Sentencing court hears whānau had long sought answers as to ‘what the hell went on?’

Police and fire investigators are still probing the cause of the blaze.

High-profile neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell says his white nationalist organisation and other linked groups will disband before the government brings in tough new hate speech laws.

The draft Combating Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism bill will be debated when parliament is recalled early next week, as the Albanese government responds to the deadly antisemitic terror attack at Bondi Beach.

It includes measures targeting "prohibited hate groups" and "hate preachers".

READ MORE: Day of mourning date for Bondi terror attack revealed

Sewell said the National Socialist Network (NSN) would be "fully disbanded before 11.59pm Sunday the 18th of January 2026".

"The disbandment includes not only the National Socialist Network, but its co-projects White Australia, the European Australian Movement and the White Australia Party," he said, in a message co-signed by other group leaders such as Jacob Hersant on the White Australia Telegram channel today.

"If the laws pass, there will [be] no way to avoid the organisation being banned."

Sewell claimed the laws were "some of the most draconian laws the West has ever seen".

Promoting the laws yesterday, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke named the NSN and radical Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, in reference to an ASIO warning about groups who keep "themselves just below the legal threshold".

"While they have created a pathway for others to engage in violence, have been careful to not explicitly call for it themselves. They've kept themselves just below that threshold," he said. 

"This bill will lower that threshold, and lower that threshold to the extent that we can within the Constitution. 

"We have had enough of organisations that hate Australia, playing games with Australian law."

READ MORE: Quoting religious texts could be exempted from new hate speech laws 

Roughly 60 black-clad neo-Nazis from the NSN provoked outrage when they protested outside NSW Parliament House in November with a large sign reading "abolish the Jewish lobby".

The government released the draft bill to the public today, after yesterday announcing the early recall of parliament to debate it. 

It includes a package of reforms that target both hate speech and firearms through the establishment of a gun buyback scheme, stricter gun import rules, harsher penalties for hate speech and stricter migration rules.

A new offence would be established for a person or group who publicly promotes or incites racial hatred, with a penalty of five years' imprisonment.

Albanese today defended a narrow exception that would ensure the rules did not apply to actions that consist "only of directly quoting from, or otherwise referencing, a religious text for the purpose of religious teaching or discussion".

READ MORE: Australian teen charged after allegedly making hoax mass shooting calls to the US

"I encourage you to read the Old Testament and see what's there and see if you outlaw that, what would occur," he told reporters this morning.

"So we need to be careful. We consulted with faith groups, not just with the Jewish community.

"We want to make sure there's the broadest possible support for this legislation, but we also want to make sure that there isn't unintended consequences of the legislation as well."

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim claimed the defence is a "relic of outdated thinking" and was effectively unnecessary.

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The man is thought to have been at the Arrowtown Bowls Club wedding.

Emergency services were called to the scene about 5.30pm.

The man was training for a surf lifesaving event.

The NZDF went to court to prevent the Herald from publishing details about the soldier.

An acclaimed Australian author has appeared in court on alleged child exploitation offences.

Craig Silvey, who has penned popular coming-of-age novels including Jasper Jones, Runt and Honeybee, faced a Perth court this afternoon accused of distributing and possessing child exploitation material.

Police allege the 44-year-old was found actively engaging with child exploitation offenders online.

READ MORE: Surprise findings on how social media affects kids' mental health

He was immediately arrested and his electronic devices were seized.

The father-of-three has a young writer's award named in his honour and often visits schools.

Two of his books have been adapted into feature films and Jasper Jones is included in high school curriculum across the country.

During his bail application, the court heard claims Silvey has access to means of support overseas and is considered a flight risk.

He was granted bail this afternoon.

Silvey is yet to enter a plea to the charges and is due back in court next month.

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A man has been charged over an alleged conspiracy to murder in Sydney's south-west.

Investigations began on December 28 last year when police began receiving information about an alleged plan to murder a 34-year-old man.

Officers then conducted a vehicle stop on Campbelltown Road in Woodbine about 4pm yesterday.

READ MORE: NSW Fair Trading warns shoppers after online store attempts to profit from Bondi terror attack

A 26-year-old man, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was arrested.

Police searched the vehicle and seized mobile phones, a balaclava and black clothing.

He was taken to Campbelltown Police Station and charged with conspiring and agreeing to murder, and participation in a criminal group contributing to criminal activity.

A search warrant was executed on a home in Bloodwood Place at Bradbury about 5pm where police seized a CCTV system, prohibited drugs and additional clothing.

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All items have been taken for further examination.

The Bradbury man was refused bail and is set to face Campbelltown Local Court today.

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The 13-hour international flight was turned back after pilots detected an unusual odour’.