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Sydney news: COVID-19 close contact laws tipped to change in New South Wales

Currently close contacts in NSW must isolate for seven days. (AAP: Mick Tsikas)

Here's what you need to know this morning.

Announcement expected on lifting of household contact rule

Health Minister Brad Hazzard has been under pressure to lift close contact isolation rule.  (AAP: Brendon Thorne)

The lifting of the requirement for household contacts of COVID-19 cases to isolate at home for seven days was on the agenda at last night's meeting of the NSW government's COVID and Economic Recovery Committee.

A spokesperson for the NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard refused to confirm whether a decision had been made to scrap the rule.

"A range of issues continue to be discussed at the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee. The NSW government is working through these and will make further changes if it is satisfied that the safety of the community is given priority," the spokesperson said.

The government has come under pressure from businesses to remove the restriction, drawing complaints from some sectors struggling with staff shortages.

A spokesperson said the government's decision would be announced this morning. 

Ben Roberts-Smith's witnesses continue

Ben Roberts-Smith is suing The Age, Federal Capital Press and Fairfax Media over reports linking him to alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. (AAP: Bianca De Marchi)

A former SAS patrol commander will continue giving evidence during the defamation case of Ben Roberts-Smith against three newspapers. 

Codenamed Person 5, the witness yesterday gave a detailed account of a 2009 mission at a Taliban compound where a man with a prosthetic leg was shot dead. 

Mr Roberts-Smith denies allegations that the man was unarmed and had been taken prisoner after hiding in a tunnel, insisting it was an armed insurgent he legitimately engaged. 

He is suing the publications over a series of 2018 articles — that mentioned this allegation as well as others of unlawful killings, domestic violence and bullying — claiming the claims are all false.

Police seek information about fatal crash

Police are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash last night. (ABC News: Dan Cox)

Following a fatal motorcycle crash in Sydney's north-west last night, police have appealed for information.

The 21-year-old was found critically injured at the scene on the corner of Sunnyholt Road and Quakers Hill Parkway, in Acacia Gardens, about 9:30pm.

It is believed the young man lost control of his motorcycle and crashed.

He was taken to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition, but died shortly after.

Officers from Riverstone police area established a crime scene, which was forensically examined.

Police are appealing for witnesses, including motorists with dash cam vision, to contact Riverstone Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

Insurance Council calls for more measures to reduce flood risk

The Insurance Council of Australia is calling for an end to building on flood plains. (ABC News: Jerry Rickard)

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) is calling on governments to do more to reduce flood risks, including a moratorium on building homes on flood plains.

It says this would help bring down the cost of insurance premiums for people living in flood-prone areas.

The ICA says the cost of flood cover can be prohibitively high for people living in areas of high flood risk, leading many to opt out of flood cover altogether. 

"Beyond the immediate clean-up and community recovery, it is clear there are complex issues to work through if we are to ensure the Lismore community is made more resilient to future flood events," ICA chief executive Andrew Hall says.

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