Floodwaters in western New South Wales have continued to inundate roads and isolate residents as officials warn the peak is still yet to come.

The Darling River has overflowed throughout the regional towns of Wilcannia, Tilpa, Bourke and Menindee Lakes, with the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) warning streams will peak at Louth tomorrow.

"The main flood peak along the Darling River is now downstream of Bourke. This peak is expected to reach Louth around Friday to Saturday, with major flooding," the BoM said.

LIVE UPDATES: Keeping the WA border closed 'sensible', says Wayne Swan

"Major flooding is occurring along the Darling River at Tilpa where river levels exceeded the major flood level (11.50 metres) early Tuesday morning.

"River levels at Tilpa are expected to peak at the end of January.

"River levels at Menindee are likely to remain near the minor flood level until late February, as releases from the Menindee Lakes system are made to make room for the upstream flood waters."

Residents in affected areas have been told to stay out of rising water, seek refuge at the highest available place and move vehicles away from the deluge.

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Meanwhile, meteorologists have said there are signs that increasing rain and thunderstorms over northern Australia during the next week could develop into tropical cyclone.

A monsoon trough is expected to move over northern Australia over the next few days – bringing heavy rain and storm activity – could increase in some northern parts of Queensland, the NT and WA.

"This increase in convective activity could cause a low-pressure system to develop within the trough, most likely over the Timor Sea later this week," Weatherzone warned.

"Some models suggest that this low could move south towards the Kimberley coast on the weekend and early next week, where it has the potential to develop into a tropical cyclone."

In South Australia, a severe weather warning for heavy rainfall has been issued for people in parts of the West Coast, Lower Eyre Peninsula, Eastern Eyre Peninsula, North West Pastoral and North East Pastoral districts.

"An upper level low pressure system and associated surface trough is developing over the west of the state and is expected to move slowly eastwards over the next few days," the BoM said.

https://twitter.com/BOM_SA/status/1484035901709852679?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

"Areas of heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected from Thursday onwards over parts of the Flood Watch area, with the risk gradually moving eastwards.

"Four day rainfall totals to midnight Sunday of 60-100 mm are likely, with isolated higher falls in excess of 120 mm possible with thunderstorms."

Elsewhere across the country, it'll be hot and sunny in Victoria, will Melbourne set to swelter through above 30C conditions today, mild and cloudy in the ACT, with tops of 24C in Canberra, and 27C and cloudy in Brisbane.

A man has died while he was searching for Queensland's missing police dog Quizz.

Emergency services were called to a quarry site on Halletts Road, Redbank Plains, at around 7pm last night.

A 61-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Police believe he suffered a medical episode.

It's also understood he was searching for missing police dog Quizz.

"While the Queensland Police Service understands there are still members of our community conducting their own searches for our PD Quizz and we are grateful for the continued efforts, your safety and the safety of those around you is of paramount importance to us," Queensland Police said in a statement.

The local Queensland community has been searching for Quizz since he went missing on January 11.

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Quizz was separated from his handler after attempting to track a teen fleeing a stolen car.

Police Dog Quizz is a three-year-old Sable German Shepherd with a black and tan hide.

He was wearing a black tracking harness with a long tracking lead.

Families are in disbelief and heartbroken over Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan's controversial decision to call off reopening the border.

Many are reeling over long-awaited reunions being called off, and experts are questioning just how long WA can keep Omicron out.

Heike Langer-Jones is one of those affected and said it is mind-blowing how the WA Government can backflip on a promise that had finally given families hope.

LIVE UPDATES: WA backtracks on border reopening

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Her husband is a FIFO worker who was due to fly home to Tasmania yesterday, but is now stuck in WA, afraid to leave in case he loses his job.

"I don't know what has happened to our Australian way of life – where I am sitting on my phone at night-time waiting for a press conference to let me know when I will see my husband again next," a frustrated Ms Langer-Jones told Today.

"I'm in absolute disbelief and heartbroken. I'm drained, I'm stressed. It is just heartbreaking that this can happen in our way of life."

Ms Langer-Jones said her 15-year-old daughter doesn't yet know her dad won't be coming home and she doesn't know how she will explain why.

"All I know is we have done everything asked of us. We are vaccinated and follow protocols and still not good enough," she said.

"I just don't understand how that can even be possible. You can't make a decision and then retract from that decision. It's mind blowing."

READ MORE – EXPLAINER: What you need to know about WA's border changes

Labor leaders back move to protect from Omicron wave

Labor leaders are backing the move as the state's leader tries to protect it from an east-coast style outbreak.

Mr McGowan said it would be "reckless and irresponsible" to open the border when he called a late-night conference to announce the push last night, just 16 days before the scheduled reopening on February 5.

He blamed the Omicron variant, and said he would prefer more people to have vaccination boosters before opening.

Currently only a quarter of the eligible population have had a third shot.

He also expressed concerns about not enough children being vaccinated.

But no new date or plan has been detailed.

Former Deputy Prime Minister and Labor Party President Wayne Swan said the move to delay arrivals was an "entirely sensible decision".

"Mark McGowan has a choice the we didn't have a choice on the east coast when New South Wales decided to let it rip and rip it has," he told Today.

"What that has shown is how unprepared we have been … rapid antigen tests not being available, contact tracing falling apart, the virus spreading everywhere, the deaths rising.

"I think Mark McGowan has made a sensible choice, a hard one, which will be difficult for some people, but if you look at the east coast at the moment there's a de-facto lockdown in operation anyway."

Dutton says families reeling

Federal government front bencher Peter Dutton told Today many WA residents would be feeling disappointed.

"You can see the disappointment when you hear the West Australians speak and they're asking what next? How do they get through this?" he said.

"The most important thing is to see WA through to the other side.

"People are separated from their families, there are small businesses suffering, West Australians want to be opened up to the rest of the country so they can travel again."

Infectious diseases expert Professor Booy called Mr McGowan's decision not to open the border "very interesting," but questioned the long term plan.

"You can actually understand where he is coming from, they don't have disease and death. They don't want to have it," he told Today.

"If they opened, they would get it. But at some point their industry is going to crumble, somehow they are surviving on the mining, and so you can see a short-term gain for Mark McGowan … but long term, is it the right thing for Western Australia?

"Is it the right thing for all those relatives and friends and people needing medical care who can't get there?"

What are the new details for WA's border changes?

While the hard border controls will remain, there will be more exemptions, especially for compassionate reasons and health workers.

Hotel quarantine will also continue for international arrivals – but will be cut to seven days in a hotel and a week at home.

And interstate arrivals who are allowed in must still do 14 days home quarantine and provide multiple negative tests.

"I know this decision will be unpopular with many people. As holiday plans and some family gatherings will have been disrupted," Mr McGowan said.

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"For that I am sorry. It will be reckless and irresponsible to open up now. I can't do it.

"Allowing hundreds or thousands of Omicron- infected people to fly straight into Perth from February 5 would no testing, no quarantine, and no public health measures, would cause a flood of COVID across our state."

The secrets of a World War II Japanese submarine sunk 80 years ago by the Australian navy can now be explored by history enthusiasts, thanks to virtual technology.

The submarine I-124 was part of an Imperial Japanese Navy squadron that had been laying mines in waters near Darwin in a bid to intercept Allied vessels and close down the port in World War II.

But on January 20, 1942, it was intercepted by Royal Australian Navy warships and sunk, with the loss of its 80-man crew.

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Diving on the the wreck is today considered because it is a war grave and its remains are in deep and treacherous water.

But Flinders University maritime archaeologists have used modern sonar technology to provide military history enthusiasts in Australia and Japan the first look at the submarine for eight decades.

The Adelaide-based experts have created a virtual reality tour of the World War II wreck.

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The project began last October when the Northern Territory Government Heritage Branch undertook a joint project with the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) from the AIMS research vessel Solander to map the wreck using advanced remote sensing equipment.

Dr John McCarthy, a maritime archaeologist at Flinders University, was then commissioned to create a virtual dive experience to show how this data is being used to understand and monitor this site.

"Drawing on our data, and historic ship plans and photographs, we've created a virtual dive experience in which the video takes the viewer through the data gathering process, and then takes you down into the deep, to experience the wreck firsthand," Dr McCarthy said.

"The archaeological survey shows that the wreck is in good condition, but with some signs of degradation of the outer hull that require further investigation.

"Our aim was to create a realistic virtual experience with an accurate digital reconstruction of the submarine given the historical significance of the wreck in Australia and Japan."

The maritime experts said the new technology is allowing them to access parts of the ocean they've never been able to explore before.

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan has announced the state's hard border will remain in place in response to the threat of the Omicron variant.

The state was due to re-open on February 5.

Whilst the hard border controls will remain, there will be more exemptions, especially for compassionate cases.

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"In light of what has occurred in the rest of the country, having closely assessed the situation over east, and listening to the latest health advice, we have reworked WA's safe transition plan to fit the environment that now confronts us," Mr McMcGowan said.

Who will be allowed to enter WA?

From 12.01am on Saturday, February 5, the hard border will stay, but with some new settings.

Returning Western Australians with strong recent connections or direct legitimate family connections with WA should be granted exemptions.

Compassionate grounds to travel to the state include: attending funerals, palliative care or terminally ill visitation, people entering for urgent and essential medical treatment, people entering for reasons of national and state security, and people with specialist skills not available in WA.

Commonwealth and state officials, members of parliament, diplomats and people with court proceedings will be allowed to enter.

Other special considerations will be given to extraordinary circumstances, as determined by the state emergency coordinator or Chief Health Officer.

What are the requirements once you enter WA?

Approved travellers from interstate will need to be an approved G2G pass traveller, have received a booster — if eligible — and return a negative pre-departure rapid antigen test 24 hours prior to departure (by uploading the result as part of the G2G pass application).

Those arrivals will need to undertake 14 days of self-quarantine at a suitable premise.

Mr McGowan said household members must also self-quarantine for the same duration and follow the same requirements, if sharing the same space..

"You also need to have PCR testing within 48 hours of arrival and on day 12 of self-quarantine," he said.

"Everyone at the self-quarantine premise is subject to mandatory use of G2G now and in-person checks will be undertaken by West Australian Police as and when required."

When will the border reopen now?

No new date has been announced for the border to reopen.

Mr McGowan said WA's booster shot rate currently sat at 25.8 per cent.

He said he was aiming to get that number as high as 80 or 90 per cent but stressed his government would be watching what happened "over east" throughout February.

He was hoping 35-38 per cent of the eligible population would have received a booster by February 5 but admitted the higher numbers would take "some time" to reach.

WA's updated transition plan (full detail)

From February 5 at 12.01am, approved travellers are permitted to enter WA, or leave WA and return, with testing and quarantine requirements under the new expanded exemption criteria:

– Returning Western Australians, with strong recent connections or direct legitimate family connections with WA;

– Compassionate grounds including funeral, palliative care or terminally ill visitation;

– Member of the family of an approved traveller;

– People entering for urgent and essential medical treatment;

– Reasons of national and state security;

– Commonwealth and State officials, Members of Parliament, Diplomats;

– Provision of specialist skills not available in WA, health services, emergency service workers;

– People required to attend court matters, judicial officers and staff of court, tribunals and commissions; and

– Special considerations and extraordinary circumstances determined by the State Emergency Coordinator or Chief Health Officer.

Interstate travel

If you're coming from interstate into WA as an approved traveller, you will now need to meet the following requirements:

– Have an approved G2G Pass, under new exemption criteria;

– Be triple dose vaccinated if eligible (double dose vaccinated if not eligible for third);

– Provide proof of a negative Rapid Antigen Test within 24 hours before departure;

– Undertake 14 days of self-quarantine at a suitable premises, with the same requirements for household members at the self-quarantine premises;

– PCR testing within 48 hours of arrival and on day 12 of self-quarantine, and household members will also be required to do a PCR test on the traveller's day 12.

– Subject to mandatory use of G2G Now and in-person checks by WA Police as required

Additional requirements are in place for domestic road travel to keep WA safe:

– Approved domestic travellers to limit travel to 1500km from road borders, to enable people to travel by road to suitable premises for quarantine in Perth from Eucla;

– Entry at the Kununurra border only for transport, freight and logistics and border community residents;

– Restricted travel into remote Aboriginal communities.

Overseas travel

International travel into WA will be permitted with the following requirements:

– Meet the Commonwealth requirements to enter Australia under the arrivals cap;

– Undertake 14 days of mandatory quarantine including, seven days in hotel quarantine and seven days of self-quarantine at suitable premise, if eligible,

– PCR testing on days one, six, nine and 12, and household members will also be required to do a PCR test on the traveller's day 12

– Subject to mandatory use of G2G Now and in-person checks by WA Police as required

– International travel in-directly into WA via another state or territory will be subject to the same entry and quarantine requirements as domestic travellers

The Ministry of Health says it will have to consult with a number of parties, including the Privacy Commissioner, before considering releasing data on Māori children who are eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine. The vaccination…

A Northern Beaches family is pleading with all Australians to be aware of scams, after coming close to losing their life savings and dream house in a sophisticated dupe.

Cassie and Dennis Aviles handed over $1.1 million to who they believed was their solicitor in order to finalise the sale of their new house.

"It's basically everything," Ms Aviles said.

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"I've gone to the branch and transferred all of our money and who they are now telling us is in some kind of scam account and they're not sure if they're going to be able to retrieve it for us," she said.

The couple, who have three young children, had sold their Beacon Hill property and were due to complete settlement on the new house next week.

Yesterday morning, they received what appeared to be a completely legitimate email from their solicitor instructing them to transfer the large sum of money.

"[The email had] his name, his business name and all of the contracts we've signed for the new property were all attached," a distraught Ms Aviles said.

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Ms Aviles alerted her solicitor that she'd paid the money into what she thought was the firm's Commonwealth Bank account.

"He yelled into the phone call the bank straight away."

The Aviles' solicitor, Tanveer Khan, is just as baffled as the couple as to how the scammer has obtained the information.

"I've never even heard of anything like that," Mr Khan, a solicitor at TKF Lawyers, said.

"It's such a big amount, the bank should have more procedures in place."

9News has contacted both banks involved, who have been able to retrieve the funds.

The money has been frozen and will be returned to the Aviles family in the coming days.

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In a statement to 9News, St George Bank said: "email compromise scams are on the rise, and we encourage our customers to remain vigilant.

"In this case, being notified of the scam early has allowed us to work with another financial institution to investigate the issue quickly and work to return the missing money to our customers.

"If a customer believes they have been the victim of a scam they should call us immediately – the sooner we know about it, the sooner we can attempt to recover the funds.

"We encourage customers transferring money to check the account number with the recipient over the phone before transferring any funds."

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"If you believe you have made an incorrect payment or paid the wrong recipient, contact your financial institution as soon as possible to report it," a CBA spokesperson said.

"Your financial institution will always try its best to recover funds, and the best chance of this is when action is taken as soon as possible."

Mona Vale Police have also been alerted of the scam and are now looking into the case.

A group of young fishermen has found bull sharks swimming in Sydney Harbour – not far from the water's edge.

The sharks could be seen circling in the water, flicking their tails as the group cheered on.

The footage was captured by 17-year-old angler Hunter Gorrell while he was fishing at Jeffery Street Wharf in Kirribilli.

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"Look at it, look at it … there's two of them," one man can be heard yelling.

The pair swim around each other, before swimming away.

"I can't explain it, I couldn't stop it, the rod almost went out of my hands," Mr Gorrell said.

"It was at least three and a half, three metres, something like that, it was honestly scary," Casper Carriol said.

The close encounter near the Jeffery Street Wharf in Kirribilli over the weekend has sent social media into a frenzy.

A shark-tagging program in Sydney Harbour marked its 100th bull shark in March last year.

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"They utilise the entire stretch of the waterway, from the harbour entrance to the river reaches of the middle harbour, Parramatta, and Lane Cover rivers," Dr Amy Smoothey, scientist at Department of Primary Industries, said.

A small incision is made on each shark before scientists insert a tag which allows it to be tracked for ten years.

The program was launched by the Department of Primary Industries in 2009 after navy diver Paul de Gelder was attacked in the waters off Woolloomooloo.

Bullshark numbers are at their peak in Sydney Harbour around January and February when the water is the warmest.

Fire crews in Tokoroa are battling a large fire at an engineering building.Crew were called at 5.45pm and six appliances, including an aerial appliance, were sent. The 12m by 15m building was well alight, a Fire and Emergency…

Scott Morrison and the Commonwealth Government have categorically denied claims that shipments of rapid antigen tests meant for private suppliers have been diverted into the national stockpile.

Addressing the media after National Cabinet today, the Prime Minister said those claims were "categorically untrue" and retailers making those claims would be referred to Australia's consumer watchdog the ACCC.

"The Commonwealth Government, through the Department of Health, is reporting false claims of the requisitioning of rapid antigen tests to the ACCC. These claims are categorically untrue," Mr Morrison said.

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"If you're being told by a supplier that you cannot get those rapid antigen tests because the Commonwealth Government has redirected it, that is not true.

"Get them to tell you the truth."

Earlier today, Health Minister Greg Hunt said any business that makes those claims is "lying" and may have been made as a result of some suppliers who "have overcommitted and not been able to deliver".

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https://twitter.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/1483972953566216193

Queensland state MP Mark Bailey today claimed the Federal Government had "commandeered" 34,000 rapid antigen tests from Queensland Rail, posting an email on Twitter purporting to be from a private supplier to customers.

"Like every suppler around the country, at [redacted] we have experienced extended delays with stock of rapid antigen test kits arriving into our warehouse," the email, which has removed identifying references to the supplier, read.

"While new supplies were originally expected in January, in the last 24 hours, we have been advised by our suppliers that under the Federal Government's emergency stock powers, product that had been committed to [redacted] has now been commandeered.

"As a result, product you may have been expecting from [redacted] now has an uncertain ETA."

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A similar message was delivered by Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles, who said the tests were "intercepted and diverted to the Federal Government".

"This is despite denials from the Federal Government that this is occurring. We have another email from a provider that proves this is the case," Mr Miles said.

"It's bad enough that they won't help us — it is worse that they are making our job even harder by taking the tests away from us that we have secured."

Six days ago, the Department of Health denounced "widespread reporting" that RAT kits were being redirected to the national stockpile, saying it had not placed itself above others in the private market.

"The Department of Health reaffirms that the Department has not requisitioned all RAT supplies within and entering Australia," the statement from the Department reads.

"The Department has made purchases in accordance with Commonwealth Procurement Rules, and has not sought to place itself ahead of other commercial and retail entities."