A great white shark has leapt into the air just metres from a tourist boat off the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.

Calypso Charters tour guide Andrew Wright said he was pulling in a bait line on Thursday when the three-metre shark jumped out of the ocean near Port Lincoln.

"There was lots of cheering and excitement, so everyone was certainly impressed," Mr Wright said.

READ MORE: Unprovoked shark attacks increased in 2021 — here's why

People in the shark cage below the water's surface also got an up-close view of the great white.

"It's good viewing from the boat but also in the cage. So, all in all, it was a good day," Mr Wright said.

He said the sight was a rare one.

READ MORE: More wild weather hitting Victoria after flooding and power outages experienced overnight

"Seeing them jump out of the water like that, particularly at close range, is certainly not a normal occurrence."

Victoria is experiencing more wild weather, with flooding in multiple Melbourne suburbs, after storms caused damage across the state yesterday, leading to flash flooding and thousands losing power.

As many as 18,000 Victorian homes powered by PowerCorp lost power across the state last night while the city of Geelong was left partly underwater and areas felt cyclone-strength wind gusts.

The Bureau of Meteorology this morning warned more severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and heavy rainfall were headed for the centre and east of the state, with the peak risk in Melbourne predicted to be in the early to mid-afternoon.

READ MORE: Victoria records 12,755 new COVID-19 cases and 39 deaths

https://twitter.com/vicsesnews/status/1486907621550473216

Melbourne began being lashed by heavy rain and winds shortly after lunchtime, soon after dark skies set in and the temperature has dropped from in the 30s to about 22C.

Shortly after the SES has issued a Watch and Act warning for Greater Melbourne.

The city's west is being hit the hardest, with particular warnings issued for the suburbs of Werribee and Lara.

https://twitter.com/BOM_Vic/status/1486850025380626433

However, flash flooding has been seen occurring right across Melbourne, from Werribee to Mentone in the south-east and McKinnon.

Closer to Melbourne's centre, the rain has seeped inside Chadstone Shopping Centre, with an area outside Myer seen under inches of water.

Wheelie bins have been seen floating down a street in one part of Melbourne, while a man has filmed himself kayaking down a street, claiming he "needed to get to the shops".

https://twitter.com/VicTraffic/status/1486952852039868418

A number of Melbourne roads have been closed due to the rain.

The Burke Road offramp is one of several sections of road that have been closed due to flooding.

Closures are also in place on the Maroondah Highway in Healesville, Manningham Road in Bulleen, Glenferrie Road in Toorak, North Road in Murrumbeena and on the Princes Freeway in Pakenham.

https://twitter.com/reid_butler9/status/1486944161324756992

An Uber became stuck under a bridge in an Elwood canal filled with floodwaters.

Water was seen getting almost up the four-wheel-drive's door handles.

The driver and passenger had to climb out the car's windows and onto the roof before they were pulled to safety on the overhead bridge by passersby.

https://twitter.com/shanemcinnes/status/1486901906857365510

The SES responded to 384 calls for help overnight, predominantly for flooding, fallen trees and building damage mainly around the Geelong and Bellarine Peninsula areas in the state's south-west.

The SES has had more than 899 calls for help since storms began at 9pm on Wednesday.

Heavy rain in Geelong caused the roof of a Belmont Ten Pin Bowling centre to collapse.

No one was injured.

Geelong experienced a massive 38mm of rain in just 20 minutes at one point in the evening, according to Weatherzone.

Meanwhile, a wind gust of 139km/h ripped through Horsham in the state's west and a gust of 133km/h hit Swan Hill just after 8.30pm, which are equivalent to the wind gusts experienced in a Category Two cyclone.

Vivid lightning strikes were seen across the state, particularly Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs, with two houses struck by bolts of lightning.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will today announce a record $1 billion funding package to help save the Great Barrier Reef.

Mr Morrison will announce the largest single investment into the coral reef ecosystem during a visit to Cairns in Far North Queensland.

The cash injection will be spread over nine years and fund projects and research aimed at protecting the reef.

READ MORE: US response on Ukraine offers little optimism, Russia says

Over the past nine years, it has significantly declined and huge slabs of coral have been wiped out from severe bleaching.

The Federal Government plans to spend $580 million on water management to rectify contaminated run-offs and erosion.

The plan also aims to tackle the threats of invasive species and prevent illegal fishing.

The reef supports 64,000 jobs and is a major tourism attraction that pumps about $6.4 billion into the Australian economy every year.

Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley told Today that the government had been planning the package for months.

"It's involved close consultation with our scientific community and it continues the programs with our traditional owner … and our scientists who are breeding IVF coral with spawn captured across the reef."

READ MORE: First records of killer whales hunting largest animals on Earth

With climate change driving a rise in ocean temperatures, the reef is at high risk of further destruction including large-scale coral bleaching.

Ms Ley said the extra funding would help the reef maintain its UNESCO world heritage status.

"We know the reef is threatened by climate change, as are every single other coral reefs in the world.

"So what we are doing is building the most healthy, resilient reef possible."

Convicted serial killer Regina Arthurell has been charged with sexually touching a man in crisis accommodation in Sydney's south-west.

Arthurell once known as Reginald but began transitioning after serving almost 24 years behind bars for the murder of her fiancee Venet Mulhall at Coonabarabran in 1995.

Last Thursday, a man, 55, went to police and told them that on several occasions he had been sexually touched by a woman he knew.

The matter was referred to officers from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad's Extended Supervision Order Investigation Team (ESOIT), who commenced an investigation.

This morning, Arthurell was arrested at a recovery residence in Campbelltown.

She was taken to Campbelltown Police Station, where she was charged with four counts of sexually touching another person without consent.

She was refused bail and is due to appear at Campbelltown Local Court later today.

Arthurell, 75, was placed under an extended supervision order last year after a Supreme Court judge found it would put the community at risk to set her free.

"In light of the established pattern of fatal harm being repeatedly inflicted by the defendant that began approaching 50 years ago, for her to be completely at liberty in the community would simply be far too dangerous," Justice Richard Button ruled.

She is subject to 47 conditions, which include electronic monitoring and alcohol rehabilitation.

Ahead of that decision, Arthurell had pleaded for more freedoms, saying she had trouble making friends or using a mobile phone after spending more than two decades behind bars.

Former television host Andrew O'Keefe has been refused bail after he was charged with the alleged assault of a woman earlier this week.

Today a Sydney court heard about his history of mental health issues and ice addiction, and more details about the alleged assault in his apartment were revealed.

O'Keefe – who appeared on Weekend Sunrise, hosted Deal or No Deal, and was an ambassador for White Ribbon, a charity that aims to end violence against women – was charged with six offences yesterday.

His lawyer Sharon Ramsden told Central Local Court the woman he allegedly choked had come to his house in Sydney's CBD uninvited.

She said O'Keefe had sustained significant injuries while acting in self-defence and argued he had never been criminally convicted of anything.

His lawyer also tended medical reports about his mental health and drug addictions, including ice.

The police prosecutor said there are photos of the alleged victim's injuries, including significant marks to her face and legs, and that she had to bite O'Keefe to break free.

O'Keefe was on the brink of tears and shaking his head during the hearing today.

He rolled his eyes and sighed loudly when hearing the case against him.

At one stage he said: "Oh god, this is ridiculous" and "there was no choke".

He complained it was an "injustice" when he was refused bail.

Despite his significant mental health problems, a magistrate refused his application to be released and found the prosecution case was relatively strong.

He said O'Keefe would likely be jailed if found guilty.

O'Keefe's lawyer hopes he will be released later so he can go to rehab.

E-scooter-related injuries are on the rise in Queensland, and the state government is considering new ways to combat dangerous riding.

With the rise in popularity of the eco-friendly transport alternative, hospitalisations of scooter-related injuries have steadily increased.

At least 3 per cent of Queenslanders say they use e-scooter regularly, double the national average.

READ MORE: First records of killer whales hunting largest animals on Earth

Last year, at least 529 people were hospitalised due to scooter crashes, with 68 hospitalised due to falls on the Gold Coast this holiday period alone.

People have been captured waving in and out of traffic, riding through torrential rain, or driving with children without helmets, behaviour transport and main roads minister Mark Bailey says must change.

READ MORE: What we know about BA.2 variant, the 'stealth' version of Omicron

"There's no doubt we'd like to see less injuries and less crashes," Mr Bailey said.

"It's still a new form of tech and so the rules need to evolve to make it safe."

New rules in consideration include cracking down on drink driving, lowering speed limits and increasing awareness of safe driving through education campaigns.

READ MORE: US Navy wants to get crashed stealth fighter back – before China can

The Brisbane Electric Scooter Association's Brendan Hemmings said as the popularity of e-scooters continue to rise, certain rule changes were a necessary step forward.

"In the last year I've done as many kilometres on my scooter as in my car," he said.

"The three main things we're looking for are better education, better awareness and access to better footpaths and terrain."

Improper use of e-scooters also poses a risk to the elderly and people with a disability, with penalties considered for those who leave parked scooters lying on footpaths.

Harsher penalties for drink-riding, mandatory bells and horns and a revision of the current 25 km/hour speed limit are also on the cards.

"With scooters becoming more capable and safer you'll see more opportunity to use them on roads and dedicated bike lanes," Mr Hemmings said.

Western Australia has recorded nine new local COVID-19 cases, and the state's Premier Mark McGowan has outlined the plan for when cases inevitably spike.

Of today's cases, all are linked, but some were infectious in the community. There are two people in hospital with the virus.

"These numbers this far into an Omicron outbreak are pleasing," Mr McGowan said, adding it is not a time for complacency.

READ MORE: What we know about BA.2 variant, the 'stealth' version of Omicron

He has also outlined new rules around testing, isolating and other restrictions which will be introduced when cases inevitably rise when the borders open and the "caseload is higher".

"Omicron infected tens of thousands daily, requiring isolation of tens of thousands more," he said.

"Many workplaces and supply chains were dramatically affected. We want to do what we can to minimise those impacts."

"Firstly, casual contact will no longer be considered. That means being at an exposure site the same time as a positive case will not be a reason for forced testing and isolation," he said.

READ MORE: US Navy wants to get crashed stealth fighter back – before China can

People will be asked to keep checking in to venues so they can monitor for symptoms.

"Secondly, the definition for close contacts will change," Mr McGowan said.

A household member or intimate partner of a person with COVID-19 is still considered a close contact, as is anyone who has had "a close personal interaction" with someone during their infectious period.

This is defined as 15 minutes of face-to-face contact without a mask.

The isolation period for close contacts will also be reduced from 14 to 7 days in some circumstances.

READ MORE: First records of killer whales hunting largest animals on Earth

Like most other states and territories, WA will introduce isolation exemptions for asymptomatic close contacts in some critical industries.

Some of these industries include: "transport, food beverages pharmaceutical supplies, agriculture, critical resources, power utilities and waste management services, corrective and judicial services, police and emergency services, schools and childcare, healthcare services, social assistance at residential care, veterinary services, funeral, crematorium and cemetery services and defence and defence-related industries," Mr McGowan said.

None of these changes will be implemented until there are more cases in the state. WA will also shift to using rapid tests as a diagnostic tool and not rely solely on PCRs.

The full and detailed breakdown of these restrictions, and when they will be implemented, will be available on the Healthy WA website.

By RNZ The government’s decision to move forward with Auckland light rail is nothing more than a “dream”, the National Party says.The government has chosen to build a half tunnelled – half surface light rail system from the…

Thousands of Kiwi parents are applying for mask exemptions for their children before schools return next week. But an organisation that presides over applications says none will be processed because the matter should be resolved…