New South Wales' top policeman has triggered controversial restrictions on protests in the state that could last for up to three months.

Under the new laws passed yesterday in a marathon sitting in State Parliament, Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon was given powers to "restrict" protests in public areas following a terrorist attack for at least 14 days, though this can be extended on a fortnightly basis to up to three months.

Late on Wednesday, Lanyon declared a restriction on protests throughout Sydney for two weeks following the Bondi terror attack that killed 15 people.

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During this time, no public protests can be approved by police, and Form 1 applications for the authorisation of protests will not be accepted.

Gatherings are still permitted, but police will have greater powers to move on people who are deemed to be obstructing the public or behaving in an intimidating or harassing manner.

Lanyon said stronger safeguards were needed in the wake of the events at Bondi, and that the measures were designed to avoid further division within the community.

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"The NSW Police is committed to exercising these new powers responsibly and transparently," he claimed.

"This is a time for community to come together and to show respect and courtesy; it's not a time for large public assemblies and division. "

"Further protest activity would aggravate fear and divisiveness in the community at a time when we need to build safety and confidence."

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The new laws have already been met with pushback by several groups, with court action underway to try and prevent them.

It has already received a constitutional challenge in the High Court over the potential impact it will have on civil liberties.

It was launched by The Palestine Action Group, Jews Against the Occupation and the First Nations-led Blak Caucus, who condemned the reforms as undemocratic.

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More than three-quarters of Aussies admit to arguing with their partner, family or friends while driving.

And with the summer holiday season well under way, we can expect the heat to be rising both outside and inside the car.

Research from iSelect has revealed the most common arguments had in the car and unsurprisingly, it's driver speed that emerged on top, closely followed by personal arguments.

Here's the top 10 'carguments'

1. Driving speed (50.6 per cent)
2. Personal argument unrelated to driving (48.7 per cent)
3. Directions and navigation (48.6 per cent)
4. Backseat driving and unsolicited advice (42.9 per cent)
5. Mobile phone use while driving (40.8 per cent)
6. Unexpected traffic or road closures (39.5 per cent)
7. Parking or manoeuvres (39.4 per cent)
8. Talking when the driver wants quiet (38.9 per cent)
9. Managing kids or pets (37.6 per cent)
10. Music choice and volume (33.8 per cent)

While the list is amusing and highly relatable, it also comes with a warning.

Adrian Bennett, the general manager of general insurance at iSelect, said distraction was putting our safety at risk on the road.

"Even a momentary lapse in attention can have serious consequences.

"In fact, research shows that in crashes where inattention could be measured, about 31 per cent involved driver inattention, and distraction alone was responsible for nearly 14 per cent of all crashes," Bennett said.

"Even more eye-opening, taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds, whether to check your phone, argue with a passenger, or deal with any other distraction, can double your risk of an accident."

He said the holiday season was a particularly dangerous time to be on the road.

"Roads are noticeably busier over the festive season, and with many of us juggling hectic travel plans and late nights, carguments are likely to increase, and so is the risk of accidents.

"If you're getting behind the wheel, the message is simple: stay focused.

"Keep your eyes on the road, your hands on the wheel, and your attention on the drive so you can get where you're going safely."

The research surveyed 1000 Australians.

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A Norwegian tourist who was assaulted and robbed by a large group in Melbourne last week has left Australia early.

Police say the group of young adults seem to have wrongly accused the tourist of taking photos of people.

The 34-year-old man was approached by up to eight people at St Kilda Pier about 1pm on Thursday in full view of bystanders.

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He was assaulted and his phone was stolen and thrown into the water.

Detective Senior Constable Jesse Coppel said the group accused the victim of taking photos of people at the pier.

"During the course of the confrontation he's shown his phone to the offenders, proven that he's not done it and they've proceeded to assault him anyway," Coppel said.

"The information we have indicates that people have seen the contents of his phone prior to it being destroyed and there was nothing of that material or that nature on the phone.

"It seems to me as if they have used this as an excuse to confront this man and when it's not followed through they've assaulted him anyway regardless."

Coppel described the behaviour was "disgusting" and people deserved to be able to enjoy the beach peacefully.

"People behaving in this way is deplorable, it doesn't belong here," he said.

The man was taken to hospital with a broken arm and has since returned home despite previously intending to spend Christmas in Australia.

Coppel said police had not been able to speak with him at length.

The offenders fled the scene but police have released images of four people they wish to speak with.

All four people are believed to be aged in their early 20s.

The first man is described as being of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, approximately 165cm tall with a thin build, short goatee beard and black curly hair.

He was wearing black shorts and sunglasses.

The second man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, approximately 175cm tall with a medium build, short goatee beard and short brown hair.

He was wearing an open grey short sleeve shirt, blue camouflage shorts, a black New York Yankees beanie, black Nike runners and carrying a sports bag.

The third man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, approximately 170cm tall with a thin build and curly hair with shaved sides. He may be in his late teens.

He was wearing a Chicago Bulls #13 jersey, black Nike shorts, black Nike slides and carrying a black satchel bag.

The woman is described as being of Caucasian appearance, approximately 160cm tall with a slim build and dark hair.

She has a number of distinctive tattoos on her chest, leg and arm and was wearing a red bikini.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or recognises one of those described is urged to contact police.

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Parts of Queensland are this afternoon bracing for the beginning of days of possible severe storms and heavy rainfall.

The Bureau of Meteorology this afternoon issued warnings for severe, slow-moving storms bringing heavy rainfall to parts of the south-east coast including Brisbane, Ipswich, Beenleigh and Jimboomba, Nambour and Kilcoy, the Southern Downs and Toowoomba, Darling Downs and Granite Belt and the Capricornia, Wide Bay and Burnett, Central Highlands and Coalfields including Bundaberg, Calliope and Baralaba.

Heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding are possible in these areas as well as possible large hailstones in the Darling Downs and Granite Belt.

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"A very moist atmosphere is in place over most of the state extending from a low pressure system and developing monsoon in place over the Northern Territory," the warning reads.

"Slow moving severe thunderstorms have developed in this moist and unstable environment over the southeast this afternoon, which may persist throughout the afternoon and into the evening."

Storms are possible through to the weekend with heavy rainfall in the north and centre of the state which could lead to post-Christmas flooding in parts of Queensland.

Multiple roads are likely to be affected by flooding, with catchments already wet from recent rain.

And an initial flood watch warning has been issued for parts of north-west Queensland, due to the same trough.

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"Riverine flooding is possible from Wednesday with road closures and community isolation likely," the warning read.

The Bureau said flooding in the state's south-west was not expected imminently but could be possible in the coming weeks as the extra water made its way downriver.

Stay up to date with the warnings and alerts at the BoM website.

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Police have confirmed machetes were used in an assault in Melbourne earlier this week that saw a man jump out of a moving car.

Witnesses reported a male calling for help from a grey Toyota Yaris on McGregor Street, Pakenham, just after 10pm on Monday, December 22.

The witnesses, recording the chase, followed the car to Homestead Road in Berwick, where it slowed down enough for a man to jump out and try to run away.

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However, the car stopped and three people were seen getting out and attacking the man before fleeing in the Yaris.

The witnesses picked up the man and drove him to a nearby carpark to await emergency services.

Ambulance Victoria said advanced life support paramedics treated a 23-year-old man for upper body injuries.

READ MORE: Warnings issued as post-Christmas floods threaten Queensland

He was taken to hospital in a stable condition.

Detective Sergeant Glen McGowan congratulated the witnesses on keeping track of the car and on providing Triple Zero with updates.

He said police had spoken to the victim since, but he had declined to provide police with a formal statement.

Police understand the men are known to each other, and McGowan said the victim was known to poice.

McGowan said the victim got into the car with four other people willingly, before a dispute took place which led to him being attacked in the car.

Police do not yet know the cause of the dispute.

The Yaris was allegedly stolen from the Melbourne CBD on December 15, and between then and Monday night, had been involved in a petrol drive-away theft.

Anybody with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.

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NSW Police has conducted more than 2600 taskings surrounding antisemitism and hate crimes, following the Bondi terror attack.

The operation was established in October 2023 to reduce antisemitic and anti-social behaviour and other hate crime activity.

Operation Shelter Commander Assistant Commissioner Stephen Hegarty said it will remain in place as long as it's needed.

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"The main purpose of Operation Shelter is about keeping the community safe and ensuring they feel safe too," Assistant Commissioner Hegarty said.

"Whilst police are conducting proactive taskings within the community, officers are also monitoring anything that poses a risk to NSW.

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"We won't tolerate any behaviour that threatens social cohesion in NSW."

Operation Shelter was also established to coordinate the gathering of intelligence and the response to protest activity.

In the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack, Operation Shelter was strengthened, with an increase in support and resources.

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Following the December 14 attack, officers have conducted more than 2600 taskings across more than 3200 shifts.

One of the incidents includes the charging of a 20-year-old man who allegedly sent out a call to action on social media urging protesters to attend a beach in Sydney's south later this week, intending to incite violence.

The man was later charged with using a carrier service to menace, harass, offend and publicly threaten violence on grounds of race or religion.

He was refused bail to appear before Gosford Local Court earlier this week.

Officers have conducted patrols of specific locations, including Bondi Beach, places of worship in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, inner west, and Sydney's west, as well as aged care facilities and hospitals.

Since its establishment, 18 people have been charged with 34 offences related to the operation.

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One person is in a serious condition and there are delays in the area.

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The multi-agency search for a rock fisherman who was last seen on NSW South Coast on Monday afternoon has been scaled back.

Over a dozen Marine Rescue NSW volunteers from units across NSW South Coast have been searching for a man who was last seen at Bushrangers Bay, Shell Cove, on Monday afternoon.

The search was scaled back at about 1pm.

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Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Glenn Sullivan said that two rescue vessels resumed the search at 8am today.

"The Marine Rescue NSW crews are searching areas under the direction of Marine Area Command."

"A north-easterly is starting to whip up, which will make it uncomfortable for our crews, but they will continue searching until instructed otherwise," Inspector Sullivan said earlier today.

Emergency services were first called after belongings were found on the rocks of Bushrangers Bay at about 7.40pm on Monday.

Officers arrived and were told a 34-year-old man was last seen fishing on the rock shelf at about 2pm.

A search commenced shortly after, until about 11.30pm, when it was suspended to resume the following day.

The search continued yesterday morning, with assistance from the NSW Police Marine Area Command, NSW Police divers, Marine Rescue NSW, Surf Life Savers, Lifesaver helicopter and State Emergency Service.

It was later concluded at about 3.15pm due to poor weather conditions.

NSW Police Marine Area Command and Surf Life Saving will continue patrols over the following days.

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