Here's what you need to know this morning.
Government accused of wasting millions on shoddy PPE
The NSW opposition has accused the state government of wasting more than three quarters of a billion dollars on PPE that had to be thrown out because it did not meet standards.
The discarded equipment included more than $150 million of face masks.
"It's staggering that the government would waste hundreds of millions of dollars on buying PPE that didn't even meet regulations," Opposition Leader Chris Minns said.
"That money could have gone into bolstering our critical health resources."
He said workers left without suitable protection at the peak of the pandemic would be "understandably furious" to learn the government had been throwing out PPE.
A spokesperson for NSW Health said the faulty equipment was sourced by a "whole of government" procurement group, led by NSW Police.
"The focus for all procurement was on safeguarding the people of NSW," the spokesperson said.
Students left stranded as light rail replacement buses run late
The Inner West Council says replacement buses for the suspended light rail service are running late and causing students to miss class.
The Inner West Light Rail service was decommissioned in November after cracks were found in all 12 vehicles.
Residents now say replacement bus services are running up to 90 minutes late.
Mayor Darcy Byrne wants a special school bus service to make sure students do not miss class.
"We discovered in the first week of term one that the government has not provided bus services and kids are being left on the side of the road," he said.
Transport for NSW said no student would be turned away from any public transport, but acknowledged there were fewer services due to the pandemic.
Homes flooded after water main burst
Several homes on Sydney's North Shore have been flooded overnight.
Emergency services were called to Chase Road at Turramurra after a water main burst.
Properties on Cudgee Street were also impacted.
State Emergency Service volunteers are assisting with the clean-up operation.
Opera House turns red to mark year of the tiger
The sails of the Sydney Opera House have been bathed in red light to celebrate the beginning of the Lunar New Year.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the festival was an important one for NSW.
"I am delighted to see people from our East and South-East Asian communities and from all backgrounds coming out and connecting with family and friends to welcome in the year of the tiger," he said.
He thanked the communities for helping to keep people safe during the pandemic and he said he looked forward to welcoming back visitors from Asia.
Legendary live music venue to close
Popular live music venue The Lansdowne Hotel, at Broadway in Sydney, is closing its doors.
In a post on social media, the owners said they had decided not to renew their lease after the landlord signalled a room used for live music would be closed to build more hostel accommodation.
"This was not part of our vision for the Lansdowne and as such we have decided to call time on our custodianship of his iconic live music venue," the post from owners Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham said.
The owners said music events booked until April would go ahead.
Armed hold-up at Sydney petrol station
Police are investigating an armed robbery at a service station in Sydney's south-west overnight.
Two men, whose faces were concealed, entered the store on Canterbury Road in Campsie just after midnight.
Police said they threatened the 63-year-old attendant with a knife.
The pair stole cash before fleeing the scene.
Police are asking anyone with dash-cam footage of the incident to come forward.
Ben Roberts-Smith trial continues
A serving SAS member will return to the witness box of a Sydney court today, as the defamation trial of decorated war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith continues.
The former soldier is suing The Age, The Canberra Times and The Sydney Morning Herald over stories published in 2018 that reported allegations of war crimes, bullying and domestic violence.
Yesterday the court heard for the first time from an SAS colleague who was on a 2009 mission when two Afghan men were killed as a compound was being cleared.
He told the court he witnessed Mr Roberts-Smith order another soldier to shoot a captive inside, then "frogmarch" a second outside and shoot him in the back.
The SAS witness will be cross-examined by Mr Roberts-Smith's barrister today.
