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Australia is facing longer fire seasons, more intense tropical cyclones and oceans riddled with acidity due to rising global temperatures.

The country's climate has warmed on average by 1.47C since national records began in 1910, according to the new State of the Climate report released on Wednesday.

The eight years from 2013 to 2020 were the warmest on record, with 2019 taking the top spot for the hottest recorded year.

"Concentrations of greenhouse gases are at the highest levels seen on Earth in at least two million years," director of CSIRO's Climate Science Centre Jaci Brown said.

Since the 1950s, extreme fire weather has increased and fire seasons are starting sooner and ending later.

The increased rainfall in recent La Nina seasons can heighten fire risks because thick vegetation dries out and creates fuel loads.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said the report's findings reinforced the need for further climate action.

"It reminds us that we need to prepare for the worst," she told ABC TV on Wednesday.

"We have managed to join with like-minded countries to stop that watering down (of international climate targets) but it will take global action, we need to do our share here in Australia."

The report from the Bureau of Meteorology and the CSIRO found Australia in the coming decades will experience increasing air temperatures and decreasing cool-season rain, with short but heavy rains expected.

Sea levels will continue to rise and warmer ocean temperatures will mean coral bleaching becomes more likely across the country's coastline.

"We're seeing mass coral bleaching events more often and this year, for the first time, we've seen a mass coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef during a La Nina year," Dr Brown said.

Australians will experience fewer tropical cyclones, but the ones that do eventuate will be more intense.

As those in flood-affected areas could attest to, the intensity of short rainfall events has increased by 10 per cent per storm.

Science Minister Ed Husic said the Labor government was listening to the science.

"We are acting across government to bring down emissions while creating jobs and economic opportunity," he said, pointing to $3 billion set aside from the National Reconstruction Fund for renewables and low-emission technologies.

The State of the Climate report has been published every two years since 2010.

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Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will leave the club with immediate effect, marking a bitter end to the Portugal captain's second spell at Old Trafford after he said he felt betrayed by the club.

United issued a statement on Tuesday night announcing they had reached a mutual agreement with the player to terminate his contract.

The development comes a week after Ronaldo unsettled the club in an outspoken TV interview.

"Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect, the club statement read.

"The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances, and wishes him and his family well for the future.

"Everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team's progress under Erik ten Hag and working together to deliver success on the pitch."

Ronaldo, 37, rejoined United for a second spell last year but he had fallen out of favour this season under new manager Erik ten Hag.

The Portuguese issued his own statement which read: "Following conversations with Manchester United we have mutually agreed to end our contract early.

"I love Manchester United and I love the fans, that will never ever change. However, it feels like the right time for me to seek a new challenge.

"I wish the team every success for the remainder of the season and for the future."

The development means Ronaldo is now free to negotiate with other clubs.

It is understood there are no restrictions on who he can play for under the terms of his departure agreement with United, nor are there any ongoing obligations for the Old Trafford outfit.

Ronaldo's relationship with the club had appeared to become strained during the early part of the season and problems were brought to a head by last week's interview with TV presenter and journalist Piers Morgan.

Among his comments in the programme were claims that he felt "betrayed" by United and that he had no respect for ten Hag.

He also said that he felt people at the club were trying to force him out and that United showed a lack of empathy when his daughter was in hospital ill.

There were also wider complaints about the standard of facilities at the club as well as criticism of the owners.

When United responded by appointing lawyers to consider potential action for alleged breach of contract, it became clear a parting of the ways was likely.

"I think both parties will be delighted now," former United teammate Rio Ferdinand told BBC One.

"He obviously did that interview with the mindset he wanted to get out the club as he wasn't happy and he made it very clear.

"But I also think Ten Hag has got what he wanted. Both parties are happy. Move on. Next chapter for Cristiano Ronaldo."

It is an abrupt end to a career at United that was revived amid much fanfare in August last year.

Ronaldo had looked set to join rivals Manchester City from Juventus but a late intervention from United took him back to Old Trafford.

Ronaldo first joined United from Sporting Lisbon as a teenager in 2003. He won three Premier League titles and the Champions League before going on to even greater success with Real Madrid.

After nine years at the Bernabeu and a further three at Juve, he returned to United as a five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

He scored 18 goals in the Premier League last season but United struggled, finishing sixth in a campaign in which they were managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Michael Carrick and Ralf Rangnick.

He made a slow start to the current campaign under new boss Ten Hag after missing their pre-season tour, starting just four Premier League games.

There were further controversies as he left the ground early during a friendly and refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham.

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Nurses and midwives will walk off the job for 24-hours on Wednesday in the fourth such action this year over staffing and pay issues

Rallies will be held across the state including Sydney's CBD, where union members will march along Macquarie Street from Hyde Park towards state parliament.

It comes as the latest COVID wave places even more pressure on the health system.

NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association (NSWNMA) general secretary, Shaye Candish said staff were "incredibly burnt out" and at risk of abandoning the NSW health system for other states where conditions are better.

The NSWNMA is calling for mandated nurse-to-patient ratios which have been implemented in several Australian states with broadly positive results.

"Nurses and midwives continue to turn up to work being understaffed and completely overstretched which means that they're not able to deliver the care that their community deserve," Ms Candish said.

"States like Queensland and Victoria are actively encouraging NSW nurses and midwives to go and work interstate because they have provisions like ratios."

Ms Candish said the government remains hesitant to commit to ratios as a solution, despite talks being held with NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard, senior health department officials and the union.

Mr Hazzard has been contacted for comment.

© AAP 2022