For the fourth year in a row, Gina Rinehart has been crowned Australia's richest person.

The 2023 edition of the Australian Financial Review's annual Rich List has put the Hancock Prospecting executive chairperson's fortune at a whopping $37.4 billion, making her the richest person in Australian history.

Fellow resources giant Andrew Forrest maintained his spot as the country's second-richest person, while Clive Palmer jumped into the top five in what was a strong year for mining magnates.

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"It's a bit of a case of everything old is new again this year," AFR Rich List Editor Michael Bailey said.

"Iron ore prices have increased over the last year, so Gina Reinhardt and Andrew Forrest are well entrenched at the top again…

"Manufacturing is strong or they've been steady at least, so (Visy executive chair) Anthony Pratt is in third position.

"So it's a year for the less glamorous Rich-Listers to have done a bit better than the ones doing weird and wonderful stuff in technology."

It was indeed a rough year for Australia's two wealthiest tech billionaires, with Atlassian founders Mike Cannon-Brooks and Scott Farquhar both losing about a third of their fortune and falling out of the Rich List top five.

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Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht, the wife and husband pair behind Canva, also slipped down the list, moving from eighth to ninth.

"There's a few less technology people this year on the list itself," Bailey said.

"A few have come down just because of the re-rating of a lot of tech stocks, and the companies that are backed by venture capital, some of the air went out of the bubble there, you might say."

But while the major tech players might have had a tough year, Bailey said it's not a cause for long-term concern.

"It's cyclical. The technology guys will rise again, I'm sure," he said.

"At the moment, a lot of those valuations that we saw in the likes of Canva and Atlassian, they were bolstered by the fact that people couldn't get any returns putting their money in the bank.

"So suddenly, once you can get some returns doing that, some of the money comes out of the more speculative stuff and it gets re-rated and they get a bit of a dive.

"But they're still fundamentally strong businesses… in Canva's case, still a profitable business. So this is definitely not for good."

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It wasn't all bad news for those in tech, with Zareh Nalbandian, the CEO and co-founder of digital studio Animal Logic, making his way onto the Rich List for the first time on the back of a sale to Netflix late year for "well over" $700 million.

"It's a great immigrant story on the rich list," Bailey said.

"His parents came from Armenia, he grew went to Canterbury Boys High School in Western Sydney, bought a failing company called Video Paint Brush (it would later become Animal Logic)…

"Suddenly, through hard work, gets in touch with the guys who made the Matrix films and that leads to his company, Animal Logic, designing the famous scrolling code."

Bailey said it was a feel-good story not too dissimilar to some other Rich List regulars.

"It's a real rags-to-riches immigrant success story, the likes of which (Meriton founder) Harry Triguboff and (former Westfield boss) Frank Lowy back in the day were a bit like that.

"So it's good to see that sort of thing is still happening."

The full 40th annual Rich List will be available on www.afr.com and will appear in a special edition of The Australian Financial Review Magazine tomorrow.

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Rich-listers by state

1. NSW – 76
2. Victoria – 61
3. Queensland – 20
4. Western Australia – 18
5. South Australia – 3
6. ACT – 2
7. Northern Territory, Tasmania – 1 each

Top five wealthiest women (combined wealth of $59 billion)

1. Gina Rinehart (ranked 1) – $34.41 billion
2. Melanie Perkins with Cliff Obrecht (9) – $13.18 billion
3. Angela Bennett (20) – $4.63 billion
4. Alexandra Burt and Leonie Baldock (29) – $3.86 billion
5. Katie Page with Gerry Harvey (37) – $2.91 billion

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Towering a few hours from one of the world's largest cities, the Popocatepetl volcano has been coating nearby towns with ash and disrupting flights at Mexico City's airport, the busiest in Latin America.

Hundreds of explosions have spit lava from the snow-tipped peak of the 17,797-foot Popocatepetl (puh-puh-ka-TEH-pet-tl). Approximately 25 million people live within 60 miles of the mountain.

Volcanologists say that, while a massive eruption doesn't appear imminent, eruptions are likely to continue, as they have for three decades.

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What is happening with the Popocatépetl volcano?

Pre-Hispanic writings speak of intense activity at Popocatépetl at the beginning of the 16th century. Scientists at Mexico's National Autonomous University (UNAM) have been tracking the volcano's movements since a surge of activity began in 1994.

In Guatemala, the Volcano of Fire claimed the lives of hundreds of people in a 2018 eruption. It has recently prompted evacuations for heightened activity as well.

The Mexican volcano known as "Popo" has had periods of intense activity between 2000 and 2003, and again between 2012 and 2016.

In 2000, that activity triggered a red alert and evacuations before the volcano calmed down again.

In past weeks, the volcano entered another one of those periods. Spewing ash, gas and lava, authorities have increased the alert to the yellow, second level on a stoplight-style scale, but not yet to red.

Is a major eruption imminent?

Scientists and Mexican authorities say there's no sign that the current waves of small eruptions will turn into anything more destructive, said Servando de la Cruz Reyna, a senior geophysics researcher at the UNAM in Mexico City, adding that is there "nothing new or surprising" about recent movements.

"The probability that this continues as it has previously is far higher than the probability that this grows to much higher levels," he said.

Popocatépetl has been active for a half-million years. Its last major eruption happened more than a thousand years ago.

What is the government doing?

Authorities have closed schools in dozens of municipalities across three states, put troops on alert, prepared shelters and carried out evacuation drills. Other than that, they are encouraging people to remain calm.

On Monday, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said in his morning briefing that "the movements of the volcano are being monitored 24 hours a day."

What is likely to happen?

Popocatepetl's recent activity is not necessarily a bad thing, said Robin Campion, a volcanologist at the Institute of Geophysics.

The scientist explained that small explosions alleviate pressure from magma inside the mountain, and likely mean that it won't lead to a buildup and larger eruption.

"The good thing is that … it's constantly releasing energy," Campion said.

"Hopefully, it'll continue being as constant and moderate as it is, so it doesn't all erupt at once, like it did in prehistoric times."

As it continues puffing, ash could eventually become a problem in surrounding areas, particularly in the 7.5 miles surrounding the volcano, but also in Mexico City.

While the ash is not toxic, Valdés, head of UNAM's National Seismological Service, said it could affect breathing and air quality, and also continue to affect flights to and from Mexico City's international airport.

While the ash continues to billow toward southern Mexico, he and other scientists monitoring the volcano expect winds to shift and blow ash into the capital in June.

Already on Saturday, volcanic ash carried in by shifting winds forced the city's airport to temporarily shut down. Others expressed worries that the weight of ash building up could collapse precariously constructed homes in poorer areas of Mexico.

He and other scientists recommended residents wash their eyes and wear face masks.

"It has had important consequences. The only danger we're really entertaining right now is the ash," he said.

"People shouldn't be scared, more than anything they should take precautions."

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A man has been charged following an alleged assault on a cameraman in Melbourne's far west.

The camera operator was covering an alleged attack at an address on Fraser Street in Melton South when he was allegedly assaulted on May 15.

Police arrested a 26-year-old Melton man on Wednesday afternoon following a crash in an allegedly stolen vehicle in Bentleigh East, more than 60 kilometres away by car in Melbourne's south-east.

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The man, who police said fled the scene of the May 15 incident, faces a raft of charges and was remanded in custody to appear at Moorabbin Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

On Tuesday, another man was charged over the original alleged burglary, said to have taken place in Melton South more than two weeks before the cameraman was left with non-life-threatening injuries.

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A group allegedly smashed their way into the property armed with a rifle, a machete and a baton and assaulted the three people inside.

Police are still searching for several others suspected of being behind the attack at the home on Fraser Street about 4am on April 2.

A 21-year-old Newcomb man was on Tuesday arrested over the incident and charged with aggravated home invasion, aggravated burglary, conduct endangering life, prohibited person possess firearm, theft of motor vehicle, use firearm in contravention of Firearm Prohibition Order and breach conditions of bail.

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A 22-year-old Geelong West man was also arrested and charged with possessing cannabis and a 21-year-old Newcomb woman was interviewed and released pending further enquiries after police carried out five search warrants yesterday over the incident.

The searches occurred after police called for the public's help to track down the group behind the alleged "targeted attack" earlier this month, releasing CCTV footage of it.

Police alleged four men wearing balaclavas stormed into the house, firing shots and demanding cash and assaulted those inside the house — two women aged 44 and 67, and a 31-year-old man.

The man sustained "a significant knife wound" to his face and was later transported to hospital for treatment.

The women suffered minor injuries.

After searching the property, the men found a safe and allegedly stole a significant quantity of jewellery. 

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They allegedly fled on foot before stealing a white Volkswagen Polo from the address, which was later found burnt out on the North Shore.

Police alleged another vehicle, a White Mazda CX-5 with a sticker on the back windscreen, was also later used by the group.

Officers seized a white Mazda CX-5, a number of knives, what appears to be cannabis and a quantity of white powder during the raids on Tuesday.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident is urged to contact police.

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An urgent review of security at Services Australia centres will be conducted after a Centrelink worker was allegedly attacked while working in Melbourne's north yesterday.

Joeanne Cassar, 55, was rushed to hospital in a critical condition after she was allegedly stabbed in the upper body while working at a Centerlink branch at Airport West at about 1.30pm.

Her family are seeking worker's compensation and considering further legal action against Services Australia, claiming the alleged incident should have never happened.

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The review will be led by former Victoria Police chief commissioner Graham Ashton, and will seek to prevent and deter future incidents.

Government Services Minister Bill Shorten said he was "shocked and saddened" by the serious incident.

He visited the Airport West office this morning, where he offered support and told staff that their welfare was his main priority.

Team leader Cassar was allegedly attacked by a former customer who had been previously banned.

"I could have lost her," Cassar's husband Andrew Giusti told 9News.

"She could have died or she could have ended up in a wheelchair. I'm mad as hell with what has happened and it shouldn't have happened."

Arnold Thomas Becker lawyer Allanah Goodwin told 9News it wasn't good enough.

"Joeanne deserves to feel let down," she said.

"People deserve to be safe at work. From what we understand, in this case Joeanne was actually proactive."

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According to police, the accused, 34-year-old Elijah Chase, was told to leave the branch yesterday morning.

They say Cassar locked the door, initiating a screening process for each customer, to protect her staff.

It's claimed she was ordered to open the doors.

Police allege the accused returned at about 1.30pm and stabbed her.

"She laid in that position in a pool of blood until I got there, which was about 25 minutes later," her husband said.

"She said to me 'thank god it was me and not one of my co-workers'."

"I got down on the floor and I talked to her and told her I was there and to hang on."

The accused appeared in court and did not apply for bail.

9News understands this wasn't the branch's first brush with violence, with another worker assaulted 18 months ago in an unrelated incident .

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The NSW Police officer who allegedly Tasered a 95-year-old woman in an aged care facility has been charged by the Homicide Squad.

Senior Constable Kristian White, 33, is facing three charges including recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault.

He is due to appear in Cooma Local Court on July 5 after the incident at an aged care facility in Cooma last week, NSW Police said in a statement.

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"The officer remains suspended from duty with pay," NSW Police said.

"Investigations into the critical incident continue."

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb is expected to address the media shortly.

Claire Nowland, a resident of Yallambee Lodge in the Snowy Mountains, is receiving end-of-life care in hospital following the Tasering, which resulted in her falling and seriously injuring her head.

A critical incident investigation was launched and led by the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad after the incident.

White has about 12 years of experience as a police officer.

Police said last week the elderly resident, who was using a walking frame, was holding a serrated steak knife and "moving at a slow pace" when she was Tasered.

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She was treated by staff and paramedics at the nursing home before being rushed to Cooma Base Hospital where she remains.

Police had faced criticism over their handling of the incident, with NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb defending the force's actions in the wake of the news breaking to media.

Nowland has eight children, 24 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren, with four more expected this year.

More to come.

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Four police officers have been injured after an allegedly stolen truck rammed three patrol cars north of Toowoomba in Queensland

Two senior constables sustained serious injuries when the truck struck them after they stepped out of a police car to flag the driver down on Goombungee Meringandan Road in Meringandan.

The pair were pinned against their police vehicle as the allegedly stolen ute sideswiped them at 1.30pm today.

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One officer, 54, is in a serious but stable condition, suffering from significant hip and pelvis injuries as well as suspected internal bleeding.

He was given a blood transfusion at the scene before being airlifted to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane by an RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter.

A second officer, 56, sustained injuries to his collarbone, right hand, chest and abdomen, and was taken to St Vincent's Hospital.

Police said the truck continued driving and allegedly hit a second police vehicle, leaving two more officers with minor injuries.

Three police cars in total were damaged in the incident.

Police had been attempting to intercept the truck, which they allege was stolen from a tyre shop in Oakey last night.

A ute was also stolen from the shop, according to police. 

A 45-year-old male driver and his son were arrested at the scene following the crashes. 

Three men are now in police custody, two accused of stealing the ute and the other of being the 45-year-old driver of the truck. 

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A three-digit number plate is expected to sell for up to $400,000 as it goes under the hammer in Victoria.

The heritage number plate '994' is going up for auction on Saturday at Lloyds Auctions and is expected to fetch between $350,000 to $400,000, plus a buyer's premium of 7.5 per cent.

"The heritage plate market in general has seen a pretty remarkable surge in the post-COVID era," Robbie Krupski from Lloyds Auctions said.

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Heritage plates were introduced before licence plates were standardised across Australia in the 1950s.

When it comes to pricing the plates, the ones with fewer digits are more valuable.

Last year, a Victorian number plate with just the number '14' sold for a staggering $2,383,500 at auction.

In 2020, licence plate number 26 sold for a $1.11 million.

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The case against a Sydney jeweller accused of staging an armed robbery at his own store for a fraudulent insurance claim is going to "fall apart" when police dig into it, his lawyer says.

Michel Elias Germani, 65, is doing "extremely poorly" behind bars after handing himself in earlier in May, John Korn said outside court on Wednesday.

He spoke to reporters after a magistrate refused to grant his client's release.

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Germani is accused of being in on a robbery at his eponymous jewellery store in Sydney's CBD in January, telling police two men threatened him and his employee with a knife, tying them up and demanding access to a safe before taking off with more than $2.8 million in jewellery.

Investigators allege it was a scam orchestrated by the award-winning jeweller to defraud his insurer.

Court documents seen by AAP allege Germani sought $2,821,348 from Barrenjoey Insurance, underwritten by Lloyds of London, allegedly making false statements to do so.

He has been charged with second-degree aggravated robbery and depriving a person of their liberty, attempting to dishonestly obtain a financial advantage by deception, publishing false or misleading material to obtain property, participating in a criminal group and contributing to criminal activity.

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Korn sought Germani's release on Wednesday, telling the court any trial would not take place before 2025 and it would be "inimical" to the justice system to keep him in custody until then.

Seven people had provided sureties in the amounts they could spare for a total of $105,000.

Germani's wife is struggling to run the store and his son needs his help to meet the heightened needs of his own child, Korn argued.

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The matter is in its infancy, with no evidence yet served, but the case is suggested to be a strong one, Magistrate Daniel Covington said, refusing bail.

There were also "suggestions" from police of a "highly organised operation", he said, and an unacceptable risk Germani would attempt to flee, interfere with witnesses or evidence, or commit a serious offence while on bail.

Outside court, Korn said it was a disappointing and poorly reasoned decision

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"This case in my opinion is just going to fall apart when the police start digging into it.

"They've got co-accused who've got massive incentives to tell a story that ingratiates them to the police, and I'm going to pull it apart," Korn said.

Germani needs to be released so he can start preparing his defence and set about clearing his name.

"He's grossly insulted at the suggestions that are being made, but what can he do about it at the moment?" Korn said.

Germani's case returns to court on July 6.

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Artist Stevei Houkāmau was inspired while visiting a Native American reservation.

A conservation expert said this is a “catastrophic blow” for the species