Meet the woman who will change Sydney
Jacob Saulwick Starting next week, a great Sydney experiment will begin: The city will be handed to the planners.
Latest NSW news
20 bongs after child goes to sleep
![Research shows men account for most of Australia's 1.9 million cannabis users, but female smokers are now more likely to use every day.](/web/20160124130843im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/6/s/x/b/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gm7xbh.11bc3y.png/1453619251482.jpg)
Patrick Begley 2:45 PM For a growing number of women, smoking dope every day is becoming a worrying habit.
$22b from privatisation of public housing
![The Matavai tower, a public housing estate in Waterloo due to be redeveloped.](/web/20160124130843im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/p/5/y/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmciog.11bc3y.png/1453553349871.jpg)
Kirsty Needham Converting public housing estates to private apartments will ease Sydney's housing affordability crisis, and fund new social housing, minister says.
'Tired of people questioning their choices'
![Children who aren't fully immunised can't be enrolled in NSW childcare centres unless they have a specified exemption.](/web/20160124130843im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/o/k/i/z/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmbtgj.11bc3y.png/1453587152210.jpg)
Cosima Marriner 12:15 AM Sick of having to justify their controversial decision, anti-vaxxers now have a new approach.
Bollywood love brings Australian citizenship
![Bollywood performer Prafulla Parida loves the Australian way of life.](/web/20160124130843im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/b/r/f/i/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmca32.11bc3y.png/1453553349871.jpg)
Tim Barlass 12:15 AM Everyone in India dreams of getting into Bollywood, but for one experienced Bollywood performer acquiring Australian citizenship is about as high as you can go.
Stepping stones in the bush
![Stepping Stones Project Manager Kirsten McKimmie, farmer Andrew Shaw and birdwatcher Tom Clarke in Muswellbrook.](/web/20160124130843im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/c/k/b/z/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gm9lo1.11bc3y.png/1453553349871.jpg)
Peter Hannam 12:15 AM Andrew Shaw says he is "not a quintessential farmer". A more accurate view might be that you won't find many coal mine workers like him in the Hunter Valley.
Baboons in 'Frankeinstein-like' experiments
![Photo of a baboon undergoing experimental testing at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Sydney.](/web/20160124130843im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/a/p/p/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gm9wa8.11bc3y.png/1453608994825.jpg)
Natalie O'Brien The public would be "deeply shocked" to know what has been going on behind closed doors.
Primates isolated, sometimes killed: RSPCA
![A baboon sits and looks out from behind security fencing at the National Health and Medical Research Council facility.](/web/20160124130843im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/a/p/r/n/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmbp66.11bc3y.png/1453594367439.jpg)
Nicole Hasham They are intelligent, social creatures but can spend decades in captivity – often isolated from their companions. They suffer pain and distress, and may be killed in the name of research.
Couple lose legal stoush after courtroom error
![Peter Newman and Lois Evans alongside their old fence.](/web/20160124130843im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/c/o/s/i/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmapse.11bc3y.png/1453553349871.jpg)
Eamonn Duff 12:15 AM Sydney neighbours lose bitter garden fence legal stoush after seeing out proceedings in wrong courtroom
There until 8pm – the new school day
![Matthew Joyce (left) and Jacob Harris are not boarders but do stay after the last bell at The King's School in Parramatta.](/web/20160124130843im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/c/a/0/t/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmc05s.11bc3y.png/1453553349871.jpg)
Cosima Marriner 12:15 AM Fed, showered and with sports training and homework done by the time mum and dad pick these kids up.
How proposed pool changes affect you
![Safety first: tme to check your pool fence.](/web/20160124130843im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/w/l/v/v/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmcgma.11bc3y.png/1453553349871.jpg)
Tim Barlass 12:15 AM A report on how to combat the high level of non-compliance for backyard pool barriers has just been submitted to the government.
The daughter, the powerbroker and the MP
![Accused of branch stacking: Camden councillor Penny Fischer.](/web/20160124130843im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/c/d/a/p/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmbm04.11bc3y.png/1453553349871.jpg)
Sean Nicholls It was meant to be a routine meeting of an obscure Young Liberals branch, but its shockwaves are still being felt in the party.
'We are now at a fork in the road'
![NSW Premier Mike Baird: "We are now at a fork in the road".](/web/20160124130843im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/i/a/w/p/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmbzby.11bc3y.png/1453553349871.jpg)
James Robertson
"We are potentially at risk of losing what makes Australia the best place in the world to live," says Mike Baird.
Is this the end of the McMansion?
![Graham Collins 60 stands out the front of his terrace home at Thorton Estate in Penrith where they are building rows of terrace houses amongst other designed houses. Graham and his wife previously lived in their 5 bedroom family home and have downsized to the terrace as it ticked all their boxes being close to transport and the coming shops. 21st January, 2016. Photo: Kate Geraghty](/web/20160124130843im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/b/1/p/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmbhkh.11bc3y.png/1453553349871.jpg)
Leesha McKenny Graham Collins' property was once a display home. And in many ways, it still is.
Ex-King's student allegedly stabbed parents
![David Anderson, 21, has been arrested for stabbing his mother and father in Oatlands.](/web/20160124130843im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/b/t/m/p/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmbwa9.11bc3y.png/1453553349871.jpg)
Rachel Olding A former private school student, believed to have taken ice, allegedly demanded money before stabbing his parents in a terrifying early morning attack in Sydney's west.
Runner dies after falling and hitting car
![Police are negotiating with a knife-wielding man who has barricaded himself in a Toowoomba unit.](/web/20160124130843im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/b/b/a/h/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmcgg1.11bc3y.png/1453553349871.jpg)
Inga Ting A 21-year-old man has died after apparently slipping and falling into the side of a passing car while out running in Penshurst on Friday evening.
Royal Life Saving Australia issues warning
![Royal Life Saving Australia is asking people to be careful to swim first before drinking.](/web/20160124130843im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/2/o/9/n/j/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmarv9.11bc3y.png/1453553349871.jpg)
Sarah Muller Royal Life Saving has warned Australians not to swim after drinking alcohol over the Australia Day weekend, after new figures reveal a dramatic increase in drownings over this summer.
7-Eleven pay deal for workers rejected
![The Fair Work Commission has rejected a 7-Eleven franchise wage agreement.](/web/20160124130843im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/b/3/y/z/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmayp5.11bc3y.png/1453553349871.jpg)
Anna Patty The FWC has rejected a proposed agreement for a 7-Eleven franchise because its rosters could leave workers almost $80 a week worse off than the award.
Mehajer council has 14 days to explain itself
![Salim Mehajer.](/web/20160124130843im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/u/h/y/7/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmaqtq.11bc3y.png/1453553349871.jpg)
James Robertson and Leesha McKenny Two of Sydney's most dysfunctional councils are under a state government review.
'I didn't know what to say'
![Stefanie Phillips said she was overwhelmed after Gosford Hospital staff told her that her baby had been breastfed by another mother.](/web/20160124130843im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/p/3/7/b/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmahm5.11bc3y.png/1453553349871.png)
James Robertson Seven newborn babies have been handed to the wrong mothers in apparently shocking mix-ups in the NSW health system.
Auto Facebook scanner to fight online jihadis
![Banned British preacher Abu Haleema is quickly building a support base in Australia.](/web/20160124130843im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/a/b/w/z/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmb6r4.11bc3y.png/1453553349871.jpg)
Rachel Olding A computer program that automatically detects signs of radicalisation on Facebook profiles is one of several tools developed by Australian experts to counter online extremism.
Melbourne remains linked to Sydney murder
![Terry Blewitt allegedly shot dead Sydney security guard Robert Jones.](/web/20160124130843im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/a/o/1/n/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmatx3.11bc3y.png/1453553349871.jpg)
Patrick Begley, Nino Bucci, Tammy Mills A skeleton found in a Melbourne is likely to be the remains of Terrence Blewitt, a career criminal accused of an unsolved Sydney murder.