Victorian drivers will be offered a discount on their licence renewal and new licences will become free under a new VicRoads deal that is expected to make almost $8 billion for the state.

The government will privatise parts of VicRoads as it partners with Aware Super, Australian Retirement Trust, and Macquarie Asset Management in a 40-year deal called the 'VicRoads Modernisation process'.

The partnership is said to bring $7.9 billion in upfront proceeds for the state, which the government has said will be invested in the new Victorian Future Fund to help tackle debt from the COVID-19 pandemic.

READ MORE: Victorian drivers injured and shaken after rocks thrown at their windscreens

Drivers who have not incurred demerit points or committed road offences in the three years prior to their licence expiring will receive a 25 per cent discount on their licence renewal fee.

Roads Minister Ben Carroll said the move was "embedding road safety" in the deal.

Learners and probationary licences will also become free.

Victorians wanting to get their L-plates will save up to $51.40 in testing fees, while those going for their Ps will save up to $133.30.

The deal will also create 80 new jobs within VicRoads.

READ MORE: One-off $250 payment in Victoria to help with cost of living

Queensland is expanding its ban on single-use plastics, announcing that from September 2023 plastic microbeads, polystyrene packing peanuts and plastic-stemmed cotton buds will no longer be available for sale.

While not part of the 2023 phase, the government has also tabled plans to phase out single-use coffee cups within the next five years.

The mass release of "lighter than air balloons", commonly done at events such as weddings, parties and fundraisers, will also be banned.

READ MORE: Woman accused of killing cyclist in 'act of romantic jealousy' captured in Costa Rica

"Single-use plastics are problematic, and Queenslanders have made it clear they want to give more of them the punt," Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said.

"They don't breakdown, they fill up our dumps and they kill wildlife."

Scanlon also signalled that the government plans on phasing out other popular plastics such as coffee cups by 2027.

"It's great to see so many businesses already taking voluntary measures and going beyond our bans, and it is time to support those voluntary commitments and strengthen our actions in the fight against plastic pollution," she said.

"Our roadmap will phase out other problematic single-use plastics over the next five years, including the aim to phase out disposable coffee cups and lids following work with other states and territories.  

"Of course, we will continue to work with retailers, community groups and suppliers so they have the alternative products in place."

READ MORE: The desperate pleas of women with long COVID

The Palaszczuk government phased out single-use lightweight shopping bags in 2018 and last year banned a number of single-use plastics food products like straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, unenclosed bowls, and expanded polystyrene (EPS) takeaway containers and EPS cups.

The full roadmap can be seen online here.

END OF FINANCIAL YEAR: All the changes happening on July 1

As cases of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) fill our hospital wards, the chance of catching COVID-19 is still a threat.

With coronavirus sub-variants multiplying and infection rates still on the rise, studies show catching the virus for a second or even third time could be worse for you than first thought.

Epidemiologist Professor Nancy Baxter said "each time you catch it, you have additional risks".

READ MORE: Desperate pleas of women with long COVID

"It is not a one and done scenario. If you have COVID-19 once, you don't want to get it again," Baxter told Today.

"Each time you get COVID-19, you have some risk of getting quite ill from it and you have risk of getting long-term symptoms, as well as long COVID."

Baxter said while catching COVID-19 does give you some protection and immunity, "it is not something that you want to get repeatedly".

READ MORE: Firefighting deemed to be 'cancer causing'

With COVID-19 restrictions now almost completely gone across Australia, Baxter warned that "acting like COVID-19 doesn't exist" is a big driver in people getting sick a second and third time.

"We have these new sub-variants, BA-4 and BA5 are the newest kids on the block and they are starting to really take off in Australia," she said.

"They are able to get around immunity from BA1 and from that Christmas Omicron better than previous sub-variants, so it is a triple whammy and then we are all indoors."

READ MORE: Review into COVID-19 vaccine and treatment supply launched by federal government

Sydney residents have been warned tomorrow's deluge could cause flash flooding as a month's worth of rain falls in just one day.

Meteorologist Jane Golding warned from the north at Port Stephens to the south at Bateman's Bay will experience heavy rainfall on Saturday with the weather event escalating until Tuesday.

"We're seeing the formation of a coastal trough off the NSW coast," she said.

READ MORE: 'Feel like I've died': Desperate pleas of women with long COVID

"We know these are quite dangerous systems and they've been known to create widespread flooding in the past and that's certainly on the cards for the next few days."

On Saturday, Sydney and the Illawarra will be in the firing line for the sudden downpour.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned flash flooding is likely over the next five days in Sydney suburbs.

"With catchments already saturated and dams at or near capacity, there is a heightened risk of riverine and flash flooding as well as landslips along central parts of the NSW coast from Saturday," the bureau said in a statement.

"River levels are expected to rise from Saturday, with the largest impacts starting Monday or Tuesday next week.

"Wind and waves will also increase along parts of the coast from Saturday, with a risk of coastal erosion for some areas."

The Hawkesbury and Nepean, a region that has been devastated by flooding four times in the past two years, is now preparing for the possibility of yet another flooding event this weekend.

Flooding is also expected on the Cooks River, Georges River, Woronora, and Shoalhaven.

https://twitter.com/BOM_NSW/status/1542352595871842305

With the school holidays beginning today in the state, State Emergency Service (SES) Commissioner Carlene York warned families to be cautious when travelling to low-lying areas.

Heavy rain started to fall over Sydney last night and BoM has warned this is "increasing", with up to 20mm falling today.

The Warragamba Dam is currently 97 per cent full.

Weatherzone said within the deepening trough "several small-scale low pressure systems could develop" bringing powerful winds alongside heavy rain.

READ MORE: Tiny parasite threatening Australia's $70m bee industry

Weatherzone has urged residents across NSW and Queensland to stay on top of alerts amid the "dynamic" weather event.

"Accumulated totals in excess of 100mm are likely in some eastern districts of NSW and QLD from this weekend into early next week. Isolated multi-day totals of 200 to 300mm are possible, particularly near and to the south of any low pressure systems that develop close to the coast," it said, adding these totals will "shift a lot" over the coming days.

"Be sure to check the latest forecasts and warnings for the most up-to-date information."

READ MORE: Woman accused of killing elite cyclist captured

NSW warnings will be published here, while Queenslanders can keep across updates here.

A western Sydney man has been charged after Border Force officers found a gun hidden inside a gaming console imported from the United States.

The 20-year-old Yagoona man allegedly coordinated the importation of the fully operational Glock-style pistol, which was discovered in the mail in Sydney in October.

The gun and its part were wrapped in foil inside the machine.

READ MORE: Sydney's north-west prepares for fourth flooding event in two years

Police also allegedly linked him to 500g of cannabis that were imported in August and seven grams of cocaine imported in September.

His home was raided in November, with police seizing multiple fake IDs, cannabis and several phone.

Detective Sergeant Matthew Veraguth said police had protected the community "from the far-reaching consequences that may have occurred if the gun had made its way" through border control.

The man was charged yesterday with multiple offences relating to the alleged importation of firearms and drugs.

A woman who lived on Lake Hawea Station with owners Geoff and Justine Ross has labelled critics of their recent appearance on TV show Country Calendar “disgusting” and “embarrassing”.And Chanelle O’Sullivan has backed her friends’…

Azalia Wilson was a soldier. She was the life of the party, a dedicated mum, a woman who fiercely loved her family and friends. But her life was taken away at the hands of a violent partner who murdered her in a jealous rage while…

The Rotorua Boys’ High School community is mourning the loss of a student who died in a tragic motorcycle crash on Thursday.Year 12 student Aidan Nicholson has been described as a “proud young man of Raukura”.He died on his way…

Police investigating the death of 51-year-old Mitchell Te Kani are appealing for sightings of a red Honda Odyssey with registration ARW164.Te Kani died at a house on Maungatapu Rd on May 14.Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Rawlinson…

Staff at a Melbourne shop have had their most interesting day at work yet after a furry customer decided to take up residence in their front window display.

They arrived at the homewares store, Bungalow Trading Co on Martin Street in Brighton, just after 9am on Friday, to find a possum alongside the ceramic vases in the front window.

The little friend had made quite the mess during his overnight stay, knocking over homewares and leaving droppings all over the shop.

READ MORE: Free licences in Victoria as VicRoads becomes partly privatised

The workers had no choice but to keep the shop closed – despite customers waiting outside – as the possum did not want to abandon his new home.

He refused to leave the store when the staff tried themselves to help him out, after finding no wildlife services available.

Manager Sarah Blade said they finally managed to get a wildlife rescuer out by 11.30am, who safely removed the possum.

So how did the possum get inside the store?

Blade said it must have wandered in the front door around 5pm yesterday right before closing.

She said a man had told her that he had seen the possum by the entrance to the store, and said he had not seen it run away from the shop.

But Blade said she searched the store before leaving on Thursday night and found no sign the animal had come inside.

Blade said the sneaky furry friend had "definitely" made today the "most interesting day" staff had had in the store.

"We're absolutely laughing about it," he said.

"He just walked in the front door – he's not coming from the roof or anything. He's just come as a customer and stayed the night and had a lovely evening.

"The cuteness was worth the mess."

Customers have found the store's social media posts about the disruption hilarious.

"What colours does it come in?" one wrote.

"Only in Australia!" another said.