Six NSW police stations, including Penrith, will accept surrendered firearms from November 2 under a new national gun buyback scheme. Eligible licence holders will receive compensation at a fixed price schedule. More stations will join in December, and the scheme will run for 12 months. Participants must book through the Gun Safe portal, as walk-in surrenders will not be accepted. Police and Counter-terrorism Minister Yasmin Catley said fewer guns in the community would make it safer.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has said he will absolutely not take part in the national gun buyback, arguing good people should keep their weapons. NSW police stations in six locations will accept surrendered guns from November 2, with 34 more sites opening from December 1. NSW is the only state so far to sign up, and the scheme will compensate people for firearms they can no longer legally own. NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said fewer guns in the community means a safer community.
Eligible NSW firearms licence holders can surrender surplus and reclassified guns for compensation under a national buyback scheme. Bookings must be made through the Gun Safe portal, as walk-in surrenders at police stations will not be accepted. Holders with recreational hunting or vermin control reasons are limited to four guns each, while other eligible reasons allow up to 10. Metro stations, Grafton, Griffith and Dubbo accept surrenders first, with more stations joining from December 1 and January onwards. Bookings for later stages open on November 24.
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Federal and state regulators have inspected berry farms and labour hire businesses across the Coffs Harbour and Nambucca Valley regions. The two-day operation, known as Operation Brambles, targets suspected wage underpayments, unsafe conditions and unfair business practices. A 2025 report by the Fair Work Ombudsman found 61 per cent of employers assessed in the Coffs Harbour and Grafton region did not meet their obligations under the Fair Work Act. Regulators are investigating possible breaches, including illegal phoenix activity. No findings from the latest inspections have been released.
This week's quiz, set by John James Maloney, is built around bridges. Questions cover the Grafton Bridge over the Clarence River, the West Gate Bridge in Melbourne and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Other questions ask about the song Bridge over Troubled Water, the film The Bridge over the River Kwai and the actor Lloyd Bridges. A bonus question asks where stolen Christmas meat from a Casino butcher shop was found. The answer is under Missingham Bridge in Ballina.
The New South Wales government has established the state's second-largest national park, the Great Koala National Park, after more than 14 hours of debate in the Legislative Council. The park will cover 478,000 hectares between Kempsey and Grafton on the Mid North Coast. Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said it would protect more than 100 species of flora and fauna. Conservationist Ashley Love said he would keep pushing for more surrounding forest to be protected. Logging has been halted in the area, and the federal Clean Energy Regulator has registered the project for carbon credits.
The Jacaranda Festival opens in Grafton on Friday, 23 October, with thousands of jacaranda trees in bloom. The celebration runs until Sunday, 8 November, and this year's theme is Shining Bright. Opening weekend events include Illuminate at See Park, the Jaca Children's Party and the Jacaranda Ball. Later events include River Dreaming, the Parade of Youth, Retrofest and the Venetian Carnival. The festival closes with the opening of a 2001 time capsule and a fun run over Bendy Bridge.
John Rayner PSM has started work as Interim Administrator of Clarence Valley Council, replacing the councillors for three months. NSW Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig suspended the council after councillors requested an inquiry into governance, administration, operations and financial management. The crisis followed a mayoral ballot tie in September and the termination of General Manager Laura Black's contract. Mr Rayner, who grew up in Coraki and began his career in Grafton, will report to the Minister in December. His priorities include appointing a new General Manager and reviewing governance.
Members of Coffs Harbour Baptist Church spent a week transforming the children's play area at Grafton Baptist Church. The volunteers, including tradespeople, landscaped the grounds, built a sandstone wall, repainted the climbing frame, installed a new slide and added lights. Some stayed at the church, praying and eating breakfast together each day. Pastor Jeff Andrews said the group wanted to bless the local community. Grafton Baptist Church marks its 150th anniversary with a service on Sunday 25 October, open to everyone.
Police are continuing their investigation into the death of a five-year-old boy found unresponsive at a home in Grafton. Emergency services were called to the property about 6:40am on Monday, 12 October. Officers began CPR before NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived, but the boy died at the scene. Specialist forensic officers examined the crime scene, and a post-mortem examination will be carried out. The investigation is being run by Strike Force Milona, with help from the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Lismore, Banora Point and Gwandalan have each topped NSW storm hotspot rankings in recent years, according to new insurance data. AAMI analysed more than 97,000 severe-weather home claims over five years and found the worst-hit area changes almost every year. Some communities, including Gwandalan, Erina and Bateau Bay, appear repeatedly. Forecasters expect spring to be less active than normal, but still warn of damaging winds, large hail and heavy rain. Residents are urged to secure loose items, trim trees, clear gutters and prepare emergency kits.
Homicide detectives are leading a major police investigation after a five-year-old boy died suddenly in Grafton, on the New South Wales north coast. Emergency services were called to a home in the town at about 6.40am on Monday after a report that a child was unresponsive. Police performed CPR until an ambulance crew took over, but the boy could not be saved. It is understood his parents are being questioned by police. A post mortem examination is due to establish the circumstances of his death. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.
Homicide detectives are investigating the death of a five-year-old boy in Grafton, New South Wales. Emergency services were called around 6.40am on Monday after the child was found unresponsive at his home. Police officers performed CPR until paramedics arrived, but attempts to revive him failed and he was declared dead. A crime scene has been established and forensically examined. The cause of death has not been revealed. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Police homicide detectives are assisting Grafton officers after the death of a five-year-old boy at a home in Grafton on Monday. The boy's parents have not been arrested but are being questioned, the ABC understands, over their treatment of the child and his siblings. Police are investigating allegations that the boy and at least one other child were duct-taped into sleeping bags at night. Specialist officers forensically examined the home, and a post-mortem examination will be conducted. The Department of Communities and Justice says it is working with police, and the matter has been referred to the coroner.
A team of pain researchers, health professionals and people living with chronic pain will cycle more than 780km from Tweed Heads to Port Macquarie in October. The 2026 Pain Revolution Rural Outreach Tour will stop at nine North Coast towns between 15 and 23 October, with free community events sharing evidence-based information on managing persistent pain. The tour is supported by a $50,000 grant from Healthy North Coast. Pain Revolution CEO Professor Lorimer Moseley said chronic pain is often misunderstood and undertreated. Events are free, with full details available at the tour website.
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Two teenagers have been charged after a British tourist was allegedly stabbed during a fight between two groups in central Cairns. Police allege the brawl broke out on Spence Street near Grafton Street about 9.40pm on Monday. The 25-year-old woman was stabbed in the leg and taken to Cairns Base Hospital, where she has since been discharged. A 15-year-old boy was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, while a 16-year-old girl faces three counts of common assault. Both are due to face a children's court on October 21.
Police allege a 15-year-old girl stabbed a 25-year-old British woman in the leg during a fight in Cairns on Monday night. The fight, between two groups on Spence Street, also left a man with a hand injury. The girl has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and committing an act intended to cause grievous bodily harm. A 16-year-old girl faces three counts of common assault. Both are due to face a children's court later this month. Police say investigations into what sparked the fight are continuing.
Two Clarence Valley Council projects have been named finalists in the 2026 Planning Institute of Australia Awards for Planning Excellence. The Accelerated Development Application Service has cut approval times for eligible applications to eight to nine days, below the council's 20-day target. The Clarenza Urban Release Area Structure Plan provides a framework for about 1,000 new homes and a future community of around 3,000 residents on flood-free land near Grafton. Council says the projects will support housing growth across the Clarence Valley.
Bonny Hills dancer Christie Rogers won first place in four disciplines at Grafton's annual Highland dancing competition. The event is held each September as part of the Jacaranda Festival, drawing competitors from across the region. Rogers, who is relatively new to the sport, said she is now only four marks away from moving up to novice level. With no local schools on the Mid North Coast, she takes lessons over Zoom and practises for hours each week. She said she hopes to encourage more women to learn and compete.
