A growing number of Australians could be living with a dangerous heart condition that can cause "the worst, most devastating strokes" – and they have no clue.

Now scientists are fighting to prove the condition can be detected before it's too late.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a heart rhythm disorder that increases the risk of heart failure and stroke, and has been linked to dementia.

LIVE UPDATES: Trump says US will be leaving Iran within three weeks

Every day, six Australians die due to AF but symptoms can be vague, like breathlessness and a racing heart.

It's one of the most common heart conditions in Australia and its prevalence in Aussies aged 55-plus is projected to double over the next 20 years.

"If you've reached the age of 40, you already have a one in three lifetime chance of developing AF," Professor Ben Freedman OAM told nine.com.au.

More than half a million Aussies currently live with it, but many more people may have undiagnosed cases that won't be detected until a stroke occurs.

"These strokes tend to be at the worst end of the spectrum, devastating strokes that incapacitate and cause people to need chronic care," Freedman said.

"These are really the worst sort of strokes that you want to do without [and] I think we will prevent them."

NATIONAL: Fugitive Dezi Freeman 'shot up to 20 times' during stand-off

Despite the concerning statistics, there's currently no national screening program for AF.

Freedman, alongside researchers from the Heart Research Institute (HRI) and the University of Sydney, is trying to change that.

They're running the world's largest clinical trial investigating whether systematic screening for AF can prevent stroke and so far things look promising.

More than 600 Australians aged over 70 across NSW, WA and Tasmania have already taken part in the trial.

Participants used a handheld ECG device at home to check their heart rhythm four times a day for three weeks.

A number of previously undiagnosed cases of AF have been identified; cases that likely would have remained undetected until a stroke hit, if not for trial screening.

FUEL CRISIS: Servos cut prices as fuel excise reduction passes Parliament

But the government isn't ready take the trial screening program national yet.

"The government says 'if you can show us you've got fewer strokes, and that it's cost effective, we'll fund it,'" Freedman explained.

"It's not enough to be a good idea that looks as though it'll work, you have to prove it."

Researchers at HRI and the University of Sydney intend to do just that.

Freedman hopes to save older Aussies from debilitating strokes and save their families the emotional and financial cost of supporting that individual after a debilitating stroke.

Reducing the number of strokes caused by AF could also ease pressure on nursing homes and aged care facilities, where many stroke patients end up.

The trial will run for another three years, after which Freedman hopes the government will back a national screening program like the existing breast cancer and bowel cancer screenings.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

• Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
• Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
• Sign up to our breaking newsletter here

Regional taxi drivers and operators are still dealing with the devastating ripple effect of skyrocketing fuel prices despite promised relief from the government.

Some owners fear they will shut down if spiralling costs at the pump don't ease soon.

Crown Cabs director Jacqui Shephard said her fleet of 35 drivers across Victoria are doing it "tough".

LIVE UPDATES: Trump threatens to wipe out critical island, UN calls emergency meeting

READ MORE: Why thousands of Aussies plan to cancel their health insurance tomorrow

She said the taxi company was already struggling with the rising popularity of rideshare apps and independent operators who shirk the regulations.

"We're looking at things like… do we stay open? And we've been looking at that for a little while," Shephard told Nine.com.au.

"Because we wear the fuel cost, which means that, with any more costs going up, it's not even worth us staying open."

Shephard said Crown Cabs' regular customers in regional communities rely on the service for wheelchair-friendly trips or to attend healthcare appointments.

Often, drivers are heading back to town with no passengers.

These "empty" rides still use up fuel and after diesel surged to over $3.20 a litre, that is potentially hundreds of dollars wasted.

READ MORE: Nearly 25,000 flu cases recorded as doctors warn horror season is looming

"Our costs have gone up considerably," Shephard added.

"It's really tough. And there doesn't seem to be any reaction or any support from the state or federal government."

Some taxi drivers have reported seeing their weekly diesel bill double from around $400 to over $800.

But taxi companies are not able to pass on the cost of fuel to customers due to the industry's tight regulations.

There is legislation capping the maximum fares that taxis can charge in Victoria, meaning surcharges to cope with the cost of fuel are out of the question.

Even if they could, Shephard said her customers are "already struggling enough" as it is.

"We want to be there to help those people. We're not going to be raising our prices ridiculously – and we can't," she said.

READ MORE: Jackie 'O' files $82 million lawsuit after radio contract torn up

Meanwhile, rideshare companies DiDi and Uber have been able to introduce temporary levies to help out drivers.

Shephard said there has been a rise of independent drivers who refuse to play by the rules too.

"We have to abide by everything," Shephard said.

"And you've got all the idependents who are just rogue cowboys who take work away from those doing the right thing and give the industry a bad name."

For companies like Crown Cabs, it remains to be seen if the federal government's decision to halve the fuel excise for three months will help lower costs.

The government convened in a national cabinet meeting yesterday to urgently discuss ways to ease the supply issues and high prices impacting motorists.

Fuel availability is dwindling around the country as stock is depleted.

In Victoria alone, out of a total of 1,627 petrol stations, 82 are without diesel and 40 are without any petrol at all.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

• Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
• Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
• Sign up to our breaking newsletter here

A survivor of one of South Australia's most notorious paedophiles has revealed his frustration at finding out his attacker, Anthony Munro, will soon be released from jail on parole.

Andrew McIntyre said he wasn't formally notified about the decision, instead, another victim of the same predator had to break the news to him.

Decades on, McIntyre is still trying to comprehend the monstrous abuse he endured as a child.

READ MORE: Girl, 7, fighting for life after Adelaide crash

"I have children of my own, and I can't think of anything more horrid," McIntyre told 9News.

He was preyed on at just 9-years-old by family friend Munro.

"Before he started offending he used to be a friend of mine you know, so it's a very strange situation."

The paedophile and former scout leader is behind bars for the horrific abuse of a number of children, including McIntyre, between the 1960's and 1990's.

Now he's been granted parole, something at least one of his victims was notified about earlier this week, 9News understands.

McIntyre said he's frustrated he wasn't told.

"I've never received any notification – maybe that's my fault, I don't know," he said.

Lawyer Andrew Carpenter has worked with dozens of survivors of child sexual abuse and says running into an offender is the last thing they need.

"The last thing any victim survivor wants to do is be out in public and see an offender that's out when they thought they were in jail," Carpenter told 9News.

Munro was 72 when he was sentenced to 10 years and nine months' prison in 2017 for vile crimes in relation to McIntyre and another boy.

A third victim was identified three years later, adding more jail time.

"I was appalled by one year and six months for a third conviction of a known, proven paedophile," McIntyre said.

Carpenter said there needs to be a change to protect victims.

"Until the parliament passes laws to make sure sentences are longer this is just going to be a thing that keeps happening over and over again," he said.

A parole release date is still to be set but 9News understands there'll be strict conditions for Munro, including electronic monitoring and home detention. He's also not allowed to contact any of his victims.

Munro was questioned by police over the disappearance of the Beaumont children in 2016 who found no evidence linking him to the case.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732)

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

• Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
• Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
• Sign up to our breaking newsletter here

Heavy rain is forecast for the western South Island, especially the Westland ranges.

New South Wales service stations are slowly refilling their diesel stocks but tonight 150 are still without supply amid the Middle East war.

A change in buying habits is putting pressure on demand as Australia looks to its neighbours to keep the tankers coming. 

Despite the struggle to keep up with demand for diesel, there are signs extra supply is starting to flow in and out.  

READ MORE: Iran's chilling threat that could further derail global economy

"Fuel is going out the door to service stations and farmers, and fuel is coming in the door at Australia's import terminals," Energy Minister Chris Bowens said.

Almost 100 service stations across the country were restocked overnight and 312 are now out of diesel compared to 410 yesterday with improvements in every state – but for farmers it's still not enough.

"We're five to six weeks into this war now, and we're running on empty, we're running on fumes," NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said.

Australia's emergency fuel stock levels remain stable at 39 days of petrol, 30 days of jet fuel and down just one day on last week to 29 for diesel.

READ MORE: Crew member missing after US fighter plane crashes over Iran

Buying habits are changing with more people filling up their tanks more often.

Viva Energy's Geelong refinery reported a 30 per cent rise in demand in the lead up to Easter this year.

NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said Aussies were still "stockpiling".

"Some of it is panic buying but it's also industry and agriculture accessing their diesel and using it differently," he said.

READ MORE: Some Aussies are making diesel at home. Here's why that's a bad idea

While a record amount of fuel is on its way to Australia from the United States, the prime minister is still leaning on suppliers closer to home including a push to strengthen ties with Singapore which needs our gas.

"Anthony Albanese Penny Wong and myself have been in constant contact with our counterparts around the region, sharing notes about the crisis, sharing notes about helping each other through, getting assurances from other countries that they will be reliable energy suppliers just as we are reliable energy suppliers to them," Bowen added.

Planning is also underway for a possible visit to Australia from Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

If locked in it could be another chance to secure some of its oil supply in exchange for our energy resources.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

• Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
• Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
• Sign up to our breaking newsletter here

Two people were arrested as part of the investigation into fugitive police killer Dezi Freeman.

A man and a woman were arrested about 7am today at two properties in north-east Victoria, police said.

Police confirmed the arrests were part of the probe into the movements of Freeman following the shootings in Porepunkah last August.

LIVE UPDATES: The global financial hub copping it 3X harder at the bowser

Police said the pair were associates of Freeman but not family. They've since been released from custody pending further inquiries.

Authorities are investigating if the pair helped the cop killer get to the remote property where he was killed by police on Monday, after several months on the run.

Police said anyone found to have been harbouring Freeman could face up to 20 years behind bars.

Freeman was hiding out in something that resembled a shipping container and a caravan in Thologolong north-east of Porepunkah and on the border with NSW.

READ MORE: Australia's deadliest snakes being driven towards densely populated areas

The seven-month manhunt ended in a hail of bullets outside his hiding place, with the fugitive understood to have fired two shots before police returned fire up to 20 times.

Special Operations Group members had spent three hours at the property attempting to negotiate a peaceful surrender with Freeman before multiple shots were fired.

"He fired two shots and eight police responded. He was shot at least 20 times," The Age crime writer John Silvester told 3AW.

"In all probability, the gun was shot out of his hand because it was some distance away."

Investigators had been tracking a car coming and going from 56-year-old Freeman's hideout before he was killed in a shootout about 8.30am on Monday, 9News understands.

9News has been told officers had been surveilling Freeman for several days after watching the car, which repeatedly made the almost 200-kilometre trip between Porepunkah and Thologolong, located on the Victoria-NSW border.

Police have asserted it would have been very difficult for the fugitive to remain hidden for so long without help.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

• Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
• Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
• Sign up to our breaking newsletter here

A grand prize of $8m was up for grabs this evening.

A fresh and devastating blow is heading for struggling households with the price of food expected to spike even further in coming weeks.

Retailers are now having to pass on the massive costs they've been absorbing, in the weeks since the Middle East war began. 

Fresh everyday food staples are about to cost more as a result of the fuel crisis.

LIVE UPDATES: Iran grants safe passage through Strait of Hormuz to major country

Independent supermarket Ritchies is among those sounding the alarm.

Meat, fruit and vegetables are all expected to cost 20 per cent more and in as little as three weeks.

NSW Farmers bosses say members are being hit.

"Particularly the ones that have further to travel like onions and lemons which are already incurring a $1 per kilometre additional transport levy for those trucks bringing that produce to the distribution centres to get to consumers at the supermarkets," Xavier Martin, NSW farmers president said.

READ MORE: Millions of Aussies will get an extra hour of sleep tomorrow

The price of home brand milk is also expected to climb, with dairy farmers asking supermarkets to increase prices by 30 cents per litre as processors pay through the nose to combat high diesel and fertiliser shortages.

As for everything else, retailers have been absorbing exploding transport costs but now need to pass that onto shoppers.

Some economists say a 20 per cent price hike for fresh food is just the beginning with even further increases anticipated unless the war in the Middle East ends.

READ MORE: Trump asks for $220 million to reopen Alcatraz

"Even if it ended today where has been impacts on supply chains that will be with us for weeks and months ahead," Energy Minster Chris Bowen said.

New data from the UN says global wheat prices have already risen by 4.3 per cent last month, with farmers planting less because of the challenges they are facing.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

• Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
• Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
• Sign up to our breaking newsletter here

Two members of a prominent horse racing family and a former jockey are among nine people arrested over a plot to smuggle cocaine worth a billion dollars into Victoria.

Federal Police swooped after a boat believed to be involved in the importation scheme sank in Bass Strait.

Shots show a man from Glenroy in Melbourne man handcuffed and walked to an unmarked police car.

READ MORE: Five ways the fuel crisis is about to hit home

Another from Morwell in regional Victoria was marched through the AFP loading bay.

They're two of nine men charged over plots to allegedly smuggle more than a billion dollars worth of cocaine into Victoria using fishing boats.

Among those arrested are prominent horse racing figures: trainer Grant Dalziel, his son Peter and former jockey Brian Park.

Former AFP Detective Supt David Craig claimed it was a "very sophisticated organisation".

"What I think makes it striking about this is, that the alleged use of trusted high profile figures from the racing industry, allegedly, and it shows that organised crime can embed itself, behind any respectable entities or industry."

READ MORE: Dezi Freeman's sister 'ashamed and angry' of police killer's actions

A 10 month probe began in May last year after four people were rescued from a boat off the South Gippsland Coast in treacherous conditions.

Their movements after were monitored.

Police say the drug importation syndicate involved sending out 'daughter vessels' into the Bass Straight to receive drugs from a 'mother ship', travelling through Australian waters.

They allegedly tried to smuggle quantities of up to 3.5 tonnes of cocaine into the country but their attempts failed.

"It's almost cinematic isn't it. It starts with a sunken vessel, and then the persistence of the people trying to retrieve that is a thread that leads to a billion dollar national drug distribution network," Craig said.

Over the past month raids have been carried out at properties across the state with a boat police believe was used by the accused conspirators seized.

Eight men were arrested in Victoria and one in Sydney.

The alleged offenders aged between 31 and 72 are now facing a combined 38 charges.

The accused men from Victoria will appear at the Melbourne Magistrates court again in July. 

Five of them are in custody, while the others were released on bail.

If convicted, seven of those arrested face the possibility of life behind bars.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

• Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
• Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
• Sign up to our breaking newsletter here

SH1 was shut from Union St West to St David St as crews fight the ‘well-involved’ blaze.