Officials out and administrators in
Melanie Kembrey and Jacob Saulwick 8:08 PM Unelected administrators will run 19 new councils in NSW for more than a year, after the Baird government sacked mayors and councillors from 42 councils on Thursday and drew fire for trashing local democracy.
Latest NSW news
Sydney school asks boy to skip Naplan
![A recent analyses of NSW school results included NAPLAN scores.](/web/20160513020002im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/d/l/t/o/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.got9tu.11bc3y.png/1463046836949.jpg)
Eryk Bagshaw 4:42 PM The boy was 'singled out specifically and invited to withdraw' - and not for the first time - his distressed mum says.
Uni students infiltrate massage parlour
![Sydney University's 99-year-old Wesley College.](/web/20160513020002im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/s/w/j/0/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gota0b.11bc3y.png/1463087711152.jpg)
Aparna Balakumar 7:44 PM Students from Wesley College have apologised after a massage parlour was infiltrated during an initiation activity.
'Undeserved trashing of reputations'
![ICAC inspector David Levine before the parliamentary oversight
committee into the ICAC.](/web/20160513020002im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/i/7/9/r/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.got4ye.11bc3y.png/1463046836949.jpg)
Sean Nicholls 5:57 PM ICAC should be stripped of power to hold public hearings, Inspector says.
'Salim Mehajer' voting loophole closed
![Former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer.](/web/20160513020002im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/b/k/8/a/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gotdma.11bc3y.png/1463046836949.jpg)
A loophole that allowed councillors such as Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer to vote on a matter in which they have an interest will be closed.
Blackout threat as power workers strike
![Power workers](/web/20160513020002im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/g/x/d/u/t/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gossca.11bc3y.png/1463046836949.jpg)
Anna Patty 1:11 PM And they won't be leaving a skeleton staff to deal with crises.
The 'Uberisation' of doctors
![The boom in after-hours medical services is raising concerns about the "uberisation" of medicine.](/web/20160513020002im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/p/l/o/z/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gosr95.11bc3y.png/1463068917510.jpg)
Home visits by mobile GPs are booming in Australia, causing some doctors to question whether the "Uberisation" of medicine is ripping off Medicare.
Mum's Thermomix accident agony
!["I just couldn't bear it": Helen Kerry.](/web/20160513020002im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/s/a/0/e/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gos9s5.11bc3y.png/1463046836949.jpg)
Lucy Cormack 2:51 PM Helen Kerry purchased a Thermomix last year to "make life easier." That's not how it turned out.
$800m coal mine back in play
![Karen McNamara: "Any development in Dobell must be in the best interest of the community."](/web/20160513020002im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/z/r/3/c/e/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gos522.11bc3y.png/1463046836949.jpg)
Sean Nicholls The fight over the $800 million Wallarah 2 coal mine proposal on the central coast is set to resume.
Zombie measures that will make poor poorer
![Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, on the campaign trail in Penrith with one-year-old Freya Brown, said last week "the ...](/web/20160513020002im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/s/9/7/t/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gosewj.11bc3y.png/1463046836949.jpg)
Matt Wade Poor families to be hardest hit when all budget measures are implemented, modelling shows.
NSW councils set to merge this week
![Council mergers announced: Premier Mike Baird.](/web/20160513020002im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/s/9/w/3/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gostvj.11bc3y.png/1463046994151.jpg)
Jacob Saulwick and Melanie Kembrey New councils are to be created across Sydney and NSW as early as this week if Premier Mike Baird's cabinet signs off on merger proposals on Thursday.
Opal fare surge proposed for commuters
![The NSW government has been urged to overhaul the Opal card fare structure.](/web/20160513020002im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/8/3/q/p/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gopsvi.11bc3y.png/1463046836949.jpg)
Matt O'Sullivan Commuters would no longer travel for free after eight journeys in a week but would pay half-price for trips after the first eight.
Uni college students 'slut shame' residents
![Wesley College in Sydney University.](/web/20160513020002im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/s/o/2/a/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gosckv.11bc3y.png/1463053421403.jpg)
Aparna Balakumar, Eryk Bagshaw Female students say they are being humiliated and defamed in a journal.
How car hire ruined a holiday
![Most of the complaints were in relation to unknown fees.](/web/20160513020002im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/s/h/k/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.goqqis.11bc3y.png/1463046836949.jpg)
Esther Han
John and Pauline's Queensland holiday was perfect - until the credit card bill arrived.
Metro line construction to cause chaos
![Council mergers announced: Premier Mike Baird.](/web/20160513020002im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/s/9/w/3/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gosdlc.11bc3y.png/1463046836949.jpg)
Matt O'Sullivan and Jacob Saulwick Commuters using three key platforms will face the greatest disruption from the construction starting next year of a $12.5 billion metro train line under Sydney's CBD.
State spruiks CSG potential to the world
![A coal seam gas exploratory well drilled on a property at Seaspray, Victoria.](/web/20160513020002im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/z/w/3/m/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.goryko.11bc3y.png/1463046836949.jpg)
James Robertson Overseas miners have been told northern NSW is brimming with CSG potential - despite local voters being told the controversial practice had been stopped.
Five towers positive for legionella in CBD
![Legionella bacteria under a microscope.](/web/20160513020002im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/z/r/8/h/8/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gos951.11bc3y.png/1463046836949.jpg)
Kate Aubusson Health authorities announce two more people have contracted legionnaires' disease linked to the recent outbreak in the city.
Strip club licensee fined after dramatic raids
![Now closed: DreamGirls on Darlinghurst Road in Kings Cross.](/web/20160513020002im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/k/5/0/6/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.goqvh9.11bc3y.png/1463046836949.jpg)
James Robertson DreamGirls' ex-licensee has been fined in the wake of a dramatic raid.
Kids split on computerised NAPLAN
![NEWS. NAPLAN - Girraween. St Anthony's Primary School. (L-R) Yr 3 students Zoe Atkinson,8, Mokshada Rane,8,](/web/20160513020002im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/q/u/p/8/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gorro7.11bc3y.png/1463046836949.jpg)
Kelsey Munro Zoe says computer. Mokshada says paper. Either way, the girls from Girraween have made it through their first Naplan test.
'I rarely take sick days'
![Karelle Leroy with her six-week-old daughter and four-year-old son.](/web/20160513020002im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/q/j/r/i/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.goqk09.11bc3y.png/1463046836949.jpg)
Anna Patty The people who work more hours than a CEO and "soldier on" when ill.
Chart reveals the highest-paid graduates
![A new two-tiered fee system is being considered.](/web/20160513020002im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/y/1/6/3/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.goq567.11bc3y.png/1463046836949.jpg)
Eryk Bagshaw But two of Sydney's most prestigious universities have the state's most dissatisfied students.
Ad campaign for $22b reform scrapped
![The National Disability Insurance Scheme continues to face criticism from disability advocates.](/web/20160513020002im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/m/0/o/h/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.goqep5.11bc3y.png/1463046836949.jpg)
Rachel Browne The government is relying on a social media push and community meetings to reach thousands of potential participants.