A warning has been issued after a series of severe opioid overdoses occurred in Sydney's west last month.

Nitazenes, potent synthetic opioids, have been found in a cluster of 20 overdoses reported in the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District

The synthetic drug can be stronger than fentanyl and 100 times more potent than heroin, according to NSW Health.

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Nitazenes are also more likely to stop or slow down breathing.

"Nitazenes are extremely potent," NSW Health Chief Addiction Medicine Specialist Dr Hester Wilson said.

"It is important that people recognise the signs of an opioid overdose early and know how to respond.

"Opioids such as heroin can cause pin-point pupils, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, slowed breathing/snoring and skin turning blue/grey and can be life-threatening.

"One of the dangers of illicit drug supply is the strength and contents of the substance you are getting is unknown and can be inconsistent.

"In light of this detection, people who use drugs such as heroin should carry naloxone."

Investigations into the overdose cases are ongoing.

NSW Health recommends take-home naloxone as a life-saving measure as it can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose.

For more information visit NSW Health

National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline on 1800 250 015 or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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Seven youths have been arrested in raids across south-west Sydney today as part of the ongoing investigation into the Wakeley alleged terror attack.

NSW Police and Australian Federal Police said they had identified a "number of associates" of a 16-year-old boy who allegedly stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, and all of the alleged associates subscribed to a "religiously motivated violent extremist ideology".

"We identified links between the alleged offender and a network of associates and peers who we believe shared a similar violent extremist ideology," AFP Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett said. 

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"The JCTT (Joint Counter Terrorism Team) has acted swiftly to disrupt these individuals and the investigation remains ongoing.

"We want to be very clear, we target radicalisation, not religion." 

Barrett said there was no evidence of a specific target for another violent terror act.

Thirteen search warrants were carried out in Bankstown, Prestons, Casula, Lurnea, Rydalmere, Greenacre, Strathfield, Chester Hill, Punchbowl and Goulburn.

More than 400 AFP and NSW Police officers assisted in the raids, with seven male youths arrested and a further five assisting with enquiries.

"It was considered that the group, subject of our attention, posed an unacceptable risk and threat to the people of NSW, and our current investigative strategies could not adequately ensure public safety," Deputy Commander David Hudson said.

"The action we have taken today has mitigated any risk of further harm."

There is no ongoing threat to the community, he said.

The AFP and NSW Police urged the community to report any suspicious behaviour to the national security hotline.

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The NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team said earlier that it was conducting raids throughout Sydney today as part of the ongoing investigation into the Wakeley alleged terror attack.

ASIO Boss Mike Burgess confirmed this morning that the raids were in relation to the attack at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley last week, which saw a bishop and a priest hospitalised after they were allegedly stabbed by a 16-year-old boy.

"We are involved, it's joint with the three agencies and the New South Wales Crime Commission in that state," Burgess said.

"My officers are connected and involved and embedded inside the Joint Counter-Terrorism Team.

"And on the back end, Australia's security services are always doing its thing to provide security intelligence that enables the police to deal with these problems when we have immediate threats to life."

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Police reassured there is no threat to public safety and the raids have no relation to Anzac Day commemorations tomorrow. 

"The JCTT Sydney is executing search warrants in Sydney today as part of an ongoing investigation," a NSW Police statement said earlier.

"More information will be provided later today, but nothing further is available at this time."

The NSW JCTT comprises members from the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the NSW Crime Commission.

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The families of the Australian couple missing after the Taiwan earthquake earlier this month have issued a statement saying they would only like the search for their loved ones resumed when it is safe for rescuers.

The search for Issac Sim Hwee Kok and Ann Neo Siew Choo was paused on April 12, almost two weeks after they were caught in the 7.2 magnitude earthquake, when it became too dangerous for rescue teams to operate.

The families have today said they "cannot allow further risk to the rescue teams".

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"The families dearly want them to be found but cannot allow this to be at the risk of someone else's life", they said in a statement today.

The Australian and Singaporean couple were holidaying in Taiwan when they were caught in the earthquake while hiking in the country's Hualien region.

"The families would like to thank every member of the Hualien County Fire Department, especially Wu Zhao Yuan, Jian Hong Cheng, Wen Zong Hao, Wang Wei Jun, Lin Qifeng, Su Shengzhi, and the search and rescue dogs for their dedication and tireless efforts in the search for our family.

"The events have made us deeply appreciate the preciousness of life. 

"We ask that they resume the search and rescue operation once it is safe to do so. However we also ask that they do so by always putting their own safety first."

The family also expressed their thanks to officials and emergency services in Taiwan, and consular offices of Singapore and Australia.

"We hope that Hualien will be rebuilt as soon as possible so that more people can experience the beauty of the place and the warmth of its people."

Inflation has continued to ease, but not as much as the market had expected, likely delaying when the Reserve Bank will be able to pass down an interest rate cut.

The latest quarterly data, released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, showed the annual consumer price index (CPI) slowed from 4.1 per cent in December to 3.6 per cent in March.

That's slightly higher than market expectations, which had been predicting a figure of 3.5 per cent.

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On a quarterly basis, the CPI actually increased – up from 0.6 per cent to an even 1 per cent, also ahead of what the market was expecting.

"The CPI rose 1.0 per cent in the March quarter, higher than the 0.6 per cent rise in the December 2023 quarter," ABS head of prices statistics Michelle Marquardt said.

"Annually, the CPI rose 3.6 per cent to the March 2024 quarter.

"While prices continued to rise for most goods and services, annual CPI inflation was down from 4.1 per cent last quarter and has fallen from the peak of 7.8 per cent in December 2022."

While the figures are now closer to the RBA's target range of 2-3 per cent, the drop isn't likely to be substantial enough for the Reserve Bank to implement a rates cut in the coming months.

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"The March quarter inflation data was higher than the RBA's latest February forecasts so there is a risk that the Reserve Bank of Australia's forecasts will need to be revised up in their next update in early June," AMP deputy chief economist Diana Mousina said.

"This may see the RBA move back to a tightening bias (from a neutral bias) as the board may debate whether another rate hike is needed…

"Today's inflation data removes the chance of any near-term rate cut. But, we think we can still see a rate cut by the end of the year as the leading indicators of softer employment growth, lower inflation and subdued consumer spending remain intact."

CreditorWatch chief economist Anneke Thompson said the expected delay in rate cuts would likely lead to business collapses.

"While a fall in the inflation rate is welcome news, today's figure is unlikely to bring forward a cut to the cash rate, as services inflation continues to fall at a slow pace," she said.

"This means that businesses should brace themselves for the cash rate to remain at 4.35 per cent, at least until the fourth quarter of 2024.

"The longer interest rates remain high, the more difficult trading conditions will be for the discretionary retail trade, food and beverage and construction sectors, and we expect a continuation of rising insolvency rates in these sectors as a result."

Education, healthcare join housing and insurance as insurance drivers

Two of the main drivers of the quarterly increase were education and healthcare costs, which rose 5.9 and 2.8 per cent respectively.

"Education fees increased with the start of the calendar year, showing the strongest quarterly rise since 2012," the ABS said.

"Prices for medical and hospital services typically rise in the March quarter as GPs and other health service providers review their consultation fees.

"The Medicare and Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme Safety Net thresholds are also reset at the start of the calendar year, meaning fewer people qualify for subsidised prices for out-of-hospital services and pharmaceuticals."

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Meanwhile, housing and insurance both continued to be a thorn in the side of Australian wallets.

Insurance and financial service costs rose 8.2 per cent over the last 12 months, with insurance premiums surging by 16.4 per cent – their highest annual increase since 2001.

Housing was up 4.9 per cent, and the rise was even greater for rentals, which recorded their biggest increase rise since 2009 of 7.8 per cent.