Firearms licence holders in NSW can now book through the Gun Safe portal to surrender eligible guns and ammunition for compensation. The scheme officially starts on 2 November and is expected to see up to 274,000 firearms returned in the state. It follows the Bondi Beach terror attack earlier this year, in which 15 people were killed. Only Sutherland and Penrith police stations take bookings in the first phase, with more stations opening later in November and in 2027. Police Minister Yasmin Catley said fewer guns in the community mean a safer community.
Shoalhaven City Council is asking residents for feedback on a proposal to charge tourists for parking at popular coastal sites. The idea was raised by a council finance committee and includes sites such as Mollymook Beach, Huskisson and Berry's Boongaree Park. Councillors voted to hold community consultation before deciding whether to develop a business case. A local business group supports paid parking if locals are exempt, while a surf club says parking is hard to find during holidays. Details of how the scheme would operate remain limited. An online survey closes at midnight on 4 November.
Sixty hand-polished concrete hearts have been installed at Marks Park, between Bondi and Tamarama beaches in Sydney, as part of Sculptures By The Sea. Each heart represents a woman killed by violence this year. Each is inscribed with phrases that can excuse, minimise or ignore violence, such as Asked for it and Boys will be boys. The work was created by Philippa Lysaght and Omi McCurdie. Lysaght said the aim is to encourage people to speak up when they hear such phrases.
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The ABC has sacked a reporter after its ombudsman found two of his stories gave audiences a misleading impression. Mahmood Fazal, a former Four Corners reporter, was dismissed in May 2026 after an investigation into his external work. The ABC initially stood by Fazal in 2024 when allegations emerged that he passed on threats from an organised crime gang to YouTuber Jordan Shanks' producer. Shanks' Bondi home was firebombed in November 2022, with police saying retaliation for his videos was a strong possibility. Fazal denies passing on any threats.
Antonio Muollo, the 27-year-old founder of the Get Sashimi chain, has bought a five-bedroom mansion in Vaucluse for $12.5 million. The home at 36 Derby Street sold on August 5 through Raine and Horne Double Bay. The agents had not named the buyer, but the settlement revealed his identity. Muollo started an online fish delivery business, GetFish, in 2018 at the age of 19. The home has views of the harbour, Harbour Bridge, Opera House and city skyline from both levels.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says social media platforms should have a responsibility to remove death and rape threats. His comments follow an attack on independent MP Helen Haines, after which parliamentarians of all parties shared details of threats they had received. Several said they would support stronger security around electorate offices. Albanese pointed to Labor's proposed digital duty of care, but admitted the government had not achieved what it wanted. He said the government would listen to security agencies and work with parliament to keep people safe, calling the level of threats completely unacceptable.
Former Israeli hostage Daniella Gilboa has sent a message of support to people affected by the Bondi Beach terror attack. She said she felt a connection with survivors and victims' families after visiting the temporary menorah memorial at Archer Park. Ms Gilboa, who was held for 477 days before her release in January 2025, is in Australia to perform at the SHIR Australian Jewish Music Festival. The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is due to deliver its final report on December 18, four days after the anniversary of the attack.
An alleged attack on Independent MP Helen Haines in Wangaratta has shocked a nation where politics is usually peaceful. The motive behind the attack is not yet known. Politicians of different views have condemned the attack, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for the political temperature to be turned down. The piece traces a history of political violence in Australia, from early colonial clashes to the 1978 Hilton Hotel bombing, and argues that sober reflection from everyone involved in public life is needed.
The Victorian government has pledged to ban smart glasses across every school in the state, including at sports carnivals and excursions. The ban would apply to public, independent and Catholic schools from the start of the 2027 school year. In public schools, it would also cover staff, parents and volunteers on school grounds and at off-campus events. Deputy Premier and Education Minister Gabrielle Williams said the rules aim to help students focus on learning and keep school environments respectful and safe.
An internal review of Seven West Media, conducted by consultancy Interchange and completed in July 2024, has not been made public. It was commissioned after Federal Court claims by former producer Taylor Auerbach, who said the network reimbursed Bruce Lehrmann for drugs and sex workers; Mr Auerbach acknowledged he had never seen an invoice, and Seven denied the claims. Staff described a workplace marked by sexism, bullying and harassment, and said executives close to former chairman Kerry Stokes were shielded. Interviewees also spoke of ratings pressure and calls from the chairman.
Reports of antisemitic incidents in Canberra doubled over the last financial year, ACT Policing data shows. ACT Policing received 73 reports, up from 37 the previous year, including displays, graffiti, posters, stickers and comments. Chief Police Officer Scott Lee said each report was assessed and actioned. Overall police attendances fell 7 per cent to 48,192 incidents, while family violence-related assaults made up 43 per cent of assaults. Police complaints fell to 61 from 107.
An alleged attack on Independent MP Helen Haines in Wangaratta has shocked a nation where politics is usually peaceful. The motive behind the attack is not yet known. Politicians of different views have condemned the attack, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for the political temperature to be turned down. The piece traces a history of political violence in Australia, from early colonial clashes to the 1978 Hilton Hotel bombing, and argues that sober reflection from everyone involved in public life is needed.
Sydney Festival has released its 2027 program, which runs from 7 to 25 January. Highlights include a free late-night dance party at The Cutaway in Barangaroo, cars converted into hot tubs and plunge pools, and a new show from comedian Hannah Gadsby. The festival will also stage the world premiere of THE LINE by LBIJERRI Theatre Company. Up to 10,000 tickets across the ticketed program will cost $49 or less. Festival Director Kris Nelson said the aim is to make great seats accessible to everyone.
Artists Philippa Lysaght and Omi McCurdie have created Sweethearts, an artwork on display at Marks Park between Bondi and Tamarama beaches. It features 56 concrete sweetheart lolly sculptures, each carrying one of 20 phrases often used to excuse or shift blame for domestic violence. The hearts represent women killed by a current or former partner this year. The pair say they want people to speak up when they hear such excuses. Profits from sales of the artworks will be donated to Women's Community Shelters.
An 88-year-old woman has died in hospital after she was struck by a car in Pyree, in the NSW Shoalhaven region. Police were called to Pyree Lane at about 1:45 pm on Saturday, 24 October, after reports of a pedestrian being hit. Paramedics treated the woman at the scene before she was flown to St George Hospital in a critical condition. Police were told on Sunday, 25 October, that she had died. The 43-year-old driver returned a negative result on a roadside breath test and was taken to Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital for mandatory testing.
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Police are searching for a man in a balaclava after a suspected arson attack on a house in Abbotsford, in Sydney's inner west. Four people were taken to hospital. An 88-year-old woman was rescued by a 49-year-old man who climbed a ladder. A neighbour confronted the man while he was allegedly setting the house alight. Police believe he fled in a red Holden Astra and had suffered burns. About 40 firefighters attended the blaze, which spread to an adjoining house.
Will Lee has served 56 years with the NSW Rural Fire Service, which he began after helping fight a major fire in the northern Illawarra in 1968. He joined the Austinmer Bushfire Brigade in 1970 and went on to hold several leadership roles, including Group Captain. He was recognised with a National Medal with a fourth clasp at a recent ceremony, where his daughter Belinda Lee also received a 40-year Long Service Medal. Will now focuses on training young firefighters. He says the job of an old firefighter is to teach young firefighters to become old firefighters.
Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern will lecture and mentor at the University of Sydney, beginning this month. Her work will focus on empathetic leadership, social cohesion and civic trust. Based in the school of public health, she will host guest lectures and masterclasses, although the university says it is not a full-time teaching role. Vice-chancellor Mark Scott praised Ardern's leadership, saying empathy and resolve can strengthen each other. Ardern moved to Australia earlier this year.
Local Government NSW is calling for a $5 billion interest-free loan scheme to help councils build roads, drainage and other infrastructure needed for housing. Councils would repay the loans through developer contributions as development progresses. The peak body says thousands of homes are being delayed by inadequate infrastructure, particularly in outer metropolitan Sydney and regional areas. LGNSW president Darcy Byrne urged all political parties to back the proposal ahead of the state election. The plan also includes $3 billion in upfront state and regional infrastructure funding and allows developer contributions to fund community facilities.
Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has been hired as a professor of practice at the University of Sydney. The 46-year-old joins the faculty of medicine and health, where the role will focus on empathetic leadership, social cohesion and civic trust. Ardern will explore ways to address global health challenges, inclusion and wellbeing, and will lead guest lectures and masterclasses. The university says the position is not a full-time teaching role. Ardern and her family moved to Australia in February, reportedly buying a $5.3 million home on Sydney's northern beaches.
The Rotary Club of West Pennant Hills and Cherrybrook is running its Trees of Joy campaign again this year, aiming to deliver more than 1,000 Christmas gifts. Shoppers choose a gift from a bauble bearing a person's story and wish, then return it to a drop-off point. The club works with more than 10 local charities to reach children and adults who may otherwise go without. Trees are at four shopping centres in Cherrybrook, Westleigh, Pennant Hills and Thornleigh from 2 November until 10 December. Rotary asks people to return gifts early to ease distribution.
Randwick Council has closed Malabar Beach in Sydney's east after whale remains washed up there. The juvenile whale carcass had earlier drifted onto the shore at Lurline Bay last week. Council lifeguards fenced off the area over concern the carcass could attract sharks. Council moved the remains further up the beach and is arranging contractors to dispose of them. The beach will stay closed until further notice.
A man in a balaclava may have set himself on fire while torching a home in Sydney’s inner west, leaving four people hospitalised. Police believe the offender, who fled in a red Holden Astra, acted alone. A 49-year-old resident and police officers rescued an 88-year-old woman from the flames. The house on Weddle Ave was destroyed, and the hunt for the offender continues.
Sydney researchers at Royal North Shore Hospital say they have developed a screening process that could detect coronary plaque before symptoms appear. The process uses blood samples and CT scans from more than 5,000 heart disease patients, and identifies five biomarkers. The team is seeking $8 million to speed up clinical trials and put screening kits into the hands of GPs across the country. Indigenous adults experience heart attacks at almost three times the rate of non-Indigenous adults, and people in regional and remote areas stand to benefit most.
