Chris Hartcher event referred to ICAC

SEAN NICHOLLS Former NSW energy minister was guest of honour at a business "networking event" in 2012 organised by a mysterious entity called the Georges River Club.

Performing arts schools steal the show

AMY MCNEILAGE When Nepean High School called for for put the call out for talented young dancers, musicians, actors and artists in 2010, students flocked to auditions from all over western Sydney.

Woolworths 'intimidated' regulator

A decision by the liquor regulator to ban shopper docket deals for alcohol was quashed after "intimidation" – including complaints to ministers and legal threats – by Woolworths, according to internal documents.

Parents going all out for school admissions

Parents are so desperate to enrol their children in schools with impressive results that they are resorting to extreme measures such producing fraudulent documents to claim they live within the school's boundaries.

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NSW faces cabinet reshuffle after Gallacher exit

KIRSTY NEEDHAM Disability Minister John Ajaka is tipped to become government leader in the fractious NSW upper house, following the sudden resignation of Mike Gallacher as police minister last week.

WSW fans make pilgrimage to Brisbane

HEATH GILMORE Every plane, train and automobile heading north to Brisbane on Saturday appeared to be carrying members of the red and black army.

Baird's government in crisis

Michaela Whitbourn, Kate McClymont, Sean Nicholls Mike Gallacher has resigned from cabinet after a corruption inquiry heard he hatched a "corrupt scheme" with Nathan Tinkler's property development group to receive illegal donations.

Firefighters to receive bravery awards

RACHEL OLDING Within seconds of arriving at a Bankstown unit block inferno, fire crews knew it was something they had never encountered.

As Duncan Gay considers cycling licences, bike lanes shown to be highly effective

JACOB SAULWICK Roads Minister Duncan Gay is considering banning cyclists from roads and requiring them to hold a licence, but research by his own government shows separated bike lanes can halve the number of serious cycling injuries.

Teen found guilty of intentionally throwing steel bar at Liam Knight

LOUISE HALL A teenage gatecrasher has been found guilty of intentionally throwing a steel bar at Liam Knight, piercing his skull and causing lifelong brain damage.

Advocate for the underdog won't be swayed by media frenzy

RACHEL OLDING The state's newest Supreme Court judge, Peter Hamill, SC, has sent a clear warning that he will not be swayed by ''ill-defined'' public and media pressure for tougher sentences.

Cyclist killed in collision with bus

SAFFRON HOWDEN The Sydney cycling community has been struck by a spate of horrific road accidents, including two deaths in as many weeks.

Wintry blast to hit Sydney

PETER HANNAM A wintry blast is heading Sydney’s way that will knock temperatures 14 degrees below where they were last week, Weatherzone said.

Stepfather charged over rape, murder of toddler

A man has been charged with the murder and rape of a two-year-old girl in northern NSW.

Powerhouse Museum to clear staff

HEATH GILMORE The troubled Powerhouse Museum will be getting rid of nearly one-fifth of its staff under a major restructure of the cultural institution.

Man tried to set woman on fire

MEGAN LEVY A man has been charged after allegedly dousing his partner in lighter fluid and attempting to set her alight in Potts Point.

Wran farewelled by both sides of politics

Damien Murphy Neville Wran has been farewelled at the scene of some of his greatest triumphs, the Sydney Town Hall.

Anti-coal seam gas activists allowed to stay

SAFFRON HOWDEN Less than a week after a council vowed to shut down a large anti-coal seam gas protest camp, the activists have been told they can stay.

ICAC: Caputo gave cheques to Hartcher

MICHAELA WHITBOURN A Liberal Party official linked to Tony Abbott and Mike Baird has come under fire at a corruption inquiry over thousands of dollars in cheques he gave to former state energy minister Chris Hartcher.

WestConnex: buses will double in speed

JACOB SAULWICK Rest assured, frustrated Sydney bus commuters: your bus will somehow start travelling twice as fast in the next few years.

Welcome to Fight Club, Young Liberal style

Kate McClymont, Michaela Whitbourn They were Young Liberals on a covert mission, codenamed Black Ops. The dress code was black, the meeting time was 10pm, and it was BYO ladder.

$80 million gets washed out to sea

JULIE POWER Floods in Green Square, Zetland and Alexandria are to be prevented with a massive stormwater drain project.

Estephan jailed over McGurk murder

PAUL BIBBY The young Sydney man who drove the getaway car after the murder of businessman Michael McGurk and then concealed the crime from police has been sentenced to at least five years in jail.

Newcastle port sale adds to Libs' war chest

The NSW government will tip more than $1 billion into its infrastructure fund Restart NSW from the privatisation of the Port of Newcastle, giving it a pre-election spending war chest.

Tourism

Australia lures wealthy, adventurous tourists

Jamie Freed The Chinese tourist is wealthier and more independent than ever before - and Australia's most lucrative guest.

Labor MPs surprised as Faulkner calls time

Michael Gordon and Anna Patty Labor Party elder and reform campaigner John Faulkner will be replaced under the NSW ALP factions-controlled system of preselections that he has long criticised as undemocratic.

'Your worst nightmare': Baird to wrongdoers

SEAN NICHOLLS Mike Baird has delivered a stern warning to any government MPs found guilty of corrupt conduct during current hearings into illegal political donations: "I'm your worst nightmare."