A solicitor in Sydney has been charged after police alleged he diverted almost $15 million from his clients at a law firm in Bondi Junction to gamble online.

The NSW Police said Strike Force Salbrook, led by the State Crime Command’s Financial Crimes Squad was established in September 2025 after a referral from the NSW Law Society about the solicitor’s activities.

The 45 year old solicitor allegedly accessed a number of business and trust accounts between April 2023 and February 2025 and paid the money into his own accounts.

Police will allege the total amount of $14.8 million was used for gambling.

The solicitor, who has been named by the ABC as Benjamin Paul Reid, was arrested at around 10 A.M. on Thursday at Maroubra Police Station and charged with four counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.

Detective Superintendent explained in a police statement: “Solicitors have an extraordinary level of trust within our community and the level of alleged misconduct that has been identified by Salbrook is very concerning.”

The ABC reported that Mr. Reid was released on bail with strict conditions, which included not engaging in any gambling related activity and not engaging in any employment that relates to financial issues.

He is scheduled to appear in court again on March 12.

Superintendent Arbinja also told the ABC that a large amount of the money was repaid with the assistance of Mr. Reid’s father, but the matter would be taken up with the courts.

Drivers on NSW roads will soon find themselves caught in an even wider enforcement net, with the state’s transportable mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras set to start scanning traffic in both directions on single lane roads from Sunday, 1 March.

The upgrade increases the ability of the current 10 transportable camera units.

Prior to the change, the cameras were only able to scan traffic in two lanes moving in one direction at a time.

With the bi directional option turned on, the same cameras will be able to take photos of traffic moving in and out of selected locations, effectively doubling the coverage area without having to add more cameras to the system.

According to Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray, the upgrade is necessary to keep up with the growing number of vehicles on the road.

Murray cited a near 12% increase in the number of registered vehicles since the program started in 2019, from 6.7 million to 7.5 million, making the original target of coverage increasingly difficult to meet.

He reported that the initial data indicates enforcement and awareness are working to change the behavior.

In 2025, one in every 1,200 vehicles screened was found to be using a mobile phone illegally, down from as many as one in every 400 when camera enforcement began.

Seatbelt offenses, added to the camera enforcement program in 2024 were detected at a rate of one in every 1,300 vehicles screened in 2025, Murray said, citing data.

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The roll out of the new camera capability is expected to take up to six months, although fixed mobile phone and seatbelt cameras are not affected by the change.

Seatbelt compliance is an important area of focus for road safety authorities, with the NSW Government reporting that each year, 29 people are killed and 76 seriously injured on NSW roads because they were not wearing a seatbelt.

Two additional cases of measles have been confirmed in Sydney, prompting NSW Health to issue a warning of the increased risk of infection as the highly contagious virus remains in circulation.

Health officials said the two individuals were unknowingly infectious while attending various locations throughout western Sydney, the inner west, and the CBD, with new exposure sites added to the NSW Health website.

They emphasized that the listed venues are not a current risk but urged anyone who attended during the nominated times to be vigilant for symptoms in the coming days.

One of the new cases is thought to have acquired the infection locally after attending an exposure venue earlier this month at the same time as another confirmed case.

The second case recently returned from South East Asia, where several countries are experiencing outbreaks of measles.

New cases have pushed the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 21 since 1st January 2026, with the overall risk being increased.

It is important to note that the symptoms may take up to 18 days to appear after exposure, hence the need for anyone who may have been exposed to monitor their health for more than two weeks.

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These may be followed by a rash of red, blotchy skin usually starting on the head and then spreading to the body.

NSW Health also advised that people with a rash following early symptoms of measles should consider that they have measles, even if they have not been to a listed exposure site.

The department again emphasized the importance of vaccination as the best protection, saying that the MMR vaccine is safe and effective and recommended for children at 12 and 18 months of age.

An effort to prevent more sewage related debris balls from washing up on beaches, the state environment regulator has ordered Sydney Water to remove a significant accumulation of fats, oils and grease from a portion of its Malabar wastewater system.

The Malabar Deep Ocean Outfall bulkhead area has been identified as a likely source of the debris balls that have been appearing intermittently since October 2024.

NSW Environment Protection Authority said it has issued Sydney Water a Pollution Reduction Program requiring significant works at this location.

Through late 2024 and early 2025, closures were implemented along portions of the Sydney coastline and beyond due to the foul smelling lumps.

It is thought that the fatberg is located close to the ocean outfall in a difficult to reach tunnel segment.

Although it may be as big as four Sydney buses, Sydney Water has previously stated that it cannot safely reach the main blockage and is unsure of its precise size.

Instead of closing the outfall, the corporation uses remote equipment to inspect and try to remove the area, which is normally underwater and only accessible at low tide.

Sydney Water has warned that beach closures for months may result from the need to divert flows in order to switch off the deep ocean outfall for maintenance.

Nevertheless, in an effort to lower the possibility of additional releases, the company has already eliminated a significant amount of content from areas that are accessible in recent years.

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Sydney Water must continue its fat removal efforts and conduct at least 18 inspections over a three year period starting in April 2026 as part of the EPA’s order.

In order to relieve pressure on the aging network, the NSW Government is implementing a $3 billion, ten year upgrade of the entire Malabar system, which includes significant work at the Glenfield and Liverpool facilities.

Darren Cleary, managing director of Sydney Water, stated that while the utility is trying to reduce the risk, it cannot guarantee that debris balls won’t reappear.

A man and a 15 year old boy have been charged in relation to the shooting of former NRL winger Matt Utai outside his Greenacre home in Sydney’s south west.

Police claim Utai was shot several times as he was leaving for work earlier this week.

NSW Police said emergency services were called to Macquarie Street around 6 AM on Tuesday after reports a man had been shot outside a house by people in an SUV, which then drove off.

The 44 year old was treated at the scene for several gunshot wounds before being transported to a hospital in a serious condition.

Shortly after, police were called to Samuel Street in Wiley Park where an SUV was discovered on fire and later seized.

Strike Force Halesowen, headed by the State Crime Command Raptor Squad is investigating the shooting in conjunction with a number of other incidents against the same family.

These include shots fired at a residence in St. Clair about 12:45 AM on Wednesday and a fire at a residence in Guildford West hours later.

A 25 year old man was arrested in Marsden Park and a 15 year old boy in Emerton on Friday night.

NSW Police said both men were charged with shooting with intent to murder and taking part in a criminal group, with the older man also charged with possessing a prohibited drug.

Both were refused bail and are expected to appear in court on Saturday. There are also claims of underworld tensions being linked to the violence.

Also Read: Measles alert for Sydney airport after exposure linked to multiple flights

Police believe that a dispute between a group known as the Coconut Cartel and the crime family may have led to the attack, being considered by investigators.

Detective Acting Superintendent Brad Abdy, of the Raptor Squad said there was also suspected international involvement in the recruitment of young offenders.

He said, “It’s quite disgusting that criminals who are overseas are now recruiting young people in Australia.”

After infectious cases passed through the domestic and international terminals this week, NSW Health has issued a measles alert for Sydney Airport and two flights.

Passengers on Garuda Indonesia flight GA712, which arrived in Sydney at approximately 11 A.M. on Tuesday, from Jakarta may have been exposed.

The alert also applies to those who were in the baggage claim area and international arrivals terminal between 11 A.M. and 1.30 P.M., as well as the arrivals taxi stand between 1 P.M. and 1.45 P.M.

Jetstar flight JQ505 from Sydney to Melbourne, which was scheduled to depart at 8 A.M. on Wednesday, February 18 as well as departures from Sydney domestic airport Terminal 2 on the same day, were listed as having a separate exposure.

Several medical facilities and a pharmacy visited while an infected person was contagious are also on NSW Health’s exposure list.

These include Northern Beaches Hospital and the Brookvale Medicare Urgent Care Clinic and Advanced Health Pharmacy on Restwell Street in Bankstown.

People who were present at the specified times should still keep an eye out for symptoms, authorities emphasized even though the locations do not present a continuous risk.

“Symptoms to watch out for include fever, runny nose, sore eyes and a cough,” stated Dr. Vicky Sheppeard.

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A few days later, she said a rash may appear. To help stop the spread, she advised anyone who feels ill to call before going to the doctor or emergency room.

Noting that people born in 1966 or later typically require two doses of a measles containing vaccine to be deemed immune, NSW Health is advising people to confirm they are fully vaccinated.

“If administered early enough, the measles vaccine can prevent the disease even after exposure,” stated Dr. Sheppeard.

A minimum age for riders of ebikes will be introduced in New South Wales, with the Minns government commissioning an expert review to advise on an age range between 12 and 16 years.

This follows growing concerns about children using heavier and faster electric bikes on shared paths and roads.

Currently, there is no minimum age to ride a personal ebike in NSW, and riders of all ages can carry a passenger if the bike is designed for this purpose.

The review will be conducted by Transport for NSW, with input from road safety and child development specialists, as well as the NSW Office for Youth and Young People, parents and young riders.

The government hopes that the advice will be provided to the transport and roads ministers by June, before a final decision is made on the age limit and whether children can carry passengers.

In a media release, Transport Minister John Graham said, “We want children to be outdoors and active, but keeping them safe is our top priority.”

The proposed age requirement is part of a wider crackdown on ebike regulations.

As part of the new regulations, NSW Police will have increased powers to confiscate and crush illegal ebikes, while portable testing stations will be trialed to test for compliance on the roadside.

NSW will also revert to the European standard EN15194, which restricts ebikes to 250 watts of continuous rated power and mandates that motor assistance must switch off at 25 km/h.

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A transition period will apply, during which only ebikes that comply with the standard will be legal from 1 March 2029.

Bicycle NSW predicted that an age limit could have unforeseen effects on young people who ride compliant ebikes to school.

The NSW Liberals have also criticized the plan, saying that the government has failed to explain how the age limit will be enforced.

A cyberattack on Sydney based finance technology company YouX, a hacker has made public what they say is financial and personal data connected to hundreds of thousands of Australians.

Lenders and finance brokers use YouX’s platform to create and handle loan applications

The business reported this week that it discovered “unauthorized access” to its systems, stated that it was conducting an investigation with outside experts.

According to the attacker, records pertaining to 629,597 loan applications, 444,538 personal details and 229,236 driver’s licenses are among the information that was leaked.

More than 607,000 residential addresses are also included. Additionally, the hacker claimed to have data linked to dozens of lenders and 797 broker organizations.

This claimed to have updated the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and promised to notify the appropriate authorities and get in touch with those who would be impacted.

Businesses that use the platform have also responded to the incident.

MotorCycle Holdings Limited informed the market that it had learned of illegal access to youX’s system that helps some clients set up financing by using the platform as a third party tool.

It stated that, as a precaution it was getting in touch with pertinent clients, the use of the youX platform has been suspended, it added.

It claimed not to have discovered any unauthorized access to its own internal systems.

When a breach is likely to cause significant harm, organizations covered by the Privacy Act are required by Australia’s notifiable data breach regulations to notify the regulator and the affected individuals.

Emergency crews have rescued one driver from floodwater in south-east Queensland as heavy rain continues to hit the border region. Forecasters warned the system is still moving north and inland.

Bureau of Meteorology data shows parts of far north NSW got the heaviest rain in the 24 hours to 9am on Friday, 13 February. This included 241mm at Doon Doon and 182mm at Mullumbimby.

In the Northern Rivers, the bureau said many areas have recorded 100mm to 150mm since Thursday morning. Some places have had more than 200mm, according to flood watch information issued by the bureau.

On the Gold Coast, the downpour has caused creeks to rise quickly and has led to local flash flooding. ABC News reported one driver was pulled from a vehicle after it stalled in floodwater as conditions worsened across parts of the city and hinterland.

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In its latest severe weather update, the bureau warned six-hour rainfall totals of 50mm to 100mm were likely across the warning area. It said some places could get heavier falls up to about 150mm if the rain keeps hitting the same areas.

The bureau said wet weather was expected to continue through the weekend. It said the heaviest rain was more likely to move into the Wide Bay Burnett and parts of central and inland Queensland.

The bureau also warned of both flash flooding and river flooding. It said travel delays and service disruptions were possible as catchments respond.

In NSW, the NSW State Emergency Service told communities north of Coffs Harbour to keep an eye on conditions. It warned thunderstorms could bring short bursts of heavy rain that can cover roads quickly.

Chief Superintendent Rhys Gloury, NSW SES North Eastern Zone Commander, said in a media release: “We could see water cover roads quite quickly and would like to remind the community to steer clear of floodwaters.”

With rivers already rising, the bureau warned more moderate to locally heavy rain could push river levels higher and cause minor flooding in the Northern Rivers through the weekend.

Officials urged residents to keep up with official warnings and avoid driving through flooded roads.