Hundreds of rubbish bins across city have been removed as a cost-cutting measure.

It is the latest department to announce job cuts as part of Govt’s cost-cutting measures.

Seven youths have been arrested in raids across south-west Sydney today as part of the ongoing investigation into the Wakeley alleged terror attack.

NSW Police and Australian Federal Police said they had identified a "number of associates" of a 16-year-old boy who allegedly stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, and all of the alleged associates subscribed to a "religiously motivated violent extremist ideology".

"We identified links between the alleged offender and a network of associates and peers who we believe shared a similar violent extremist ideology," AFP Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett said. 

READ MORE: Someone fishing discovered evidence in US couple's killing, officials say

"The JCTT (Joint Counter Terrorism Team) has acted swiftly to disrupt these individuals and the investigation remains ongoing.

"We want to be very clear, we target radicalisation, not religion." 

Barrett said there was no evidence of a specific target for another violent terror act.

Thirteen search warrants were carried out in Bankstown, Prestons, Casula, Lurnea, Rydalmere, Greenacre, Strathfield, Chester Hill, Punchbowl and Goulburn.

More than 400 AFP and NSW Police officers assisted in the raids, with seven male youths arrested and a further five assisting with enquiries.

"It was considered that the group, subject of our attention, posed an unacceptable risk and threat to the people of NSW, and our current investigative strategies could not adequately ensure public safety," Deputy Commander David Hudson said.

"The action we have taken today has mitigated any risk of further harm."

There is no ongoing threat to the community, he said.

The AFP and NSW Police urged the community to report any suspicious behaviour to the national security hotline.

READ MORE: Ray Hadley erupts over alleged murder of childcare worker

The NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team said earlier that it was conducting raids throughout Sydney today as part of the ongoing investigation into the Wakeley alleged terror attack.

ASIO Boss Mike Burgess confirmed this morning that the raids were in relation to the attack at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley last week, which saw a bishop and a priest hospitalised after they were allegedly stabbed by a 16-year-old boy.

"We are involved, it's joint with the three agencies and the New South Wales Crime Commission in that state," Burgess said.

"My officers are connected and involved and embedded inside the Joint Counter-Terrorism Team.

"And on the back end, Australia's security services are always doing its thing to provide security intelligence that enables the police to deal with these problems when we have immediate threats to life."

READ MORE: Police investigate townhouse fire in Sydney's west

Police reassured there is no threat to public safety and the raids have no relation to Anzac Day commemorations tomorrow. 

"The JCTT Sydney is executing search warrants in Sydney today as part of an ongoing investigation," a NSW Police statement said earlier.

"More information will be provided later today, but nothing further is available at this time."

The NSW JCTT comprises members from the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the NSW Crime Commission.

The clip is another in a string of violent incidents on or near Auckland public transport.

A candid interview with the Herald after news yesterday of the failed Reading Cinema deal.

Mitchell Kerr is now on home detention after collecting almost $10k in wage subsidies.

The families of the Australian couple missing after the Taiwan earthquake earlier this month have issued a statement saying they would only like the search for their loved ones resumed when it is safe for rescuers.

The search for Issac Sim Hwee Kok and Ann Neo Siew Choo was paused on April 12, almost two weeks after they were caught in the 7.2 magnitude earthquake, when it became too dangerous for rescue teams to operate.

The families have today said they "cannot allow further risk to the rescue teams".

READ MORE: Premier vows tough action after death of NSW woman

"The families dearly want them to be found but cannot allow this to be at the risk of someone else's life", they said in a statement today.

The Australian and Singaporean couple were holidaying in Taiwan when they were caught in the earthquake while hiking in the country's Hualien region.

"The families would like to thank every member of the Hualien County Fire Department, especially Wu Zhao Yuan, Jian Hong Cheng, Wen Zong Hao, Wang Wei Jun, Lin Qifeng, Su Shengzhi, and the search and rescue dogs for their dedication and tireless efforts in the search for our family.

"The events have made us deeply appreciate the preciousness of life. 

"We ask that they resume the search and rescue operation once it is safe to do so. However we also ask that they do so by always putting their own safety first."

The family also expressed their thanks to officials and emergency services in Taiwan, and consular offices of Singapore and Australia.

"We hope that Hualien will be rebuilt as soon as possible so that more people can experience the beauty of the place and the warmth of its people."

Inflation has continued to ease, but not as much as the market had expected, likely delaying when the Reserve Bank will be able to pass down an interest rate cut.

The latest quarterly data, released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, showed the annual consumer price index (CPI) slowed from 4.1 per cent in December to 3.6 per cent in March.

That's slightly higher than market expectations, which had been predicting a figure of 3.5 per cent.

READ MORE: Aussies are about to get $1500 – and more relief could be on the way

On a quarterly basis, the CPI actually increased – up from 0.6 per cent to an even 1 per cent, also ahead of what the market was expecting.

"The CPI rose 1.0 per cent in the March quarter, higher than the 0.6 per cent rise in the December 2023 quarter," ABS head of prices statistics Michelle Marquardt said.

"Annually, the CPI rose 3.6 per cent to the March 2024 quarter.

"While prices continued to rise for most goods and services, annual CPI inflation was down from 4.1 per cent last quarter and has fallen from the peak of 7.8 per cent in December 2022."

While the figures are now closer to the RBA's target range of 2-3 per cent, the drop isn't likely to be substantial enough for the Reserve Bank to implement a rates cut in the coming months.

READ MORE: Elon Musk to test takedown power of Australia's internet cop

"The March quarter inflation data was higher than the RBA's latest February forecasts so there is a risk that the Reserve Bank of Australia's forecasts will need to be revised up in their next update in early June," AMP deputy chief economist Diana Mousina said.

"This may see the RBA move back to a tightening bias (from a neutral bias) as the board may debate whether another rate hike is needed…

"Today's inflation data removes the chance of any near-term rate cut. But, we think we can still see a rate cut by the end of the year as the leading indicators of softer employment growth, lower inflation and subdued consumer spending remain intact."

CreditorWatch chief economist Anneke Thompson said the expected delay in rate cuts would likely lead to business collapses.

"While a fall in the inflation rate is welcome news, today's figure is unlikely to bring forward a cut to the cash rate, as services inflation continues to fall at a slow pace," she said.

"This means that businesses should brace themselves for the cash rate to remain at 4.35 per cent, at least until the fourth quarter of 2024.

"The longer interest rates remain high, the more difficult trading conditions will be for the discretionary retail trade, food and beverage and construction sectors, and we expect a continuation of rising insolvency rates in these sectors as a result."

Education, healthcare join housing and insurance as insurance drivers

Two of the main drivers of the quarterly increase were education and healthcare costs, which rose 5.9 and 2.8 per cent respectively.

"Education fees increased with the start of the calendar year, showing the strongest quarterly rise since 2012," the ABS said.

"Prices for medical and hospital services typically rise in the March quarter as GPs and other health service providers review their consultation fees.

"The Medicare and Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme Safety Net thresholds are also reset at the start of the calendar year, meaning fewer people qualify for subsidised prices for out-of-hospital services and pharmaceuticals."

READ MORE: Temperature to plummet for millions of Aussies as cold front hits

Meanwhile, housing and insurance both continued to be a thorn in the side of Australian wallets.

Insurance and financial service costs rose 8.2 per cent over the last 12 months, with insurance premiums surging by 16.4 per cent – their highest annual increase since 2001.

Housing was up 4.9 per cent, and the rise was even greater for rentals, which recorded their biggest increase rise since 2009 of 7.8 per cent.

As property prices skyrocket across Australia, an alternative housing option is growing in popularity as a potential solution to tackling the national housing crisis. 

When Tara Morelos was a university student in 1996 she paid $50 per week in rent for a three-bedroom house in Sydney's inner west.

Fast forward almost four decades later, and Morelos leases a four-bedder in Petersham for as little as $210 per week, well under the current market value.

READ MORE: Aussies are about to get $1500 – and more relief could be on the way

Morelos lives in a co-operative, a housing model that prioritises a sense of community and active participation while providing affordable and secure housing. 

Her co-op, Extended Family, is one of 33 co-operatives that operate under the umbrella of Common Equity – a non-profit housing provider and peak body for rental housing co-ops in NSW.

Common Equity operates several co-operatives across the state including Sedgewick Co-op, Dunroamin Co-op, and the newly established Lac Viet Co-op, a 13-unit co-operative targeted at senior members of the Vietnamese community in Cabramatta, in Sydney's west.

READ MORE: Former cop accused of killing Sydney couple back in court

For Morelos, her housing accommodates to single women and single mothers, something that appealed to her as a young mum in her 20s balancing work and study.

"For me it was about more than just housing for me it was also about community and having that support," she explained to 9news.com.au.

"Particularly as a young woman and single parent back in the day, having others that were on tap to help and had the same situation, that was invaluable."

Morelos lives in a regular four-bedroom house on a double block, but it's subdivided into flats which she shares with two other women.

Her rent is also tied to 25 per cent of her income with a ceiling of local market value.

Because of this she has been able to complete a masters degree and pursue a successful career in the Arts.

"The idea is if I lose my job tomorrow, then I can get a rent reduction," Morelos explained.

"If I get a fabulously well-paying job, then I notify them and my rent goes up."

In her time Morelos has moved to several different co-operatives, and while each household is unique in its diversity they all generally share the same principles.

"Different co-ops will do that differently, rotate positions or delegate things – there's no right way," she said.

A co-op also requires active participation and democratic member control to operate successfully.

Morelos herself has served as Treasurer and Chair, providing her with skills that she says have helped her gain employment.

"Basically the minimum participation is pay your rent, that's a minimum social responsibility, and to attend monthly meetings," she said.

READ MORE: Arj Barker defends decision to kick breastfeeding mother out of show

"People have positions, some people will not participate, but from my side as long as people pay their rent that's okay with me."

She said sometimes co-operatives can be complex when navigating the emotional states and well-being of other members but she believes there's growing demand for them.

"I think there's ongoing interest, and possible intensifying interest in them, because they are an affordable housing option," she said.

"But also people are interested in those housing models that have a greater sense of community, I think that's attractive to some people."

Co-operatives are common in other countries like Denmark, Sweden and Canada but they only make up a small proportion of community housing in Australia at around 3 per cent.

Common Equity NSW Chief Executive Nick Sabel said the co-operative model has the opportunity for growth and potential to help tackle the housing crisis.

"This form is seemingly resonating with more people as they try to look for ways they can share costs, share living arrangements to reduce costs, get a greater sense of community and reduce isolation," he said

He said the model was "one part of a multi-faceted solution that we need in Australia".

"We're continuing to work and advocate for this model and hopefully grow it into the future," he said.

City of Sydney council already looking to support a range of different community housing projects in NSW.

The council recently sold seven unused terraces to Common Equity to establish the first co-operative housing of its kind that is solely dedicated to transgender women.

City of Sydney's Housing Chair, Councillor Sylvie Ellsmore said there was increased interest in co-ops but because they are not common, it's difficult to convince funding bodies that they should provide that form of affordable housing.

"The main thing people tell me though a major barrier is the cost of land," she said.

"I get a lot of women, particularly older women… who want to live collectively and support each other and are very keen.

"But they need the support from government or big institutions so they can have a sustainable model."

OPINION: OK, let's talk and think about Anzac Day.

Out of respect for the 102,760 Australians who have died fighting for this country and the millions who have suffered, that's not too much to ask.

This is a call for ideas, and a plea to keep the Anzac Day tradition alive and protect its future as an integral part of the moral and social fabric so threatened in this country.

NEIL MITCHELL: Cannabis reform advocate's push for legislation

Because it's happening again. 

Just as we tend to tear ourselves apart about Australia Day every year, the same trend is developing with Anzac Day.

Next year it will be 110 years since the 25,000 Australian and New Zealand troops began what was to be a horrendous campaign marked by death, suffering, fear, futility, and military mistakes.

The year after will be the 110th anniversary of the first-ever Anzac Day march when Australian and New Zealand troops marched through London.

Either date provides the opportunity to reconfigure Anzac Day, to develop it and strengthen it so it resists the attacks from the left and embraces a symbol that I believe the people of Australia want and need.

To be brutal, the diggers are dying.

The marches are thinning.

Nobody who served in World War I is left.

There are under 8000 from World War II.

That leaves Korea (1650 still alive), Vietnam (35,000), Iraq (2000), Afghanistan (26,000) and various "police" actions.

READ MORE: Your complete guide to Anzac Day dawn services in every capital city

It is time to talk to those left, to talk to those who support the tradition and discuss what lies ahead.

They have served. We owe them a great deal and we should begin by listening. 

We need to listen to their first-hand accounts of what they have seen and done and we need to listen when they tell us how and why April 25 must remain such an integral part of our national calendar.

In 1995, the Labor government ran a superb program of events called "Australia Remembers". 

It marked the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and one of the best ideas was to sit hundreds of veterans at lunch next to school students and allow them to ask, explain and just chat.

Is that an idea for years ahead?

Could remaining veterans of later wars sit with year 12 students and explain what it all means and why they did it?

And yes, explain how they were frightened and it was awful and how it never feels good to kill another human even when you have no choice. 

READ MORE: Anzac Day trading hours: What will and won't be open

Governments seem to have lost focus.

The prime minister is walking a section of Kokoda, but that feels more photo opportunity than pilgrimage.

In Victoria, the government boasts about free travel for veterans on Anzac Day.

But by Friday, they will have to pay again.

Can't we afford year-round free transport for veterans?

Or, another idea: upgrade the discussion of our military history in secondary schools.

Don't sugarcoat it, the kids are too smart for that.

Explain history with first-hand accounts from contemporary war historians and with the brilliant analysis and reporting from people like the late Les Carlyon and his classic history Gallipoli.

This is not dusty stuff to bore students witless.

It is written like a novel by a man who wrote like an angel.

It shows you the terrified faces and explains their unfathomable bravery and suffering, on both sides.

It is 543 pages exposing the futility of wear.

READ MORE: 'Indescribable honour' for Aussie veteran who lost both his legs in Afghanistan

Other ideas? 

As a country, we must now accept that the Anzac marches will be small, even when families of dead veterans march, something about which the RSL remains uncomfortable.

Should we open the march to anybody who wants to say thank you? 

It happens in country towns but in the city it may sadly, be open to ugly political intrusion. 

The dangers are there already this year.

A pro-Palestinian group is holding a "picnic" on Anzac Day in the heart of Melbourne. 

It will be horribly tempting for some idiots in that crowd to chase attention by trying to disrupt the march.

If they do it would be sacrilege and should be treated as such.

Hopefully, common sense will prevail.

Added to that, a group called "Teachers for Palestine" has vowed to oppose what Anzac Day represents and is highlighting a 1918 massacre in Palestine which involved Australian and New Zealand soldiers.

The teachers plan to take their message to the kids and they say this: "Schools are deliberate targets for government-funded mystification about Australia's role in wars.

"These efforts crowd out the realities of war and the consequences of Australia's role in imperialism."

Strange words.

Japan was an imperial expansive power.

Nazi Germany followed an evil doctrine of mass murder.

Was Australia wrong to stand against them?

There's compelling evidence the people of Australia, as distinct from the academics and left lobbyists, understand Anzac Day and support it.

That's obvious when they turn out in huge numbers for the dawn service at major cities and at every little country town across the nation.

There were 40,000 last year in Melbourne.

There are no sideshows or filmed highlights.

These services are powerful, solemn and meaningful.

This is where the rethinking can begin.

From here the ideas can grow.

Let's embrace the essence of the dawn service, not tart it up.

https://omny.fm/shows/neil-mitchell-asks-why/the-quarterly-review-with-tony-jones-and-heidi-mur/embed?style=cover

If there are not the numbers to march then make the dawn service the focus, followed by traditional gunfire breakfast and a time for subdued remembrance.

That's the mood we need to capture and defend, before the football and the party.

Please, look at the haunted eyes of some of the frontline Gallipoli soldiers in the photographs in Les Carlyon's book.

There's no glorification of war in those eyes. 

The eyes from any soldier in any war will look tragically similar.

We owe them. It's time to stand up.

Neil Mitchell is a 3AW news analyst and hosts the weekly Nine podcast Neil Mitchell Asks Why?