Illawarra local news briefing: Thursday, November 5, 2026 - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Here's what's making news in the Illawarra region today.

Former Defence Force chief Chris Barrie says communities like Port Kembla need clearer answers about plans for an east coast submarine base.

He helped produce a community inquiry report released yesterday, warning a nuclear-powered submarine base could make Port Kembla a military target and calling for the AUKUS submarine program to be scrapped.

Admiral Barrie told the National Press Club no government or serving Defence personnel participated, leaving questions about government plans unanswered.

The government said its administration had not identified or investigated any potential locations and a decision was not due until the 2030s.

It said AUKUS had undergone public and private reviews.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park says he is concerned after a five-year-old boy was badly hurt in an e-bike strike in Tahmoor.

The boy is at Westmead Children's Hospital with serious leg and face injuries after being hit outside Tahmoor Public School on Tuesday afternoon.

Mr Park said increasing numbers of serious e-bike injuries were worrying.

"We need to make sure people are using these devices safely and effectively, we do not want to see young children hurt," he said.

Berry Uniting Church Reverend John Brentnall has criticised perceived security concerns that led to an exhibition memorialising children killed in Gaza being scrapped.

The Wall of Tears artwork lists the names of 18,500 Palestinian children killed since October 2023.

Its installation at Shoalhaven Regional Art Gallery was axed late last week after a council risk assessment deemed armed guards were required to safely host the event.

Reverend Brentnall said the exhibition would safely proceed at Uniting Church venues in Berry and Kiama.

Former NRL player Trent Merrin has been charged with manufacturing illegal peptides.

The former St George Illawarra Dragon was arrested on Tuesday following a months-long strike force investigation.

Detectives raided a Shell Cove home in July, with police images showing an alleged clandestine lab in a residential kitchen.

Police said a large number of peptide vials were also seized.

Mr Merrin's five charges included four counts of manufacturing goods for use in humans resulting in injury or harm.

Solicitor Paul McGirr told the ABC Mr Merrin intended to plead not guilty at Wollongong Local Court on November 24.

Independent Wollondilly MP Judy Hannan says she'll appeal to voters of all political persuasions as she launches her re-election campaign.

Her comments came as One Nation polls ahead of the Coalition statewide, with a September Resolve poll putting its support at 25 per cent.

One Nation has not announced a Wollondilly candidate, but won almost 12 per cent of the seat's primary vote in 2023.

Local voters also delivered its strongest upper house result statewide, at nearly 13 per cent.

Ms Hannan said she represented voters with many different political values.