force her to send him footage of herself doing “various compromising acts”, according to a New South Wales police statement.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

Rio Tinto praised for ‘breaking ranks’ to back revamp of environment laws – as it happened

Posted on by

This blog is now closed

Queensland leaders to lock horns again in election debate

After their deputies traded blows, the Queensland premier and opposition leader are set to face off again ahead of the state election, AAP reports.

Continue reading...

Sydney’s Coogee beach closed after mysterious black balls wash ashore

Posted on by

Beachgoers warned not to touch the material, which may be tar balls formed from oil spills or seepage at sea

Sydney’s Coogee beach has been ordered closed until further notice after “mysterious black, ball-shaped debris” washed up along its length.

Lifeguards discovered the debris on Tuesday afternoon at the popular eastern suburbs beach. Randwick city council environmental officers collected samples and have sent them for testing. In the meantime, beachgoers were advised not to touch or go near them.

Continue reading...

Australia news live: Hanson-Young calls for investigation of live music ticketing allegations; culprit flees botched ram raid with arm on fire

Posted on by

Follow today’s news live

The federal government has announced targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on five Iranian individuals it says is “contributing to Iran’s missile program.”

A statement from the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said Iran’s missile program “poses a material threat to regional and international security”, with the 1 October attack on Israel a “dangerous escalation that increased the risk of a wider regional war.”

Australia will continue to hold Iran to account for its reckless and destabilising actions.

We’re holding ministers accountable when the premier of Tasmania refused to. This project – for people who don’t know – is $500m over budget, five years delayed.

It’s a completely debacle. Someone needed to take responsibility. The premier [was] saying he wouldn’t do that, the parliament decided it would act and, at the last moment, the deputy premier resigned.

Continue reading...