Good morning and welcome to the Morning Buzz for Wednesday, February 22. It’s set to be a mostly sunny day with a max temperature of around 27 in the city and 32 in the west.
Traffic Buzz
- GLENDENNING: A two-car accident is affecting traffic in both directions on Power St above the M7.
- HOXTON PARK: A southbound lane is closed on the M7 due to an accident involving a car and a motorcycle near Cowpasture Rd.
- INGLEBURN: A truck accident has closed one southbound lane on the Hume Mwy at Brooks Rd.
- The Blue Mountains Line is partially closed from Penrith to Lithgow due to a freight train requiring mechanical repairs at Emu Plains. Trains towards Central continue to run. A limited bus service is now running. Passengers should allow plenty of extra time and listen to announcements.
News Buzz
MISSING PUG: A man who claimed his pet pug dog was stolen at knife-point in Sydney Olympic Park earlier this month has been charged with making a false report to police about the late-night armed robbery, which police allege never happened.
GAMBLING FIGURES: The amount of money lost on poker machines in individual clubs and pubs in NSW would be made public each month under a fresh push to improve transparency of gambling data.
HOUSE PRICES: Australian businessman Dick Smith has blamed immigrants for high house prices, claiming the "enormous population increase" is making young families unable to buy their first home.
‘BUFFETT RULE’: The highest income earners in Australia would be forced to pay a mandated minimum rate of tax under a policy proposal being pushed inside the Labor Party to counter the populist appeal of One Nation and potentially add $2.5 billion a year to the budget bottom line.
CLEAN UP CONTINUES: Sutherland Shire Council will receive a federal-state government payment of $255,180 to help meet the cost of the clean-up after the Kurnell tornado.
STUDENTS AT RISK: Up to 3000 disabled students are at risk of having funding cut to their vocational education courses after the NSW government suspended 17 providers for failing to meet minimum standards under the Smart and Skilled program.
PARKLEA STABBING: An inmate was rushed to hospital in a serious condition on Tuesday following a stabbing at Parklea Prison.
NEW SCAM: NSW Police are warning about a scam which is targeting businesses and individuals submitting tenders online to the state government.
POWERFUL COST: The cost of moving the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta could blow out to almost $2 billion – 10 times the estimated sale price of the museum's Ultimo site.
OFFICIALLY RESIGNED: Almost a month after announcing she would do so former health minister Jillian Skinner has formally tendered her resignation from the NSW Parliament.
Sports Buzz
WANDERERS FINED: Western Sydney Wanderers boss John Tstatsimas has issued a scathing statement condemning a controversial banner that marred the club’s long-awaited Sydney derby victory on the weekend. | Wanderers cop hiding in Champions League opener
BOOST FOR SHARKS: The Cronulla Sharks have received a massive boost on the eve of the new season from their fans. The club has seen a 20 per cent increase in fans taking up membership compared to the same time last year, with almost 12,000 Sharks fans signing up. | NRL brings back the bin
