Around $110 million is sitting on lost or dormant adult Opal cards, with almost 20 million of them going unused for a year or more.

COVID-19 has had a massive impact on public transport use with services still running on reduced timetables.

And some of those still taking public transport have switched to other payment methods such as smart watches or credit cards.

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But 9News can reveal the amount of money sitting in Transport for NSW's account has ballooned in the last two years.

Two years ago, almost 12.4 million cards worth around $65 million had gone unused for 12 months or more.

Data provided by Transport NSW shows that number has swelled now to 19.9 million adult cards holding $110 million.

Around 1.8 million adult Opal cards haven't been used for between six and 12 months.

Those cards have a combined value of $15 million.

Transport for NSW said COVID-19 has impacted mobility across Sydney resulting in reduced travel on the public transport network but even before the pandemic, millions of cards were dormant.

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People who use contactless payments pay the same fares as those with an Opal card and still access the same caps, transfer discounts and off-peak fares.

"Customers have the option of requesting either a refund of the Opal balance on their reloadable Opal Card or, if the Opal card is registered, transferring the balance to another Opal card," a department spokesperson said.

"Transport for NSW encourages customers to register their Opal card so their balance is protected, even if their card is lost or stolen."

Though you have the options, no refunds or balance transfers are given for unregistered Opal cards that are lost or stolen.

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To obtain a refund, the Opal card has to be faulty, damaged, unwanted, or any associated entitlement to concession travel has expired.

The full balance must be refunded at one time to an Australian bank account or by cheque to an Australian address. Amounts under $5 will not be refunded by cheque.

A form must first be downloaded, filled in and posted back with the physical Opal card – unless it was lost or stolen and happened to be registered.

For the sake of a few dollars, some may see the process as burdensome.

Lewis Clark, Transport for NSW executive director customer systems and operations, said as customers come back to travelling, balances will return too a more normal level and with the move towards contactless payments, there may be fewer Opal cards in circulation down the track.

He ruled out refunding customers in a similar way to e-tag holders were refunded deposits last year saying it would be too difficult to follow.

A foreign university student who helped import $70 million worth of drugs into Melbourne has been slammed in court for his "cock and bull story" and dubbed "a complete liar".

Alex Forcade, 27, was jailed for 18 and a half years before the County Court this morning, having previously pleaded guilty to attempting to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs.

The French-Canadian national was studying in Malaysia when he was paid $40,000 by an international drug syndicate to help smuggle 154kg of methamphetamines into Australia.

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Forcade arrived in Melbourne in February 2020, a week before a shipping container was sent from Mexico to Melbourne containing the huge amount of methamphetamines hidden inside bags of silver concentrate.

The student was tasked to get the shipping container to Storage King in Burwood in Melbourne's east to prepare the drugs for sale.

However, Australian Border Force officials discovered the drugs and replaced them with another substance in a ruse to bring down Forcade and his accomplices.

After he was arrested, Forcade told police he was in Australia for a birthday trip, despite knowing no one in the country.

Judge Michael Tinney slammed Forcade's "cock and bull" story, saying the student was critical player in the operation due to his desire for money.

"Your account that you did it because you were told to, is empty nonsense," Judge Tinney said.

"You weren't some silly, impressionable teenager.

"You are a complete liar."

Forcade will have to be spend at least 13 and a half years in jail before he can apply for parole.

He will be deported upon his release.

The wife of a man killed by a drunk driver while walking home in near Maitland, New South Wales, in 2019 has addressed her husband's killer in court.

Tony Greenfield was a much-loved father, committed husband, and a well-respected scientist.

He died when he was hit by a car driven by Kenneth Grant – the father of former police minister Troy Grant.

"I was in shock for months. I felt like my brain couldn't process what I had seen," Nerida Greenfield said today.

Former police inspector Grant, 72, has been found guilty of the alcohol fuelled-hit and run.

He was pulled over as he drove home from a Christmas party and was four times the legal limit.

Troy Grant was by his father's side today, saying he knew he had an alcohol problem.

"When he drank, he guzzled the drink fast," Mr Grant said.

The former police minister said he is an "advocate for being held to account for road safety issues" but is fighting for his father to have a reduced sentence due to his age and cognitive impairment.

Mr Greenfield's daughter Bronwen was brought to tears, telling the older Grant: "I feel like you've struggled to understand the impact this entire situation has had on myself and my family."

His wife said there is no excuse for his actions.

Mr Greenfield was one of the country's few specialists in blood transfusions and was working to make them safer and more efficient.

"Kenneth Grant's actions resulted in 40 years of knowledge and experience being wiped out in a second. Such a waste," Ms Greenfield said.

Mr Grant faces up to ten years in prison. He will be sentenced on March 4 in Newcastle.

A New South Wales man with a vision impairment said he's been failed by the system after a decision to cut funding related to his guide dog.

Ian Waller has relied on a guide dog for 40 years and was shattered to learn some of the costs to care for his assistance animal are no longer considered a requirement for him under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The 61-year-old, from Belmont, was born with retina atrophy, which impairs his vision, and also suffers from epilepsy.

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He told 9News he'd be "totally lost" without a guide dog and was rattled after almost getting hit by a car when he tried walking without three-year-old assistance dog, Harry.

"I crossed (a road) the other day and I didn't see a car and it was right on top of me. Didn't even hear it", Mr Waller told 9News.

"I'm more safer with Harry than with a cane, which proved to me the other day.

"If I had Harry, he would've pulled me up straight away."

In December 2021, National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) declined support for Mr Waller's guide dog under the NDIS.

The ongoing guide dog funding Mr Waller was receiving was Guide Dog Mobility Training and Maintenance – which covered bills such as food costs.

In an email seen by 9News, Mr Waller was told there's "no evidence provided that current guide dog is a working dog".

"I didn't get any warning. It was just out when I got the plan back," Mr Waller said.

"I feel like I have been punished and treated cruelly because I've asked for extra hours when I have seizures."

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Mr Waller said he has had 21 seizures since the funding cuts were made.

"They just hit and the stress I've been under with the NDIS has not helped," he said.

Mr Waller's case has been accepted to go before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), but a date for his hearing has not yet been set.

The Federal Member for Shortland, Pat Conroy has labelled the move "offensive and appalling".

"He shouldn't have to do this,' the Labor member said.

"I call on the Minister to personally intervene to restore the funding."

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But a spokesperson for Linda Reynolds – Minister for Government Services and the National Disability Insurance Scheme – said the NDIA makes "independent decisions based on specialist advice".

"These decisions are not made by the Minister of the day," the spokesperson said.

"This is the arms-length approach designed by the Labor Party when it first established the NDIS."

The NDIA said it is "generally unable to comment" on individual cases, or those before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

"Mr Waller retains his guide dog which was fully funded for $50,000 as a replacement animal in 2020. Additionally, it is important to note, Mr Waller continues to receive a significant amount of funding for the necessary disability supports in his current plan.

"The NDIA respects every participant's right to seek a review or appeal if they think a decision made by the NDIA about them is wrong."

A green sea turtle has endured months of rehabilitation in Sydney and has finally been released back into the ocean.

Lizzie the green sea turtle was spotted off the coast of Kurnell Beach just four months ago by local divers.

She couldn't feed and wouldn't have survived without being rescued.

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"She was very slow, didn't put up a fight at all, was really ready to be rescued," Louisa Xu, from Australian Seabird and Turtle Rescue, said.

For the past four months, the five-year-old turtle has been cleaned and cared for by the team at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium.

"We gave her fluids, we gave her tube feedings, then after only two short weeks, she started eating by herself," Cathleen Diamond from SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium said.

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Lizzie has doubled in size after eating a smorgasbord of squid and seagrass, gaining more than five kilograms during her stay at the aquarium.

The young turtle was finally ready to be released today after being given the stamp of approval by the vet.

The SEA LIFE team let Lizzie go from Kurnell Beach, the location where she was rescued.

Lizzie flapped her front flippers like bird wings and tore through the water, clearly elated to be free.

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Conservationists are trying to protect turtles from a number of threats including pollution.

Many turtles rescued from Australia's shores are sick due to swallowing plastic.

A Hamilton jury has returned mixed verdicts in relation to two Thai sex workers accused of defrauding three elderly men of more than $250,000.Nualpan Coxon, 67, and Pornthip Phonkoed, 63, both of Auckland, have been on trial in…

A synthetic football pitch is reaching near boiling temperatures sparking outrage from the local community in Sydney's south-west.

The surface of a sporting field at Gardiner Park in Banskia reaches up to 88C despite the weather at the time only being 28C.

The $2.5 million facility was completed in December last year.

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Local residents are not impressed by the artificial turf, claiming on a hot day the "smell is atrocious".

Artificial turf is made out of shredded car tyres and as the field heats up, it begins to smell like burnt tyres.

The particles are also easily washed away by wind and rain and can end up in waterways.

Dr Sebastian Pfautsch is a heat scientist and has called for further research on artificial turf and the impact on urban spaces.

"With our cities getting hotter and hotter, a material that adds head should be used with caution," he said.

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Residents may not like the turf but local footballers are happy about the facility.

"It just feels better, when you play on other grounds it's uneven, you get injured more," local footballer Alex said.

Football NSW said artificial surfaces like the one in Banksia give "communities more opportunities to play sport more often".

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The impact of synthetic turfs on the environment and our health is not yet fully understood.

The NSW Chief Scientist is now investigating.

"So we should really really think about where we put it in, how much of it we put in, how much of it is helping keep our community active but also how hot does it get," Martin Sheppard, turf consultant, said.

The Friends of Gardiner Park will take the matter to court next month.

Former TV presenter Andrew O'Keefe has pleaded guilty to drug possession.

The 50-year-old remains behind bars over assault allegations, following an alleged dispute he had with a woman on January 25.

Today he pleaded guilty to having 1.5 grams of marijuana.

Two weeks ago Mr O'Keefe was refused bail in a Sydney court over the alleged assault and choking of a woman at his CBD apartment.

He was charged with two counts of intentionally choking a person without their consent, three counts of common assault and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He will be in court again later this month.

Australian suppliers have expressed relief over the government's decision to revive the once-$15 billion cruise industry, however key details like safety protocols are yet to be determined by authorities which could cause further delays.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said today the Federal Government would be working with states and territories to resume cruising in Australia, but that it would be up to individual governments to "ensure they are ready".

Mr Hunt said New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland were the most "advanced in their consideration", meaning they are expected to be the first offering the service.

"It is an important sign of Australia returning to normal," he said.

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"Work has advanced significantly with states and territories, it will be up to them to ensure they are ready and feel they are in a position to do this.

"We are simply in the position now of waiting for protocols to be agreed and developed by individual states and territories."

Mr Hunt said there needs to be a "three-way partnership between the cruise sector, the Commonwealth, and the states and territories

However, he emphasised it is up to states and territories to feel "prepared, comfortable and ready" in restarting and that the federal government would wait on them to agree on safety protocols.

These protocols include plans for repeated testing and isolation.

But cruising is not returning soon enough for many keen for a maritime holiday.

A rally has already been scheduled in Sydney this Sunday for those demanding a faster return for cruising.

The plan is for a socially-distanced sit-in at the Overseas Passenger Terminal.

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'We need governments to sign off as soon as possible'

Cruise Lines International Association managing director Joel Katz welcomed National Cabinet's announcement for the "careful resumption" of cruising but asked for the government to sign off on new health protocols "as soon as possible".

"Most cruise lines have cancelled sailings through to the end of May and it will take several months to prepare ships for their return, so we need governments to sign off on industry protocols as soon as possible so we can begin a careful and responsible revival of cruise tourism in Australia," he said.

He emphasised more than seven million people had already sailed on cruise ships around the world, with new health protocols in place.

President of Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia Marguerite Fitzgerald agreed it was a "breakthrough development" welcomed by many Australian tourism and food suppliers.

Travel agents, fresh produce suppliers, tour operators, along with the hospitality and accommodation sector have all been suffering with the ban on the lucrative industry.

"For two years, all of these groups, including our own employees, have faced uncertainty as to when cruising and its contribution to Australia's national, state and regional economies might resume," Ms Fitzgerald said.

"They, at last, have reason for optimism and confidence that cruising will return and we will certainly support the cruise industry in working closely with government authorities, both federal and state, to achieve this outcome."

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The cruise industry has been out of work since the end of March 2020, when an initial 30-day cruise ship ban was announced.

Almost 30 passengers on the Ruby Princess ship died after the virus spread on board at the start of the pandemic, with NSW Health blamed after it then tore through the country when passengers disembarked.

Since then, cruise ships have not been allowed to dock anywhere in Australia.

Mr Hunt extended the cruising ban in December last year and it was originally meant to lift on February 17, however, now it will be able to restart slightly earlier once states and territories agree on safety protocols.

It's been nine months since Cairns real estate agent Stuart Carr's life was turned upside down.

It all started with an ominous email from Meta's Facebook in May last year. Someone had attempted to log in to his account from Oregon in the United States.

Worried, Mr Carr tried all the steps Facebook suggested. He followed the links to reset his password, with no luck.

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He even sent Facebook a copy of his driver's licence and other ID to prove who he was, again to no avail.

"Everything I did, I would think I was getting somewhere, but I ended up hitting a brick wall," Mr Carr said.

After two days Facebook decided Mr Carr's account was compromised and deleted it.

But not before the hackers had gone on a massive spending spree with his credit card details.

Over 48 hours, the hackers racked up $3150 worth of charges – all spent on Facebook ads.

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The money was eventually refunded through his bank, but Mr Carr was infuriated that Facebook's security processes did nothing to stop the suspicious transactions.

"Facebook ads have to be approved before they go live so why didn't the alarm bells go off at Facebook when, in a short amount of time, my account had the email and phone number changed from an IP address somewhere in the United States and then thousands racked up in ads," Mr Carr said.

The charges, however, turned out to be the least of his worries.

Over the next few months, Mr Carr would slowly realise the enormity of his predicament.

It wasn't just his personal Facebook account he had lost.

He was the sole admin of the Facebook page for his commercial real estate business – and having been booted off Facebook he could no longer access it.

Over the past eight years, Mr Carr grew his business, which specialises in the use of drone footage and customised videos to sell properties, off the back of Facebook.

It was the way new customers found him. He advertised his services and found buyers for the properties he was selling.

Mr Carr said his profits were down 50 percent since the Facebook hack and he was now at a point where he was considering shutting his business down.

At the time he was hacked, the real estate agent was running two community Facebook groups, one for the local dog park and another for a mountain bike riding club. These too are lying dormant.

The social cost of being suddenly disconnected from friends and family was also "huge", Mr Carr said.

"It's affected my personal life a lot because I'm from Melbourne. I've got a good network of friends up here in Cairns but I communicate and stay in touch with friends and family over Facebook.

"It's like someone's just come along and wiped out your life in a big way. All of it has taken a massive personal toll."

Mr Carr said a short time after his account was hacked, he noticed a security alert on his iPhone from Apple, which said his Facebook and email passwords were included in a data leak.

"I suspect is how the hackers got in and took over my account," he said.

Meta's Facebook has 2.9 billion users worldwide, with hackers a growing and often nightmarish problem for victims.

A spokesperson for Meta declined to comment on how many accounts are hacked per year.

Hackers often gain access to Facebook accounts through weak passwords used on other sites, such as email accounts, or phishing scams, online security expert Troy Hunt said.

"It is often a weak password, lack of two-factor authentication, a phishing attack or a combination of all of the above," Mr Hunt said.

Even users with strong passwords and two factor authentication set up on their accounts were vulnerable to phishing attacks, Mr Hunt said.

Using a digital password manager was a good option to boost security, because it allowed people to use a lot of random passwords without the headache of trying to remember them, Mr Hunt said.

"The joy of that is if I do have an account compromised … it's only in that one place," he said.

Unfortunately, it usually took things going wrong before people realised they needed to take online security, Mr Hunt said.

"After the fact, people will do anything to avoid the problem but, by then, it's too late."

After 9news.com.au contacted Meta a spokesperson said it was investigating Mr Carr's case.

"We're committed to safeguarding the integrity of our services, and work hard to protect our community from hackers, fake accounts and other inauthentic behaviour," the spokesperson said.

"Online phishing techniques are not unique to Meta, however we're making significant investments in technology to protect the security of people's accounts."

"We strongly encourage people to strengthen their online security by turning on app-based two-factor authentication, never share their password or account details and turn on alerts for unrecognised logins."