The road is expected to be closed for some time, motorists are asked to take other routes.

Optus says it has finally restored internet and phone services to the millions of customers who were hit by today's 13-and-a-half-hour network outage. 

The telco said it had started pushing out a fix at around lunchtime, but it wasn't until after 5.30pm that the issue had fully been resolved.

"Optus sincerely apologises to customers for today's outage," a spokesperson said.

READ MORE: Can you get compensation for the massive Optus outage?

"We know that customers rely on our services, which is why the whole team at Optus has been working hard to fix this.

"Services have now been restored, and customers should now be able to be back online.

"We again thank customers for their patience."

The outage led to about $2 billion being wiped from the company's value as its share price crashed around 4.5 per cent over the course of the day. 

Earlier, Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin said the telco has "no line of sight" into the root cause of the outage that knocked the network out this morning, but that a fix is on the way.

The issues preventing Optus customers from making calls and accessing mobile data began at about 4am.

READ MORE: All the services impacted by the Optus outage

Asked about compensation for users, Bayer Rosmarin said Optus would look into that as soon as services were up and running again.

She said on several occasions that she was "very, very sorry" for the outage.

Optus mobile customers reported their phones showing SOS on the signal indicator, which is a sign that your regular network is down, but that they were still able to access alternate networks in the event of an emergency call.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said Triple Zero had confirmed that fallback, known as "camping", was working this morning, but she said Optus landlines did not have access to the same technology.

Compounding matters, the telco said it had received reports of mobile customers having issues contacting the emergency number.

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READ MORE: When will the Optus outage be fixed? What we know

The outage originated from a "deep fault" within the network, but the specific cause remains a mystery.

Rowland said there was no indication the outage was due to a cyberattack, a position the Department of Home Affairs also took earlier.

The government will continue to work with telcos to ensure access to emergency lines stays open for Australians, she said.

A number of government state and federal agencies were monitored for how the outage affected them, but Rowland didn't specify which ones.

However, it's been revealed that Australians had been unable to contact either the ATO or the Department of Home Affairs due to the outage, according to 2GB's Chris O'Keefe.

READ MORE: When the Optus boss is forced to use WhatsApp to talk, you know it's bad

Rowland said it was too soon to consider the issue of potential reparations for affected customers.

But she urged small businesses to "keep receipts" during the time they were affected.

Linked networks such as Dodo and Amaysim were also affected.

Commonwealth Bank also warned customers had been experiencing difficulties in contacting or receiving messages from the bank, including NetCode messages.

"If you need to contact us, you can still message us through the CommBank app, but there may be delays," the bank said earlier today online.

"Our other services including ATMs, NetBank, CommBank app, CommBiz and merchant terminals are also still available. We apologise for the inconvenience."

'Deep and significant problem'

Rowland earlier told 2GB radio Optus faced a "deep and significant problem".

"The understanding I have at this time is it is affecting both broadband and mobile services," she said.

She said it had been a "very frustrating morning" for many around the country, and urged Optus to keep the public updated.

Today tech expert Trevor Long, who also contributed to this story, said the "knock-on" effect of the outage could make this morning's outage the biggest in recent memory.

"Businesses that rely on Optus for payments and communication, they will be crippled this morning," he told Today.

"And this is without question the biggest telco outage we have ever seen because it spans both home Wi-Fi and broadband."

In the hours after the outage, Optus messaged concerned customers.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused while we have the issue resolved," it said.

OPTUS OUTAGE: What we know so far

• The network outage was first reported at 4.05am, and was reportedly caused by a "deep fault" in Optus' network.
• Up to 10 million people were affected, alongside businesses, hospitals and banks.
• Landline customers are unable to call triple zero (000), but mobile users can reach the emergency line.
• As of 5.35pm, Optus said services have been restored for its customers.

The Optus phone outage has cost a Sydney woman precious moments to say goodbye after the communication outage left her unaware that her mother had died in hospital.

Rachel told 2GB drive host Chris O'Keefe that her mother Joy was admitted to a hospital in Sydney's Northern Beaches.

Rachel lives 10 minutes away from the hospital in Mona Vale and was told by staff if there were any issues, they would call her so she and her family headed home.

READ MORE: Optus customers slowly coming back online

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READ MORE: When the Optus boss is forced to use WhatsApp, you know it's bad

But a few hours after leaving, Rachel's daughter FaceTimed her to let her know there was an Optus phone outage.

Rachel checked her phone to see no calls from the hospital and the worry kicked in.

She tried to call the hospital but her phone didn't work so she rushed to her mum's side.

But by the time she arrived, it was too late.

"Mum had passed away," she told the Nine radio station.

"You can't get those final moments back.

"We thought everything was fine (then) to come back and find her passed away."

READ MORE: Can you get compensation for the massive Optus outage?

READ MORE: All the services impacted by mass Optus network outage

Rachel called it "disgraceful" that her family couldn't be contacted due to the Optus outage.

"Once we got there and found mum has passed away they (hospital staff) were saying we tried to call you," she said.

"Your phone is your life, when your mum is on her last legs or whatever, your mum needs you, I need them to be able to have faith that I can get a phone call about something this precious to me.

"You put so much faith in your phone these days."

She said there is no compensation Optus can provide that will make up for losing those final moments with her mother.

"We can never, ever get that time back with our mum," she said.

A lawyer for the driver involved in a horror crash that killed five people including two children in Victoria says his client is an insulin-dependent diabetic who required immediate treatment at the scene.

Detectives interviewed the 66-year-old driver from Mount Macedon overnight, after a car ploughed into patrons sitting in a beer garden at the Royal Daylesford Hotel over the weekend.

9News can reveal the driver was returning home from a clay target shooting event about 38km away in Clunes.

READ MORE: Knife-wielding man holds up traffic in Melbourne's north

Solicitor Martin Amad, who is representing the driver, said his client returned a negative alcohol breath test after the crash, and had no previous criminal history.

"It was a terrible tragedy," Amad said.

"My client has been interviewed by Victoria Police. He has not been charged with any offence. It's anticipated the investigation will take some time.

"He is deeply distressed and feels great empathy for the families and friends of the victims and wider Daylesford community."

The driver is still in hospital and receiving ongoing treatment. 

Police officially suspended his licence today.

READ MORE: When the Optus boss is forced to use WhatsApp, you know it's bad

Police seized the 66-year-old's phone after the crash, and will now examine it.

Pratibha Sharma, her husband Jatin Chugh and her daughter Anvi were sitting with friends when the white BMW SUV crashed into outdoor tables about 6pm on Sunday.

Sharma and Chugh died at the scene.

Anvi, aged 9, was flown to hospital but did not survive her injuries.

They were enjoying a holiday with friends, Vivek Bhatia and his 11-year-old son Vihaan, who both died at the scene.

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Bhatia's wife Ruchi, 36, and six-year-old son Abeer were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Abeer was in a critical condition with broken legs and internal injuries but has since stabilised.

A separate group including a 43-year-old Kyneton woman and a 38-year-old Cockatoo man were also injured and flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

An 11-month-old boy was also rushed to hospital, but has since been discharged.

The baby's mother, a 34-year-old woman from Cockatoo, was not injured.

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The community rallied around the Royal Daylesford Hotel today, which opened its doors for the first time since the crash.

"On behalf of all of us at the Royal Daylesford Hotel we wish to express our deepest sympathy for those who have passed away, those injured, their families and everyone affected by this terrible tragedy," the hotel said in a Facebook post.

"As community members we know how deeply we have all been impacted. All the staff at the hotel are extremely distressed and we have counselling on site to assist the team to manage the impact of the events.

"We would like to thank the police, the SES, the ambulance services and members of the Daylesford community for their support and assistance."

READ MORE: When will the Optus outage be fixed? What we know

The hotel will be closed until further notice.

A memorial service was also held at The Anglican Parish of Daylesford today.

Police are continuing to investigate the incident.

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

The Greens, the late manifesto and poor morale also made the list of things to ‘chuck’.

Three of Australia's big four banks have hiked their variable home loan rate following the Reserve Bank's interest rates increase yesterday.

The RBA pushed the official cash rate up by 25 basis points to 4.35 per cent – the 13th increase in 18 months but first since June.

It took little time for banks to pass on that increase to their mortgage holders, with NAB announcing today its variable home loan rate would rise by 0.25 per cent, effective from November 17.

READ MORE: RBA hits borrowers with Melbourne Cup Day rate rise

ANZ followed suit just hours later, also increasing its variable mortgage rates by a quarter of a per cent on November 17, and Westpac announced its own 0.45 per cent hike would begin on November 21.

All three have also boosted rates for some savings customers.

NAB will increase the bonus interest rate on its reward saver accounts by the same amount, up to an even 5 per cent. That change will also come into effect on November 17. 

"While most of our customers are in good shape, there may be some people who are more concerned about the first rate rise since mid-year which is why it's crucial to reach out to your bank as soon as you can. We're here to help," group executive for personal banking Rachel Slade said.

"Customers continue to build and flex their 'budgeting muscle' and they're responding to cost of living pressures by reducing their spending on dining out, fuel and leisure travel.

READ MORE: Can you get compensation for the massive Optus outage?

"We're seeing more customers using budgeting tools than ever before – an important sign that more Australians are closely engaged with their finances."

The move comes ahead of NAB's reporting of its annual results tomorrow.

ANZ also increased interest for some of its savings customers.

"ANZ will also increase the rate available to savings customers on the ANZ plus save account by 0.25 per cent (per annum), with balances less than $250,000 to increase to 4.90 per cent pa, and balances $250,000 or more to increase to 3.75 per cent (per annum) effective 16 November 2023," it said.

"ANZ continues to review other deposit rates."

Westpac followed suit, with its life variable bonus interest rate and eSaver variable rate both jumping to 5 per cent from November 17 – although it only applies for the first five months for new customers applying online.

READ MORE: Whopping income needed to afford average home after rates rise

"In making interest rate decisions, we consider a range of factors and work to balance the needs of both borrowers and depositors. With this latest move, we've also lifted interest rates on our deposit accounts which will benefit savers," Westpac consumer chief executive Jason Yetton said.

"We know people are feeling the impact of the higher cost of living and adjusting their spending to manage their household budget."

The remaining big four bank, CBA, is yet to pass on the hike but is expected to do so in the coming days.

For the average Australian borrower with a $500,000 mortgage, the cash rate rise means an additional $76 per month in repayments, and an extra $1210 since rates began rising in May of last year.

Nicholas Crosby threw the first punch. He ended up in ICU for three days.

A woman has been arrested over a dramatic jewellery store heist in Adelaide where a staff member was allegedly sprayed in the face with pepper spray.

Police allege the woman, disguised in a blonde wig, sunglasses and a hat, entered the store on James Place in Adelaide's CBD yesterday, asking to view a jewellery display tray.

When the staff member showed the tray of expensive gold chains to the woman she sprayed her in the face with homemade pepper spray before stealing the tray and running from the store.

READ MORE: Optus outage hits millions: Services restored for some customers, CEO says 'no line of sight' to cause of network crash

Police said the store's owner ran after the woman and managed to get the jewellery back before the woman ran off, dropping the bottle of liquid and a Taser.

The owner of the store, Classic Jewellers, said the woman claimed to be blind before attempting to take off with the tray with $70,000.

The owner said the woman allegedly took out a taser and attempted to use it on him when he caught up with her to take back the stolen jewellery.

But despite the attempt, the owner said around 80 per cent of the jewellery was lost after it scattered across the street.

A staff member was later taken to hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

READ MORE: Alleged WA money launderer caught at Sydney airport trying to flee

Today police arrested a 42 year-old Unley woman in connection to the incident, charging her with aggravated robbery, possess prohibited weapon and breach of bail.

She was refused bail and will appear in court.

Diana Puketapu-Lyndon is the first woman and first Māori person to fill the role.

The life expectancy of Australians has decreased slightly over the past year, due to a high number of COVID-19 deaths.

A boy born in Australia today can expect to live for 81.2 years and a girl 85.3 years, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

This represents a drop of 0.1 years for both genders between 2020 and 2022, the data shows, marking the first decrease in the life expectancy of Australians recorded since 1993-1995.

READ MORE: Can you get compensation for the massive Optus outage?

ABS head of demography Beidar Cho said a significant portion of the drop could be attributed to COVID-19 deaths.

"This is the first time that deaths across all three years of the COVID-19 pandemic have been used in calculating life expectancy," Cho said.

"The first two years of the pandemic had the two lowest mortality rates on record from all causes, however in 2022 the number of deaths increased by 20,000, with close to 10,000 of these being due to COVID-19." 

Even with a relatively large increase in the number of deaths, the effect on life expectancy was small, the ABS said.

This is because more than half of the people who died in 2022 were aged 80 years and over.

Despite the drop, Australia is still ranked third in the world for longevity, behind only Monaco and Japan.

Both of these countries also recorded a dip in life expectancy over the past year due to pandemic deaths.

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Life expectancy is lowest for Australians living in the Northern Territory, at 76.2 years for males and 80.7 years for females.

The state and territory with the highest life expectancy is the Australian Capital Territory, where males born today can expect to live to 82.2 years and females to 86 years.

Life expectancy was highest for men living in the Sydney region of Baulkham Hills and the Hawkesbury at 85.6 years.

For women, it is those living in the North Sydney and Hornsby areas of the NSW capital who enjoy the longest life expectancy of 88.2 years.