Australia news live: Minns says new powers to crack down on illegal NSW preaching venues will help fight hate speech ‘behind closed doors’

NSW premier said councils will have the power to cut off utilities if operators ignore planning laws and cease-use notices. Follow the latest updates liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVictoria premier returns to Bendigo home after evacuating during firesThe Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has posted a video on social media returning to her home in Bendigo, after she was among thousands forced to evacuate on Friday evening due to bushfires.You can see here that the fire is still in the landscape across Mount Alexander, and just on the other side of that ridge line is the beautiful community of Harcourt. It’s where the kids went to kinder.A lot of homes that have been lost, there’s going to be a big rebuild ahead. It’s heartbreaking. Like, I’m standing here in my back yard, right? Fire’s really close. My home’s still standing and my family is safe. To get a warning to be told that it is too dangerous to stay in your own home, that you must leave, and you mu...