A man has been found dead following a house fire in a western Sydney suburb overnight. Emergency services responded to the blaze in Glenmore Park just before 1 a.m. Police discovered the unidentified man’s body in front of the partially burned property.
Amphetamine use rises among blue-collar workers
According to a report by the Australian Associated Press, there is a growing trend of methamphetamine use among Australian workers. The Drug Detection Agency, the largest workplace drug-testing provider in Australasia, released its latest findings for the final quarter of 2025/26 on Thursday.
The data reveals a sharp increase in the consumption of amphetamine-type stimulants, including methamphetamine, among the primarily blue-collar workforce undergoing testing. Amphetamine-type stimulants accounted for 60% of all positive tests in the June quarter, marking a significant 17.9% increase year-on-year.
Opioids, including oxycodone, represented 11.6% of positive tests, though usage has declined over the past year. Cocaine was detected in 8% of positive tests this quarter, showing an increase compared to the previous year. Cannabis was identified in 39% of positive tests, though annual usage saw a slight decrease.
Overall, drugs were detected in 3% of all screens conducted by the agency, a rate that remains consistent with previous quarters. Geographically, Western Australia recorded the highest rate of amphetamine-type stimulant use at 88.6%, while the four other mainland states all exceeded 50%. South Australia reported the highest cocaine detections, Queensland the highest cannabis detections, and Victoria the highest opioid detections. New South Wales ranked second for cocaine and opioids, third for cannabis, and fourth for methamphetamine.
Comedian Josh Thomas has expressed support for the Divine Playhouse, an LGBTQ+ theatre located in a converted Sydney church, following eviction notices from its landlord. The landlord, KCSYD Pty Ltd, has ordered the venue to cease what they term “offensive trade,” claiming it causes offense to “millions of Christian Australians.” The promoter and founder of the Divine Playhouse noted the venue faces immense legal, financial, and operational hurdles. Thomas has characterized the dispute as a “David vs Goliath” legal battle.
double quotation markThe tenants invested so much time and money into this venue in good faith…
Surely they knew it was going to be a queer venue? They’re a giant company – they have the resources to check who’s moving in.
It’s going to be a David vs Goliath legal battle.
Welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the overnight highlights, followed by Nick Visser with the day’s major developments.
Our top stories include comedian Josh Thomas’s response to the eviction of the Divine Playhouse, a fatal house fire in Sydney, and new data showing a concerning rise in workplace methamphetamine use, particularly in Western Australia.