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Sydney news: Union says Qantas deal could slash staff wages in half

Qantas has taken a staff disagreement to the Fair Work Commission. (ABC News)

Here's what you need to know today:

Qantas in stand-off with 2,500 staff

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has accused Qantas of trying to "force through" a deal that could slash wages by 50 per cent for staff.

The airline filed an application to the Fair Work Commission to terminate its enterprise agreement with long haul cabin crew.

It said the move was a "last resort to change restrictive and outdated rostering processes" after a negotiation process with international flight crew.

Australian Council of Trade Unions president Michele O'Neil said some staff could lose half their pay if the application is approved.

"If the company succeeds in terminating the agreement, then it permanently rips up their current paying conditions that have been negotiated over many years," she said.

Qantas said it was taking the necessary steps to restart the international travel network in a post-COVID world.

Unqualified doctor sentenced in court

A woman worked more than 100 shifts at Bankstown Lidcombe Hospital while she was not qualified to practice medicine. (Facebook: Bankstown Lidcombe Hospital)

A woman who was not qualified to practice medicine but worked more than 100 shifts at a Sydney hospital has been sentenced to serve a two-year jail sentence in the community. 

A Sydney court heard Zhi Sin Lee failed her Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of NSW in 2020.

However, she still accepted a role as a medical intern last year at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital in south-west Sydney.

She worked 126 shifts between January and August before the hospital terminated her employment after it was revealed she was not registered.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency charged Ms Lee with falsely claiming to be qualified to practise.

She pleaded guilty in November, and on Thursday at the Sydney Downing Centre, she was sentenced to two years' imprisonment to be served in the community, and fined $10,000.

Ms Lee will also pay the health regulator's legal costs.

Probe into baby found in freezer continues

The Corowa house where the baby's body was found. (ABC News: Mikaela Ortolan)

Strike Force Walumil has been formed to investigate the death of a baby boy whose body was found in a freezer. 

Police officers were called to a home in Corowa, a border town suburb west of Albury, after concerns were raised for the welfare of a three-month-old boy.

They searched the home and found the baby's body wrapped in plastic inside the freezer.

The home was declared a crime scene and is being forensically examined.

A 40-year-old woman was arrested. She has since been released from custody. 

High-ranking cop leaves police force

Deputy Commissioner Mick Willing has left the force. (AAP: Joel Carrett)

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Mick Willing has left the force after more than 30 years on the job.

Mr Willing was one of three contenders for the recently-filled commissioner position, which was taken by Karen Webb.

Acting Commissioner Webb informed colleagues of Mr Willing's departure on Thursday afternoon, in a brief email.

"I wish to advise Deputy Commissioner Michael Willing APM served his last day with the New South Wales Police Force, Wednesday 19 January 2022," she wrote.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to wish Mick and his family all the best in their future endeavours, and thank him for his service."

Mr Willing, the former head of the homicide and terrorism squads, was tipped as the favourite to succeed former commissioner Mick Fuller under the premiership of Gladys Berejiklian.

But last month, Premier Dominic Perrottet chose to appoint Ms Webb, who will be officially sworn in next month.

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