Here's what you need to know this morning.
Opera House turns 50
The Sydney Opera House will today launch a yearlong birthday party, to celebrate the iconic building's 50th anniversary.
Construction started on the heritage-listed art space in 1958, and was completed in October 1973.
A 12-month schedule will be unveiled to help mark the milestone, including free community events, artist collaborations and on-site installations.
The Opera House was designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon at Tubowgule, as it was known to its traditional custodians, the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, now known as Bennelong Point.
Utzon's white sail design was selected from a pool of competitors in 1957.
Taxi driver hit by his own car
Police are appealing for the public’s help after a taxi driver was assaulted and then hit by his own cab in Wollongong this month.
A 56-year-old taxi driver picked up a woman just after 3am on September 18 at the intersection of Crown Street and Gladstone Avenue.
The woman directed the driver to Abercrombie Street, West Wollongong, before allegedly threatening him with a knife, stealing the taxi, and hitting him with the car.
The taxi then crashed into a fence of a nearby property on Alkera Street, before the cab was later found abandoned on Euroka Street.
The driver sustained back, foot and hand injuries.
Detectives have released CCTV of a woman they believe may be able to assist with the investigation. The woman depicted is described as being of Caucasian in appearance, aged 20 to 30, with a slim build and blonde hair.
Crisis task force assembles
The NSW government's new permanent crisis committee Task Force Hawke will meet for the first time today ahead of the summer storm season.
Task Force Hawk was set up in the wake of the independent inquiry into the NSW flood crisis, which recommended a cohesive, whole of government approach to disaster preparedness, planning and management.
The task force will be made up of key ministers as well as police, the Rural Fire Service, State Emergency Service, Resilience NSW and the Bureau of Meteorology.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the state was better prepared for natural disasters with a new Fire Danger Rating System and SES and RFS warning system, 18 new bushfire tankers and a $116 million dollar fleet replacement program for the SES.
Mr Perrottet said the new task force would ensure the government was in a permanent state of readiness to respond to natural disasters.
"This committee means boots on the ground and faster responses to protect communities in the event of a natural disaster in NSW," he said.
Replacement licences for Optus customers
Optus will reimburse customers in NSW who need to replace their drivers licences after the recent cyber attack on the telco.
Optus said some customers may have had a range of information accessed including passport and drivers licence details as a result of the data breach.
Customers who have had both their drivers licence number and associated card number compromised are expected to be contacted by Optus in coming days and are strongly advised to apply for a replacement licence as soon as possible.
The replacement cost in NSW is $29 and will be charged by Service NSW at the time of application.
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said Optus would be in touch with customers in coming days about how they would be reimbursed.
Critics hit out at Star response
Anti-gambling advocates say Star casino should be stripped of its licence despite the casino group promising to do "whatever is necessary" to restore its suitability as an operator.
Star yesterday made its formal plea to the independent regulator as to why its Sydney casino should stay open for business.
It comes after a damning review found the company was unsuitable to hold a licence, after uncovering money laundering and other criminal activity.
Star said it had taken urgent steps to improve standards and surveillance, but Independent state MP Justin Field said it was time for it to go.
"I think here's an opportunity to get rid of this licence," he said.
"The company doesn't deserve it and they can put down on paper all their promises into the future but I don't think it's worth it."
Carol Bennett from the Alliance for Gambling Reform said the illegal activity found at the company should be enough to end its operation.
"If a casino's found unfit to hold a licence then they should in this instance lose their licence, otherwise we won't see reform of gambling in Australia."
