Good morning and welcome to the Morning Buzz for Tuesday, November 21. There’s a chance of a possible shower today with tops of 23 degrees in the city and rising to 26 in the west. Enjoy your day!
Coles introduces ‘Quiet Hour’ to make shopping easier
To help shoppers who find the heightened sensory environment of a supermarket - the constant music, beeping scanners, bright lights - to be challenging, a low-sensory shopping experience designed to be easy on the eyes and ears will be offered from Tuesday.
For an hour each week, Coles will dim store lighting by 50 per cent, switch the radio off and reduce volumes of their registers and scanners to the lowest level.
The national supermarket chain partnered with Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) in August to trial Quiet Hour at two Victorian stores to support customers who live with autism, or have family members who do. Read more
Rego cashback for Sydney's regular toll road users
Motorists spending more than $25 a week on Sydney's toll roads over a year will be eligible for free vehicle registration, in a move Premier Gladys Berejiklian concedes will cost the state up to $100 million in the first year and even more into the future
The so-called rego rebate will save the majority of motorists who apply for the scheme $359 a year on registration costs, and some up to $715.
The scheme will be available for standard privately registered cars, utes, four-wheel-drives and motorcycles from July 1 next year, but not trucks or other vehicles weighing more than 2795 kilograms. Read more.
Mehajer promises 'not to use Instagram' in bail bid
Former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer has promised not to use social media site Instagram among a string of bail conditions after he was charged with dangerous driving and breaching an apprehended violence order by "stalking" his estranged wife.
The colourful property developer, who is prolific on social media, is facing a growing number of court battles including an electoral fraud trial. Read more via SMH
$20m SSM survey underspend 'should go to mental health services'
More than $20 million left over from the same-sex marriage postal survey budget should be redirected to mental health and other support services for gay Australians hurt by the campaign, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been told.
As the split between Coalition MPs about how to legislate same-sex marriage continued to widen on Sunday, Greens leader Richard Di Natale wrote to Mr Turnbull to call for increased funding for organisations that have been struggling with increased demand. Read more.
Turnbull government delays Parliament to deal with marriage, citizenship
The Turnbull government has taken the unusual step of cancelling a parliamentary sitting week, citing the need to pass same-sex marriage laws and deal with the citizenship fiasco.
Labor and the Greens immediately accused the government of "running scared" from the potentially embarrassing scenario of lower house Nationals MPs crossing the floor to team up with Labor, the Greens and the crossbench and force the creation of a commission of inquiry into Australia's banking system. Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek described it as "the sort of thing that happens in a dictatorship". Read more.
Rooty Hill to become the home of Western Sydney Performing Arts Centre
Rooty Hill will be home to a world-class performing arts centre after Western Sydney Performing Arts Centre (WSPAC) management unveiled plans for the self-funded $100 million dollar development.
The 2000 seat proscenium arch theatre will have the capacity to host world-famous stage shows, musicals and concerts, as well as accommodate full ballet companies and symphony orchestras. Read more.
Arnold banks on Sydney FC's fresh legs for FFA Cup final
Graham Arnold has backed well-rested Sydney FC to pick apart fatigued Adelaide United in Tuesday's FFA Cup final, while hinting star winger Adrian Mierzejewski could return to the starting line-up.
The Sky Blues enjoyed the perfect preparation for their second Cup decider in as many years, running out a 2-1 win over Newcastle at Allianz Stadium on Saturday to reclaim top spot from the Jets. Read more.
Leading referee Chris James takes unfair dismissal action against NRL
One of rugby league's most experienced referees has launched an unfair dismissal claim against the NRL after he was allegedly sacked without explanation.
Chris James has officiated 228 first-grade games, including two semi-finals, for the NRL over the course of a decade. The veteran whistleblower oversaw 22 NRL games this year and claims that, as late as mid-July, was told he was in contention to referee the semi-finals. At a subsequent meeting on September 6, referees' boss Tony Archer is said to have commended James' performance and praised his work with younger referees.
However, he was axed just a month later in a move that ended 25 years in the refereeing ranks and prevented his family from being able to see him officiate in one final match. Read more
More to come as Jillaroos look ahead to Canada
They may have made a red-hot start to their World Cup title defence, but Australia are insisting there is plenty more to come.
The Jillaroos take on Canada in their final pool match at Southern Cross Group Stadium on Wednesday having scored dominant victories over the Cook Islands (58-4) and England (38-0). With a likely final against New Zealand on the horizon, Australia have flexed their muscles early on despite coach Brad Donald making the most of the depth of his squad and resting a number of key players. Read more.
