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.
