The widower of one of two women killed at the weekend after their car was hit by an allegedly stolen car in Sydney said she was "a wonderful lady".

The pain is raw for Phillip Crosland after his wife and best friend of 60 years Maureen Crosland was killed in the crash on the Camden bypass.

"She was a terrific person," he said.

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Maureen was a volunteer at the local school, teaching reading and writing to kindy students.

"She was well respected too, the kids loved her."

The 84-year old was in the car with good friend Lee Casuscelli.

They were off to buy dresses for an upcoming wedding.

"If it had been three seconds earlier or later they wouldn't have been hit," Phillip said.

It's alleged Luke Francis stole a red Toyota sedan from a Hurstville petrol station, prompting a police pursuit.

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On Saturday, NSW Police claimed the pursuit was terminated in the Bankstown area, however 9News has obtained CCTV footage that appeared to call that into question.

Footage at Bridgewater Boulevard in Camden Park, about 40 kilometres from Bankstown, about two minutes before the crash appears to show the stolen red Toyota and three unmarked police vehicles behind it with no lights or sirens, and then one marked police car with sirens on.

The stolen car then hits a dead end and comes back, crossing onto the wrong side of the road.

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Again three unmarked police cars are just seconds behind.

Maureen's family has this question for NSW Police.

"If the police called off the pursuit, how come they were there to chase him when he got out of the car?" Mr Crosland said.

Detectives with the critical incident team returned to nearby streets today searching for CCTV.

LATEST: Police launch renewed search for missing boy Gus Lamont

Mr Crosland has already lost two of his three children to meningitis and cancer, and now he's lost the person he depended on the most.

"Terrible thing to happen I can't explain it," he said.

"Everything's been taken away from me."

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Victorians will join other states and territories missing out on an Anzac Day public holiday this year after the government decided not to add a substitute day off on Monday, April 27.

NSW Premier Chris Minns yesterday announced a substitute public holiday for 2026 and 2027, when Anzac Day falls on a Saturday and Sunday respectively.

"Anzac Day on 25 April is one of the most important and solemn days on our national calendar, and that will not change," Minns said.

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"Adding a public holiday when Anzac Day falls on a weekend will not diminish that tradition.

"If anything, it is a reminder of its importance and another reason for people to get up, attend a local service and ensure the spirit of remembrance continues to be passed on to the next generation."

The ACT and Western Australia will also observe the public holiday on the following Monday.

Queenslanders will not get an additional day off this year, but will observe the public holiday on the Monday next year.

Victoria, the Northern Territory, Tasmania and South Australia all do not have the additional day off.

READ MORE: 'Grave fears' for Sydney grandfather after 'mistaken identity' kidnapping

"Public holidays in Victoria are governed by the Public Holidays Act 1993, and any amendments require legislative change," a Victorian government spokesperson said in a statement.

"Victorians, along with residents of the Australian Capital Territory, enjoy the highest number of public holidays among other Australians, with a total of 13 each year.

"There are no current plans to amend Victoria's existing public holiday arrangements however we are always open to community feedback."

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Accused Bondi terrorist Naveed Akram has broken his silence in brief remarks to court.

The 24-year-old appeared via video link from prison to face Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on this morning on 59 charges, including murder and terrorism offences.

He is accused of carrying out Australia's deadliest terror attack on December 14, when 15 people were killed and 40 injured during beachside Hannukah celebrations at Bondi Beach.

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His father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was shot dead by police during the shooting.

The younger man spoke after a magistrate today continued suppression orders protecting victims and survivors of the attack, who have not chosen to identify themselves publicly.

"Did you just hear what I just said?" Deputy Chief Magistrate Sharon Freund asked the accused man.

"Yeah," Akram replied.

Legal Aid solicitor Ben Archibold later asked for time to speak with his client.

"Mr Akram, your solicitor is going to give you a call after," the magistrate said.

"Yep," the accused terrorist replied.

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Akram was dressed in a green prison-issued jumper, with his hands in his lap as he listened to the otherwise uneventful case mention.

His hair was freshly shaven, while he continued to sport the full-faced short beard he had during the December 14 mass shooting.

He and his father are accused of carrying out Australia's worst mass shooting since 1996 by targeting the Jewish festival of lights at Bondi Beach.

After parking near a footbridge on Campbell Parade, the men allegedly tossed three pipe bombs filled with steel ball bearings and a "tennis ball bomb" into the Hannukah celebration at Archer Park before opening fire.

But none of the pipe bombs detonated, despite preliminary police analysis finding they were viable.

A box-like bomb was found in the boot of the car while two hand-painted ISIS flags were also in the vehicle.

Police allege 55 people were shot during the attack, including 15 fatally, such as 10-year-old Matilda, Holocaust survivors and a retired police officer.

A court suppression order allows victim-survivors to choose if and when they go public with their story and join other survivors such as Arsen Ostrovsky and hero tobacconist Ahmed Al Ahmed, who briefly disarmed Akram's father.

Akram is next due in court on April 9.

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US TV anchor Savannah Guthrie has issued another direct plea to her mother Nancy's suspected kidnappers as the family marks a grim milestone following her disappearance.

Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen at her home in Tucson, Arizona on January 31 and was reported missing the following day when she failed to attend church.

She is believed to have been abducted, and an urgent and intensive search for Nancy involving local police and the FBI has been underway for the past two weeks.

READ MORE: 'Grave fears' for Sydney grandfather after 'mistaken identity' kidnapping

Her daughter Savannah, a long-term co-anchor of the US Today programme, took to Instagram to mark a fortnight since her mother went missing and spoke directly to her suspected captors.

"It's been two weeks since our mum was taken and I just wanted to come on and say that we still have hope and we still believe…," she said in a video.

"I wanted to say to whoever has her, or knows where she is, that it's never too late."

Savannah pleaded again for her mother's return and said she and her family still "believe" Nancy may be returned.

"You're not lost or alone. And it's never too late to do the right thing. And we are here," she added.

"We believe. And we believe in the essential goodness of every human being, and it's never too late.

"Bring her home."

NATIONAL: Half of Australia set for major soaking, millions warned

It is one of several public pleas for information that Savannah has posted on social media in the wake of her mother's disappearance.

In one message, the journalist even appealed to the presumed kidnappers, offering to pay a ransom.

"We have received your message", she said, before pleading for her mother's return.

Law enforcement investigating Nancy's disappearance have confirmed they had received some demands for ransom from different sources, but have not said if any of them are considered credible.

Authorities also say they are unaware of any ongoing communication between the Guthries and any purported kidnappers.

Purported ransom notes were sent to news outlets, but two deadlines for paying have passed.

The FBI last week released chilling CCTV footage of a masked suspect on Nancy's porch.

The images and video show a man wearing gloves, long sleeves, pants, and with a balaclava over his face, apparently attempting to block the door camera at the home, including by holding up a handful of plants.

On Thursday, the FBI called the person a suspect.

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It described him as a man about 1.75m tall with a medium build.

The agency said he was carrying a 25-litre "Ozark Trail Hiker Pack" backpack.

A glove containing DNA found just over 3 kilometres from Nancy's house appears to match those worn by the person in the footage.

The glove, found in a field near the side of a road, was sent off for DNA testing.

The FBI said in a statement that it received preliminary results on Saturday and was awaiting official confirmation.

Authorities have expressed concern about Nancy's health because she needs vital daily medicine.

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About 20 cars were trapped for hours between floodwaters and a fresh slip.

Some attacks are so bad people lose parts of their faces, such as ears and noses.

A Total Fire Ban has been declared across much of Victoria tomorrow with hot, dry and windy conditions set to suffocate most of the state.

Five fire districts will have an extreme fire danger rating tomorrow, including the South West, Wimmera, Central, North Central and West and South Gippsland.

A Total Fire Ban will be in place in those districts, including Melbourne, from midnight tonight until midnight tomorrow.

READ MORE: 'Distressing' video of kidnapped Sydney grandfather seen by police

Fire danger will be high across the remainder of the state, with the mercury set to peak in the mid 30s in most areas including Melbourne.

Fresh north to north-westerly winds are expected to grow from around dawn tomorrow, particularly in the central ranges and the Otways.

North-westerly winds will pick up in the afternoon across most of the western and central parts of the state.

"We're looking at winds generally 30 to 40 km/h, but with gusts 50 to 60 km/h, but then also those gusts getting a bit stronger, 79 to 80 km/h around a cooler change that is going to come through later in the day," Bureau of Meteorology Senior Meteorologist Brinoy Macpherson said.

"Those winds combined with that hot, dry air is what's elevating our fire danger tomorrow."

A gusty south-westerly wind change is expected to pass through the far south-west of Victoria in the early afternoon, before reaching western districts including Mildura, Ballarat and Geelong around 5pm.

Temperatures could drop 10 degrees when the cool change hits metropolitan areas between 6 and 8pm.

There is also a severe thunderstorm risk tomorrow night which could bring damaging wind gusts up to 90 km/h.

"That added risk of potential fire starts due to the lightning and also the instability will make it a little more challenging for firefighters tomorrow if we do see any starts," Macpherson said.

NATIONAL: Half of Australia set for major soaking, millions warned

The Otways bushfire is now the only Victorian blaze yet to be brought under control, after fires at Walwa and Longwood were contained and handed back to local authorities for rehabilitation on Friday.

"Tomorrow the concerns will very much be for the western parts of the state in particular, down into West and South Gippsland where we still have a lot of grassland fire load in our landscape and we know it's very dry," Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch said.

"The whole state is still a tinderbox in terms of the fuel types that are there," Wiebusch said.

"The concerns, particularly around the metropolitan areas, will be in those north-western suburbs all the way through the grasslands down towards Geelong and back out towards Inverleigh."

Firefighters were "reasonably confident" they would be able to keep the Otways fire within containment lines tomorrow, but Wiebusch warned locals to remain vigilant in during unpredictable conditions.

Fire Rescue Victoria Commissioner Gavin Freeman said Victorians in built-up areas should also be on high-alert tomorrow, particularly those north-west of Melbourne around Geelong.

"This includes people that live in town and cities across Victoria, particularly tomorrow north-west of Melbourne around Geelong areas,

"Anywhere where the city meets the bush or the town meets the bush can be still at risk," Freeman said.

"Move two streets back if a fire starts near you."

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Police searching for missing four-year-old Gus Lamont have charged his 75-year-old grandparent Josie Murray with firearms offences but have maintained the charges are not linked to the toddler's disappearance.

Officers announced the charge this afternoon as they finished searching for the day in a renewed operation at Gus' family's Oak Park Station homestead, about 43 kilometres south of Yunta in South Australia.

Gus was last seen playing on a mound of dirt about 5pm on September 27.

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Police will continue to search for evidence and said they would remain in the area tomorrow.

"An update on the search activities will be provided as they progress," SA Police said in a statement.

As a result of a previous search at Oak Park Station, police arrested Josie Murray, who was bailed to appear in the Peterborough Magistrates Court on May 6.

Detective Inspector Andrew Macrae said the firearms charges were not related to the disappearance of Gus or a previous incident at Oak Park Station in October involving media attending the property.

READ MORE: Fears grow for elderly man kidnapped in case of mistaken identity

Police earlier this month confirmed a person with close ties to the household, who is not one of Gus' parents, had been speaking with detectives but then allegedly "withdrew cooperation" and has since been identified as a suspect.

Gus' disappearance is now being considered a major crime.

Josie Murray and Gus' other grandparent Shannon Murray released a statement through their lawyers, saying they were "absolutely devastated" by SA Police's statement on February 6.

"We are absolutely devastated by the media release of SAPOL Major Crime. The family has cooperated fully with the investigation and want nothing more than to find Gus and reunite him with his mum and dad," the statement read.

The lawyers also indicated they will not be making any further comments.

There is no suggestion Josie or Shannon Murray are involved in the disappearance of Gus and it is not unusual for anyone linked to an investigation to seek out legal advice.

READ MORE: Half of Australia set for major soaking, millions warned

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The search for Gus

No evidence of Gus has been uncovered despite extensive searches of the property, which Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said has been the "largest and most intensive" missing person search ever undertaken by SA Police.

A full-scale ground and air search of the property and the surrounding area was launched after Gus went missing.

The search area has totalled 706 square kilometres, with the assistance of 80 Australian Defence Force soldiers, drones, mounted officers and aircraft.

About 163 SA Police officers have been deployed for the search.

A three-day search of six mine shafts near Oak Park Station also failed to uncover any evidence.

Police received more than 150 Crime Stoppers tips about the missing boy.

Officers returned to the area surrounding Oak Park Station to search for Gus' remains on February 2, but uncovered no evidence.

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Neighbours are using their own vehicles to evacuate homes cut off by floods.

Rainfall is intensifying with 250mm predicted over the Banks Peninsula.