NSW government denies ‘covering up’ deadly fungal outbreak at major hospital

Health minister says cluster of infections at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred hospital was not publicised to avoid ‘unnecessarily scaring people’

The New South Wales health minister has denied “covering up” a deadly fungal outbreak at one of Australia’s largest hospitals, saying it was not publicised to avoid “unnecessarily scaring people”.

The cluster of infections caused by aspergillus, a common mould, killed two patients and left four others unwell in the Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) hospital’s transplant unit in late 2025.

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Minns government undermined own goal with NSW protest restrictions, constitutional challenge hears

Lawyer for protest groups argues state needs to prove it was ‘rational to prevent all protests’ to achieve social cohesion

Lawyers for three protest groups have argued a Minns government law which effectively banned marches in Sydney’s CBD made its own objective of enhancing social cohesion “worse”.

On Thursday the NSW court of appeal heard the constitutional challenge against the anti-protest law, which was passed in the wake of the Bondi terror.

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Chris Baghsarian: human remains found in search for kidnapped Sydney man, NSW police say

NSW detectives have located what they believe are human remains near a golf club in Pitt Town, 11 days after 85-year-old abducted from North Ryde home

Police believe the body of missing 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian could have been dumped on Sydney’s outskirts just 40 hours after he was kidnapped in a case of mistaken identity.

New South Wales police said they had found human remains near a golf club in Pitt Town at about 8am on Tuesday.

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Chris Baghsarian: police hopes fade of finding 85-year-old kidnap victim alive after raid on Dural property

NSW police search ‘makeshift stronghold’ in Wildthorn Ave, Dural after Baghsarian abducted from North Ryde home last Friday in case of mistaken identity

Police say “hope is fading” to find Chris Baghsarian alive as investigations continue into an abandoned and “derelict” house where they believe the grandfather was kept sometime in the past week.

A warrant has been executed and a crime scene has been established at the semi-rural property on Wildthorn Ave in Dural, about 36km north-west of Sydney, after police swarmed the area on Thursday night.

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‘I will do you and him in’: Julian Ingram threatened former de facto partner a decade before Lake Cargelligo murders, court documents say

Exclusive: Man accused of triple murders last month previously sentenced to prison after intimidating another partner

Julian Ingram told a former partner he had a “gun and a hole” for a man he assumed to be her new partner and made threats towards her, their child and her mother a decade before he allegedly murdered three people and went on the run, according to court documents.

Last month, Ingram – also known as Julian Pierpoint – allegedly shot dead his pregnant former partner Sophie Quinn, her new boyfriend and her aunt in Lake Cargelligo, about 450km west of Sydney. A large-scale manhunt for the 37-year-old is under way.

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Sydney police charge four men over alleged ‘international satanic child sex abuse material ring’

Detectives claim to have uncovered Sydney-based network involving online distribution of child sexual abuse material involving ritualistic or satanic themes

Four Australians remain locked up after being charged for alleged involvement in a satanic child sexual abuse material ring.

Detectives busted an apparent Sydney-based pedophile network they claimed was actively involved in possessing, distributing and facilitating child sexual abuse involving ritualistic or satanic themes.

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More than 670 NSW pokies venues to be stripped of ability to stay open after 4am

Exclusive: Government to end exemptions to mandated closing times for pubs and clubs, including those that allow 24/7 gambling

More than 670 poker machine venues across New South Wales will lose their “outdated exemptions” to operate after 4am as the state government responds to pressure to address “a public health catastrophe”.

The decision, announced by the state’s gaming minister David Harris, will ensure gaming rooms are closed at the mandated 4am deadline. Some venues are allowing them to be played 24/7.

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Couple from Kazakhstan allegedly used hidden camera and earpieces to win $1.18m from Sydney’s Crown casino

Woman, 36, and her husband, 44, arrested at Barangaroo and charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage

A married couple from Kazakhstan has allegedly won more than $1m from Sydney’s Crown casino using a tiny camera hidden in a Mickey Mouse T-shirt and “deep-seated earpieces” that allowed them to communicate.

New South Wales police said on Sunday the couple, Dilnoza Israilova and Alisherykhoja Israilov, were charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, after being arrested in the Barangaroo casino.

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Bondi Junction stabbings: ‘10 seconds warning’ from security could have saved lives, inquest hears

Families of those killed ‘angered’ that Scentre Group and Glad security did not accept control room operator was not competent to be in the position she was that day

Had new mother Ashlee Good been given “even 1o seconds’ warning” when Joel Cauchi began his stabbing spree at Westfield Bondi Junction, she might have been able to take evasive action to save her life, a court has heard.

Schizophrenic man Cauchi, 40, killed Good, 38, Jade Young, 47, Yixuan Cheng, 27, Pikria Darchia, 55, Dawn Singleton, 25, and Faraz Tahir, 30, and injured 10 others at Westfield Bondi Junction before he was shot and killed by police inspector Amy Scott.

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Man dead and two under arrest after daylight shooting on suburban Sydney street

Police say a man in his early 20s was found in Blacktown with gunshot wounds to his neck, chest and leg

A man has died and two others are in custody after a daylight shooting on a suburban street in Sydney.

Police were called to Carinya Street, Blacktown, at about 11.50am on Friday after reports of a public place shooting.

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Second teenage boy charged with murder after alleged stabbing behind Sydney school played ‘active role’, police say

Another boy, 15, charged on Monday after 17-year-old boy died from wounds to thigh in Rouse Hill

A second teenage boy arrested in his home over his alleged “active role” in the stabbing murder of a 17-year-old in a suburban park will spend months in custody.

The alleged victim died from a knife wound to his thigh after a confrontation at a park behind a school in north-west Sydney on Monday afternoon.

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All-male lineup take top slots at ABC Sydney after Chris Bath’s shock departure

Director of audio concedes ‘there is always more to do’ on diversity as station staff express dismay at dearth of female presenters

ABC radio’s chief, Ben Latimer, says “there is always more to do” on diversity after Chris Bath was replaced with a male presenter on ABC Sydney, leaving the station with an all-male lineup from Breakfast through to Drive in 2026.

Bath, who announced her resignation after only one year on Monday, will be replaced by Thomas Oriti in the key Drive slot, which was vacated by the veteran broadcaster Richard Glover after 26 years.

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Teenager charged with murder after 17-year-old boy stabbed to death in Sydney’s north-west

The victim was treated by NSW paramedics for wounds to his thigh but died at the scene

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder after a teenager was allegedly stabbed to death behind a high school.

Police said a 17-year-old boy died from stab wounds to his thigh following a confrontation at a park in Sydney’s north-west about 4.20pm on Monday.

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Thirteen people injured after demolition derby car ploughs into grandstand during NSW event

Two in critical condition after driver crashes into crowd at Walcha Motorcycle Rally about 90km from Tamworth

A demolition derby car lost control and ploughed into a grandstand, injuring 13 rural motoring enthusiasts on Saturday night.

Emergency services rushed to Walcha’s showgrounds, which 90km from Tamworth in New South Wales, early in the evening after a crash at the Walcha Motorcycle Rally.

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Molly Ticehurst’s ex-boyfriend pleads guilty to 2024 murder that ignited national anti-DV campaign

Death of 28-year-old childhood educator in Forbes, NSW, intensified a national campaign against domestic and gendered violence

The former boyfriend of Molly Ticehurst has pleaded guilty to her domestic violence murder and made other admissions.

Daniel Billings appeared via audio-video link in Forbes local court, in central western New South Wales, on Friday morning to enter the plea.

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Stunning aurora australis lights up sky above New Zealand and Australia after ‘cannibal’ solar storm

The geomagnetic storm, caused by powerful bursts of energy from the sun, also postponed the launch of two Mars-bound Nasa spacecraft in the US

Skywatchers enjoyed a stunning treat on Wednesday night, with the southern lights visible across large parts of Australia and New Zealand.

The aurora australis that lit up the sky resulted from what has been dubbed a “cannibal” solar storm.

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Kellie Sloane is tipped to replace Mark Speakman as NSW Liberal leader. That should make life tougher for Chris Minns

Sloane, an ex-journalist, is good at delivering lines. But if the state Coalition tears itself apart over net zero, she could be left talking up a fractured opposition

Compared with their federal colleagues, the New South Wales Coalition has been a relatively collegial conservative political grouping. But no more.

Over the next fortnight, the NSW Liberals could well dump their leader, Mark Speakman, and face the almost impossible task of reconciling divergent positions on net zero emissions with junior coalition partner the Nationals. There is a real prospect that the state opposition could fracture.

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One-year-old girl dies after being struck by freight train in NSW

The toddler was treated by paramedics at the scene in the tiny village of Baan Baa on Friday night but later died in hospital

A toddler has died after being struck by a freight train near Narrabri in New South Wales.

Emergency services were called to Baranbah Street in the tiny village of Baan Baa in the state’s north at 7.50pm on Friday.

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Graham ‘Richo’ Richardson, former Labor party powerbroker, dies aged 76

Former NSW senator and right factional enforcer has died aged 76 after a long period of ill health

Anthony Albanese has led tributes to the former Labor powerbroker Graham “Richo” Richardson, acknowledging him as a flawed but loyal and “larger-than-life character”.

Richardson, a senator for New South Wales between 1983 and 1994 and a minister in the Hawke and Keating governments, died early Saturday morning aged 76.

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Severe storms forecast for parts of NSW as Victoria and Queensland face wet weather

BoM says destructive winds and ‘very dangerous thunderstorms’ are most likely across the Hunter, mid-north NSW coast and northern tablelands

Severe storms with the potential for destructive winds and large hail are expected to move across New South Wales on Saturday.

Storms were also expected in parts of Queensland and Victoria.

Sydney 32C with showers and then storms developing.

Melbourne 13C with rain increasing.

Brisbane 31C with a late shower or two.

Perth 28C and sunny.

Adelaide 18C and cloudy.

Hobart 15C and partly cloudy.

Canberra 26C with a shower or two and then becoming windy.

Darwin 34C and partly cloudy.

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