Good morning and welcome to the Morning Buzz for Thursday, September 21. Get set for a warm and sunny day, with expected highs of around 30 degrees across Sydney. Enjoy your day!
Fred Nile splits with church leaders to support Boxing Day trading
Christian Democrats leader Fred Nile has split with church leaders in his support of legislation that will extend Boxing Day trading across the state.
Mr Nile's vote ensured state government legislation to expand Boxing Day trading passed the NSW Parliament Upper House on Wednesday night. Mr Nile told Fairfax Media he supported the legislation on the basis that Christmas Day would be protected and that maximum fines would be imposed on employers who coerced employees to work on Boxing Day. Read more.
Cyclotron at Liverpool Hospital is 'lighting-up' hidden cancerous tumours
As Elizabeth Doonan stared at her PET scans she couldn't comprehend what she was seeing.
The image of her translucent body was stained with opaque black markings.
The 53-year-old was one of the first patients at a new molecular science cyclotron facility at Liverpool Hospital. Read more.
No sugar coating proposed tax
Calls for a sugar tax have been backed by Orangeville’s Dr Brad Frankum, the head of the NSW Australian Medical Association.
A coalition of 34 groups including the Cancer Council and the Obesity Policy Coalition, have proposed a 20 per cent tax on all sugary drinks in an attempt to tackle the ever-expanding obesity problem.
Dr Frankum has previously raised the idea of the tax and he backed the latest calls from the health groups coalition. Read more.
Sydney to Newcastle rail line rejig to burn cash
A fresh NSW transport leak reveals that the decision to shut down the last two kilometres of the Sydney to Newcastle railway line was taken before costing the light rail replacement and without an assessment of costs and benefits.
The cabinet-in-confidence report, prepared after the decision to close the line, refers to the decision as a "sunk cost" estimated at about $200 million. Read more.
Teen who lost job over 'No' vote has grounds for legal discrimination claim
A Christian teenager who was sacked for saying on Facebook she would vote "no" for same-sex marriage is entitled to make a legal claim under discrimination law, legal experts say.
The 18-year-old who identified herself as Madeline, a children's entertainer who had posted on Facebook that "it's OK to vote No" was sacked for the comments by her Canberra employer Madlin Sims.
Madeline, who said she was "not afraid to stand up for my beliefs", is now entitled to make a claim under section 7 of the ACT Discrimination Act 1991, which includes "political conviction" and "religious conviction" among protected attributes. Read more.
NSW Ambulance call for greater safety after spike in power tool injuries
Severed fingers and serious neck wounds are among a raft of tool-related injuries in western Sydney over the past three months.
Since July, 27 Sydneysiders have been rushed to hospital after injuring themselves with tools including electric saws and angle grinders, while working on projects around the house.
One of the more serious cases saw a man, 28, slice his open leg with a power saw in Dural. Read more.
Wanderers move into FFA Cup semi-finals following penalty shootout win over Blacktown City
Blacktown City went just nine minutes from causing an enormous upset in the FFA Cup quarter final clash with the Western Sydney Wanderers.
But the Wanderers held their nerve, scoring a late goal and taking out the penalty shootout to book an FFA Cup semi-final clash with Adelaide United. Read more.
Bulldogs back-rower Josh Jackson shocked by Des Hasler sacking
Josh Jackson will fly to Port Moresby with the Prime Minister's XIII squad on Thursday, still stunned by Canterbury's decision to sack coach Des Hasler earlier this week.
The Canterbury back-rower admits he was shocked to hear Hasler had been removed from the Bulldogs post, and not been given the opportunity to serve out the two-year contract extension he signed five months ago. Read more.
Winx heads to Melbourne before a likely date with the Queen next year
Champion mare Winx will continue her quest for a third Cox Plate in Melbourne but she could have a June date with the Queen next year in the race Black Caviar won at Royal Ascot.
Chris Waller announced on Wednesday that Winx, who has a 20-race winning streak, will have her next run in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on October 7, but he also has plans for an overseas campaign next year. Read more.
Giants' Steve Johnson completes training and set to play preliminary final
Steve Johnson is set to get the green light as Greater Western Sydney consider fighting fire with fire against Richmond in Saturday's preliminary final.
Giants coach Leon Cameron is leaning towards naming an unchanged 22, but may yet inject more speed into the side in a bid to counter the Tigers' mosquito fleet.
Forward Devon Smith is in the frame for a recall after training on Wednesday, but his fate hinges on whether the Giants believe they need more pace. Read more.