Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
ABC News
ABC News
National

Sydney News: Court to hand down decision in Liberal Party pre-selection stoush

The Court of Criminal Appeal has heard a case challenging the power of a committee to supersede the NSW Liberal Party's rank and file in pre-selection. (AAP: Bianca De Marchi)

Here's what you need to know this morning.

Outgoing Liberal MP takes shot over flood relief funding

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has made voters in northern NSW hostile, says outgoing NSW Liberal MLC Catherine Cusack.  (ABC News)

A New South Wales Liberal MP has accused Prime Minister Scott Morrison of playing politics with disaster relief funding for flood victims. 

State upper house MLC Catherine Cusack says voters in northern NSW are extremely hostile towards Mr Morrison after the Prime Minister announced in March that residents in the Nationals' seat of Page would get extra financial assistance. 

Flood victims in the neighbouring Labor-held seat of Richmond initially missed out on the additional funding, which amounted to an extra $2,000 per person. 

Ms Cusack has told ABC News Breakfast the issue prompted her decision to resign from her state seat.

"His behaviour puts me in a situation where I can't look at myself in the mirror anymore while these sorts of decisions and this attitude is being made towards public money in a crisis where people [who] have lost everything are being categorised according to politics," she said.

The federal government and Mr Morrison have previously defended its rollout of disaster relief funding, saying it was dependent on proper processes being completed before money was able to be allocated.

Decision looms in Liberal pre-selection stoush

An appeal court will hand down its judgement today over the Liberal Party pre-selection battle. (Supplied: Liberal Party)

A judgement will be handed down today by the NSW Court of Appeal in the internal Liberal pre-selection battle between the NSW and federal parties. 

The challenge was brought on by a Liberal state executive member, who is seeking to overturn the federal party's demands for the preselection of the Immigration Minister, Alex Hawke, the Environment Minister, Sussan Ley, and North Sydney MP, Trent Zimmerman. 

Those positions were determined by a three-person committee of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and former NSW party president Christine McDiven, rather than being selected by members of local branches. 

The three-person committee selected a further nine candidates over the weekend, despite the outstanding appeal court decision. 

Violent home invasion in Sydney's west

Police are investigating after mulitple stabbings in Doonside early this morning. (Supplied: TNV)

Four teenagers have been arrested after three people were stabbed during an armed home invasion at Doonside overnight.

Emergency services were called to a home invasion on Cameron Street, just before 2:30am, where they found two men, aged 19 and 44, and a woman, 35, with stab wounds. 

Police said they had been told the teenagers broke into the home and assaulted the 19-year-old man, with the older pair injured after coming to his aid. 

The victims are all in a stable condition at hospital. 

The teens — three aged 16 and a 14-year-old — were arrested later and taken to Blacktown Police Station where they remain in custody.

Another executive to front Star inquiry

An inquiry into operations at Sydney's star casino continues today. (ABC News)

Star's chief financial crime officer Sky Arnott will this morning give evidence as the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority's inquiry to determine Star's fitness to retain its Sydney casino licence continues. 

The inquiry has already prompted the resignation of Star chief executive Matt Bekier and sparked calls for a similar inquiry into Star's two Queensland casinos.

Last week, a class action was filed on behalf of investors in the Star Entertainment Group amid the damning public inquiry into the group's casino operations in Sydney. 

The investors are seeking compensation for misleading or deceptive representations that Star made about its compliance with regulatory obligations. 

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.