Morning Buzz: Sydney news, traffic and weather for Thursday, May 25

Here’s what’s making news this morning:

The NSW government is open to a sale of the entire $16.8 billion WestConnex motorway project next year, in a move analysts say could boost the eventual price because of the high level of interest from large investors.

The possibility of offloading ownership of the whole 33-kilometre motorway before it is complete comes just two weeks after the government confirmed it was selling "at least a 51 per cent" stake in WestConnex by mid next year.

The money raised will be used to fund the final stage of the motorway, which will link the M4 and M5 and cost more than $7 billion to construct. Read more (SMH)

Tension builds over plans for rail line through Badgery’s Creek airport

Planning for a rail line through Badgerys Creek airport is emerging as the focus of tension between federal and state governments over land use and transport policy in Sydney.

NSW Transport and Infrastructure Minister Andrew Constance is increasingly pushing back against federal input into the policy area, declaring that Canberra's plans for Sydney should not detract from the state's aggressive agenda. Read more (SMH)

Two people are dead and another person has been arrested following a high-speed crash on the Princes Highway at St Peters in Sydney's inner south early on Thursday morning.

The crash occurred at the highway's intersection with Canal Road just after 4.30am, a NSW Police spokesman said. Read more (SMH)

Sydney mum Connie Scully says her daughter Bianca, who turned 16 last week, "has no idea" about money, and schools should be teaching students basic financial skills instead of higher-level algebra.

"They're taught maths and algebra well, but I don't see the point of that," Mrs Scully said. "You should be teaching them about finances and loans so when they come out, they know how to do stuff."

Bianca, who wants to be a surgeon when she leaves St John Bosco College in Sydney's south, says she'll completely miss out on learning financial skills by choosing calculus-based higher-level maths in year 11. Read more (SMH)

A development application submitted to Wollondilly Council for an intensive chicken farm in Cawdor has run a-‘fowl’ of Camden Council.

The designated development application is for eight large sheds and associated infrastructure to house approximately 360,000 chickens in the suburb which crosses into both Camden and Wollondilly council areas. Read more.

The Australian government's travel advice for Britain will be changed after British Prime Minister Theresa May upgraded the terrorism threat from "severe" to "critical", meaning another attack may be imminent.

Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop also said there was still no suggestion that any Australians were caught up in the Manchester bombing, which has claimed 22 lives.

After a meeting of the Australian government's high-level National Security Committee, the domestic threat level will remain at "probable", where it has been since late 2014. Read more.

A popular lithium battery used for model aircraft, remote control cars and some drones has the potential to burn your house down, an Australian battery retailer has warned.

Earlier this month, the Blacktown Sun reported that an industrial fire in Kings Park was likely started by a rechargeable lithium battery. Read more.

A child was rushed to Westmead Children’s Hospital on Wednesday after falling from a second-storey window at a Blaxland home.

Police said emergency services were called to Hope Street about 2.25pm following reports a child had fallen from a window. Read more.

NSW five-eighth James Maloney has taken aim at the NRL, venting his frustrations over a perception the governing body is trying to portray the players as money hungry.

The RLPA and NRL have scheduled a two-day lock-in next month to discuss the salary cap for 2018 and beyond, but negotiations have been far from positive so far. Read more (SMH)

St Helens have beaten rivals to the signature of former NRL star Ben Barba.

The 27-year-old Barba's release from his lucrative contract with French rugby club Toulon sparked a flurry of interest from Super League clubs and Saints on Thursday announced his prized capture on a two-and-a-half-year deal. Read more (SMH)

Sydney FC miss the chance to display credentials against Liverpool

The problem with exhibition games is that the biggest names never show up, and the ones that do don't want to be there.

The pace barely rises above a canter and most players are already in holiday mode, and Wednesday night's match was no different.

However, it wasn't Liverpool who were the guilty party, rather it was Sydney FC. Read more (SMH)

Three boys from The Hills will play for the World Team at the AFL under-16s championships.

Tim Organ, 15, Jamie Murphy, 15, and James Rene, 14, were all selected in the team made up of the best multicultural players from April’s Diversity Championships. Read more