Sam Nichols

3 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Sam Nichols

NSW Premier Chris Minns has called for the federal excise on tobacco to be reviewed. It comes amid a rise in sales of illegal tobacco across NSW and throughout Australia. The justification for this excise, which was first introduced in 2010, is to reduce smoking rates. NSW Premier Chris Minns has called on the federal government to consider lowering the tobacco excise, suggesting its current level may be contributing to the rise of illegal tobacco across the country.

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Sam Nichols |Nick Visser |Declan Bowring

A food charity for the homeless community and those in need says it will be forced to move from its years-long home due to the upcoming Vivid Sydney festival. Alfresco Community Kitchen — which is based on Phillip Street near Martin Place in Sydney's CBD — was informed by the City of Sydney council via email on Monday that it wouldn't be able to serve at its usual location during the time of the festival. The 2025 Vivid Sydney festival begins on Friday and is scheduled to operate until June 14.

2 months ago | abc.net.au | Ethan Rix |Sam Nichols

The ABC understands the man charged with murdering 19-year-old Audrey Griffin on the New South Wales' Central Coast has died in custody. NSW Police say a 53-year-old was found unresponsive in his cell at Silverwater Correctional Complex, and could not be revived on Thursday afternoon. Sources have told the ABC the deceased man is Adrian Torrens, who was charged with the murder of Ms Griffin on Monday. The 19-year-old woman's body was found in a creek bed in the suburb of Erina almost a month ago.

2 months ago | abc.net.au | Sam Nichols

Over the last three decades, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have quietly but steadily climbed in Australia, with bacterial diseases like chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis spreading across the country. In 2004, just over 35,724new cases of chlamydia were recorded in Australia, according to federal government data. By 2024, that figure had roughly tripled to more than 102,000 notifications, with infections spread roughly evenly across men and women.

2 months ago | abc.net.au | Sam Nichols |Jean Kennedy

Thousands of doctors across NSW public hospitals are walking off the job for three days from Tuesday over pay and conditions. The union says their members are working in unsafe conditions and have been pushed to "breaking point". The government has urged the union to call off the strike, saying patient safety would be adversely affected. Thousands of doctors in the New South Wales public hospital system are set to begin three days of strikes from today.