Here's what you need to know this morning.
Motorcyclist hit by several vehicles after crash
An 18-year-old man is fighting for his life after he crashed his motorbike and was hit by several cars on the M5 motorway near Liverpool in Greater Western Sydney.
The motorcyclist was thrown onto the roadway when he hit a rock, 200 metres west of the Moorebank Avenue off-ramp, about 10.30pm on Thursday.
Police said he was then hit by several other cars also travelling west.
Motorists stopped to help him until paramedics arrived.
The man was taken to Liverpool Hospital and a crime scene has been established.
Residents urged to have fire plan
Fire and Rescue NSW has attended more than 400 residential fires already this winter, the most recent of which took place in Sydney's south-west yesterday.
Investigators suspect a heater left too close to furniture and drying clothes was responsible for the fire, which caused a woman to leap out of her second-level balcony.
The Punchbowl resident injured her legs and was treated for burns at the scene before being transported to hospital.
Fire and Rescue NSW have urged locals to have a fire escape plan and ensure their smoke alarms are working.
Sydney railway stabbing
A man remains under police guard in hospital after a stabbing at Kingswood Railway Station last night.
Police say a man, 46, was allegedly stabbed in the chest by a man, 44, as he was exiting a lift at the station at about 10:45pm.
A scuffle broke out between the two men and officers engaged in a foot pursuit with the alleged stabber, who was later arrested at a house in Kingswood and taken to Nepean Hospital where he remains under police guard.
The injured man was taken to Westmead Hospital where he remains in a stable condition.
COVID-19 cases rising with peak expected soon
The Heath Department says the flu season has likely reached its peak in New South Wales, but the worst is yet to come with COVID-19 infections.
Hospitalisations of people with flu-like illness fell to 84 last week, down from 113 the week before.
NSW Health said the numbers indicate the state has probably reached a peak in influenza cases for the season.
But people are warned that cases of the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron sub-variant will continue to surge.
There were 1,946 people in hospital with COVID in New South Wales last week — an increase of more than 280 from the week before.
The Health Department said the state was likely to see a peak in cases of the new sub-variants in late July or early August.
Push to bring back payments for sick
The NSW opposition wants the federal government to bring back payments for people unable to work because of COVID-19.
The scheme ended at the end of the financial year and the federal government has refused to reinstate it.
NSW Labor leader Chris Minns said the payments were critical for casual workers.
"This payment is probably the price we need to pay in order to deal with living with COVID over the next 12 months, it's a difficult decision and I understand it's hotly contested by the federal government but we have to make sure we make commonsense decisions," Mr Minns said.
Opera House renovations soon open to public
After more than two years of extensive renovations, the Opera House will unveil its upgraded world-class concert hall on July 20.
This two-year concert hall upgrade was the final project in the NSW government's $300 million "decade of renewal" for the landmark.
All upgrades were carried out in line with the Opera House's Conservation Management Plan to ensure preservation and respect for the original interiors while sprucing up the acoustics and making the space more accessible.
Witness reminded of obligations
The ICAC commissioner has reminded a witness at an inquiry into former Hurstville and Georges River councillors that it is an offence to provide false information.
Commissioner Steven Rushton has repeatedly challenged real estate agent Murielle Hindi on evidence about her iPad.
The witness said she did not write a document found on the iPad about an overseas trip and did not see her husband, former councillor Con Hindi, write it.
Con Hindi and fellow former councillors Vince Badalati and Philip Sansom are accused of accepting bribes including overseas trips and accommodation from Chinese developers to support building projects.
The inquiry has heard wads of cash were given to councillors in exchange for their support.
