New South Wales

Western Australia is joining Queensland in implementing steeper fines and harsher penalties for motorists using their mobile phone while driving. From July 1, 2020, an on-the-spot fine of $1000 and four demerit points will apply to the offence of texting, emailing, using social media, watching videos or accessing the internet while driving. The current penalty for driver phone use in WA is a $400 fine and three demerit points.

Thousands of homes have been destroyed, 24 lives lost (at time of publishing) and millions of wildlife killed amid Australia's worst-ever bushfires, which have also seen holidaymakers and home owners stranded as a result of extensive road closures. Over six-million hectares of land have been destroyed by blazes across New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania and the ACT, many of them affecting popular tourist areas and rural hubs.

New South Wales (NSW) drivers will legally be able to pay for parking and drive-through meals using a mobile phone without fear of a $344 fine. State laws have today been revised so anyone touching their phone to make a payment while they're stationary and off the road in a carpark, drive-through, or driveway, will be safe from penalty. Drivers will also be allowed to access their digital licence for a NSW Police officer.

The Honda Civic Type R hot hatch has joined NSW Police ranks — but it’s not on the highway patrol fleet and its primary role will not be traffic enforcement. There are no lights, sirens or police radio installed, instead the Type R is a community liaison vehicle to be displayed at special events and is designed to break down barriers between the public and the men and women in blue.

Transport for New South Wales has announced a $10 million fund for connected and autonomous vehicle trials, as it looks to ramp up self-driving research within its borders. Released yesterday, the fund is part of a Connected and Automated Vehicles Plan outlining how to create a "sustainable transport system that improves on safety, efficiency and the customer experience" for users.