Good morning and welcome to the Morning Buzz for Wednesday, September 20. Get set for a mostly sunny day with expected highs of around 23 degrees across Sydney. Enjoy your day!
Western Sydney University staff to strike over pay and conditions
Western Sydney University staff will strike for 3½ hours on Wednesday over stalled negotiations on their pay and conditions.
University staff taking part in the strike will cancel scheduled lectures between 9am and 12.30pm in protest against university management's failure to secure their future job security and put limits on their workloads and class sizes.
Staff have also rejected a 2 per cent pay increase saying it works out to be closer to a 1.8 per cent increase in real terms from the end of the current agreement to the end of the new agreement. Read more.
Man charged over fatality at Londonderry
A man will appear in court next month after he was charged by police over a fatal motor vehicle crash at Londonderry.
Emergency services were called to Carrington Road at Londonderry about 8.50pm on Sunday, September 17, and found a sedan had left the road and struck a power pole, bringing down lines.
A man travelling in the back seat sustained critical injuries and died at the scene. Read more.
Rogue magpie culled after injuring Sans Souci residents
A rogue magpie was culled last week after attacking people in Sans Souci.
Bayside Council said they had numerous complaints and photo evidence that the bird was causing serious injury to residents.
They reported it to the National Parks and Wildlife Service for assessment and the bird was later deemed as dangerous. Read more.
'Yes' vote among most important issues of our time, Premier says
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has come out strongly in favour of support for same-sex marriage, describing it as one of the most important human rights issues "of our time".
Ms Berejiklian has previously indicated her support for same-sex marriage and recently attended the launch of an event for Liberal and National party voters who were voting 'yes' in the forthcoming national postal plebiscite on marriage equality. Read more.
PM 'must take responsibility' for postal survey mental health concerns
The Turnbull government must take responsibility and invest more in frontline mental health services struggling with surging demand as a result of the same-sex marriage postal survey, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says.
A range of mental health groups are in urgent talks this week to develop a strategy to meet the increased demand, with fears the situation will worsen as the postal survey campaign continues for another two months.
Many same-sex marriage advocates wanted a free vote on the issue in Federal Parliament and opposed a public vote - whether by plebiscite or postal survey - partly because of fears about the potential damage to some people's mental health. Read more.
Party room boil over as Greens MPs walk out
Tensions in the NSW Greens have boiled over spectacularly, with Newtown MP Jenny Leong storming out of a party room meeting on Monday after reportedly yelling "F--- you!" at colleague David Shoebridge.
Fairfax Media understands the clash was related to concerns over Mr Shoebridge's more prominent appearance in the media across portfolio areas following the death of senior Greens MLC John Kaye last year from cancer. Read more.
Powerful earthquake shakes Mexico
A powerful earthquake struck Mexico, rattling the capital and sending people flooding into the streets for the second time in just two weeks.
The earthquake occurred shortly after 1pm on Tuesday local time about 160 km from Mexico City.
It registered a preliminary magnitude of 7.1, and the proximity to the capital created heavy and prolonged shaking there. Read more.
Sam Kerr inspires Matildas to another win over Brazil
The Matildas hunt for pole position in the international rankings shows no signs of slowing down after Australia claimed their third successive win over Brazil, lead by an inspiring performance from Sam Kerr.
Australia strengthened their credentials to that honour in Newcastle while Kerr did her cause for a first Womens' Player of the Year by an Australian player no harm with a brace to spark a comeback against that left the South American giants seething by full-time. Read more.
Canterbury could be facing legal fight after sacking coach Hasler
Canberra assistant Dean Pay is the early favourite to take over at the blue and whites, while current assistant Jim Dymock has also indicated he is keen on the role.
Former South Sydney coach Michael Maguire is also likely to come into contention. Read more.
Cowboys name Matt Scott for NRL preliminary final in selection shock
Sydney Roosters players have reacted with surprise at the inclusion of Test front-rower Matt Scott in North Queensland's extended squad for their grand final qualifier at Allianz Stadium.
The Cowboys produced a major finals shock when Scott, who has not played since rupturing his ACL in their second-round match against Brisbane in March, was named in their preliminary 21-man list for Saturday night's match.
It had appeared from the point he suffered a serious knee injury that his season was over and he has only been back running at training for five weeks. Read more.
2017 a success regardless of preliminary final result, say GWS Giants
Greater Western Sydney chief David Matthews says 2017 will be a success regardless of the preliminary final result and urged neutral fans to cheer the Giants against "powerhouse" club Richmond on Saturday.
While many believe the league's newest entity are on the cusp of a dynasty, expectations within the Giants are tempered. They are not judging success by premierships but the ability to contend. Read more.
