Good morning and welcome to the Morning Buzz for Thursday, December 21. Expect a cooler day, along with the chance of showers today. Temperatures are expected to hit 24 in the city and up to 27 in the west. Enjoy your day!
Mild temperatures and rain expected for Christmas Day in Sydney
Sydneysiders may need to bring a brolly to their Christmas dinner, with clouds and some rain expected across the city late on Christmas Day after a warmer weekend.
North-westerly winds will build heat in central and western Sydney throughout the week, with a scorcher in the high 30s expected on Christmas Eve. Read more.
Fight heats up as weather bureau staff reject new workplace deal
Weather bureau staff have rejected a new workplace deal for the third time amid claims the agency's decision to hold a vote close to Christmas was a cynical ploy.
A decisive 60 per cent 'no' vote killed the agreement offered to staff, who will go into their fourth Christmas without a pay rise after years of negotiations and unprecedented strikes.
The result follows a resounding 69 per cent 'no' in February 2016 and a 58 per cent rejection of an offer in May. Read more.
TPG to compensate 8,000 customers misled about NBN speeds
Almost 8,000 customers who paid for national broadband network plans with TPG Telecom will be compensated after being misled about the maximum speed they could achieve.
TPG is now the third major telecommunications company to provide remediation to customers due to NBN speeds after action from the competition regulator. Read more.
Man dies after collapsing on Woolooware golf course in the heat
A man has died after collapsing on a golf course in Woolooware.
Paramedics had done everything they could to save the man in his 60s at the Woolooware Golf Club, Chief Superintendent Alan Morrison said.
"It appears the man collapsed in the heat just after lunchtime, at around 12.48 pm and went into cardiac arrest. "This is a terrible tragedy." Read more.
Hayne accused of rape while playing for 49ers
Rugby league player Jarryd Hayne has been accused of raping a woman while he was in the US playing for the San Francisco 49ers, US court documents reveal.
Civil lawsuit papers filed in the Santa Clara County court on Tuesday allege the sports star engaged in non-consensual sexual intercourse with a Santa Clara woman identified only as "Ms V" in December 2015.
The allegation comes more than one year after the case was reviewed and rejected by the District Attorney's Office, which concluded there was not enough evidence to prove the crime of rape beyond reasonable doubt.
The action filed this week includes claims of sexual battery, gender violence, infliction of emotional distress and negligence. Read more.
Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis defends Crichton deal
If South Sydney decide to reprint the Book of Feuds, there's a new chapter that must be included on the simmering hostility with the Roosters over Angus Crichton.
The 21-year-old back-rower told the Rabbitohs at the weekend he had joined their foundation club arch rivals on a three-year deal from 2019. It was a considerable body blow to the Redfern club. Crichton this year played strong, done fine, as former Souths and Roosters coach Jack Gibson might say. Read more.
New women's NRL excites Jillaroos but more details are needed
Jillaroos stars Kezie Apps and Corban McGregor have welcomed the NRL's new women's competition but urged details to be expedited amid reluctance to relocate.
The league announced the competition this month but key aspects were unconfirmed, including which teams would be involved and how players would be recruited. Read more.
Why history will not help Starc for Boxing Day
Australia's twin failures against South Africa last year will loom large in the minds of the national hierarchy when they make the call on Mitchell Starc's availability for Boxing Day.
The left-arm paceman's hopes of playing in Melbourne hang in the balance despite being cleared of serious damage to his heel on Wednesday. Read more.