Victoria has been left reeling after sudden flash flooding smashed through a popular holiday spot yesterday with next to no warning.

But it was the nature of this weather event that made it so difficult to predict.

Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) manager for hazard preparedness and response Diana Eadie said in a press conference this afternoon that warnings were issued appropriately but flash flooding events are difficult to predict.

READ MORE: Holidaygoers trapped in surging flash flood open up on moment 'tsunami' hit Victorian tourist hotspot

The BoM warned of severe thunderstorms with heavy rain focused over Gippsland earlier this week, as well as the risk of rain over the Otway Ranges.

Then Mt Cowley in Lorne recorded 45mm of rain in one hour yesterday morning.

Within an hour, the BoM had issued a severe thunderstorm warning for heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding, which was soon escalated to include the Surf Coast.

READ MORE: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt launches angry tirade against journalist

What followed was a downpour of 180mm of rain in less than five hours that caused flash flooding in Wye River, Kennett River, Cumberland River and Lorne.

The rainfall broke records in some areas.

Holidaymakers and locals fled to higher ground where they watched the traumatic scenes unfold.

Roads flooded, cars and caravans were swept away, and at least one person had to be rescued from a roof.

The immediate flash flooding threat has passed but clean-up efforts will likely drag on for days.

Professor Andrew Western, chair of hydrology and water resources at the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, said he wasn't surprised that warnings for the flash flooding came so last-minute.

"First of all, rainfall predictions are really hard, especially the sort of events that led to these floods," he told 9news.com.au.

"These were really big rainfall events, like we're talking somewhere vaguely in the one in 100-year probability levels … so predicting that size rainfall event is super hard."

READ MORE: Almost 5 million social media accounts were wiped in the first week of under-16s ban

The second contributing factor was that the downpour fell over small catchments in the Otways, which tend to respond rapidly to brief, intense rainfall.

Where larger rural catchments can handle longer periods of rain before flooding, small catchments can spill over in a matter of hours during intense rainfall.

That makes it difficult for the BoM or emergency services to predict flash flooding in small catchment areas ahead of time.

Eadie said much the same today.

"With small catchments, you tend to get very little warning," Western said.

And that can be deadly.

In 2011 the tiny town of Grantham, in Queensland's Lockyer Valley, was hit by a sudden and devastating flash flood that claimed 12 lives.

There were no reported deaths from the flooding in Victoria yesterday and dramatic flood events like it remain relatively rare in Australia.

But global warming could change that.

READ MORE: How Iran's collapsing currency led to the deaths of hundreds and may topple an entire country

Climate change has made Australia's weather more volatile and contributed to extreme weather events on both ends of the spectrum, from cyclones to bushfires, which often occur in quick succession.

Earlier this month, Central Queensland was ravaged by ex-cyclone Koji, which left entire towns underwater.

Meanwhile, 10 major bushfires are still burning in parts of Victoria, where horror blazes have damaged or destroyed more than 1000 structures, including almost 300 homes.

These extreme weather events are becoming more common, making it harder for forecasters to accurately predict what will come next when Australia's weather no longer behaves the way it did in the past.

For the time being, Western encouraged all Australians to research their local flood risk and what to do in an emergency situation.

"Flood events are things that only happen occasionally, so they tend to be a surprise to people because people are not very informed about their local risks," he said.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Australian-owned clothing brand Fletcher Jones is closing all of its remaining physical stores and online business, according to its website, in the latest blow to the nation's struggling retail sector.

The business, which was once a shining star in Victoria's clothing industry, was forced to axe some of its stores and staff after it first went into administration 15 years ago.

After a slow decline, the business announced to customers on its website the remainder of its outlets would close.

READ MORE: Cult Australian designer clothing brand to close down within weeks

READ MORE: Legacy Aussie retailer lashed over this image: 'Garbage'

The business first started in 1924 when founder David Fletcher Jones began selling textiles in Warrnambool, Victoria.

The company opened retail stores in the 1930s and 1940s with a range of men's suits and trousers.

READ MORE: Aussie retailer City Beach fined $14m for button battery breaches

READ MORE: Ice packs recalled over toxic substance concerns

During this time, the company manufactured most of its garments from a growing workforce of tailors.

Years later in the 1947, the company purchased a large plot of land in Warrnambool and built a garment factory on it.

The company's golden years began in 1970s and 1980s when stores expanded across Australia

The business also had manufacturing centres in Warrnambool and Mount Gambier in South Australia, both of which employed about 3000 people.

The company is the latest in a string of retailers to close their doors as tough trading conditions continue.

Cult Australian designer clothing brand Sass & Bide announced the business would shut down all its physical and online stores within weeks.

Nine.com.au has contacted Fletcher Jones for comment.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Sydney's wastewater system will be upgraded under a $3 billion plan following an investigation into debris balls that washed up at its most iconic beaches. 

The Malabar Wastewater Treatment System was identified as the likely source of the mysterious balls that turned up at beaches across Sydney, the South Coast and the Central Coast in late 2024 and early 2025.

The site is one of the largest wastewater systems in the country, servicing almost two million people in the city's south-west, including Fairfield, Campbelltown and Liverpool.

READ MORE: Future of Bondi footbridge on hold after council pushes back decision

Water Minister Rose Jackson said "no one" wants to see debris balls wash up on the coastline as she announced the state would invest $3 billion over 10 years to reduce the amount of wastewater that needs to be discharged through the deep ocean outfall in Malabar.

It is hoped this would prevent the debris balls from forming again, but also keep up with the growing population in the city's south-west.

Sydney Water will work with Malabar System Alliance to deliver major upgrades to the Glenfield and Liverpool facilities.

The staged upgrades will treat key facilities in the system, including the water resource facilities at Glenfield, Liverpool and Fairfield.

For the first stage, Sydney Water will work with Malabar System Alliance to deliver major upgrades to the Glenfield and Liverpool facilities.

READ MORE: Hazardous surf warning issued as NSW braces for weekend drenching

Jackson said the staged upgrades mean that the projects will be funded over time, so Sydneysiders are not met with a "sudden bill shock". 

In the meantime, Sydney Water is continuing to work with the NSW Environment Protection Authority on preventing more debris ball incidents.

The agency has also increased cleaning and inspections and is expanding an education campaign on fats, oils and grease to reduce the material from entering the wastewater network. 

"We understand the seriousness of recent debris ball incidents and the need to ensure our network is equipped for Sydney's growing population," Sydney Water chief executive Darren Cleary said.

"This program of works is a clear demonstration of our commitment to building a more resilient system over the coming decade and to protecting our beaches, which are so important to Sydney's way of life."

READ MORE: Cult Australian designer clothing brand to close down within weeks

The mysterious balls first appeared ashore in Coogee, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, in October 2024, before an onslaught of the greasy debris turned up along the coastline.

Beaches had to be closed as crews collected samples for testing and cleaned up the shore. 

Several more incidents of balls washing up on beaches continued until early last year. 

Sample testing and investigations found debris was made up of fats, oils and greases with the sewage treatment network as the likely source.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

A senior constable charged with rape while off-duty will fight three sex offences at a contested hearing.

Carl Jones, 33, was working in Victoria Police's western region when he allegedly raped a woman in 2024.

He was off-duty at the time of the alleged incident and was charged in October last year.

READ MORE: Truck driver viciously bashed outside Melbourne home while his family slept

READ MORE: Australian father struck and killed by police car in London

The officer faced Melbourne Magistrates Court today supported by his pregnant wife and will contest all charges against him.

Jones is charged with three offences regarding non-consensual sex acts he performed on an alleged victim on November 30, 2024, at Armstrong Creek in Geelong, south-west of Melbourne.

Two of the charges are rape and the third is performing oral sex without consent, court documents reveal.

READ MORE: Mother charged over kids' deaths in fire skips court

His barrister David Cronin successfully applied to cross-examine seven witnesses at a committal hearing which will begin in May.

He told the court Jones' wife was due to give birth in March and asked for his client to be able to appear via videolink at any special mention hearings before May.

Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge approved remote link access, but noted accused offenders ought be in person at court for "significant matters" such as this one.

He extended Jones' bail as he set down one-and-a-half days for a contested hearing starting on May 18.
DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Cult Australian designer clothing brand Sass & Bide has announced it will shut down all its physical and online stores within weeks as it tries to become relevant to younger generations.

The Myer-owned label said it was reinventing the brand and the closure was not goodbye, but a "see you soon".

"From the end of January 2026, our stores and MYER concessions will be closed. From the end of February 2026, our online store will close, too," a statement on the brand's website said.

READ MORE: Future of Bondi footbridge on hold after council pushes back decision

"While we're offline, we'll be re-imagining what Sass & Bide can and should look like.

"The direction may be new, but a free-spirited and distinctly Australian attitude is at the heart of who we are, and that will never change.

"We know this change may come as a surprise.

"But at Sass & Bide, we've never been ones for following the rules."

Myer Group said the rebrand would keep the label relevant for a new generation as the wider department store goes through a refresh of its own later this year.

"We have spent considerable time listening to our customers hearing from them about the brands they like and those they don't," a spokesperson said.

"This feedback is helping shape our strategy to provide customers with a more elevated product offering across our apparel range."

Myer said Sass & Bide will be relaunched in the coming months.

Customers are unable to return or exchange sale items unless faulty, but are still able to refund full-price items within 14 days.

They are still able to use gift cards until the company stops trading. After that, the gift cards can be traded in for a Myer gift card of the same value.

READ MORE: Unwelcome sign nasty interest rate shock is on the way

Sass & Bide was founded by Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton in 1999 and sells women's clothing and accessories across Australia.

The brand has physical stores in all states except Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.

Its items are also found in Myer after the department store purchased a 65 per cent share from under David Jones in 2011.

Myer went on to purchase the remaining 35 per cent of the brand, and Clarke and Middleton left the company in 2014.

The department store will launch 20 new local and international brands by the end of July as part of a broader rebrand keep up with changing demand and trends.

"The launches are just the start, with a strong pipeline of new and renowned brands set to join Myer throughout the year," a Myer Group spokesperson said.

"Each new addition has been carefully selected to complement our existing portfolio and to meet the growing demand for contemporary, high‑quality, and trend‑driven fashion."

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Less than three months ago, industry experts told 9news.com.au the use of generative AI in advertising will be much more common in the future.

Jeanswest has proven them right far sooner than expected.

The fashion retailer, which has gone into administration twice in the last six years, has been called out by consumers for using generative AI extensively in advertising online.

READ MORE: Unwelcome sign nasty interest rate shock is on the way

Instagram videos show AI models posing in digital versions of Jeanswest styles, and the brand's website is stacked with AI-generated photos and videos.

9news.com.au has contacted Jeanswest for comment.

A Jeanswest customer support representative confirmed the content was AI-generated in a statement to the Sydney Morning Herald.

READ MORE: Man wounded in early morning shooting in Sydney

The representative told the SMH that AI is one of many tools in the brand's creative workflow and said it is dedicated to maintaining authenticity and relatability.

Product photos on the Jeanswest website do not appear to be AI-generated or altered.

Consumers have voiced frustration and disappointment with the brand's heavy use of generative AI on social media, calling it "garbage".

One comment on an AI video on the Jeanswest Instagram page called for the people responsible for approving the clip to be fired.

On TikTok, an Australian user called content on the brand's website "AI slop".

"At the moment, there are a lot of brands trying to use AI and using it in a really clumsy way that's getting a lot of ridicule," consumer psychologist, creative strategist, and Thinkerbell founder Adam Ferrier previously told 9news.com.au.

But AI can be a powerful marketing tool when used well and Ferrier said it will become more common in advertising as brands become better at using it.

READ MORE: European troops arrive in Greenland as talks with US highlight 'disagreement' over island's future

University of Sydney Business School lecturer and consumer psychologist Dr Christina Anthony said it's likely that consumers will not react as strongly to AI ad campaigns as they become more normalised.

"And most brands won't abandon generative AI as the efficiencies are too valuable," she previously told 9news.com.au.

Instead, they'll work towards making AI content that feels more authentic and human-centred – so much so that it may become undetectable.

New data has shown that more than half of Australians are unable to tell the difference between a real image and a deepfake.

Though consumers seem to have spotted Jeanswest's clunky AI content without any issue, future generative AI ad campaigns made with rapidly improving technology will likely be harder to identify.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Alarming new findings have shown that despite recent legal reforms and efforts to change toxic workplace cultures, most people who are sexually harassed at work still do not report it.

Two new studies from Flinders University suggest that it is not just the fear of retaliation that stops people from speaking, but also feeling unsupported by systems that will not protect them.

The lead author of both studies, Dr Annabelle Neall, a senior lecturer in mental health and wellbeing, and director of the Flinders Workplace Wellbeing Lab, says that only about one in five people who experienced harassment went on to report it.

READ MORE: Future of Bondi footbridge on hold after council pushes back decision

"The decision not to report wasn't just about external risks like losing a job, it was also deeply tied to internal struggles," Neall said.

"People weigh up whether reporting will make things better or worse and they often concluded it wasn't worth the emotional toll, the risk to their reputation, or the likelihood that nothing would change."

The research identified three key psychological needs that influence reporting: autonomy (feeling in control), competence (feeling capable), and relatedness (feeling respected and supported).

READ MORE: Almost 5 million Aussie social media accounts wiped in a single week

When these needs are undermined – by unclear processes, fear of backlash, or a lack of trust in the system – people are far less likely to speak up.

"Victims and witnesses feel that they're having to choose between protecting themselves and speaking up, and that pressure makes the decision emotionally charged and very difficult," co-author Professor Lydia Woodyatt said.

"If people believe the system won't provide them justice or protect them, they stay silent. That silence isn't about indifference, it's about survival."

READ MORE: Holidaygoers trapped in flash floods open up on moment 'tsunami' hit

Participants described feeling unsure whether their experience "counted" as harassment, fearing career damage, and doubting that reporting would lead to meaningful action.

Many worried about being labelled as troublemakers or weak. Others said the process itself felt punishing, with burdensome steps and little reassurance.

One of the studies, a historical review of workplace sexual harassment reporting and investigation, found these challenges were not new.

While laws and policies have evolved since the 1980s, the research revealed that reporting systems remained largely ineffective.

"For decades, organisations have focused on legal compliance and punitive measures, but these approaches often fail to address the cultural and psychological barriers that keep people silent," Neall said.

Both studies call for a shift towards trauma-informed and transformative justice approaches, which move beyond punishment to address the root causes of harassment and create cultures of respect.

"People told us they didn't want revenge, but rather that they wanted assurance that it wouldn't happen again," Neall said.

"Reporting should feel like a step towards positive change, not a risk to your wellbeing."

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Donald Trump's family is eyeing their first Trump-branded property on Australian soil, with the Gold Coast the likely destination.

Conversations are underway to build a Trump Tower on the beach at Surfers Paradise.

The property is located on 3 Trickett Street, and has been a vacant block of land since 2013.

READ MORE: What the Greenland dispute means for NATO

The prime piece of real estate is on the Esplanade, the main drag running alongside the beach.

The site has been in development hell since the Iluka Resort was demolished.

The Trump Organisation is now being run by the president's sons Donald Jr and Eric.

They have been prolific in expanding their portfolio globally.

They have upcoming projects in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Dubai, India, Vietnam, Romania, Qatar and Indonesia.

READ MORE: Donors give hundreds of thousands to Trump heckler

It currently has multiple properties in the US as well as Dubai, Indonesia, India, Oman, the Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, Uruguay and Vietnam.

But most of their projects are not owned by the organisation but are simply branding deals – that is, developers pay the Trumps to put their name on the building.

The details of the prospective deal have not been made public.

No development application has been made to Gold Coast Council.

In 2016, a proposal was made to build the third-tallest building in Australia on the site.

The building would have had 479 luxury apartments, a rooftop pool and a series of restaurants.

The residential skyscraper was given approval by council but the $1.2 billion project never eventuated.

Now all that remains is the basement construction work.

The property was sold for a loss in 2019.

When Donald Trump himself was in Australia in 2008 he said he wouldn't invest in the country without a partner.

"If I do something in Australia, I'd want to have a partner in Australia," he told the Australian Financial Review.

But his wealth has exploded since then, especially in his past year as president.

READ MORE: Trump loses the support of his most influential backer

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has launched a tirade at a journalist who asked about recent US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conduct.

The journalist asked Leavitt about comments made by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good last week.

Niall Stanage, a White House columnist for The Hill, questioned assertions from Noem and other members of the Trump administration that ICE is doing "everything correctly".

READ MORE: Donald Trump threatens to invoke Insurrection Act amid another wave of violence after second Minneapolis shooting

"32 people died in ICE custody last year, 170 US citizens were detained by ICE, and Renee Good was shot in the head and killed by an ICE agent," Stanage said.

"How is that doing everything correctly?"

Leavitt responded by asking Stanage why Good was killed, to which he replied that an ICE agent acted recklessly and killed her unjustifiably.

The White House press secretary then launched a minute-long tirade against Stanage.

"Oh, OK, so you're a biased reporter with a left-wing opinion," she said.

"You're a left-wing hack, you're not a reporter, you're posing in this room as a journalist, and it's so clear by the premise of your question.

"And you, and the people in the media — who have such biases, but fake like you're a journalist — you shouldn't even be sitting in that seat."

READ MORE: European troops arrive in Greenland as talks with US highlight 'disagreement' over island's future

Leavitt claimed Stanage was a left-wing activist pretending to be a journalist.

She said ICE agents work to make the nation safer and suggested Stanage focus on innocent Americans killed by 'illegal aliens' in the US.

"Shame on you people in the media who have a crooked view, a biased view, and pretend you're an honest journalist," Leavitt concluded.

READ MORE: Should Australia be calling Trump out over Greenland threats?

In the same press conference, she dodged a question from The Independent about a recent joke from President Donald Trump about cancelling elections.

This week, he told Reuters the US shouldn't even bother with mid-term elections in 2026, although the White House insisted he was joking.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Video games might not rot your brain – but new evidence suggests they can have a marked effect on your health.

A new study led by Curtin University surveyed 317 students from at Australian universities, with a median age of 20.

The participants were split into three groups classes as "low gamers" (zero to five hours playing video games per week), "moderate gamers" (five to 10 hours), and "high gamers" (over 10 hours).

READ MORE: Almost 5 million Aussie social media accounts wiped in a single week

The research team found while low and moderate gamers reported similar health outcomes, results worsened dramatically once gaming exceeded 10 hours a week.

Professor Mario Siervo, from the Curtin School of Population Health, said the findings suggested excessive gaming was the key issue, rather than gaming itself.

"What stood out was students gaming up to 10 hours a week all looked very similar in terms of diet, sleep and body weight," Siervo said.

READ MORE: Holidaygoers trapped in flash floods open up on moment 'tsunami' hit

"The real differences emerged in those gaming more than 10 hours a week, who showed clear divergence from the rest of the sample."

The study found a decline in diet quality once gaming exceeded 10 hours per week, with a greater prevalence of obesity in the high gamers group, compared to the low and moderate gamers.

"Each additional hour of gaming per week was linked to a decline in diet quality, even after accounting for stress, physical activity and other lifestyle factors," Professor Siervo said.

READ MORE: Homeowner's 'shock' after tradies unearth human bones in backyard

All groups reported generally poor sleep quality, but moderate and high gamers scored worse than low gamers, with gaming hours showing a significant link to sleep disruption.

"This study doesn't prove gaming causes these issues, but it shows a clear pattern that excessive gaming may be linked to an increase in health risk factors," Professor Siervo said.

"Our data suggests low and moderate gaming is generally fine, but excessive gaming may crowd out healthy habits such as eating a balanced diet, sleeping properly and staying active.

"Because university habits often follow people into adulthood, healthier routines such as taking breaks from gaming, avoiding playing games late at night and choosing healthier snacks may help improve their overall wellbeing."

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.