New South Wales

Harsher penalties for New South Wales drink and drug drivers come into force on May 20, with drivers facing instant licence loss for even 'low-range' offences. Update: This story has been updated, as the laws come into force on May 20. It was originally published with the headline: 'NSW passes tougher drink driving penalties'. The opening par has been adjusted.

The New South Wales Government has announced a major election promise today, confirming a not insignificant investment in its electric vehicle fleets and the state's growing EV charging network. If successful in the March 23 election, the NSW Liberal party claims its Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Plan will include a $3 million co-investment in fast charging points on major regional corridors, along with $2 million on chargers in commuter car parks.

Sydney drivers will take part in a trial of world-first mobile phone monitoring cameras, as part of a New South Wales Government push to curb distracted driving. The pair of new cameras will be deployed on the M4 and Anzac Parade from January 2019, but motorists caught during the trial won't be fined.

The New South Wales Police Force has confirmed it will use the BMW 530d as Highway Patrol cars, becoming the second Australian authority to use the German sedan. "We are honoured by our association with the New South Wales Police Force and delighted that our officers will be driving BMW’s safe, efficient and dynamically superior vehicles," said Marc Werner, BMW Group Australia's CEO.

Mercedes-AMG has aggressively expanded its model line-up in recent years, pushing downmarket with a range of V6-powered '43' models. Now, it's expanding its footprint in a very different way, with a dedicated full-service dealership in Sydney. Rather than rubbing shoulders with four-cylinder A-Classes and diesel vans, the showroom will be dedicated to high-performance cars with a three-pointed star on their nose.