“We’ve been sweet for a couple of days, but people are still hurt.”

Road crews have tackled 4500 jobs, yet four key routes remain closed.

Two bronze whaler sharks have been spotted at a popular beach south of Adelaide.

SA Police warned they were close to the shore of Goolwa Beach, an 18km stretch of sand from Middleton to the River Murray Mouth, today.

Swimmers are advised to leave the water and avoid the area.

READ MORE: What the weather will be like in your city on New Year's Eve

Goolwa is a popular holiday destination for swimmers, surfers and fishers.

South Australians are expected to head to the waters to cool down today as temperatures exceed 30 degrees over large parts of the state.

Temperatures reached 33 degrees in Middleton and almost 35 in Adelaide.

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‘Considering the increasingly degraded state of these waters, the bill was long overdue.’

A disturbing number of Australians are helping drive child abuse in the Philippines, with 13 people charged and 92 children rescued this year.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) works with its counterparts in the Philippines to investigate online child sexual exploitation.

There have been 35 operations that freed the 92 victims, as young as six.

READ MORE: Three teens charged with murdering man in shopping centre car park on Christmas Eve

It led to 13 Australians and 18 alleged facilitators in the Philippines being charged.

They include a 74-year-old man from Western Australia who was sentenced to 23 years' imprisonment for sexually abusing 15 children overseas over nine years, and a 52-year-old man from Victoria serving 10 years and 10 months' imprisonment for 27 charges.

AFP Detective Sergeant Leesa Alexander is based in Manila and said it was "horrific" just how many Australians were helping drive the demand for child abuse in the Philippines.

"Child abuse is abhorrent and can leave victims with a lifelong burden," she said.

Australian offenders allegedly pay for child abuse material from facilitators in the Philippines, who extort children as a way to make money.

Authorities believe Australians are major offenders because of the similar time zones between the two countries, direct flights from most capital cities and the large English-speaking population in the Philippines.

The Philippines also has excellent internet infrastructure.

READ MORE: PM promotes plan to 'unite community' after Bondi Beach attack

AFP Commander of Human Exploitation, Helen Schneider, said every action online is traceable.

"Let me be clear, just because the offending may not happen in Australia, we will still find you," she said.

The AFP refers matters to the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Centre (PICACC), which is a global response to online child abuse with help from authorities in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.

Those matters are then allocated to the Philippines National Police or the Philippines National Bureau of Investigation.

Since the inception of PICACC in February 2019, there have been 324 operations, which have led to 865 victims rescued and 187 people charged.

AFP investigations led to 77 of those people being charged and 315 victims being saved.

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Aussies are preparing to celebrate the end of 2025 and the start of 2026 this week.

Celebrations will happen right around the country as millions gather to bring in the new year on Wednesday night.

So what can we expect for the major cities in Australia on New Year's Eve?

READ MORE: Sydney New Year's Eve 2025: Your complete guide to the celebrations

What is the weather forecast in Australia for New Years Eve?

Here is the weather forecast in all of the major cities in Australia on December 31:

Sydney

The eyes of the country and the world will be on Sydney Harbour for the annual fireworks display.

It will be a bit of a milder New Year's Eve compared to previous years, but will still be pleasant with a top of 27 degrees.

READ MORE: Police to carry guns 'you haven't seen before' at Sydney NYE celebrations

There will be a bit of cloud about with the small chance of a shower in the afternoon and evening, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).

However, the rain is expected to be no more than a millimetre, meaning festivities in the Harbour City shouldn't be dampened too much.

Melbourne

It will be a bit chilly in Melbourne on New Year's Eve, with temperatures only reaching a top of 20 degrees on the 31st.

Whilst it is highly unlikely to rain, temperatures will be as low as 14 degrees in the morning, with the wind chill factor making it feel even colder.

READ MORE: Two dead after suspected domestic violence stabbing in Sydney

The BOM projects it to be cloudy and about 16 degrees at midnight.

That said, it will warm up on New Year's Day in Melbourne, with temperatures climbing to 25 degrees.

Brisbane

The champagne should be flowing nice and early in Brisbane, with temperatures climbing above 30 degrees in the sunshine state on December 31.

It is set to be mostly sunny, though there will be a bit more cloud about as the day wears on.

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The cloud cover could make it a humid and muggy night, with temperatures set to be sitting at around 25 degrees at midnight.

There could also be a bit of rain about on New Year's Day, with up to four millimetres potentially falling on January 1, 2026.

Perth

Western Australia's capital has just gone through a Christmas heatwave, and it is set to be a scorcher for New Year's Eve as well.

It will be sunny and a top of 34 degrees as Perth will bring in the new year last of all of Australia's major cities.

It will at least be milder at midnight, with temperatures expected to sit at 22 degrees, but it will be warm again on New Year's Day, with peaks of 35 degrees expected.

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Adelaide

It will be partly cloudy but pleasant in Adelaide for New Year's Eve.

A slightly cool and cloudy morning will give way to sunny skies and temperatures of around 26 degrees in the afternoon.

It will cool again in the evening, dropping to around 15 degrees for the countdown to 2026.

The first day of the new year will be a warm one, with temperatures expected to hit 30 degrees.

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Hobart

It won't feel too much like summer in Hobart, with a cloudy day for the last day of 2025.

Temperatures won't even reach the 20s, with a top of 19 degrees expected for New Year's Eve.

Thankfully, the sun will be out and about a bit more on the first day of 2026, with a top of 22 degrees for Tasmania's capital.

Canberra

The nation's capital could receive some stormy weather to see out 2025.

It will be partly cloudy with a top of 30 degrees in Canberra, with showers potentially turning into storms in the afternoon.

Up to three millimetres of rain may fall, potentially impacting new year's festivities.

The rain will disappear on New Year's Day, with a cloudy day with tops of 25 degrees expected.

Darwin

As expected, it will be hot and humid in Darwin for New Year's Eve.

It will hit a top of 35 degrees during the day, with showers expected in the afternoon and evening.

Up to 15mm could fall on the 31st, whilst storms could follow on New Year's Day, with temperatures of 33 degrees and another 15mm of rain potentially facing the city.

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The initial crash involved two trucks colliding on the Kan-Etsu Expressway.

Two more people have been charged over the alleged fatal stabbing of a 19-year-old man at a shopping centre car park in Perth's south.

The victim died in hospital after he was found with stab wounds on Talisker Gate in Aubin Grove about 10.40pm on Christmas Eve.

Police have now charged a 17-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man each with murder, deprivation of liberty and aggravated armed robbery.

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The two suspects will face court later today; the younger man will front Perth Children's Court and the other will appear before the Perth Magistrates Court.

There are now three males before the courts over the stabbing. 

An 18-year-old man was arrested earlier this week and charged with murder.

He faced the Perth Magistrates Court yesterday, where he was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on January 7.

Police will allege the trio were fighting the 19-year-old man inside and outside a car on Talisker Gate when he was stabbed several times.

It is believed to be an isolated incident, and police are not searching for anyone else. 

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promoted a government-led campaign aimed at uniting the community in response to the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach.

The "One Mitzvah for Bondi" initiative encourages people of all faiths and communities to complete acts of kindness.

Albanese said the campaign urges every Australian to "bring light into the world through an act of kindness".

READ MORE: New poll shows Aussies support tough changes after Bondi Beach terror attack

"From checking in on a neighbour to volunteering your time in service of others, every mitzvah brings light into the world," he said.

"And by standing together, we show that hatred and violence will never define who we are."

Australians can describe their deed in up to 10,000 characters and log it on a form on the NSW government website.

"Please describe your good deed in honour of the Bondi victims," the form reads.

In the Jewish tradition, Mitzvah refers to an act of kindness or moral responsibility.

It can be something small, but when carried out collectively, it can have a large impact.

Albanese has been unable to shake off criticisms over his response to antisemitism and the attack. 

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He has ruled out a federal royal commission, saying it would take years and delay action, despite strong calls from the opposition and Jewish community to open one.

Instead, he is likely to recall parliament early to introduce a landmark gun buyback scheme, hate speech laws, a new landmark offence that outlaws the radicalisation of children, and more powers for the home affairs minister to cancel or refuse visas if a person is suspected of promoting hate and violence or is associated with a terrorist organisation.

Less than a dozen of the 41 people injured remain in hospitals across Sydney after one of the worst terrorist attacks in Australia on December 14.

The alleged father and son gunmen opened fire on the Jewish community, who were celebrating the first day of Hanukkah, and killed 15 people.

Sajid Akram, 50, was killed in a shootout with police.

His son, Naveed Akram, 24, has been charged with 59 offences and remains in custody. 

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Police packing unprecedented amounts of firepower will be on hand to protect revellers at Sydney's New Year's Eve celebrations, Premier Chris Minns has revealed in a plea for people to return to Bondi.

Minns urged Sydneysiders not to steer clear of the New Year's Eve fireworks, saying they should instead "thumb their nose" at terrorists who wanted to split the community following the Bondi Beach terror attack.

"We can't let these people win. We have to show defiance by going out and spending time with family and friends heading into the New Year's period," he said today.

READ MORE: Two dead after suspected domestic violence stabbing in Sydney

He also emphasised that there would be plenty of protection for people wanting to celebrate.

"NSW Police will be out in massive numbers, in some cases carrying weapons and firearms you haven't seen before," he said.

He later elaborated that officers would be carrying longarms, which is atypical for NSW Police.

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Minns acknowledged it would be "uncomfortable for some people", but that security was the state government's first obligation.

He also said the state was "in discussions" about whether the military could become involved in general security operations.

Outside the December 31 celebrations, Minns, alongside Waverley Council Mayor Will Nemesh, and Jobs Minister Steve Kamper, urged Sydneysiders to come back to Bondi to support local businesses, who they said had been doing it tough since the attack.

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"When the terrorist attack unfolded, our local businesses became refuges and safe havens," Nemesh said.

"Now it is our turn to back our local businesses."

Anecdotally, businesses have said foot traffic had been slower than usual for the time of year, and bookings had been cancelled in the two weeks since the terror attack.

"We need you to return to Bondi," Minns said.

"This is a great opportunity for you to show your support for the local community."

Businesses within two blocks of the site of the attack have access to support packages of up to $25,000.

Plans to shut down prayer halls

Community prayer halls could be shut down under new legislation being prepared by the state government, if they are found to give a podium to "hate preachers".

"No organisation that preaches hate should have access to any government money under any circumstances," Minns said.

He said the government could even cut off such buildings from power and water as part of a shutdown.

And he said the hate speech laws were not targeting the Islamic community.

"Our hate speech laws in NSW apply to everybody. Anybody who is preaching hate to any part of our community is subject to some of the toughest penalties in Australia," he said.

It is unknown how retroactively the penalties will reply. Minns did not delve into specifics but said there was "no statute of limitations" on hate speech.

"We will need legislation for tougher penalties and more onerous regulations," he said.

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