More than 7700 assaults on hospital staff were reported in the past year.

The no-fly zone over Porepunkah in Victoria's high country has been extended to Friday, as the town marks four weeks since accused gunman Dezi Freeman allegedly fatally shot two police officers.

The Australia Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) granted a no-fly extension today.

The no-fly zone is within an 18 kilometre radius of Porepunkah Airport and it includes all aircraft, including drones.

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The ban was initially established due to police suspicion that Freeman remains armed and poses a risk to aircraft.

The manhunt for accused cop killer Freeman has now entered its 28th day.

A heavy police presence remains on the ground in Porepunkah, neighbouring town Bright and the greater Victorian alpine region.

Victoria Police said crews are committed to using "every available resource and the necessary skills" needed to find Freeman.

"Resourcing numbers will continue to fluctuate in-line with operational requirements," a police spokesperson said.

Police last week lifted travel warnings for Porepunkah, however reminded residents and visitors to remain vigilant.

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Members of the public had been earlier advised to avoid the small town in Victoria's north-east.

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Russell Barrett said the move was to enable local residents to "return to a state of normality".

Police anticipate visitor numbers will increase over the school holiday period.

Locals breathed a collective sigh of relief as the normally thriving town struggled for nearly three weeks under major travel restrictions.

"It's been hard, we lost I'm guessing, in the 20 thousands in turnover," Cherry Walk Cafe owner Leanne Boyd told 9News.

The Mount Buffalo National Park remains closed.

"This decision is being constantly assessed and we will advise as soon as the park can re-open," Victoria Police said in a statement.

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Freeman, 56, has not been officially seen since August 26 when he allegedly gunned down officers Neal Thompson, 59, and 34-year-old Vadim De Waart-Hottart.

A $1 million reward was offered for any information leading to the arrest of the accused gunman, the largest of any offered in the state.

Superintendent Craig Darlow last week said police have been given 200 tips since the reward was announced.

Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said he remains open to all possibilities in regards to the whereabouts of Freeman and said the reward was "just another avenue" in the hunt.

Police have received more than 1000 tips from the public so far.

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A man involved in a foiled bid to smuggle $1 billion worth of cocaine into Australia has pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial.

Paul Anthony Masterson admitted in the Western Australian District Court today to possessing the illicit drug with intent to sell or supply it.

Police seized what they said at the time was an Australian record 2.4 tonne cocaine haul bound for Australia in November 2022 off the South American coast.

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But the drug traffickers had no idea the shipment, which was linked to a Mexican cartel, had been impounded, and the Australian arm of the smuggling syndicate continued to prepare to receive it.

Officers later duped the group into believing the cargo had arrived off the WA coast, with dummy packaging containing an inert substance dropped about 40 nautical miles off the Perth coast.

Over three days in December 2022, a shore party made multiple trips out to sea to retrieve the cargo because they couldn't find it.

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Officers watched their moves from the air and a tactical response group arrested three people aboard a vessel with about 1.2 tonnes of the inert substance.

Detectives raided properties and executed search warrants across WA over the following weeks, with a total of 12 people charged.

Two were charged after police stopped a vehicle on the Great Eastern Highway, near Coolgardie, in January 2023 and found more than $2 million cash inside it.

Masterson's trial was vacated and he will be sentenced on Friday.

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Two people have been taken to hospital after office workers reported a chemical smell in Brisbane's CBD.

The Queensland Fire Department said three crews and a scientific HAZMAT unit were dispatched to the scene on the corner of George and Mary streets about 11.50am after reports of a chemical smell coming from a vent.

The building was partially evacuated for several hours while crews investigated.

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The department said testing revealed "nothing of concern" was found to be in the air.

Queensland Ambulance has confirmed two people were taken to St Andrew's Hospital in a stable condition.

Another two patients were assessed but did not need to be taken to hospital.

The fire department handed the building back to management about 2.45pm.

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The Prime Minister last month invited the couple to marry in New Zealand.

A person in serious condition was taken to Auckland City Hospital.

Ashley Owen is now aged 22, but was either 17 or 18 when he met an underage girl.

The Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa NZ is calling for urgent action.

The Crown’s closing address has begun in the trial of the man accused of lethal arson.

‘What goes around comes around,’ said one donor.