Here's what you need to know this morning.
Top musicians to play at free Lismore concert
A free concert will be held in Lismore next month to lift the spirits of those affected by the recent floods, with performances from big names including Grinspoon and Daryl Braithwaite.
The One From The Heart concert will be held between midday and 9:30pm on Sunday, May 15 at Lismore Showgrounds, with families from flooded areas entitled to four free tickets.
Other acts include Lime Cordiale, The Buckleys, Darlinghurst, Paul Kelly and Dan Kelly, Sheppard and Jon Stevens.
A further 1,000 tickets will be available to people outside the flooded areas, from Moshtix on Saturday, April 30 at 8am.
Education Minister accuses teachers' union of 'blackmail'
NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell has accused the teachers' union of using students and parents to "blackmail" the government into agreeing to their demands for a higher pay increase.
"The tactics and threatening approach from this union and their leadership are incredibly disappointing after two years of home learning when respect for the profession has been at an all-time high," Ms Mitchell said.
She said the government had already given teachers a 2.5 per cent pay increase this year, along with other public sector workers.
"The union is now asking for more than nurses and other frontline workers who have worked tirelessly during the pandemic," she said.
The NSW Education Department has appealed to the NSW Teachers Federation to "put students first and call off the planned industrial action".
The president of the NSW Teachers Federation, Angelo Gavrielatos, said teachers were struggling with crippling workloads and staff shortages.
"The disruption on the fourth of May pales into insignificance compared to the daily disruption being experienced in our schools due to teacher shortages," he said.
Man dies in Ambarvale house fire
A man believed to be in his 30's has died in a house fire in Sydney's south-west overnight.
Emergency crews attended a home engulfed in fire in Ambarvale just after 10pm.
Firefighters forced their way into the house and found a man who was unconscious.
The man, believed by NSW Police to be the sole resident, was unable to be revived and died at the scene.
Police said they were investigating the cause of the fire.
Neighbour Jason said he tried to put out the fire.
"I raced around in my car to find the house totally ablaze … there was little I could do which was so frustrating … It was very shocking," he said.
Actor's fall ends Sydney sold-out show
Last night's performance of the Sydney Theatre Company's production The Picture of Dorian Gray ended abruptly when its sole cast member Eryn Jean Norvill, slipped and fell on stage.
An STC spokesperson told the ABC that about four minutes before the end of the sold out show, Norvill fell to the ground.
The spokesperson said the remainder of the show was cancelled out of caution.
She said the actor had "been medically assessed and cleared and is now resting at home".
Those in the audience at the time were reportedly initially unsure whether her fall was part of the show, saying when she hit the ground she lay there "very still" on the stage.
Police increase reward over missing mother to $500,000
A reward for information on the whereabouts of missing mother Marion Barter has been increased to $500,000 as the NSW State Coroner this week resumes an inquest into her mysterious disappearance.
Inquiries found the schoolteacher, 51, changed her name to Florabella Natalia Marion Remakel, without telling her friends and family, before leaving on a planned holiday to Europe in 1997.
Investigators believe she returned to Australia shortly after without telling those closest to her.
She was last seen by her friend, who dropped her at a Queensland bus depot on June 22, 1997.
Inquires at the time revealed Ms Barter left Australia for the UK the same day under her new name, with her outgoing passenger card saying she was divorced and intended to reside in Luxembourg.
She is believed to have returned on August 2, 1997, with an incoming passenger card stating she was married and resided in Luxembourg.
Her card was used to withdraw cash in Byron Bay, with police investigating whether it was Ms Barter who used it, or someone else.
She was reported missing by family members and her case has been reinvestigated by police.
Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Nigel Warren, said any new information regarding Ms Barter's disappearance would be welcomed.
"We are still working to establish Ms Barter's movements and whereabouts upon returning to Australia in late July or early August 1997 and wish to speak with anyone close to her during that time," Mr Warren said.
Marion's daughter Sally Leydon hopes to finally get answers.
"My mother's behaviour before leaving Australia was out of character and we know she was seen around the Southport area inside a vehicle with an unknown man," Ms Leydon said.
"She also missed my brother's birthday, something I know she would never do, and had her bank account drained in increments once she was reported missing."
In the weeks leading up to her disappearance, she was observed by a family member leaving a service station in a red Honda Civic Breeze with a tall male passenger in the vehicle.
Day two of ICAC hearing into Canada Bay Mayor
The NSW anti-corruption commission will resume its hearing into allegations that Canada Bay Mayor Angelo Tsirekas took bribes in return for helping developers fast-track their planning applications through council.
Day one of the inquiry heard that Cr Tsirekas had taken numerous overseas trips since 2015 with developers footing the bill for some of his flights, accommodation and entertainment.
The ICAC is examining claims that Cr Tsirekas failed to declare or manage any conflict of interest arising from his relationship with developers.
The first witness today will be Xiaolou (Belinda) Li, a former director of the collapsed iProsperity Group.
New life for an old hose
Old fire hoses no longer needed by NSW Fire and Rescue are finding a new lease of life at Taronga Zoo.
The donated hoses are refashioned into swings, hammocks and puzzles for some of the zoo's inhabitants
"Through the generosity of Fire and Rescue NSW, we have been able to create unique enrichment items for the zoo residents," Taronga Zoo CEO Cameron Kerr said.
Fire and Rescue NSW acting Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said a big part of a modern firefighter's role was about protecting the environment.
