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Much of eastern and central Australia faces an increased risk of bushfires this spring as the country dries out after years of fairly wet conditions.

Fire chiefs say much of the nation is burdened with high fuel loads after three years under the influence of La Nina weather pattern, which typically drives cooler conditions, more rain and floods in Australia.

But with La Nina now at an end and the hot, dry influence of El Nino likely on its way, the heat could quickly be on when it comes to fires.

The latest spring outlook, released by emergency services on Wednesday, warns of an increased fire risk across large swathes of the Northern Territory, Queensland and NSW and regions in Victoria and South Australia.

Rob Webb is the CEO of the Australasian Fire And Emergency Services Authorities Council, which represents the nation's fire and emergency services and produces the outlook with the help of the weather bureau.

He says vegetation that could quickly become fuel for fires has bloomed during back-to-back La Nina years and there's no time to lose to prepare for what might lie ahead.

"The climate influences driving increased risk of bushfire this season are widespread," he says.

"Almost the entire country can expect drier and warmer conditions than normal this spring, so it is important for Australians be alert to local risks of bushfire over the coming months, regardless of their location."

A swathe of the Northern Territory's interior is considered to be at increased risk of fire from September to November, along with a vast, wide band that stretches from just south of Cairns, in Queensland's far north, to Wollongong, south of Sydney.

There's another potential hot spot on the South Australian and Victorian border and coastal areas around Gippsland are also at heightened risk.

Risks vary greatly across the nation and depend on a complex set of factors including soil moisture, how long it takes for vegetation to dry out and be ready to burn and weather.

CSIRO fire expert Andrew Sullivan says grass, which has boomed across island Australia, is fairly quick to dry out and become fuel for fires in warm, dry weather.

But that's not necessarily true for forest growth.

"It does take some time for the fuel in the forest to become fully available. It's hard to say how long that actually takes, because it depends on many things like the climatology, the structure of the forest, the nature of the fuel,'' Dr Sullivan said.

"But generally speaking it won't be the year that the rains return to normal, or you enter into an El Nino."

He says the big danger comes when the entire landscape dries out.

The spring outlook has been launched at the AFAC23 conference and exhibition in Brisbane.

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Woolworths has recorded a $1.62 billion full-year profit after tax, up 4.6 per cent from the prior year, a result basically in-line with expectations.

Revenue increased 5.7 per cent to $64.3 billion for the 52 weeks ended June 25, compared to the 52 weeks prior.

Australian supermarket sales were up 4.7 per cent to $41.4 billion, with ecommerce sales rising 2.9 per cent to $5.1 billion.

Food-price growth began to moderate in the second half, with prices even dropping for meat, fruit and vegetables.

Woolworths expects prices to keep rising in some packaged categories.

Big W had a strong first-half, but sales dropped in the second half - even beyond executives' expectations - as consumers cut back on discretionary items, particularly in the fourth quarter.

"The sector became extremely competitive with higher levels of promotions and discounts," said CEO Brad Banducci.

So far those trends have continued in fiscal 2024, with solid growth in Woolworths' food businesses but Big W sales down on the prior year.

Woolworths declared a final dividend of 58 cents per share, up from 53 cents a year ago.

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Woolworths has recorded a $1.62 billion full-year profit after tax, up 4.6 per cent from the prior year, a result basically in-line with expectations.

Revenue increased 5.7 per cent to $64.3 billion for the 52 weeks ended June 25, compared to the 52 weeks prior.

Woolworths declared a final dividend of 58 cents per share, up from 53 cents a year ago.

© AAP 2023

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Popular musicians Gordi, Mama Kin and Fred Leone will help lead a government body tasked with revitalising Australia's music industry.

Funded by the federal government with $69 million over the next four years, Music Australia is aimed at encouraging original music and growing the market for Australian songs.

"It's essential that Australian musicians and industry experts themselves have a seat at the table - and that's what these appointments will achieve," Arts Minister Tony Burke said.

Music Australia should be up and running by the end of the week and is part of a $286 million national cultural policy announced in January.

Among its key challenges will be improving the visibility of local content in a market flooded with global hits from music streamers such as Spotify.

It will also tackle a lack of access to live music venues for local bands and solo artists up against big name performers and touring operations.

Music Australia has also been tasked with creating community music hubs, delivering songwriting initiatives in schools and supporting performers to improve their business skills.

The performers take up three of nine seats on the Music Australia council, which will be chaired by Creative Australia chief executive Adrian Collette and includes music promoter Michael Chugg.

An export initiative, Sounds Australia, will also develop international markets for the nation's talent, while an organisation for creative workers will aim to improve workplace conditions.

In 2022, a large-scale independent review concluded harassment, sexualised harm and bullying are rife in the Australian music industry.

More than half those working in the music trade have experienced sexual harassment or harm at work, according to the Raising Their Voices report.

© AAP 2023