Three people have drowned and a fourth person is missing in NSW in a devastating start to the Easter long weekend.

In Victoria, a woman has drowned and there are grave fears for her husband who is missing after a group was washed off rocks at a beach in San Remo, near Phillip Island.

Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) said the first tragedy was late on Thursday when a man was washed off the break wall at Wollongong Harbour about 11pm.

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A man was then washed off the rocks at Middle Head Point in Mosman, just around the headland from Manly beach, just after 10 this morning.

Late this afternoon, a young male was retrieved from the water face down at Disaster Bay in Eden, on the NSW Far South Coast, after having been washed off the rocks.

Meanwhile, the search will also continue at Little Bay where a man was seen struggling in the surf about 2.30pm today.

A police helicopter, members of SLSNSW, NSW Ambulance paramedics and Randwick Council lifeguards have all been involved in the search.

By 7pm the man had not been found, with SLSNSW saying the search would continue tomorrow.

"Every drowning is a tragedy, and this is an absolutely tragic start to the Easter long weekend," SLSNSW chief executive Steve Pearce said.

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"I want to take this opportunity to remind the public that watching big surf from precarious locations like rock platforms and coastal walkways can be just as dangerous as being in the ocean.

"Please take the time to assess the conditions and don't put yourself at risk of being washed in."

A hazardous surf warning remains in place across NSW, meaning large surf will continue to batter beaches.

SLSNSW urged people to stay vigilant and take their safety seriously, particularly given all three drownings are believed to have involved people being washed off rocks and into the ocean.

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A deep low pressure system in the Tasman Sea is generating large and powerful surf and swell across NSW, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

"This low pressure system is very powerful, although it's a long way offshore. This low will not impact our weather directly but will generate some very large, powerful waves for eastern Australia," senior meteorologist Angus Hines said.

"These waves will build on Thursday and stay high until Saturday.

"Coastal hazard and hazardous surf warnings are likely to be issued.

"Given the fine and hot forecast for the east coast during Friday and Saturday, the community needs to be aware of the dangerous coastal conditions."

Emergency services have warned beachgoers to put safety first over the Easter long weekend.

"Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as crossing bars by boat and rock fishing," NSW Police said on social media.

"If on the water in general a reminder to wear a lifejacket and have all safety equipment.

"Check local weather and if in doubt don't go."

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A nearby restaurant worker says the whole building has ‘disappeared’.

Police are continuing to hunt for five men who kidnapped a woman from a south-west Sydney home hours before a body believed to be hers was found in a burnt-out car.

Officers were first called to a home in Bankstown at 10.30pm yesterday after reports that a 45-year-old woman had been kidnapped from her home.

A 15-year-old boy, who was inside the home at the time, told police that a group of five masked men forced their way in. At least one was armed with a baseball bat and another with a gun.

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An eight-year-old boy was assaulted with a baseball bat during the incident and the woman was forced into a dark-coloured SUV. 

Police said that at least two cars pulled up outside the home, with the other car described as a white sedan. 

An hour later, police were called to Welfare Avenue in Beverly Hills following reports of a car fire.

A body was located in the back seat of the car during an examination of the burnt-out vehicle.

The body is yet to be formally identified but Superintendent Rodney Hart said police believe it's the 45-year-old woman. 

Police do not know if the woman had been killed prior to the fire.

Hart also said the car was a similar model to the dark coloured SUV spotted during the kidnapping.

"Although identification at this case is impossible, we strongly believe and suspect unfortunately … the body is that of the 45-year-old woman,"  Hart said.

Hart called the crime "horrendous" and said it displayed an "unheard of" level of violence.

He also assured the community that there was no further danger, as police believe it was a targeted kidnapping.

The woman's husband was interstate on business at the time of the attack. He has spoken to police and is on his way back to Sydney. 

Hart said the investigation is fresh and officers are working off limited information.

"We don't know what the motive is, we don't know too much about the family they are not well known to police at all," Hart said. 

The eight-year-old was treated for serious head injuries by paramedics and has been taken to hospital for treatment.

He underwent emergency surgery this morning. He remains in a serious yet stable condition in an induced coma.

Hart said keeping the children safe and supported is a main priority for police.

"We have detectives with them. We have the resources, the care resources from the hospital with them.

"We will do everything we can with their support and their safety."

The 15-year-old boy has been taken to hospital for assessment. 

Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Opposition Leader Peter Dutton'sBrisbane electorate office has been targeted by vandals overnight, as the Dickson MP visits constituents on the campaign trail in western Sydney.

The words 'maggot' and 'scum' written in black paint were plastered across the outside of his Arana Hills office, north-west of Brisbane.

Queensland Police said it was investigating the willful damage and urged witnesses to contact police.

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As of this afternoon, the graffiti had mostly been removed.

Peter Dutton's office has been contacted for comment.

The opposition leader spent the afternoon meeting with voters in Sydney's multicultural outer-west, where he is hoping to take several seats from Labor.

Dutton spoke with locals at the Sikh Games, a sporting and cultural event that attracts thousands.

Earlier today he joined a Good Friday service with the Maronite Christian community in south-western Sydney.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese took a break from the campaign to take his dog Toto for a walk.

Both leaders are expect to ramp their campaign up again tomorrow, in anticipation of the opening of pre-poll voting on Tuesday.

Pre-poll voting opens as soon as Easter is over on Tuesday next week.

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