Here's what you need to know this morning.
Triple Redfern stabbing was 'targeted attack'
NSW Police are appealing for information after three men were stabbed in a "targeted attack" following a party in Sydney's inner city early on Sunday.
Just after 3am, police attended an incident outside The Norfolk Hotel on Cleveland Street in Redfern where a 22nd birthday party had taken place.
No offences occurred and the partygoers were moved on. However, at about 3:45am police were again called to a nearby location where they found three young males with stabbing injuries.
Police believe the men were from Western Sydney and the incident was not gang related.
One man, an 18-year-old, was left with injuries to his abdomen and was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a critical condition.
A 19-year-old was also in a critical condition with multiple chest injuries. He was taken to St Vincent's Hospital.
The third man, a 20-year-old, suffered a stab wound to the arm and was taken to Prince Alfred Hospital in a stable condition.
"It's concerning that people would attend the party armed with a knife," Commander of South Sydney Police Area Command Superintendent Rod Hart said.
"We believe that they were all known to each other.
"I want the Redfern community to be rest assured that this is not a random incident. We believe that this is a targeted attack."
Teen charged with murder after 17-year-old fatally stabbed
A teenage boy, 17, has been charged with murdering a boy the same age yesterday after a brawl at a fast-food restaurant on the north coast.
Emergency services were called to the restaurant on Centre Street at Casino about 5pm on Sunday, amid reports of a brawl.
The boy died at the scene from his injuries. Another 17-year-old boy was arrested shortly after and taken to Casino Police Station where he was charged with murder, reckless wounding and affray.
He is due to appear at a Children's Court today.
An 18-year-old man was taken to Lismore Hospital where he remains in a stable condition.
Seized firearms to get new life
More than 2,800 firearms held by NSW Police are being melted down into steel and produced into other items, as police crack down on organised crime.
The firearms, weighing almost 2,228kg, have been seized through criminal investigations, abandoned and surrendered by community members.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Paul Toole said it was a move to protect the community.
“We know the vast majority of those in our community possess firearms for a valid reason," he said.
"And then there are those who use these weapons to inflict fear and cause serious harm to others."
Police Commissioner Karen Webb said by destroying the firearms, it prevented them falling into the wrong hands.
"We've all seen the harm that is caused by the unlawful use of firearms and the fear it can cause within the broader community," Commissioner Webb said.
"By destroying these weapons, we prevent any that are kept for legitimate purposes falling into the wrong hands and used in other crimes."
Flood response hearings kick off in Ballina
The first in a series of hearings for the parliamentary inquiry into the Northern Rivers flood response is getting underway in Ballina today.
The inquiry involves a cross-party group of politicians and is separate from the independent inquiry which visited earlier this month.
Committee chair Walt Secord said the hearings included a public forum where anyone from the area could speak.
"The most important thing from our perspective will be what can the government and opposition do in the future," he said.
"And we know major floods are going to happen again. So what's the best way to prepare and respond?"
Mr Secord expects the inquiry to make findings and recommendations across a broad range of flood-related issues.
"There's coordination, there's insurance, there's rebuilding, there's a whole bunch of different things, so we're going to take a broad approach and we'll be bringing our report down probably by the end of next month," he said.
The hearing will get underway at Ballina RSL from 1:45pm, with the public forum starting at 4:30pm.
Hearings will also be held in Lismore on Tuesday and Murwillumbah on Wednesday.
Proceedings will be streamed live on the NSW parliament's website.
Sergeant bitten during brawl
A police officer is in hospital after being bitten during a brawl outside a chicken shop in Darlinghurst.
Police responded to reports six people were involved in a brawl outside Ogalo on Oxford Street shortly before 3am today.
While trying to arrest a person, a sergeant was bitten on the hand.
He has been taken to get treatment at a hospital hand clinic.
Two women, aged 23 and 28, have been arrested and taken to Surry Hills Police Station.
Charges are yet to be laid.
Volunteers learn from simulated earthquake scenario
Emergency service volunteers have completed natural disaster training that simulated the immediate aftermath of an earthquake.
The program tested speciality skills including casualty handling, rescue from heights, electrical safety, urban search and rescue, first aid, and mental health and wellbeing.
State Emergency Service (SES) Commissioner Carlene York said regular training was important in a life-saving role.
"We've recently seen firsthand the valuable and various roles our volunteers play in saving lives and creating safer communities," Commissioner York said.
Among the challenges was a scenario where volunteers worked together to rescue 14 victims trapped in a car park after an earthquake.
SES units from Canada Bay, Gosford, Parramatta, Port Macquarie, Port Stephens, Queanbeyan and South Illawarra attended the exercise, as well as officers from Fire and Rescue NSW and St John Ambulance.
