Nepal tunnel rescue and housing crisis deepens

0:00Good afternoon. We begin with developing user remarkable rescue in Nepal. Two workers have been saved after nine days trapped in a hydro-powered tunnel in the Himalayas. Rescuers say there could be at least 42 people alive. Engineers have been pumping oxygen into the tunnels as part of the rescue efforts. Way below target, that's how a senior economist describes efforts to ease Australia's housing crisis this afternoon. As one of Australia's biggest lenders warns, it'll take a generation to fix. The housing minister today announcing more funding for emergency housing. Here's Nick McCallum. It's depressing news for so many young Australians trying to buy a home, like 30-year-old Matthew N.G., who's still living with his parents and devastated by this prediction

1:01about the housing supply crisis created by tax changes, interest rates and huge demand. This is a challenge that is likely to take the better part of a generation to resolve. It's quite depressing. If I have to find something affordable, I'll have to move further and further away, which is not something I'm looking to do. The housing minister today promised a further $145 million for crisis accommodation, but overall, the government's flagship home building program is way behind schedule, and the minister did not challenge the NAB prediction. Do you think it will take that long? Look, I'm not going to put an exact number of years on it. What I can be really clear about is that it took more than one generation to build this problem. Under the housing accord, they agreed with the states to build something like 1.2 million homes over five years. We're now more than two years into that agreement, and yet we're running

2:01way below target. And the prediction by the NAB chief economist has infuriated many local real-estate agents. They accuse her of making a bad situation even worse by eroding the confidence of prospective young home buyers. The man who murdered young mum Molly Tyshurst in her country in New South Wales home is facing the second day of his sentencing hearing. It is focused on Daniel Billings' mental state in the lead-up to the deadly stabbing attack on his ex-partner while he was on bail in 2024. Family, friends and supporters of Molly Tyshurst are at the court in Orange, including Donna Thurnell, whose daughter Christy was killed by her ex-husband in 2023. Our reporter who's in the courtroom will have more details later in the bulletin.

3:07The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu has reached Sydney. There was confirmation today that a pair of greater-crested turns found at Worrywood on the Northern beaches have tested positive to the virus. Other cases have been confirmed at Port Kempler and Koff Saba. The public is being urged to avoid contact with dead or sick birds and report them to the emergency animal disease hotline. Sydney's rail network has been given a nearly $450 million boost by the state government with 55 new and improved trains hitting the rails. But it comes as the transport department faces a fight elsewhere. Rex Quail reports. Well, it's been a big week for transport New South Wales and the transport minister John Graham. Today they unveiled a whole new suite of new and improved Tangara trains that is hoped to improve the reliability of the Sydney train network. But on the other hand, all week they have been fighting industrial action from fairy workers. $447 million has been spent on upgrading 55 Tangara trains. They've been in service for 40 years

4:14now with better features rolled out on the T4 line towards the south, including updated interiors, CCTV cameras, accessibility seating and also different designs on the front to stop people train surfing. It's great news if you want to move around the city if you need to get to work while you're racing to get home. These new more reliable Tangara's will make a huge difference on the network. But this comes after fairy opal readers this week were temporarily shut off by the New South Wales Maritime Union. They're currently trying to force the government's hand in bargaining negotiations asking for a 5% increase in wages and different additions to things like penalty rates. There were no problems on the fairy network today, but the union is threatening more action if they don't reach a resolution. Fairy workers want to keep the services running. That's the last thing they want to do. We haven't taken industrial action for 12. We use. There's a reason for that. This is about fixing an EBA in a cost of living claim. It ain't that hard. We have been able to resolve other tough discussions and I'm hopeful of this resolving too, but really both sides need to be

5:20talking to each other. We're going to break down these developments in the New South Wales transport world tonight and seven news at 6pm. The Sydney hub of bridge was lit up overnight to one of the life of teenage Hike Lili Hooper, the southern Pylon glowing from sunset until midnight. On the same day the 18-year-old was FFFFFFFFFWeld in a private funeral service. The tribute fitting for Lili who worked as a tour guide for bridge-climb Sydney. She died while hiking in the Nattyne National Park south of Sydney last month. Let's get a check of the weather now with Angelique, Opie, Angelus, superb end to the week. You're good afternoon, Pleasant and settled the best of spring for most of the day. A delightful sunrise met by clear skies in Black Town temperatures hovering around six degrees. The morning playing out with plenty of sunshine, staying that way. A top of 25 in the city and west wins for the most part staying moderate to fresh. Western-orth-westernly air stream closer to the coast, 20 degrees the top at Newcastle and

6:24Belambi, little cloud cover keeping inland overnight temperatures on the cooler side. Winds will strengthen more tomorrow ahead of a cold front. Warnings for damaging gusts have been issued. An extreme fire danger warning and total fire ban is in place for tomorrow. I'll have all the details in your full forecast later on here. See you then, Angel. Thank you.