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Sydney news: Strike Force Hawk officers arrest 15 men in Firearm Prohibition Order raids

Gang squad detectives conduct a search warrant at a man's home, who was later charged.  (Supplied: NSW Police)

Here's what you need to know this morning.

Organised crime gang members arrested in raid blitz 

Fifteen men who police say are "the who's who of criminality" in Sydney's south-west have been charged after a week-long crackdown on organised crime. 

It came as police conducted 52 raids on people subject to Firearm Prohibition Orders, which allow police to conduct raids on their homes and cars without a warrant. 

Gang crime squad, Strike Force Hawk, seized $150,000 in cash, 150 grams of methylamphetamine, 1.5 kg of cannabis, weapons and vehicles. 

Seven men were also arrested after a clandestine drug lab was discovered. 

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said they were disrupting the operational business of organised crime gangs. 

"Last week, we targeted the who's who of criminality in Sydney's south-west: Rebels, Finks and Lone Wolves OMCG — you'd be hard-pressed to find someone in that world who didn't get a home visit," Assistant Commissioner Smith said.

"It is the first time the organisation has sought to utilise general duty officers and criminal investigator staff in such a method outside of specialist units." 

Police say more charges are expected, as the investigation continues. 

Unions vote for continuous industrial action

Unions across the state are calling for pay increases in line with inflation. (ABC News: Kamin Gock)

Unions across New South Wales voted unanimously yesterday in favour of continuous industrial action if wages weren't increased.

Currently, the public sector has a wage cap of 2.5 per cent but the annual inflation rate in Australia has surged to 5.1 per cent.

Unions are calling for the pay cap to be scrapped and workers' salaries to be increased in line with inflation to help address cost-of-living pressures and staffing shortages across multiple industries.

"Our pandemic heroes can't afford to pay their bills, on top of that they can't afford to live where they work," Unions NSW secretary Mark Morey said.

"What I'm worried about is how do we retain skilled teachers, nurses, cleaners, prison officers, bus drivers to do their jobs."

More than 30,000 members of the Public Service Association, including child protection and court staff, plan to walk off the job for 24 hours on Wednesday.

Pay quarantine bill, Treasurer urges

Mr Kean says the government will continue to chase unpaid quarantine bills. (ABC News)

People who stayed in COVID-19 quarantine facilities in New South Wales need to pay up, Treasurer Matt Kean says.

There are $58.6 million in outstanding bills with local residents owing $32.1 million and those from interstate and overseas yet to pay $26.5 million.

"New South Wales did the right thing by Australians wanting to return to the country and now we call on those Australians to do the right thing by the people of New South Wales," Mr Kean said.

"We expect the other states and territories who stepped back when New South Wales stepped up to do their bit, pay their bills."

A spokesperson for Revenue NSW said that while some people were on a payment plan, about $52 million was being recovered through thousands of Debt Recovery Orders.

Mr Kean said the government would continue to chase overdue payments. 

Cabinet to consider Crown casino licence 

Last year, the gaming regulator found Crown was unfit to hold a casino licence. (AAP: Mick Tsikas)

New South Wales cabinet is due to decide today at their regular meeting whether to ratify a plan to grant Crown Resorts a conditional gaming licence for Barangaroo in Sydney. 

The licence would be for a set period of time with the potential for it to become fully credentialed.

It's been a year since Crown was deemed unfit to hold a licence by the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority.

An inquiry heard allegations of money laundering and links to international crime syndicates.

While the decision meant the casino component of Crown's $2.2 billion skyscraper on Sydney Harbour was blocked from opening, the hotel and restaurants within the building were free to operate.

Cabinet will discuss plans for a conditional licence before Crown is fully credentialed. 

Driver escapes injury after colliding with tree

The driver escaped without injuries.  (ABC News)

A driver has escaped injury after colliding with a fallen tree at Cranebrook.

Emergency services responded shortly after 5am after reports that a large tree had fallen on Northern Road due to strong winds.

A spokesperson said a female driver escaped injuries.

The tree also brought down several power lines and has completely blocked the road in both directions.

Traffic is being diverted around the incident.

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