Police launched a homicide inquiry after a man’s body was found in the car.

Australia Post must undergo significant changes in order to remain a viable business and continue providing essential services across the country, its CEO has warned.

In a speech to the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia in Melbourne on Thursday, Paul Graham said the national postal service's "long-term viability is at risk" as it prepares to post a loss for the financial year.

"We will post a financial loss this financial year with our letters business, after posting a $189 million loss for the first six months of this financial year alone," Graham said.

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"Our extensive research shows that just one in 10 Australians are aware that we are no longer profitable.

"It's a stark message but the Australian community must understand that without change to their national postal service, its long-term viability is at risk."

Graham pointed to shrinking household mail volumes and customers embracing flexible options like parcel lockers over traditional delivery methods as reasons for Australia Post's declining profitability and said the case for change is clear.

"We are governed by the 1989 Australian Postal Corporation Act," he said.

"(It's) an instrument legislated before the internet boom and the creation of smartphones, when letters were the dominant form of communication, online shopping was yet to take hold and digital service provision largely did not exist.

"Performance standards issued under the Act are no longer fit for purpose to Australia Post as an enterprise or to the customers and communities we serve every day."

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Graham's address comes ahead of public consultation for a federal government discussion paper on Australia Post's future closing at midnight tonight.

And while the CEO said the consultation will help outline what kind of changes his organisation undergo, he also stressed the review in and of itself isn't the answer.

"There have been more than 11 reviews of Australia Post over the past 10 years," Graham said.

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"We do not need any more to repeat the same fundamental message: that the status quo is no longer an option for our business.

"What we need is the commitment and goodwill from the parliament to make the changes necessary to deliver a sustainable future.

"There may be a time later this year when parliamentarians are asked to consider changes to Australia Post to support the viability of the business.

"My simple request is to put the national interest first."

Graham also it is essential for the postal service remain publicly owned, rather than go down the privatisation route that the likes of Telstra and Qantas have taken.

"Australia Post is owned by the Australian taxpayer, but we are not financed by taxpayers, we are entirely self-funded," he said.

"We're proud to be a self-funded public enterprise – and we want to remain that way.

"We want to keep delivering essential public services to Australian communities and businesses – without taking a penny from consolidated revenue.

"That is funding that should go to schools and hospitals, not Australia Post."

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In a statement, they said the decision was made due to “changing customer preferences”.

An urgent appeal has been broadcast to any ships in the Pacific Ocean to look out for an Australian man who fell off a cruise ship bound for Hawaii.

The man went overboard on the Quantum of the Seas at about 11pm local time (early Wednesday night AEST), about 1400km south of the Hawaiian islands.

9News understands witnesses saw the man fall from the top 15th deck.

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The US Coast Guard has issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast – a widespread radio message to alert ships in the area to a distress situation – to all vessels in the Pacific Ocean, south of Hawaii, to help look for the man.

Coast Guards have been searching the site with a C-130 Hercules for the missing man to no avail so far.

"They were able to cast out a few life rings," US Coast Guard Ryan Fisher said.

"Just so if he was in the vicinity in the water he could be able to grab onto them."

Passenger Susan Whittington noted there was "quite a large swell" overnight making it "almost impossible" for the search.

After six hours of searching, the aircraft was forced to run back to Hawaii to refuel.

The authority confirmed the aircraft will continue searching for the missing man at first light.

"If they are unable to locate him today the plan is to continue the search tomorrow as well," Fisher said.

The Coast Guard has also put out a call to the US Navy for aid.

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Passengers were woken by the PA system calling "oscar, oscar, oscar" – the ship's code for man overboard.

They were then asked to go back to their rooms and make sure all their travelling party was accounted for, while bright lights swept the water to search for the reported missing passengers.

About 90 minutes later, the passengers were told they could leave their rooms.

Passenger Georgina Thompson said she and her husband were in bed when they heard the alert call.

"There were lights, you know, the big lights shining on the ocean," she told Today.

"And also there were a couple of boats out there in the water."

Passengers are shocked by the ordeal, recounting a "sombre" mood on board the ship as it continues to its destination.

"It's a shocking situation to be in," Whittington said.

Thompson said it was "very sombre, very sombre".

The cruise ship, operated by Royal Caribbean Cruises, has been at sea for 15 days after visiting Tahiti.

The passengers on board are due to stop at Kona in Hawaii for a day on shore then the cruise will continue on its final stop in Honolulu.

It departed Brisbane on April 12.

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The Quantum of the Seas has resumed its course for Kona on Hawaii's Big Island.

"While on its trans-pacific sailing, a guest onboard Quantum of the Seas went overboard," Royal Caribbean said in a statement to 9news.com.au.

"The ship's crew immediately launched a search and rescue operation and is working closely with local authorities.

"Quantum of the Seas departed Brisbane on April 12 and is scheduled to arrive in Honolulu (on) April 28."

A Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said it is ready to help the family of the man who fell overboard.

"The Australian Consulate-General in Honolulu is working closely with local authorities," the spokesperson said.

"We acknowledge the ongoing distress for the man's family and loved ones."

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Two helicopters were dispatched to the scene.

Moana Taverio wants the officer who killed her son to face charges in court.

Much of Australia is bracing for a multi-day deluge over the coming days with warnings New South Wales could cop more than 100mm of rain by Monday, fuelling flooding fears.

A series of cold fronts and low-pressure troughs are driving the wet weather, which is expected to hit coastal fringes stretching from south-east Western Australia to Cape York in Queensland.

The rain will set in on Friday, become heavier over the weekend and persist into Monday.

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Thunderstorms are also likely.

Weatherzone said the heaviest rain will occur over NSW, and hit between Saturday and Monday.

"One area of particular risk for heavy rain and flooding will be the southern half of the NSW coast and adjacent ranges, where a focused stream of onshore winds could produce more than 100mm of rain and possibly more than 200mm in some places," the weather service said. 

There are no flood watches or warnings in place, but Weatherzone said they "may be issued for parts of eastern NSW this weekend".

READ MORE: Australian man overboard on cruise ship bound for Hawaii

Residents can stay across updates here. 

The NSW State Emergency Services (SES) is urging communities to "remain vigilant", warning flash flooding and landslips were possible.

"It is important to prepare your home and items ahead of this forecast, by tying down loose items, parking your car undercover, away from trees and cutting branches that could cause damage to your home," State Duty Commander Assistant Commissioner Nicole Hogan said.

"Driving during and after a storm can be very dangerous. If you can, delay your trip, and park under cover.

"If you do need to drive, never drive, walk or ride through flood waters.

"If you come across a flooded road, please do not take the risk and find an alternate route."

The forecast comes a day after the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) released its latest climate driver update.

The BoM said "there are signs El Niño may form during winter," adding chances of one this year remain at 50 per cent.

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Two people have died after a crash in the car park of a hospital in Sydney's west.

Emergency services were called to the Derby Street car park at Nepean Hospital near Penrith about 3.20pm after the crash.

A woman in her 60s was allegedly leaving the hospital through a boom gate when she reversed into another car then accelerated, hitting a pedestrian and crashing into a brick wall.

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Police said the pedestrian was a woman believed to be in her 40s.

"The driver and pedestrian were both assessed by NSW Ambulance paramedics; however they were pronounced dead at the scene," NSW Police said in a statement.

"The driver of the other car – a woman believed to be aged in her 30s – was treated by hospital staff for shock."

It's believed the driver suffered a medical episode before she crashed into the pedestrian.

The two who died were members of the public and not hospital staff.

Police have CCTV of the incident, which they will use in their investigation.

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‘It’s indescribable how a mother’s heart has been ripped apart’.

The man who sexually abused former Australian of the Year Grace Tame as a child has had a court case into allegations he harassed her online delayed because of medical issues.

Nicolaas Ockter Bester, 70, is accused of making public posts on social media platform Twitter in relation to and directed at Tame between April and August last year.

He previously pleaded not guilty to three counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.

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Bester on Thursday appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court, where a type of preliminary hearing was expected to occur.

His lawyer Todd Kovacic told the court Bester had in recent weeks suffered a medical episode and was unable to give proper instructions.

"(Bester's) fitness is now an issue," Kovavic said.

The lawyer did not provide any details to the court about the medical issue. The matter was adjourned until June 22.

Bester, who did not speak to media outside court, was charged by police in October.

Tame was present in the courtroom alongside her partner Max Heerey and other supporters.

Former teacher Bester was convicted in 2011 and sentenced to two years and 10 months jail for abusing Tame when she was a student at his school, as well as for possessing child exploitation material.

Tame was the 2021 Australian of the Year and has advocated for survivors of abuse.

She was instrumental in a campaign that resulted in 2020 law changes in her home state of Tasmania allowing survivors to publicly tell their stories.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.