Australia could join the US and Japan in military exercises, according to a senior White House official.

In a wide-ranging interview with 9News, John Kirby, the White House National Security Council spokesperson, said President Joe Biden wanted to "talk to Prime Minister (Fumio) Kishida about the option for trilateral exercises with Australia, US and Japan" when he was welcomed to the White House on Saturday.

Closer military ties between Japan and the US as a way to deter China have already been announced this week.

READ MORE: Additional pages of classified material found at Biden's home

Kirby said Biden recognised "the threats and challenges posed by a more assertive, more aggressive China in the Indo Pacific", but insisted China is also "trying to expand their influence in South America and in Africa".

Biden has previously warned of a decisive decade "in setting the terms of our competition with the PRC (People's Republic of China)".

"They are actively working … they not only have the will but they are building the capability to really challenge in meaningful ways the rules-based international order that nations like Australia and the United States have worked so hard to preserve," Kirby said, adding that Biden "absolutely does recognise that China poses a threat to many of our national security interests and those of our allies and partners in the region".

READ MORE: Plane with 72 people on board crashes in Nepal, local media reports

Kirby said the Biden administration wants to have better cooperation with Beijing on climate change and military to military communications.

And as Beijing moves to improve relations with countries including Australia, Kirby said it was not about whether Beijing could be trusted, "it's about judging actions and deeds, so we are going to be closely scrutinising the way China continues to behave not just in the region but around the world".

The US has forged closer ties with regional allies including Australia through the establishment of the Quad and the AUKUS alliance.

Kirby suggested there would not be an invitation extended during the White House meeting yesterday for Japan, a Quad member, to join AUKUS.

"The focus right now is not on expanding it," he said.

"Right now the focus on AUKUS is the US, United Kingdom and Australia really focussed specifically on the nuclear-powered submarine capability that we want to move forward with Australia."

This week it emerged two US politicians wrote to Biden expressing concern over the AUKUS arrangement.

In a leaked letter, Democrat Senator Jack Reed and former Republican colleague James Inhofe wrote "we believe current conditions require a sober assessment of the facts to avoid stressing the US submarine industrial base to the breaking point".

After details of the letter were reported, Reed issued support for AUKUS on Twitter and a bipartisan group of US politicians wrote to Biden expressing their support for the pact between Australia, the US and the United Kingdom.

https://twitter.com/SenJackReed/status/1612623688498569217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Kirby described the support from Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill as "really, really solid", but he would not be drawn on who would build the submarines or where they would be built as the 18-month consultation period nears its end.

"Let's get through the consultation period and then there will be a chance to take stock about what the future looks like," he said.

Biden has been invited to address a joint sitting of Parliament in Australia later this year.

The leaders of the US, Australia, Japan and India are expected to meet face to face in Australia.

Kirby would not delve into the timing of the meeting or confirm a presidential visit to Australia, but said Biden was "a big believer in the Quad and I think you will continue to see that out of President Biden".

"There is a level of excitement about President Biden and the entire National Security establishment here in the United States about deepening and improving our alliances and partnership in the region.

"China cannot duplicate that, they cannot match that, they don't have and can't enjoy that sort of broad, deep and meaningful cooperation with allies and partners the way we can."

Snake catcher Daniel Marshall thought he'd seen it all until he got called to a home in South Australia's Barossa Valley this week.

When he arrived at the property, the first thing he spotted was an eastern brown snake's tail sneaking up into the washing machine.

Before he had the chance to take a closer look, the snake moved its tail up near its head, eliminating the chance for Marshall to pull the reptile out without being bitten.

READ MORE: 'There's a python in your wheel': Note left on Sydney dad's car

What followed was a "difficult" but "rewarding" 45 minutes of pulling apart the appliance to catch the snake.

"He was getting a little bit defensive," Marshall said.

"He kept jittering around to different spots."

READ MORE: NSW man allegedly faked own kidnapping on New Year's Eve before being found eight minutes away

Eventually, the Barossa Reptile Service catcher gently poked, prodded and coerced the snake out.

The snake was then set free into the bush while the homeowner breathed a sigh of relief.

"The customer's house is snake free and the snake is safe back in the bush," the snake catcher said.

If you find a snake in your home, always call a licensed snake catcher.

Tarraleah Estate is a township in Tasmania, complete with a dam and six properties across 147 hectares. And it's all up for sale.

Five people, including a primary school-aged boy, have been rushed to hospital after a party boat crashed into a wharf in Melbourne.

The driver has been suspended and WorkSafe is investigating.

What started as a relaxing cruise around the bay ended in chaos with the crash at Docklands.

The Lady Cutler Showboat had been carrying more than 200 passengers from a Somali community group.

The group was enjoying an annual get together until celebrations came to a halt when the vessel smashed into a wooden pylon and concrete wall about 6pm on Saturday.

Images of the aftermath show the large wooden pylons at the pier splintered.

The boat is described online a the city's largest cruise vessel and boasts five-star service.

READ MORE: French chateau cost the same as a Sydney apartment

Passenger Miski Award said the incident was "very shocking".

"We had a disaster, we had an accident," Award said.

"It was very scary."

Another passenger described a "really big bang" as the boat slammed into the wharf.

"People went flying, chairs went flying, really bad injuries," party-goer Juaria said.

"A lot of people broke their teeth, someone was pregnant and they hurt themselves," said Nadia, who was also on board.

READ MORE: Mosquito-borne virus detected in two states

Paramedics checked over several passengers.

Five people were taken to hospital including a young boy and four women aged in their 40s and 50s.

All are in a stable condition.

Somali Community Leader Farah Warsame said people were desperate for answers.

"(A) few people got injured, including a pregnant women and children as well," he said.

Police questioned the ship's captain and he underwent a breath test.

He has been suspended by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and the Lady Cutler is currently halted from setting sail.

WorkSafe and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority are trying to determine what led to the crash.

They are investigating whether the captain was distracted while he was docking the vessel.

The Lady Cutler's operator has apologised and said it is "devastated" after the incident.

"We have been operating on the Melbourne waters for 15 years giving people a safe and enjoyable experience," a statement said.

"The contributing facts for this incident will be investigated internally by the appropriate authorities."

READ MORE: One state faces floods as another burns

People have gathered on the Gold Coast to mourn the victims of the Sea World helicopter crash, which killed four people.

Pilot Ash Jenkinson, British newlyweds Diane and Ron Hughes, and Sydney woman Vanessa Tadros died in the crash on January 2.

First responders, witnesses and locals held a moment's silence on the shore where the accident happened.

A smoking ceremony was performed by local elders.

A makeshift memorial of flowers has grown at the site.

Earlier, vigil organiser Chantal Clarke told Weekend Today the tragedy had left a lasting impact.

READ MORE: Grieving Gold Coast chopper crash survivors release images

"It's had a huge impact on the community as a whole, not just those who are directly involved," Clarke said.

"I think even people who weren't there at the time and saw that happen … as horrible as it was, the rest of us have seen the images and it has affected a whole lot of people.

"We know that there were survivors from that accident. The trauma of that day must stay with them forever."

Multiple people were also injured in the horrific crash, including Melbourne mother Winnie De Silva, and her nine-year-old son Leon, who remain in hospital.

Vanessa Tadros' son Nicholas, 10, was also critically injured but has improved after some serious scares.

His father Simon has been asking for prayers for his battling little boy.

READ MORE: China reports 60,000 COVID-related deaths, says peak passed

Community members met near the rock pools at the Broadwater Parklands.

"We are asking people for silence and just in their own way, to acknowledge the trauma and again, just acknowledge the fragility of life and how are we going to move forwards from this," Clarke said earlier.

The lions involved in the infamous escape at Taronga Zoo in Sydney will not be on show to the public for at least several more weeks.

Taronga Zoo said the animals will remain behind the scenes until a "rigorous" review concludes into how they escaped their enclosure last year.

The five lions were spotted outside of their main enclosure on November 2, after there was an "integrity issue" with a containment fence.

READ MORE: One state faces floods as another burns

The escapees were identified as father Ato and cubs Khari, Luzuko, Malike and Zuri, who were kept at the Savannah enclosure.

A review completed soon after the escape found the lions had "played and interacted" with the fence for about 20 minutes before they were able to break through it.

A zoo spokesperson said the lions will return to public view when they receive the findings and recommendations from the third-party review.

READ MORE: Staggering cost of standard doctor's appointment revealed

The spokesperson said they anticipated repairs to the fence would begin in February.

"Our priority is to return to the lions to their main habitat as soon as possible, but only once all necessary repairs have been made," the spokesperson said.

"The fencing system used in the lion habitat is specialised and requires an in-depth and rigorous review that will take some time to complete."

The lions are currently in an open-air, back-of-house habitat, where they have access to several indoor holding dens.

The animals were only outside of their enclosure for 10 minutes. A loud duress alarm – sounded soon after their escape – prompting a strict lockdown.

Traffic has backed up from Pōkeno to Drury and commuters are told to expect delays.

A North Shore resident thought his flatmate was playing a prank when finding a snake.

Duax Ngakuru was said to be running a global drug empire from Turkey.

Police are searching for a missing 39-year-old man in and around the Yarra River in Melbourne's north west.

The man was with friends at Taroona Reserve in Warrandyte yesterday when he walked down a path toward the river by himself at 3pm.

He didn't return and the friends called police.

READ MORE: Probe after boat carrying 200 slams into Melbourne dock

Victoria Police's Air Wing as well as Search and Rescue divers searched the water and surrounding area yesterday, with the search continuing.