Here’s what you need to know this morning.
Mobile Phone School Ban Policy
The New South Wales opposition has unveiled a policy to restrict mobile phone use in public secondary school classes.
It said other states are already restricting the use of phones, smartwatches, tablets and headphones unless students are under instruction from a staffer.
There are concerns that phones are responsible for declining academic standards.
Opposition leader Chris Minns said the policy was similar to initiatives in other states.
“I don’t want students from New South Wales to be left behind,” he said.
“We are in a global competition. A competition between states, a competition between other countries. We need to make sure that we are at the forefront of the latest educational developments.”
It is already forbidden for students from kindergarten to group 6 to have a mobile phone in their possession during the school day.
The opposition will also investigate the impact of technology on children and young people.
Casino Regulatory Body Starts Working
The New South Wales Independent Casino Commission will commence operations from today.
That agency was created in response to the Bergin investigation into Crown Resorts.
It will have the power to fine operators up to $100 million and hold individual board members and executives liable for serious misconduct.
Hospitality and Racing Minister Kevin Anderson said his most urgent task would be to “consider the findings of Adam Bell SC’s Star review” and “continue the oversight and ongoing suitability assessment of Crown Sydney”.
Philip Crawford, the current chairman of the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority, has been elected Chief Commissioner of the new body.
“Under his leadership, New South Wales casinos will be monitored in accordance with the new laws and severe disciplinary action will be taken for deficiencies in compliance, both past and present,” said Mr Anderson.
Lynette’s family focused on finding her body
Lynette Dawson’s family says they endured 40 years of trauma before her ex-husband was convicted of murder.
Chris Dawson, Lynette’s former husband, was found guilty of murdering her last week after a five-hour marathon session in Sydney.
Her relatives have told the ABC that the most important thing now is to find her body so she can be laid to rest.
Police say efforts to find her remains are ongoing and are calling on anyone with information to come forward.
The mother of two disappeared from Sydney’s northern beaches in 1982.
Dawson, now 74, maintains his innocence. He has yet to be convicted and has said he will appeal.
Warning iconic Sydney oval could be lost to NRL
Wests Tigers great Robbie Farah says it would be a shame if the NRL lost Sydney’s iconic Leichhardt Oval due to a lack of money needed to upgrade facilities.
Yesterday ‘fair financing now’ banners were displayed in stands on the ground in a day of protest organized by Inner West Council to coincide with the Tigers’ last home game of the season.
They are calling on the state government to hand over the $50 million they say was promised to make the “beloved community institution decent and safe” after a railing collapsed just a few weeks ago.
Farah, who played his first and last NRL game on the ground, said it would be worrying if no more games could be played there.
“It’s been here for a while and not much money has been spent on improving the facilities,” he said.
“We hope we can get that and make sure we can play here for a long time… This is my favorite place in the world.”
Mayor Darcy Byrne is angry that money has been “pulled back” by the state government and “funneled” to build a new stadium in Penrith.
“With a small fraction of the $300 million given to Penrith, we will be able to provide decent seating, toilets, catering facilities and improved women-friendly changing rooms for all the teams using the ground and the fans who support them,” he said. .
New processes for ex-minister and ex-union boss
A new court trial is expected today for former New South Wales mining minister Ian Macdonald and ex-union boss John Maitland over a mining permit.
Macdonald and Maitland served some of their original prison sentences before being released in 2019.
They were acquitted on appeal of misconduct in public office and complicity in the misconduct over the Doyles Creek Mine license near Singleton in the Hunter Valley.
It was directly assigned in 2008 to a company of which Mr Maitland was chairman, while Mr Macdonald had the mining portfolio.
Judge Hament Dhanji will preside over their new trial without a jury.
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