Good morning and welcome to the Morning Buzz for Wednesday, November 1. Be prepared for a mostly cloudy start to the month. Temperatures are expected to be about 22 degrees in the city and 24 degrees in the west. Enjoy your day!
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Thousands of Catholic school teachers to stop work on Wednesday
Thousands of teachers at more than 100 Catholic schools across Sydney will go on strike on Wednesday morning as the union representing independent schools and the Catholic schools employment body struggle to negotiate a new enterprise agreement.
An estimated 3000 teachers and support staff are expected to strike this week over their right to arbitration.
On Wednesday, teachers in the Sydney and Broken Bay dioceses will walk off the job until 12.30pm and march through Sydney's CBD or rally in Gymea in Sydney's south.
Teachers at Catholic schools in Parramatta, Newcastle, Goulburn, Wagga Wagga, Albury, Tamworth, Armidale and Bathurst will also stop work throughout the week. Read more.
Thousands of patients to access new life saving treatment
Thousands of patients will now have access to new Medicare subsidies to treat epilepsy, stroke, lymphoma, heart diseases and other life-threatening conditions.
From November 1, women with a family history of breast and ovarian cancer will also have free access to Medicare rebates for BRCA1 and BRCA 2 genetic testing. Close relatives of women found to have the mutations will also be eligible for the tests which have previously cost between $600 and $2000. Read more
77% of Australians have voted in marriage survey: ABS
More than three quarters of eligible Australians have partaken in the Turnbull government's same-sex marriage survey, with less than one week left to return forms.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics, which is executing the survey, said it had received an estimated 12.3 million survey responses as of Friday - or about 77 per cent of the 16 million eligible voters. Read more
Nationals face the loss of a cabinet position, as jostling begins for deputy leadership
Nationals MPs admit their numbers in Malcolm Turnbull's cabinet could be cut following the High Court's decision to disqualify former senator Fiona Nash from the upper house.
The junior Coalition partner's cabinet representation is at risk of falling from five to four people, unless Mr Turnbull intervenes. Read more
Firefighter saves family from burning house in The Ponds
A firefighter has rescued a family from their burning house moments before racing to hospital to witness the birth of his child.
Alan Fritsch was one of a team of firefighters who responded to a fire at a home in The Ponds in Sydney's north west just after 7am on Tuesday.
The dramatic house fire saw two children being rescued off the roof of their home before Mr Fritsch raced inside to rescue their father who had become trapped inside. Read more.
Nurses take action as Blacktown Hospital staffing woes continue
Nurses and midwives ceased all non-essential work at Blacktown Hospital last week, amid a “dangerous” staffing shortfall.
Members of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association decided to prioritise front-line patient care above hospital audits, domestic cleaning duties, and pushing patient beds until vacant positions were fully backfilled. Read more.
Bankstown fire station robbed while firefighters were out on a job
Firefighters had mobile phones and other belongings stolen while they were out responding to a job on Monday night.
The Fire & Rescue NSW crews from Bankstown Fire Station were responding to a call in nearby Yagoona at 7.40pm.
While they were out responding to that job, thieves broke into the station, forcing open personal lockers and stealing a range of personal items including mobile phones and cash. Read more.
New York, London inspire new Sydney Metro stations
Sydney's city and northern skyline are to alter once more with the construction of an office, residential and possible hotel towers on top of the new Sydney Metro stations.
The new sites are part of the NSW government's $20 billion Sydney Metro scheme, which will deliver a new train network across the metropolitan area. Read more
Archie the Cavoodle 'smitten' by his unlikely new best friend
A seven-month old Tasmanian devil named Hurricane has made an unlikely friend while being hand-raised by zookeeper Elyshia Wignell.
It was September when the joey met another litter mate of a different species.
Archie the Cavoodle is Miss Wignell's pet dog and joins her at work each day at Zoodoo Zoo. Read more
Investigation following king hit on James Tedesco
Italy's World Cup campaign has gone from bad to worse with reports of a wild brawl between teammates after their shock 36-12 loss to Ireland.
World Cup officials have confirmed they have been made aware of an incident in which Italy's star fullback James Tedesco was reportedly king hit by a teammate in a Cairns nightspot.
Channel 7 reports that Italy players were out drinking at the Pier Bar on Sunday night when Tedesco was allegedly struck by Shannon Wakeman. Read more.
Jedinak named in Socceroos squad for Honduras
Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak will make his long-awaited return for the national team after being named in the final 25-man squad to play Honduras next week.
It is the first time the veteran midfield has been part of the Australia set-up since June after struggling with a groin injury that has limited him to just 75 minutes of football this season for club and country. Read more.
