Beau Lamarre-Condon has told his double murder trial that a friend encouraged him to dispose of the bodies of two men straight away, despite his wish to report the deaths to police. Lamarre-Condon, 31, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, who were shot in Baird's Paddington home in February 2024. His legal team argues the men were shot accidentally and that he acted in self-defence. In a statement read to the court, he alleges the friend, known as Elizabeth Kennedy, helped him dispose of the bodies at a farm.
A woman from Point Frederick has been charged by Australian Federal Police for allegedly displaying prohibited hate symbols on social media. She is the second person charged by the National Security Investigations teams over similar conduct.
A Westpac Rescue Helicopter was sent by NSW Ambulance to a motorcycle accident on the M1 Motorway at Somersby on Saturday, October 24, at about 4pm. A man was injured in the crash.
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A luxury Byron Bay retreat linked to Hollywood actor Matt Damon has sold for $4.65 million. The Broken Head property, known as Blackwood House, was listed at a $12.5 million price guide in 2022. Damon rented the home in 2017 while filming a cameo for Thor: Ragnarok. He stayed for several months with friend Chris Hemsworth, which fuelled speculation he would move to Australia permanently. Damon did not buy the property, and he returned to the United States after his stay.
Parramatta Lanes recorded its biggest year yet, attracting more than 386,000 visitors over four nights from 21 to 24 October. The free festival used the city centre's streets, laneways and car parks for more than 400 performers, 70 food vendors and 10 stages. Lord Mayor Cameron MacLean said the event showcased the city's cultural diversity and its growing appeal in Western Sydney. The City of Parramatta said the festival was funded by the council and the NSW Government, with a $350,000 Open Streets grant to help deliver the event over three years.
A jury has heard a phone call in which Beau Lamarre-Condon claimed he suffered trauma from bullying by NSW Police Force members. The call was made on February 23, 2024, while he was on his way to hand himself in. He is accused of murdering Jesse Baird and Luke Davies at Baird's Paddington home on February 19, 2024. He has pleaded not guilty and is arguing self-defence. In his statement to police, Lamarre-Condon said a friend encouraged him to hide the bodies. She denies this and says she never saw the bodies.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has admitted that a $6 million grant promised to Marrickville Golf Club is not for fixing sewage problems, as he had told Parliament. Infrastructure Department officials told a Senate estimates hearing that the project includes no sewerage works. Most of the money will go towards redeveloping the clubhouse, with smaller amounts for stormwater upgrades and landscaping, according to council minutes. Albanese said the NSW government is funding the sewerage aspects. Opposition Business Manager Dan Tehan urged him to correct the record. Albanese also holds an undisclosed honorary membership at the club.
Brendon and Emma Reynolds have put the historic Junee Hotel on the market so they can move closer to family. The couple took over the lease in 2023 and later bought the property, restoring its rooms, bathrooms and bar. They have added community events, including a singles night that Emma says led to five relationships. Emma criticised government taxes on regional pubs and staffing rules that limit backpacker workers. The couple plan to live in the hotel while a sale progresses, which they say can take six to 12 months.
Commentators argue that childcare safety reforms have not addressed the core problems in early childhood education. Government figures show more compliance actions and a rise in services meeting national quality standards. However, staff waivers remain in use, educators are poorly paid, and about 70 per cent of services are now for-profit. Minister Jess Walsh says the reforms are on track and that 120 services have been put on notice. The writers call for a complete overhaul of the system.
Griffith Police Station will begin accepting eligible firearms from 2 November under the NSW Government's gun buyback scheme. The scheme follows the Bondi Beach terror attack in December 2025, which killed 15 people. Owners must book an appointment online through Gun Safe, and compensation ranges from $450 for an air rifle to $1000 for a centrefire rifle or revolver. Local firearms dealers, including Anthony Mancini of Riverina Firearms Centre, say the reforms have hurt their businesses and that the payments are too low. Further police stations will join the scheme from 1 December and 18 January 2027.
The Central Coast VRA Rescue squad was busy on Sunday, October 25, attending three rescues in just 90 minutes. The squad was activated to a motor incident shortly before 4pm.
Credit Corp Group, which buys bad debts at a discount and collects them, is on track for another record result this year. The listed business posted a record $105.5 million net profit in 2025/26 and is targeting between $112 million and $120 million this financial year. Chief executive Thomas Beregi told shareholders the purchase of one of HSBC's run-off credit card books was a key driver. Its consumer lending arms grew almost a fifth in the September quarter, led by its Wallet Wizard loans, which carry an annual interest rate of 47.8 per cent.
The Northern Beaches Ocean Festival returns for its 33rd year with a week of events on conservation, science and education. The program includes an underwater photography exhibition, rockpool discovery tours and living seawalls tours. The festival covers the area's five marine protected areas. Mayor Sue Heins says the event aims to raise awareness of life below the water and encourages everyone to help care for coastal and marine ecosystems. Details and event registration are available through the council's website.
Apple's refreshed iPad mini arrives in Australia on November 6, 2026, starting at AUD$1,099 for the 128GB Wi-Fi model. It gains an 8.5-inch OLED display, the A20 Pro chip shared with the foldable iPhone Duo, and IP67 water and dust resistance in a 5.4mm chassis. Reviewers note the lack of ProMotion, so the panel remains at 60Hz. The 256GB iPad mini paired with a 256GB iPhone 18 Pro costs AUD$3,398, which is AUD$101 less than the AUD$3,499 iPhone Duo. The reviewer's verdict is that the iPad mini is a strong buy for commuters and creatives.
