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SES warns against non-essential travel to western NSW communities without power

Superintendent Joshua Clarke from the New South Wales SES spoke with ABC News Breakfast earlier about the storms forecast for large parts of the state today.

He said the transmission lines have come down at Broken Hill – which we flagged earlier – causing major power outages for several communities.

With that, we’re requesting that people – if they don’t need to travel to that part of the state – is to avoid … travel to the far west of the state.

These communities are without power, there is telecommunication outages in some locations as well, and the restoration of these services … could take a few weeks to achieve.

He said some communities were surviving on diesel back-up generation at the moment, and there is a “whole-of-government response to support these communities”.

In terms of the forecast for today, the focus would be on the NSW Riverina in the morning, before the storm moves through central parts of the state and into the east by the afternoon.

It’s really hard to pinpoint any specific location that is of concern.

DV a key concern in property disputes, peak legal body says

Making domestic violence a key consideration in property disputes would help create a family law system that supports victim-survivors, a parliamentary inquiry will be told.

As AAP reports, Women’s Legal Services Australia will today tell a public hearing into proposed changes to family law about the impact family violence can have on women’s economic wellbeing – which is exacerbated by the “unfair” distribution of property post-separation.

The legislation will seek to make the family law system safer and simpler for separating couples, and ensure the financial breakdown is fair for both parties.

Meaghan Bradshaw, from the peak body for community legal centres specialising in women’s legal issues, said perpetrators often used systems to continue inflicting further violence – such as withholding financial support and failing to disclose financial records. She will say:

Women who access our services often report being scared of seeking a property settlement due to fear of escalating violence. We also know women often do not leave violent relationships because they are effectively forced to choose between violence or poverty.

The inquiry must report back by the end of October.

Sydney rain possible tonight as royals touch down

The Bureau of Meteorology has provided more information about tonight’s forecast in Sydney, as King Charles and Queen Camilla prepare to land in Australia around 8pm.

The Bureau said it would be mostly cloudy in Sydney today, with showers or steady rain gradually easing by the evening – possibly clearing by 8pm.

There is a chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening across Greater Sydney, but is not likely to be severe.

Maximum temperatures at Observatory Hill are forecast between 25C and 26C in the afternoon, remaining warm into the evening and around 22-24C at 8pm.

‘We’ve got better ideas on housing’, Chalmers says of negative gearing

Continuing to speak on negative gearing, Jim Chalmers said he had been asked about this “countless times” but “people shouldn’t anticipate that this is part of our housing policy.”

Even if it’s a good idea, ABC RN host Patricia Karvelas asked? Chalmers responded:

We’ve got better ideas on housing.

Chalmers responds to Greens calls to scrap negative gearing

Saying work in care economy isn’t real job is ‘snobbiness’ – treasurer

Treasurer tight-lipped on rate-cut chances after jobs data

Jim Chalmers would not comment on whether the latest job figures, announced yesterday, have dashed chances of a rate cut this year.

The treasurer said this was the “first time, and only time” 1 million jobs had been created in a single parliamentary term and “our job, and the Reserve Bank’s job, is to get on top of inflation without ignoring the risks to growth”.

In terms of the rate cut, he said that was “a matter for the independent Reserve Bank”.

They’re primarily focused on inflation, and inflation has been coming down really considerably, and that’s a very good thing. Even though people are still under pressure, inflation in the monthly figures most recently was less than half what it was in the year we came to office. That’s a good thing.

Chalmers hopes death of Hamas leader will help bring end to war

The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has been speaking with ABC RN.

First up, he was asked about news overnight that Hamas’s leader, Yahya Sinwar, has been killed by Israeli forces. You can read more on this below:

Chalmers said that “we don’t mourn for one second the death of a terrorist leader”, but “we do mourn his victims”.

And we do mourn the tens of thousands of innocent lives lost to this conflict, and we hope that his death helps and hastens bring an end to the war, because we want to see a ceasefire. We want to see the humanitarian aid get in, and we want to see his hostages released.

Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama beaches reopen

One Direction members ‘completely devastated’ at Liam Payne’s death

The former members of One Direction – Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan – have released a statement following the death of their bandmate Liam Payne.

Payne died of multiple traumas and internal and external bleeding caused by a fall from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, the Argentinian prosecutor’s office has said.

The statement, released about 15 minutes ago, reads:

We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.

The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever.

For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.

‘Major’ power outages in western NSW could last up to three weeks

More back-and-forth over PM’s property purchase

The deputy leader of the opposition, Sussan Ley, was up on Sunrise this morning to discuss comments from Peter Dutton, who argues the PM would not last a second term if re-elected.

Ley said Dutton was referring to “actions from the prime minister this week” – as in the purchase of a new home – and said:

[Anthony Albanese is] entitled to make whatever purchases he wants. He’s planning for that next stage of his life. I don’t think all his colleagues are happy about it.

She said it was not about the purchase itself, but the response from his Labor colleagues.

When you look at the response to that, that’s coming from his colleagues. It’s not coming from us. We’re saying who is unhappy about this? Who is talking about it? Who is revealing their thoughts? Who is worried about it? Labor party members. That demonstrates the distraction that’s at the heart of the Albanese government…

Labor PM Jason Clare, also on the program, said there was “no” truth in this argument and “the time for professional whinging from Peter Dutton and Susan is over”.

We have an election in 12 months. It’s time they came up with a plan and stop the whinging. Peter Dutton [is] crazy if he thinks this will happen … You can’t wait for someone to retire to get your go. He has to come up with policies. The only thing he has going is shutting down Woolworths and building nuclear reactors. That’s not what the Australian people want.