Daily Telegraph News & Politics

A legal spat’s brewing within Sydney’s Buttrose clan, with the matriarch of the family taking two of her children to the NSW Supreme Court. Police sources say convicted killer Mahmoud “Brownie” Ahmad essentially had a death wish in the weeks preceding his assassination. More than 24,000 furious Qantas customers have signed a petition complaining about meltdowns in customer service. Western Sydney footy fans will have nowhere to park at the new Sydney Football Stadium under the current agreement to axe all on-grass parking.For updates and breaking news throughout the day take out a subscription at dailytelegraph.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin was named Australian of the Year but the decision was overturned and handed to cricketer Steve Waugh. The cost of prescription drugs will be slashed in what would be the biggest change to the ­affordability of medicine in 70 years. A Farmer Wants A Wife star has admitted he broke into his ex-girlfriend’s property and threatened to kill her pet rabbits. Canterbury’s bracing for the possibility that Matt Burton will resist triggering an option in his contract to commit to the club long-term.For updates and breaking news throughout the day take out a subscription at dailytelegraph.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Homeowners must brace for mortgage “shock” with an official cash rate rise likely as early as next week, as inflation soars. Western Sydney patients with life-threatening health conditions are waiting more than 20 minutes just to be ­assigned an ambulance. A jobs windfall awaits the Hunter Valley under a Coalition plan to make it a global leader in green energy production and export. Phil Gould has taken the extraordinary step of running a Bulldogs training session after giving players a spray.For updates and breaking news throughout the day take out a subscription at dailytelegraph.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labor’s Kristina Keneally and And­rew Charlton have been branded “westie wannabes” by senior state Liberal David Elliott. The teachers union has been branded selfish by fed-up parents for using the first day of the school term to threaten strike action. A senior US envoy would not rule out military action against Solomon Islands if China established a defence base on the island state. Newly released Opal data shows ferry and train trips around the city jumped markedly over the past 12 days.For updates and breaking news throughout the day take out a subscription at dailytelegraph.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

School staff shortages are set to continue well into the new term despite growing calls from experts to dump vaccine mandates. Labor is upping the stakes in Parramatta, pledging millions of dollars in hyper-local election commitments. Australian security experts agree with Defence Minister Peter Dutton’s assessment that the nation must “prepare for war” to protect peace. Multi-million dollar bounties have been put on the heads of key figures in Sydney’s underworld.For updates and breaking news throughout the day take out a subscription at dailytelegraph.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FORMER rugby league star Brett Kenny has been charged with assault after an alter­cation on the Central Coast. AFTER two years of limited Anzac Day dawn services and marches, Australians young and old  are being urged to come out and show support for our brave veterans today. MORE than a dozen Labor MPs including some potential ministers in an Albanese ­government have publicly opposed the Morrison government’s policy of turning back asylum seeker boats, it can be revealed. AFTER almost a week of celebrations in the Hunter, the Ponga party was brought to a grinding halt by the Parramatta Eels, who handed the Newcastle Knights the biggest home loss of Adam O’Brien’s coaching tenure on Sunday. For updates and breaking news throughout the day take out a subscription at dailytelegraph.com.au.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IN A decision that will send shockwaves through the golf world, Greg Norman is secretly hatching plans for a one-off comeback at this year’s 150th British Open. DEPUTY Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce’s security detail was forced to jump in front of a car and stop a  man from verbally attacking the Nationals leader in a menacing incident near Tamworth ­yesterday. AUSSIE track legend Raelene Boyle, who was robbed of Olympic gold by testosterone-fuelled drug cheats, says it’s “ridiculous’’ that transgender women are being ­allowed to compete against cis-gendered women.  JODI Gordon has entered a rehabilitation clinic following a physical altercation which has seen her banned from contacting her ex-boyfriend Sebastian Blackler for two years. For updates and breaking news throughout the day take out a subscription at dailytelegraph.com.au.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

THE official Facebook page of a Labor branch in the heart of Anthony Albanese’s electorate of Grayndler has been caught out posting anti-Semitic, misogynist, and offensive memes about prominent Liberal party figures, a day after the Labor leader attacked Scott Morrison for trying to “divide” people. INSTALLING security cameras, cracking down on alcohol consumption, and changes to the laws governing how politicians employ staff are among recommendations being considered in a bid to improve ­behaviour at NSW parliament. SYDNEY’S top private schools would cost just a fraction of what they  do if fees had increased in line with Reserve Bank inflation since 1980. MELBOURNE Storm has been inundated with offers of rival players amid scuttlebutt over the future of Cameron Munster.  For updates and breaking news throughout the day take out a subscription at dailytelegraph.com.au.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SQUARING off face-to-face for the first time since the federal election began, Scott Morrison will pitch stability and prosperity against Anthony Albanese’s message of integrity and care in a crucial test for both leaders. PREMIER Dominic Perrottet has thrown his weight behind women and girls fighting for transgender athletes to be ­excluded from women’s sport, declaring it a “matter of fairness and physiology”. THE pet sausage dog of a Wests ­Tigers board member is at the heart of a messy apprehended violence order taken out after an Easter ­Monday incident. CLOSE contact rules forcing people who live in the same house as positive Covid cases are set to be scrapped as early as this week.  For updates and breaking news throughout the day take out a subscription at dailytelegraph.com.au.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DESPITE a weeklong barrage of bad publicity following a series of gaffes, Anthony Albanese is adamant he has had a strong campaign and will not waiver from his “strategy”.  NSW Treasurer Matt Kean ignored his own directive for companies to promote more women onto boards by replacing the female chair of ­WaterNSW with a man.  A KEY witness for Nine newspapers in the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation trial has been recalled and quizzed over concerns he lied to the court.  ST GEORGE Illawarra’s Zac Lomax has been slugged with a grade one contrary conduct charge for his shocking show of disrespect towards former teammate Tyson Frizell.  For updates and breaking news throughout the day take out a subscription at dailytelegraph.com.au.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labor will go on the attack with a pivot to a Mediscare-style campaign against Scott Morrison’s team, as the ­opposition battles to reset after a disastrous first week ­derailed by Anthony Albanese’s errors.  Premier Dominic Perrottet has vowed to review NSW’s foster care system after furious advocates slammed the current laws as “disastrous” and “unfair”.  Prison staff at Silverwater Prison say fallen Aussie TV icon Andrew O’Keefe has become an entitled, demanding, “prima donna” of the  yard   And in NRL, Newcastle has sensationally withdrawn its three-year contract extension for Kalyn Ponga, freeing the Knights superstar to become the Dolphins’ first marquee signing.  For updates and breaking news throughout the day take out a subscription at dailytelegraph.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands of families left homeless after the devastating floods will be able to relocate to temporary housing “pods” as they rebuild their lives.  After 15 years at the Nine Network, rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns is struggling to accept a demotion from the commentary box to sideline duties.  Police are exploring possible links to a notorious Sydney crime family and an alleged attack on a young woman with battery acid in the heart of the CBD on Friday night.  Teachers will be offered the chance to retrain as maths specialists for free as the state government battles a critical shortage.  For updates and breaking news throughout the day take out a subscription at dailytelegraph.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twenty-five years after a headless body was found in a river southwest of Sydney police have ramped up efforts to find the man’s killers and finally end the mystery. A Sydney developer shared in a $200,000 profit on land it bought from Canada Bay Council after its mayor did not declare the buyer was a friend and donor of his. Suspended Liberal NSW Minister Gareth Ward has revealed he is considering writing a “tell all” book about his life in politics while also not ruling out running as an independent at the next State election.  A housing shortage and structural changes in the property market spurred by the Covid pandemic have set the stage for a rental crisis and Sydney tenants have been warned they’ll pay. For updates and breaking news throughout the day take out a subscription at dailytelegraph.com.au.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rugby league boss Peter V’landys has vowed to use the power and influence of his sport to fight the gang bloodshed in Western Sydney. Anthony Albanese was forced to clean up another potential campaign mess for Labor after saying turning back asylum seeker boats meant offshore detention wasn’t needed.  Scott Morrison has refused to admit he broke a key election promise by not establishing a federal anti-corruption watchdog, instead spinning the blame on the Opposition in a fiery fourth day of the election campaign. Broncos coach Kevin Walters has taken aim at the NRL, declaring star prop Payne Haas should not have been suspended for Brisbane’s daunting Good Friday clash against premiers the Panthers in Sydney.  For updates and breaking news throughout the day take out a subscription at dailytelegraph.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The  gang crisis plaguing Western Sydney is now sweeping the entire city, from Blacktown to Bondi, with police mounting an all-fronts assault to try and stop the bloodshed. As travel chaos descended across airports Australia-wide and passengers faced huge delays, it’s been revealed Qantas head office staff were last week treated to a festival of Zumba classes and stress-relieving puppy patting sessions.  Southwest Sydney locals have branded Kristina Keneally “hypocritical” after she turned up to receive communion at a Palm Sunday mass in the heart of Cabramatta, three years after she called the Catholic Church a “failing and decaying institution”.  Nathan Cleary has sacrificed the opportunity stay at the top rugby league’s rich list by turning his back on the open market to remain at Penrith and help keep their premiership contending squad together.  For updates and breaking news throughout the day take out a subscription at dailytelegraph.com.auSee

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard is prepared to go it alone and scrap restrictive Covid-isolation rules if other states insist on keeping them.  Police are investigating whether the fatal stabbing of a teenage carnival worker at the Royal Easter Show is linked to ongoing violence between rival postcode gangs from Western Sydney.  Anthony Albanese no longer argues climate change is the greatest risk to Australia’s future because “China has changed under its current leadership” and is now a serious national security threat. A respected horse breeder  and polo identity who bred Melbourne Cup winner Shocking has been charged over a conspiracy to import more than a tonne of cocaine with an estimated street value of more than $400m.  For updates and breaking news throughout the day take out a subscription at dailytelegraph.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rugby league boss Peter V’landys and NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo are calling on the NSW government to bring in tougher penalties to tackle pitch invaders after two matches were interrupted over the weekend.  Labor's campaign was in crisis on day one with Anthony Albanese forced to issue an embarrassing apology after he could not recall critical economic figures.  A Sydney man who chased down three teenage boys who had stolen his car before two of the boys died in a high-speed crash could avoid going to jail after a judge ordered he be assessed for home detention.  NRL star Adam Reynolds’ brother-in-law is one of three people charged over a wild brawl outside an Oxford St pub over the weekend from which a young man will not recover.  For updates and breaking news throughout the day take out a subscription at dailytelegraph.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A special task force to combat bullying in schools is being created in the wake of teenager Matilda “Tilly” Rosewarne’s heartbreaking suicide as Education Minister Sarah Mitchell vows to save other students from falling through the cracks.  Sydney Roosters superstar Isabelle Kelly inspired a history-making NRLW premiership win over St George Illawarra on the back of another sensational second-half comeback by the Tricolours.  People who assault healthcare workers, prison officers, emergency services staff and volunteers will face tough new penalties by the end of the year.  A gruelling six-week election campaign will be fought on jobs, health and ­national security as Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese promise voters they are each the safer pair of hands to guide Australia through ­uncertain times.  For updates and breaking news throughout the day take out a subscription at dailytelegraph.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Scott Morrison will head to Canberra today to ask Governor-General David Hurley to fire the starting gun for an election to be held no later than May, 21.  Authorities are investigating claims chronic poker machine addicts were given cash handouts of up to $1050 a week to keep them hooked  It has been 24 years since her son Arthur Haines tragically died, but his mum Julie Szabo still leaves a light on in his bedroom in her never-ending quest for justice.  Ash Barty has closed one chapter in her life – and is ­literally opening many more in her first move since her shock retirement.  For updates and breaking news throughout the day take out a subscription at dailytelegraph.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New research has revealed first-home buyers hoping to get into the market with help from recently ­expanded federal initiatives are facing slim pickings in Sydney.  A $400,000 plan to address the critical teacher shortage by luring and training “career changers” into the profession is still being designed with not one new staff member having yet been recruited.  The socialite licensee and public face of a ritzy eastern suburbs bar offered to help get an undercover cop $300 worth of cocaine via a dealer “down the street”.  Polls in four battleground battler seats where voters rank economic management, cost-of-living and interest rates as the most important issues, has found Labor is neck-and-neck with the ­Coalition government on who is best to deal with them.  For updates and breaking news throughout the day take out a subscription at dailytelegraph.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.