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Lachlan LeemingNSW Political Correspondent

Lachlan Leeming is The Australian’s NSW political reporter. He has previously been a federal political reporter for The Daily Telegraph, working out of the Canberra press gallery. Over his career he has covered politics, local government, natural disasters, crime and court, both in the UK and throughout regional Australia.

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ExclusiveNation

28/3/17 Chair of the Panel, the Hon Morris Iemma speaking at the release of the Government's response to the report of the Greyhound Industry Reform Panel. Adam Yip/ The Manly Daily

Iemma’s access to NSW Premier revealed

Former NSW premier Morris Iemma’s access to senior government figures, including Premier Chris Minns, has been questioned following new correspondence being revealed.

Lachlan Leeming

BreakingPolitics

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos NOVEMBER 10 2025; Chris Minns, Premier of New South Wales, addresses the media in a press conference at the Sydney Metro Southwest project at the new Lakemba Station. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

New multibillion-dollar blowout hits Sydney’s Metro rail projects

Sydney’s Metro network faces a new $2.4bn funding blowout as the NSW government blames legal disputes and design changes for massive cost overruns.

Lachlan Leeming

ExclusivePolitics

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos JULY 16, 2024: Former NSW Treasurer and incoming Chair of the Climate Change Authority (as of August 5) Matt Kean gives the Keynote address at the Australian Clean Energy Summit 2024 at the ICC Darling Harbour. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

Climate Change Authority urged to review report after study retracted

The opposition has demanded an urgent review of Australia’s 2035 climate targets after a cited study was retracted for exaggerating economic damage projections.

Lachlan Leeming and Elizabeth Pike

ExclusiveNation

Net Zero Commission executive director Will Rayward-Smith. Picture: LinkedIn

Independence of net zero commission questioned

A NSW government body meant to provide ‘independent’ climate advice employs former climate strike participants and clean energy investors.

Lachlan Leeming

ExclusiveNation

A bushfire emergency was declared in Geraldton as fires burned dangerously close to homes. Picture: Facebook

Fears of a repeat of Black Summer fire season

NSW has failed to meet hazard reduction targets every year since Black Summer, as blazes across WA kill one.

Lachlan Leeming

Coal-fired powerRenewable energy & economy

Wholegreen Bakery owner Cherie Lyden in her cool room, expresses her concerns over the rising cost of electricity and the impact on her small business. Jane Dempster/The Australian.

New Eraring extension on cards

NSW risks power outages unless it speeds up infrastructure development or keeps using the Eraring power plant, says the national energy operator – with businesses under threat of cost blowouts.

James Dowling, Lachlan Leeming and Bimini Plesser

ExclusivePolitics

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - August 18, 2025: Alliance of Industry Associations including, BCA Chief Executive Bran Black, ACCI Chief Executive Officer Andrew McKellar, Innes Willox, CEO, Australian Industry GroupÃÂ and Matthew Addison, Chair of theÃ¢â¬Â¯Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) hold a press conference ahead of the Economic Reform RoundtableÃÂ at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Industry warns against NSW’s proposed AI rules

Business leaders unite to slam NSW’s groundbreaking AI workplace laws as a threat to commercial secrets and operational security across Australian industry.

Lachlan Leeming

ExclusivePolitics

NSW Young Labor President Caitlin Marlor addresses the branch's 2025 conference. Picture: Supplied

Young Labor to stamp out internal anti-Semitism

NSW Young Labor has unanimously passed a motion to combat anti-Semitism after warning that Jewish participation had declined amid ‘bigotry’ at branch meetings.

Lachlan Leeming

LegislationNation

Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Macquarie Point stadium debate in the house of assembly. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Timber jobs ‘facing the chop under revamped enviro laws’

Labor’s deal with the Greens to overhaul federal environmental laws has sparked fury from industry and state politicians who say 10,000 forestry jobs will disappear by 2027.

Lachlan Leeming

ExclusivePolitics

5 September 2025; Beyond the price tag: Organised crime's fiery grip on Australia's tobacco trade. Sources: iStock, Getty and Supplied. Artwork by Frank Ling. Ratio 16:9. For DIGITAL or PRINT. Snippets: 16:9 - 7f227ad49bec98af785e6e220072a849 4:3 - 0208b3363579295d2597a23bbb0fa598

‘Lost control’: Demand for probe into violent tobacco black market

As shopfronts are torched and crime rings reap billions, the Opposition has called for urgent Senate inquiry scrutiny of the ever-growing illicit tobacco trade across the nation.

Lachlan Leeming

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/lachlan-leeming