We don't see NS often, but this one felt similar to the last one. Dubious anagram indicators, repeated mechanisms ("seaman", "almost all"). At the same time, maybe that's just their thing. 9A had the double wordplay going on and 8A had the semi-&lit. BIBELOTS and AGOUTI were nicely clued for completely unfamiliar words! 25A has an incorrect enumeration, so maybe the editor just sailed it through.

Across

Haply ring flange in an Australian tree-dwelling marsupial (6,9)
FLYING PHALANGER — anagram (haply?) of HAPLY RING FLANGE

Opening tool with gold and first go at water in cake with cream (6)
GATEAU — GATE (opening tool) AU (gold); G (first letter of gold) AT EAU (water)

Seasoning or, for example, an initially optional spices (8)
OREGANOS — OR EG (for example) AN OS (first letters of optional spices)

OK in narrow fastening cord passing the hand lightly over the surface (8)
STROKING — STRING (narrow fastening cord) containing OK

Confused with a doctor, went to the front (6)
ADDLED — A DD (doctor) LED (went to the front)

Seaman employing but doing a lot of harm to (7)
ABUSING — AB (seaman) USING (employing)

Leaves behind the barren, dry areas (7)
DESERTS — double def.

Seaman has a setback but it grows less (6)
ABATES — AB (seaman) A reversal (back) of SET

Harshness from cray bite (8)
ACERBITY — anagram (from?) of CRAY BITE

Shocking almost all take up weapons in first group (8)
ALARMING — AL (all without last letter) ARM (take up weapons) IN G (first letter of group)

Make a quick reply in the liquid-distilling vessel (6)
RETORT — double def.

Entreat year-long busy chief law minister (8,7)
ATTORNEY GENERAL — anagram (busy) of ENTREAT YEAR LONG

Down

Plan it! Can be easily directed (6)
PLIANT — anagram (can be) of PLAN IT

Previous change could turn poisonous snake-like (8)
VIPEROUS — anagram (change) of PREVIOUS

A type of rodent with a joint inflammation, one (6)
AGOUTI — A GOUT (joint inflammation) I (one)

The endless and rough from side to side (7)
THROUGH — TH (the without last letter) ROUGH

Make unfriendly almost all that is roughly neat (8)
ALIENATE — AL (all without last letter) IE (that is) anagram (roughly) of NEAT

In the left and a long distance from the ocean (6)
INLAND — IN L (left) AND

The furthest away are oddly mere tots! (8)
REMOTEST — anagram (oddly) of MERE TOTS

Stole baby’s meal requirement, returned with household ornaments (8)
BIBELOTS — reversal (returned) of STOLE BIB (baby's meal requirement)

Without knowing, changed since ten (8)
NESCIENT — anagram (changed) of SINCE TEN

I’m better but still make a sharp taste (8)
EMBITTER — anagram (but still?) of IM BETTER

Army gas made from South American striped feline mammals (7)
MARGAYS — anagram (made) of ARMY GAS

Start operating or put the top large tea and coffee maker in operation (4,2)
TURN ON — T (first letter of top) URN (large tea and coffee maker) ON (in operation)

Listener on the North East right is making money (6)
EARNER — EAR (listener) NE (north east) R (right)

Road surface binding material for a car-mat (6)
TARMAC — anagram (material for?) CAR MAT

Sydney Morning Herald 2025-07-03

A little bit clumsy. Lots of unindicated anagrams, superfluous clue text, and possible double-up between clue and definition. 24A was interesting with a double wordplay! Not sure about the definition of 14D, I feel like it should be measurers, not to mention it's one of the unindicated anagrams.

Across

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Sydney Morning Herald 2025-07-03

Across