News from Sydney: Fatal motorcycle accident in Bexley, Qantas boss hoping...

Here’s what you need to know this morning:

Motorcyclist dies after hitting the bar

A man aged 20 is dead after crashing his motorcycle into a telegraph pole in Bexley, south Sydney.

Emergency services were called to Forest Road after a motorcycle rider reportedly lost control.

The man died on the scene.

St. George Police Area Command Police are investigating whether the speed could have caused the crash.

Qantas “to come back stronger,” says Joyce

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce says he remains confident that the airline will return to 50 percent of its pre-pandemic domestic flight by Christmas.

In a full length business address in Sydney last night, Joyce said some key markets in Europe and the United States would likely remain closed for some time, likely until an effective vaccine arrived.

Mr Joyce tossed Queensland and Western Australia again over their border closings, saying state decisions were based on “politics and populism” rather than health risks.

But he said there is already a one-way street with New Zealand and the government is also talking about travel bubbles with some parts of Asia and the Pacific.

“Although 2020 was not the centenary year we planned, I know that the flying kangaroo will return stronger than ever, as will Australia,” he said.

Christmas parties adapt to COVID-19

Just as COVID-19 has turned workplace practices upside down, traditional year-end office parties will look very different this year.

Employers have to think outside the box, and large reception venues that typically host Christmas parties for hundreds of people at the same time have had to adapt.

Sara Anderson, the director of Binnowee Kindergarten in West Pennant Hills, and her 11 staff will mark the end of a hard year at work with a professionally-catered party in their home.

The number of people allowed to sit at a table in a large venue or restaurant has been increased from Friday to 10 to 30.

Events and corporate events can accommodate a total of 300 people, provided they stick to one person for every four square meters of indoor space or two square meters of outdoor space.

Sculpture moved by the sea

The seaside sculpture in Bondi has been postponed this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, but organizers hope it will be open to the public in early 2021.

More than 100 international and Australian artists were shown at this year’s exhibition and all of them remain in the program.

A large sculpture will initially be placed on the southern headland of Bondi in mid-November.

Artists visit elementary and secondary school students to hold sculpture workshops as part of a new contact program.