Key events
A makeup is on the cards – but could a Nationals split have been good for rural voters?
As this week’s Newsroom edition of the Full Story podcast was recorded, the Liberal and National parties were still locked in discussions over the Coalition agreement after the parties dramatically parted ways earlier in the week.
But although a Coalition reunion is now on the cards, Bridie Jabour speaks to Mike Ticher and former rural and regional editor Gabrielle Chan about why the breakup could be good for regional voters.
Listen here:
Watchdog sends warning to Musk’s Starlink
Elon Musk’s Starlink has been put on notice by the Australian communications watchdog, Australian Associated Press reports.
The controversial billionaire’s satellite internet service has received a warning from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) over complaints about recordkeeping.
Telecommunications companies with more than 30,000 active services are required to file complaints reports with the authority no later than 30 days after each quarter. But Starlink failed to do so on four occasions between October 2023 and July 2024.
“Starlink’s failure to submit the required complaints reports in a timely way hampered the ACMA in its role of monitoring whether Starlink is meeting its obligations towards consumers,” Samantha Yorke, a member of the ACMA, said.
The company has since provided the outstanding complaints reports and cooperated throughout the investigation.
The Starlink satellite service has increased in popularity in parts of regional Australia, where internet is provided through the slower copper network instead of fibre-optic cables. Some say it could compete with Australia’s National Broadband Network as thousands across the country are now believed to use the service in their homes.
However, there are lingering concerns about the risks it could pose.
In December, a regional telecommunications review found the foreign ownership of systems such as Starlink raises questions about data security and sovereign risks.
Possibility Warragamba Dam may spill with current load at 96% capacity
WaterNSW is advising the public that based on current rainfall forecasts by the Bureau of Meteorology, there is a possibility Warragamba Dam may fill and spill in coming days.
Warragamba Dam’s storage level is currently at 96% of capacity.
The timing and peak rates of a possible spill will depend on the exact timing and location of the rainfall received. The catchment area upstream of Warragamba Dam is over 9,000 square kilometres in area and inflows can be received from a number of different rivers.
The Bureau is forecasting periods of intense rain overnight in the catchment, which could see the dam fill and begin spilling as early as tomorrow (Friday) morning under the Bureau’s less likely (25%) scenario.
Under the more likely forecast (50% chance) scenario, the dam would begin to spill later Friday or into Saturday morning.
It is likely that a number of other smaller Greater Sydney dams may experience minor spills in coming days, including Nepean, Cataract and Woronora.
NSW flooding update
Large parts of New South Wales continued to be inundated with heavy rain, flash flooding and winds overnight as the coastal trough that has caused fatal flooding in the mid-north coast moved south.
Three people have died in the flooding and police and emergency services are continuing to search for a missing man.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for heavy rain over the Illawarra, parts of the Hunter, Sydney, south coast, central tablelands, southern tablelands and Snowy Mountains.
There was also a warning for strong winds today on Sydney waters, the Hunter coast, Sydney coast, Illawarra coast, Batemans coast and Eden coast.
The BoM said the weather system had already caused havoc along the mid-north coast – including leaving 48,000 stranded in their homes – was now threatening areas further south with heavy rain and severe winds.
It predicted widespread rain with embedded heavy showers, particularly over the Hunter and into the Great Dividing Range, the BoM said at 11pm last night. Heavy rainfall was expected to extend further south to the southern tablelands and inland south coast later on Friday.
Ongoing moderate rainfall could develop into heavy rainfall, which may lead to flash flooding over parts of the Hunter and Central Coast, as well as the Great Dividing Range to the north of Goulburn. This risk includes the Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands.
Six-hourly rainfall totals of 60mm to 100 mm are possible, with 24-hourly totals between 100mm and 160 mm.
Rainfall is expected to ease gradually from the north, through the Hunter during Friday morning, central parts of the state during late Friday afternoon or evening, before finally easing over the south-east during Saturday morning.
Read our full story here:
Stephanie Convery
Two 12-year-old girls charged over alleged group assault in Sydney
Two girls have been charged over the assault of a man and woman in Sydney’s eastern suburbs yesterday, NSW police have said.
In a statement this afternoon, police said they responded to reports of an assault inside the courtyard of a unit complex in Eastgardens at about 5.15pm.
A 42-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man were allegedly assaulted by a group of about seven teenagers. The pair were treated by paramedics for facial injuries and were taken to Prince of Wales hospital, Randwick. They have since been discharged.
Two 12-year-old girls were arrested today in Sydney’s eastern suburbs and each charged with one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company of others and affray. They will appear at a children’s court on 19 June.
Investigations are ongoing.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories before Rafqa Touma picks up the slack.
Large parts of New South Wales continued to be inundated with heavy rain, flash flooding and winds overnight as the coastal trough that has claimed three lives in the mid-north coast moved south. The Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning of heavy rain last night for the Illawarra, parts of the Hunter, Sydney and other regions last night. A lot of water is falling in the catchment area for the Warragamba dam, which may spill later today. More details coming up.
Starlink, the satellite communications service set up by Elon Musk, has been put on notice by the Australian communications watchdog. The company received a warning from the Australian Communications and Media Authority about its failure to keep proper records of complaints made by customers. More coming up.
