Treasurer Jim Chalmers is counting on the business sector to rescue Australia from its worst economic collapse since the 1990s recession, but hasn't ruled out further cost-of-living relief measures.

Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics yesterday showed living standards are going backwards and household spending has slumped.

Annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth unexpectedly fell to 0.8 per cent in September compared with 1 per cent in June, on the back of a limp 0.3 per cent growth in the economy last quarter.

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It indicated Australia's lowest annual economic growth outside of the pandemic since the recession of 1990, and the seventh consecutive quarterly decline in GDP per person.

The little expansion in the economy is being propped up by government spending and immigration.

The Albanese government's energy rebates have been credited with not only delivering relief for families, but have helping to keep headline inflation low.

Chalmers said without the public sector spending, the economy would have gone backwards.

Speaking yesterday, he said the federal government was looking to the private sector for an economic kickstart.

Chalmers is preparing both a mid-year financial update to be handed down in the coming weeks, and also a pre-election budget, scheduled for March.

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Today he refused to rule out a further round of cost-of-living relief measures.

'We are always looking for responsible ways to help people where we can.

"We have got really substantial budget constraints, and we want to make sure we are part of the solution not part of the problem when it comes to inflation."

But for the longer time, the government is banking on the business sector to pull Australia out of the economic doldrums.

"We acknowledge that as growth recovers in our economy the best kind of growth is private sector‑led growth," Chalmers said yesterday.

The shadow treasurer Angus Taylor said yesterday's data showed the government was failing in managing the economy. He warned the dependence on public spending and migration risked stoking inflation.

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South Australia Police has slammed a judge's decision to hand a failed senate candidate and anti-vaxxer who struck and scalped a pregnant police officer a suspended sentence.

In court yesterday, Raina Jane Cruise was handed a good behaviour bond by District Court Judge Joanne Deuter over the October 2021 attack in the Adelaide CBD.

In sentencing, Deuter said Cruise was "significantly intoxicated" at the time but that was no excuse for her "violent offending".

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The anti-vaxxer had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault over the attack on Constable Anthea Beck during a late-night altercation with police following an anti-vaccination rally.

Constable Beck suffered a number of injuries during the assault, including having hair torn from her scalp.

Cruise was already on a good behaviour bond at the time of the incident.

She's now agreed to a new one for three years, which includes a ban on consuming any alcohol and 100 hours of community service.

Deuter also handed Cruise a suspended sentence of three years and eight months' jail with a non-parole period of two years. A suspended sentence means the jail time will only be served if Cruise commits another offence.

Leaving court yesterday Cruise was asked if she wanted to say anything to her victim, Constable Beck.

"Ah yes, I would say don't vaccinate your daughter," she responded.

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In a statement issued this morning, Acting Police Commissioner Linda Williams called on the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to appeal Cruise's sentence.

Williams said the good behaviour bond wasn't in line with community standards and had distressed rank-and-file police officers.

"In an environment in which assaults against police are increasing, a suspended sentence in this case simply sends the wrong message and is totally unacceptable," Williams said in the statement.

"Potential offenders need to know that if they assault an emergency services worker there will be severe consequences, that they can expect a custodial sentence as the legislation allows.

"And police who place themselves in danger on every shift they work need to know they have the full support of the judicial system.

"The suspended sentence handed to Raina Jane Cruise, who was found guilty of a violent, sustained and cowardly attack on a female officer, has not met either of these basic expectations.''

Williams noted that she had asked her prosecutions team to examine the sentencing remarks and begin talks with the DPP with a view to appealing it.

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Dog owners have been put on notice over the "ongoing misuse" of dog waste dispensers which left a popular New South Wales beach trashed.

Bega Valley Shire Council posted a photo to Facebook showing scores of 'dog poo' bags littering Merimbula's Main Beach, about 525km south of Sydney.

In its post this week, the council told residents it was removing dog waste bag dispensers along Ocean Drive to combat the issue.

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"We need your help to tackle this issue! Remember, a proper pooch outing means packing your own dog waste bags and disposing of them responsibly in a bin," the council wrote.

"With summer around the corner, let's work together to keep Merimbula beautiful for all.

"Note: all bags pictured were found on one day, having been discarded in the dunes within 50 metres."

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The council urged residents to take their own dog bags in the future and to dispose of them correctly.

In a comment on the council post, the Far South Coast Landcare Association said the pictured bags were gathered in the sand dunes while members were removing invasive weeds last month.

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A milk bar worker has told how she jumped on top of an unknown man who shot paint at her in an attempted robbery in Melbourne's north-east.

Kiki Ling had just opened the milk bar on Heidelberg-Kinglake Road in Hurstbridge about 7.20am on November 24, when a man riding an electric scooter entered the store.

Wearing a balaclava and dressed in black, he approached Ling, demanding $25 and a free can of energy drink.

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When she refused, he pulled a large super-soaker out of a laptop bag and sprayed white paint on her and around the store.

"I thought it was chilli water but it was paint. I couldn't see and he took my phone from me," Ling said.

"I thought should I run and he was in front of the door. I just had a fight with him and I jumped on his back and grabbed his eye.

"He was strong so he threw me on the ground and started punching my head."

The 34-year-old worker attempted to restrain the man before he allegedly assaulted her and pulled down the store's shutter door, trapping them both inside.

During the assault, Ling was able to move the man's balaclava, revealing his face briefly to the CCTV camera.

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The man attempted to flee the scene when Ling grabbed his leg.

"I started screaming for help and he just started punching," she said.

"I tried to crawl and he pulled me back and kept punching my head and my face. It was very bad, I felt scared.

"When he tried to leave, I pulled his leg but he ran away."

She suffered facial injuries and bruising but didn't suffer any serious physical injuries.

Police say the man fled the scene, without the drink, on what is believed to be a black Hoverfly G4 electric scooter.

Detective Leading Senior Constable Daniel Vakulcyzk said the attack was unique and unfolded over three minutes.

"It's very unique, (the super soaker) was inside a laptop bag and he started squirting (the paint) everywhere," he said.

"He did pull down the shutter, which blocked his escape."

Investigators have released CCTV along with images of a man they believe can assist with their enquiries.

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He is described as being about 175cm tall, of solid build and aged in his 40s.

The man was wearing a black hoodie with white paint on it, dark grey pants, a black LA Raiders cap, black socks and no shoes.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV or dashcam footage, or any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.

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UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has been killed in what investigators suspect was a targeted shooting outside a Manhattan hotel where the US health insurer was holding an investor conference.

The killing was a "brazen, targeted attack", New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.

Thompson, 50, was set to speak at an investor meeting when he was gunned down about 6.45am (8.45pm AEDT) on Wednesday outside the New York Hilton Midtown by a shooter who fled on foot and then took an e-bike into Central Park, according to the New York Police Department.

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Thompson was taken to a hospital but could not be saved. Police were still searching for the shooter as of late morning and no arrests had been made.

Though officials said the attack appeared to be targeted, they did not yet have a motive for the shooting.

Mayor Eric Adams said police were reviewing evidence from the scene, including video.

"It seems to be clearly targeted by an individual and we will apprehend that individual," Adams said.

UnitedHealthcare is the insurance arm of the health care giant UnitedHealth Group.

The Minnesota-based company was scheduled to have its annual meeting with investors in New York City to update Wall Street on the company's direction and expectations for the coming year, according to a company media advisory. An announcement was made to attendees Wednesday morning that the conference was ending early.

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The Hilton is in a bustling part of Manhattan, a short walk from tourist sites such as the Museum of Modern Art and Rockefeller Centre, and often dense with tourists and office workers on weekday mornings.

The popular Rockefeller Centre Christmas Tree lighting is set to take place on Wednesday evening (Thursday morning AEDT).

Part of the block where the shooting took place was cordoned off with police tape, with a large contingent of police officers at the scene. Many security cameras are nearby.

Thompson had served as CEO for more than three years and had been with the company since 2004.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz tweeted that the state was "sending our prayers to Brian's family and the UnitedHealthcare team."

"This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota," the Democrat wrote.

UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the US and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs.

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A learner driver from Queensland has been arrested and charged following a lengthy cross-border police chase down the M1.

Footage obtained exclusively by 9News shows the Nissan driving southbound on the M1 towards Byron Bay yesterday evening.

Three of the car's tires had been popped, but the car continued sparking down the road ahead of a column of police cars.

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Other drivers on the road kept clear.

Police allege 31-year-old Aaron John Mannell was behind the wheel.

Police allege he crossed the NSW-Queensland border, was driving dangerously at speeds close to 150km/h and failed to stop.

The chase was eventually brought to an end after police deployed road spikes.

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Mannel faced court today and pleaded guilty to several charges relating to dangerous driving.

He pleaded not guilty to refusing a breath test and driving under the influence.

A court heard he has a criminal record in Queensland, for dangerous driving occasioning death in 2019.

He was refused bail with the magistrate labeling him a significant risk to the community.

A man with a background in martial arts has bravely defended his neighbour from an alleged home invasion in Sydney's Inner West.

Kelly McInerney was inside her Canada Bay home when she spotted an allegedly intoxicated man jump into the backyard on Monday evening. 

The man then allegedly broke the side gate, kicked in a door and burst into the family's lounge room.

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He was allegedly armed with a plank of wood.

"He charged down here and started smashing," McInerney told 9News. 

The woman, her husband, her daughter and pet dog ran for help.

"The neighbour's daughter runs over and knocks on our door," neighbour John Totaro told 9News.

"I said, 'What's wrong, darling?' She said, 'Someone's broken into our house'."

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Another neighbour, Brian, who has a brown belt in Jiu Jitsu, heard the commotion and leapt into action. 

"He jumped over from the fence, like a commando," Totaro said.

"He just became this completely different person," McInerney said. 

Totaro said Brian went into the home, jumped on top of the man and wrestled him. 

Asked if the man resisted after being grappled, Totaro said the alleged intruder "didn't want a bar of it".

Police arrived moments later, arresting a 37-year-old from Ireland.

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It's understood he had been playing golf at Massey Park Golf Club before making his way to Canada Bay.

He has been charged with aggravated breaking and entering.

McInerney said community spirit had never been stronger.

"Knock on a door and say, 'Hey, I need someone', and they were there, so that's beautiful.

"That's exactly what neighbourhoods should be about."