Here's what you need to know this morning.
Apology over false travel figures
The Federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor has "unreservedly" apologised to Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore for falsely claiming her council raked up a $15 million travel bill.
Mr Taylor came under intense criticism last month after using the $15 million figure in a letter to Cr Moore about cutting down "unnecessary air travel". Details of the letter were published by the media at the time.
Mr Taylor has now written to Ms Moore saying he regrets "not clarifying those figures" with her before writing the letter.
The actual figure was in the range of $6,000 and the Energy Minister has not explained why there was such a discrepancy in the figures he quoted.
Air quality plummets
Parts of NSW will remain blanketed in haze until at least Sunday as winds continue to fan smoke from bushfires on the mid-north coast.
Today's air quality rating is "poor" for Sydney and authorities have warned people with heart and lung conditions to avoid physical exertion.
Last night, Liverpool and Macquarie Park reached "hazardous" levels for large particle pollution.
There are still more than 60 fires burning across the state and several areas of NSW are facing "very high" fire danger today.
Five charged over car rebirthing
Police have arrested five men following an investigation into the theft and resale of stolen motor vehicles across Sydney.
Officers seized more than $332,000 in cash, four vehicles, four boats and $245,000 worth of cocaine following raids on homes in The Ponds, Hornsby, Yagoona, Ermington and Dundas on Wednesday.
Three men were arrested.
On Thursday, another man was arrested at a home in Westleigh and charged with 49 offences and a woman was arrested at Harris Park on charges including supply of a prohibited drug.
New dawn on Lord Howe Island
A controversial baiting program, which aimed to kill an estimated 360,000 rodents on Lord Howe Island, is coming to an end.
The program began in June and caused a rift among residents who feared it would kill native animals.
Due to the risk, two species of bird, the Lord Howe Island Woodhen, and the Currawong, were taken into captivity while the baiting took place.
Two years of monitoring will now take place, before Lord Howe can be declared rodent free.
