A man died after his vehicle crashed into a ditch on the Mitchell Highway at Apsley, near Wellington, shortly after 4am on Thursday. NSW Police are investigating the circumstances of the crash, and the driver has yet to be formally identified. It is the second serious crash on that stretch of highway in six months. Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders called for more overtaking lanes and better upgrades, saying the highway has been left behind. Transport for NSW says it is working on safety improvements at six locations between Orange and Wellington.
The Northern Territory government will require all future operators of Darwin Private Hospital to provide private maternity services, Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro says. Calvary Health Care is expected to take over the hospital before the end of the year, after Healthscope closed its private maternity ward and went into receivership. Critics say rebuilding a maternity ward could take at least two years, citing the need for obstetricians, paediatricians, anaesthetists, midwives and equipment. Maternity advocacy group Our Birth, Our Voice welcomed the decision. The legislation is expected to be tabled in parliament next week.
A 48-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly dousing three patients at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney with an accelerant. Police allege he set one of the men, aged 54, alight at about 10.45pm on Tuesday. Hospital staff quickly extinguished the fire, and the man suffered minor burns and was in a stable condition. The other two patients, aged 63 and 64, were treated for minor injuries. The accused is due to face a bail hearing on Thursday. The hospital says there is no ongoing risk to patients and staff.
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A 48-year-old man has been charged with two counts of attempted murder after allegedly dousing three patients in accelerant at The Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick. Police say he then set one man, aged 54, alight before hospital staff put out the fire. That man has minor burns and is being kept under observation as a precaution. A 63-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman, also doused, were treated for minor injuries. The South Eastern Sydney Local Health District says there is no ongoing risk. The accused is due to appear in Bail Division Court on Thursday.
Western Australia beat Queensland by two wickets at the WACA Ground in Perth, chasing 201 on the final day. Aaron Hardie was named player of the match after scoring 80 not out from 128 deliveries. Sam Fanning batted on despite a torn hamstring, crab-walking between wickets, and finished the match by hitting the winning runs. Xavier Bartlett took three wickets on the final day, finishing with nine for the match for Queensland. The result gives new WA head coach Beau Casson a winning start in the Sheffield Shield.
A bull at the 2026 Warren Point Hereford sale has sold for $17,000, the top price of the event. The on-property sale at Mitchell concluded on Friday, October 9, with 44 of 47 bulls sold, a 94 per cent clearance. The average price was $6909, and the gross total reached $303,996. The top bull, Warren Point Veteran V206, went to Cameron and Sarah Flower of Garrabarra, Roma. Stud principal Chris Lethbridge said the result was good given the dry conditions across the region.
A vehicle was impounded in Darwin's CBD after police witnessed reckless driving on Mitchell Street. Officers observed the car accelerate sharply, skid, and endanger others while responding to an unrelated call. CCTV footage helped identify the 30-year-old driver. The car was held for 48 hours under anti-hooning laws, with the owner facing towing and storage fees. Superintendent Bradley Fox noted the driver also received a traffic fine, potentially costing more than the vehicle's value.
City of Palmerston has released the Palmy Youth Info Map, a pocket-sized guide for young people aged 12 to 25. The map lists 17 services across Palmerston and surrounding areas, covering activities, health and wellbeing, education, employment and emergency contacts. Parents, carers, friends and support workers can also use it to help young people find support. The map is available on the council website, with printed copies at Civic Plaza, Palmerston Recreation Centre and the City of Palmerston library.
Seventeen people from the Northern Territory have been named as nominees for the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards. Nominees were recognised in four categories: Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Local Hero. Their work covers youth mentorship, education, First Nations culture, volunteering, community advocacy and healthcare. National Australia Day Council CEO Carrie Leeson said the nominees share a commitment to caring for others. The Northern Territory award recipients will be announced on November 9 in Darwin, with the ceremony livestreamed online.
Police have arrested a 31-year-old man over a domestic violence incident that occurred in Alice Springs on Saturday. Officers from Strike Force Viper detained him at a property in the Sadadeen area on Monday afternoon, around 1:30pm. He has been remanded in custody while police prepare charges against him. He is expected to face the Alice Springs Local Court the following day.
Two people face drug charges after police executed a search warrant at a home on Gap Road in The Gap, Alice Springs. Officers from the Southern Drug Investigation Unit seized a quantity of methamphetamine below trafficable levels, drug implements and various weapons. A 41-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman were arrested at the address.
A 55-year-old man has been arrested and charged in Katherine over drug offences. Police say he left about 5 grams of methamphetamine under a pillow at a Katherine hotel he had checked out of on Thursday, 15 October. Detectives from the Northern Investigations Section seized the drugs and began an investigation. On Friday, police stopped his vehicle near the Katherine Weighbridge and found a less than traffickable quantity of cannabis inside. He faces charges of possessing a dangerous drug in both traffickable and less than traffickable quantities, and driving with a prohibited drug in his body.
Northern Territory Police are appealing for information about an aggravated robbery at a home in Eldorado Crescent, Tennant Creek. Between 1:00am and 2:30am, the occupant woke to the sound of people entering the house unlawfully. The occupant confronted three unknown males, and one allegedly threw a hammer at them before all three fled on foot with stolen property. The occupant was not physically injured. Anyone who saw suspicious activity in the area or has relevant information is asked to call police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, quoting reference NTP2600103924.
A Northern Territory review into child protection found that domestic violence by the girl's father was the biggest risk to five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby. The Department of Children and Families recorded 14 notifications linked to family violence since 2020, five of them in the weeks before her death. The review made 45 recommendations, which the government has accepted. Sector representatives said the recommendations were similar to earlier ones. Experts warned that treating family violence as a child protection issue could lead to victims losing their children.
A mud crab venture in Wadeye, a remote Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory, has grown into a full commercial operation. The Thamarrurr Sea Farmers now have up to 60 crab pots in the water and a team of nine workers. They send 35 to 50 kilograms of mud crabs to Darwin each week. Backers hope the industry could eventually employ about 100 people, though leaders say the growth will take time. The sea farmers say they are focused on sustainable harvesting.
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Three female youths aged 16, 15 and 11 have been arrested after a vehicle was stolen in Karama on Thursday night. Police say two offenders snatched the keys from a man's hand on Mahogany Crescent around 9:40pm. The victim locked himself in the car, and one youth allegedly threw a rock at him as the group drove away. Strike Force Trident recovered the vehicle around 12:50am, and the three were caught after a short foot chase. Anyone with information is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
The CLP Government says the Northern Territory's mining industry is gaining momentum, with five major projects reaching final investment decision or securing committed funding since 2024. Together they represent more than $5 billion in announced investment and thousands of construction and operational jobs. Several projects are building accommodation for growing workforces, including a 252-room village at the Jervois Copper Project. Exploration investment rose 49 per cent in the June 2026 quarter compared with a year earlier. Minister for Mining and Energy Gerard Maley said Territory workers and businesses must be the first to benefit.
Prosecutors have dropped a breach of bail charge against Labor MP Luke Gosling at a short hearing in the Darwin Local Court. Gosling still faces two charges of assaulting Northern Territory Administrator David Connolly, which he denies. Those charges were not raised in court on Monday. Gosling's lawyer, Marty Aust SC, described the withdrawal as a first step in the successful defence of all charges. Gosling's bail conditions bar him from coming within 50 metres of NT Government House.
Royal Darwin Hospital has apologised after confidential medical information about about a dozen pregnant patients was allegedly shared on Instagram. The posts, from an account linked to an overseas trained doctor who was a medical observer, reportedly included patient names and diagnoses, and reached 28,000 followers. The doctor said she cannot confirm how the images were posted and did not intend to disclose patient information. Her attachment to NT Health has since been terminated. Health Minister Steve Edgington said stricter background checks and induction processes will be introduced for medical observers.
Entry-level mechanical watches are getting cheaper and better, and major brands are part of that trend. WIRED asked its watch experts to choose their favourite mechanical watch under $400. The list includes models from Caravelle, Orient, Timex, Sea-Gull, Baltic, Bulova, Citizen, Vostok and Seiko. Each pick is described by its price, size, movement and water resistance, along with the reasons the experts gave for choosing it.
