The hotly contested by-election for the seat of Kiama, formerly held by convicted sex offender Gareth Ward, is now underway. Premier Chris Minns has kicked off the campaign, announcing Katelin McInerney as the Labor candidate, while independent Kate Dezarnaulds has also thrown her hat into the ring. The Liberals and Greens will announce their candidates soon, likely to be Serena Copley and Tonia Gray. The poll will be held on September 13. 
 

Still on state politics, we look at the resignation of local Liberal MP Wendy Tuckerman from the shadow front bench, indicating some work is still needed on fostering cohesion within the party.
 

For NRL St George Illawarra fans a recent win and the re-signing of coach Shane Flanagan is unlikely to be enough to save their current season, but will no doubt stimulate much debate on what the road ahead will be for the team to return to the top of the competition ladder.
 

Hope you find plenty to enjoy in the newsletter this week.
 

Have a great week, and remember, if you have a story idea drop an email to 973@your.abc.net.au.
 

Nick McLaren,
 

ABC Illawarra acting editor.

After Ward resigned over a sexual assault conviction, it is expected to be a tight race for the NSW seat, which was decided by fewer than 700 votes in the last election.

Well before Gareth Ward's conviction for serious sex crimes, he was one of the most powerful politicians in NSW. His political career unravelled until he stood alone and, finally, in the dock.

A University of Wollongong student allegedly found with 3D-printed guns in his dorm room has been granted conditional bail. 
 

Patients and their families navigating the mental health system in regional NSW say critical gaps in care are leading to deadly consequences for people with complex needs.

About 100,000 Telstra customers in southern NSW were without internet and phone coverage for more than an hour after an incident at the telco's North Nowra exchange site.

A NSW parliamentary inquiry into the childcare sector has been told of a number of regulation breaches by the owner of Little Zak's Academy.