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June 13, 2026
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Emergency departments buckling under pressure

The Echo - 0
Nurses working at emergency departments (ED) across the state are continuing to feel the effects of increased presentations and very unwell people coming through their doors, with the latest health snapshot painting a worrying picture of NSW public hospitals.
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National News

Tour de Cure pays tribute to Professor Richard Scolyer AO

The Echo - 0
Renowned Australian pathologist Richard Anthony Scolyer AO, died yesterday after living for three years with a grade 4 glioblastoma IDH wild-type brain tumour.
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National News

Aussie MPs celebrate World Bicycle Day

The Echo - 0
The leaders of the Parliamentary Friends of Cycling have joined in front of Parliament House in Canberra to celebrate the United Nations’ World Bicycle Day.
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National News

Cost of living emergency for Australia’s poorest

The Echo - 0
The Salvation Army today issued an urgent warning that Australia’s cost of living crisis is spiralling into an emergency for the nation’s most marginalised people, with a new report revealing nearly one in five people surveyed saying they had eaten from bins and three in five saying they had eaten expired or spoiled food in the past 12 months.
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National News

Liberal backflip means harsher criminal sentences for vulnerable people

The Echo - 0
Sue Higginson says Liberal Leader Kellie Sloane has backflipped on reforms to character at sentencing, supporting a total removal of good character as a mitigating factor at sentencing across all offence types.
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Local News

Activists say ‘no’ to largest coal mine in NSW history

The Echo - 0
It is rumoured that local Northern Rivers activists were involved in the latest Rising Tide action in Newcastle, once again having a close call with police.
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Local News

Update on flotilla locals kidnapped

The Echo - 0
Family and lawyers have released a new statement regarding the kidnapping of eleven Australian humanitarian volunteers who were illegally intercepted by Israel in international waters west of Cyprus.
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National News

Hospital wards next in line for staffing ratios

The Echo - 0
After more than a decade of campaigning by the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA), staffing ratios will finally be introduced across medical, surgical and specialty wards including neurology, respiratory and oncology, in the next stage of the nurse-to-patient ratios rollout.
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National News

Education drives $10.76 billion music industry

The Echo - 0
Music education is a significant contributor to Australia’s music industry and national economy, according to new research released by Music Australia.
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National News

ACOSS responds to federal budget

The Echo - 0
Historic housing and trust tax reforms welcomed but people with the least miss out (again).
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Byron Echo

Regional NSW newspapers to close

Aslan Shand - 0
The closure this week of ACM’s (Australian Community Media) Tamworth printing facility has once again led to the closure of more local, regional newspapers.
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Local News

More boats in the humanitarian flotilla destined for Gaza being intercepted by Israel

Aslan Shand - 0
Crews aboard Global Sumud Flotilla, who are part of unarmed crews with critical humanitarian aid bound for Gaza, say Israeli naval forces boarded their ships on 1 May and threatened them at gunpoint.
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National News

Gas exploration safeguards questioned

The Echo - 0
The state’s peak farming organisation has called on the NSW government to answer urgent questions about how it will protect groundwater, farm biosecurity, and landholders as it promotes new gas exploration areas in the west of the state.
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National News

Most agree income support is too low to live on

The Echo - 0
Concerns about poverty in Australia are rising as cost-of-living pressures hit hard, with a majority of people agreeing income support payments are not enough to live on, according to new research by the ACOSS and UNSW Sydney-led Poverty and Inequality Partnership, which includes a large group of social justice organisations.
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National News

Four lives lost on NSW roads over long weekend

The Echo - 0
Four people have lost their lives during the Anzac Day long weekend as police conclude a major traffic operation.
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National News

What are gaming giants doing to prevent grooming and radicalisation?

The Echo - 0
The federal eSafety Commissioner has given legally enforceable transparency notices to Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite and Steam amid concerns online games are being used by sexual predators to groom children and by extremist groups to spread violent propaganda and radicalise young people.
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National News

Horror day for Tasmanian forests and wildlife

The Echo - 0
Environmentalists have described yesterday’s detonation of more than 20 ‘regeneration burns’ in Tasmania’s forests as a day of horror for the Tasmanian wilds.
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National News

Coalition’s immigration policy fails its own test

The Echo - 0
Federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor’s claims about the 'values' of migrants will leave many Australian citizens and permanent residents feeling less safe and more unwelcome in their adopted homeland, according to the Refugee Council of Australia.
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National News

$11 million invested to help farmers and landowners cut pollution

The Echo - 0
The NSW government says it is delivering $11 million to build a pipeline of low carbon farming and land management projects, with the aim of cutting pollution and supporting NSW’s transition to net zero.
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National News

Ben Roberts-Smith VC charged with murder

David Lowe - 0
Australian Federal Police yesterday arrested and charged former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith with five war crime murders, which allegedly took place between 2009 and 2012. The Victoria Cross winner was taken into custody at Sydney Airport. AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett and OSI Director Investigations Ross Barnett later addressed the media.
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National News

Making it easier to have your say on planning?

The Echo - 0
The Minns Labor Government says it is making it easier to have your say on planning proposals and ending confusion by developing a single Community Participation Plan, designed to give communities a clearer way to have their say on planning decisions, no matter where they live.
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National News

Easter police road safety blitz

The Echo - 0
The Easter long weekend traffic operation has now concluded, with four lives lost on NSW roads. Police had a high-visibility presence across the state during Operation Easter 2026 from 12.01am Thursday 2 April 2026 to 11.59pm Monday 6 April 2026.
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Local News

Australia says goodbye to Aunty Rhoda Roberts

David Lowe - 0
Organised by Aunty Rhoda herself, this was an extraordinary funeral, attended by a who's who of Indigenous Australia, and including the artistic and cultural voices of her diverse collaborators across a long and distinguished career.
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National News

Fuel prices bite those most at risk

The Echo - 0
Australia’s community services sector is experiencing direct impacts from fuel supply disruption and price increases combined with extreme weather incidents, prompting ACOSS to urge the government to work collaboratively towards cohesive, targeted action.
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National News

Police issue traffic plea for Easter long weekend

The Echo - 0
NSW Police officers are issuing an urgent plea to drivers to slow down over the Easter long weekend after a concerning rise in the number of fatal crashes across the state this year.
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National News

Extreme weather widening insurance gaps

The Echo - 0
A landmark report released today by the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA) confirms that urgent and ambitious action and investment is required to protect communities from the escalating impact of extreme weather.
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National News

Minns attacks Aboriginal land claims by stealth?

The Echo - 0
Sue Higginson MLC says the Minns government has introduced the Crown Land Management Amendment (Statutory Review) Bill 2026 and then tabled the statutory review report two days later, in a flawed process that appears designed to avoid proper scrutiny of major changes affecting Aboriginal land claims, inside what is being presented as routine legislative reform.
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National News

Police charge man over alleged historic bank robberies

The Echo - 0
Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives have extradited and charged a wanted man from Queensland over two historic bank robberies almost 30 years ago.
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National News

Experts question government claims on nature

The Echo - 0
The Australian government has just submitted a report to the United Nations on its progress to stop biodiversity loss by 2030. The Biodiversity Council has reviewed the 261 page report and says Australia is not on track to meet key commitments, including preventing extinctions, restoring degraded land and stopping government funding for activities that harm nature.
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National News

Welcoming footballers while bolting door for others

The Echo - 0
On the day that five members of the Iranian women's soccer team were given humanitarian visas to protect them from possible persecution in Iran, the Albanese government introduced legislation which would have prevented them from entering Australia in the first place.
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National News

Littleproud quits Nats leadership

The Echo - 0
David Littleproud has released a statement following his resignation as leader of the Nationals, although he is serving out his term as the member for Maranoa. The party is expected to elect a new leader later this week.
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National News

Fuel hoarding puts vulnerable residents at risk

The Echo - 0
The Community Transport Company is calling on members of the public to avoid hoarding fuel as concerns grow about potential supply disruptions due to the war in Iran.
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National News

National security expert ignored, says Higginson

The Echo - 0
Documents produced to the AAP under freedom of information laws have revealed that the NSW Cabinet Office national security expert warned Premier Chris Minns that rushed changes to hate speech laws following the Bondi terror attack would not change behaviours, and risked driving extremism and radicalisation underground.
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National News

Migrant women find independence and more rights in Australia

The Echo - 0
Migrant women in Australia are finding more independence, equality and a healthier and wealthier life with more opportunity than in their home countries, according to a new survey.
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National News

Mangroves are crucial

The Echo - 0
A global study of mangroves has found a modest boost in conserved area could significantly increase their ability to adapt to the changing climate, including rising sea levels.
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National News

Choosing extinction over science?

The Echo - 0
Bob Brown Foundation says newly-released freedom of information documents show that the Albanese government chose to ignore the science relating to the threatened Maugean Skate and other species.
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National News

Protesters disrupt Marles’ office

The Echo - 0
Activists from new group Defend Peace Djilang locked on at Defence Minister Richard Marles’ electoral office in Geelong this morning, demanding the minister stop approving export permits of F35 parts to Israel.
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National News

Mobile and seatbelt cameras now look both ways

The Echo - 0
NSW motorists are reminded to follow the road rules when it comes to using their mobile phone and wearing a seatbelt, with changes to the state’s camera detection program in place from Sunday 1 March.
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National News

Record sentence for reptile smuggler

The Echo - 0
A 61-year-old Sydney man has received a record jail sentence for attempting to export Australian reptiles to Hong Kong, Romania, South Korea and Sri Lanka.
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National News

Calls for charges against police grow

The Echo - 0
The Greens NSW Party Room says it is 'standing up with Hannah Thomas, survivor of police violence, and calling for charges to be laid against any NSW police officer that assaulted any member of the community in the wake of the scenes of police violence in the Sydney CBD on Monday 9 February.'
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Local News

Drug syndicate accused of extracting cocaine concealed inside timber

The Echo - 0
NSW Police Force Drug and Firearms Squad detectives in partnership with the Queensland Police Service have charged five men over an alleged $14 million drug supply syndicate accused of extracting cocaine concealed in timber.
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National News

New compliance unit strengthens NSW biosecurity systems

The Echo - 0
A new dedicated Biosecurity Compliance and Investigation Unit has been set up by the NSW government to strengthen biosecurity, tackle high-risk threats, and safeguard market access and trade.
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Local News

Up to 550 homes pegged for Byron Shire’s newest suburb

The Echo - 0
Community feedback is now sought on three planning documents that will shape the future of Gulgan Village, a new residential suburb proposed on the elevated slopes of Saddle Road. 
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Local News

Load limit increased for Byron Creek Bridge

The Echo - 0
The load limit for Byron Creek Bridge has been increased to 24 tonnes, say Byron Shire Council, following structural analysis of the bridge.
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Local News

Festival and event grants on offer

The Echo - 0
Community organisations are encouraged to apply for NSW government grants to bring cultural festivals and events to life across the state over the coming year.
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Local News

Dr Bronwyn Bancroft wins prestigious Ochre Award

Aslan Shand - 0
Bundjalung woman and artist Dr Bronwyn Bancroft AM has received the Red Ochre Award for Lifetime Achievement in Artistic Excellence.
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