Received

Evacuations and sandbagging are continuing across inland NSW as concerned emergency services brace for more rain over flooded catchments.

Major flooding will continue along several major river systems on Friday, including the Lachlan, Darling and Murrumbidgee rivers, affecting towns including Forbes, Condobolin, Bourke and Hay.

"We still have a widespread, significant emergency response across western and southern NSW," SES Chief Superintendent Ashley Sullivan told ABC News.

"Particularly concerning is we are watching a weather system over the weekend where we may see some additional rainfall and strong winds over western and southern NSW."

The SES conducted five flood rescues across the central west region in the 24 hours to Friday morning, in addition to 244 calls for assistance.

With some rivers in flood for the past six months and repeated major floods recently, Supt Sullivan said interstate and international help was on hand to relieve fatigued SES personnel.

"This flooding at this rate is anticipated to be around right through Christmas ... and right into the new year," he said.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet on Friday will meet evacuees and emergency services in Eugowra after a flash flood devastated the central west town.

Police continue searching for Ljubisa "Les" Vugec, 85, and a man in his 20s - both feared dead - after flooding swept through the town on Monday.

Downstream, Condobolin and Euabalong are bracing for the worst after the Lachlan River rose beyond records set there in 1952.

Euabalong is forecast to reach 7.7m over the weekend, Condobolin could top 7.6m on Monday and further rises later in the week are possible, the weather bureau says.

Meanwhile, about 1000 Forbes residents are subject to evacuation orders for the second time in as many weeks as the regional centre's CBD was again flooded.

The prolonged major flooding isn't expected to cease until early next week.

Major flooding is also occurring around Hay as the Murrumbidgee River remains high.

Mildura and Boundary Bend are also on alert, as the Murray River and surrounding tributaries remain swollen.

The outback town of Bourke will also be a cause of concern, with the weather bureau predicting the Darling River's peak around Monday could match the level set in September 1998 floods.

Much of the country's southeast will experience clear conditions on Friday morning before thunderstorms return to western NSW in the evening, the weather bureau said.

Thunderstorms will be widespread across NSW on Saturday before easing on Sunday afternoon.

Renewed showers are not expected to pose a flood risk, it said.

© AAP 2022

The wife of jailed Australian economist Sean Turnell says she is "overwhelmed with joy" at news of his release after almost two years in a Myanmar prison.

Professor Turnell landed in Bangkok late on Thursday evening before getting an overnight flight following his surprise release.

He was arrested in early 2021 after Myanmar's military junta seized power and was sentenced to three years' jail in September for "violating the country's official state secrets act".

Prof Turnell's wife, Ha Vu, said on Friday she was thankful to everyone who advocated for his release, including Foreign Minister Penny Wong and others in the Australian government.

"I am overwhelmed with joy at the news that my beloved husband, Sean, is coming home," she said in a statement.

"After nearly 22 months apart, our priority right now is to spend time together as a family."

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Prof Turnell would arrive in Melbourne on Friday morning.

"His return will be an enormous relief to his wife Ha Vu and to all of his friends and supporters here in Australia and overseas," she told reporters in Adelaide.

"Ha Vu has been a tower of strength through this ordeal and I wish both she and Sean well for this reunion and time together."

Senator Wong said she spoke to Prof Turnell after he landed in Bangkok and described him as being in very good spirits.

She thanked all who had been involved in advocating for his release, the government and regional partners.

Prof Turnell was freed earlier on Thursday under an amnesty covering close to 6000 prisoners to celebrate Myanmar's National Victory Day.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in Bangkok for the APEC summit, spoke to the 58-year-old over the phone and said he was in "amazingly good spirits".

Prof Turnell, who lives in Mr Albanese's electorate, was even making jokes and apologised for not voting in the election.

Mr Albanese reassured him he would not be fined.

Prof Turnell also told Mr Albanese "people have been wonderful" and wanted to thank Australians for their support.

"He's a remarkable man and he was (in Myanmar) doing his job as an economic policy adviser - nothing more, nothing less," Mr Albanese told reporters.

Prof Turnell told Mr Albanese the Australian embassy in Myanmar dropped off food hampers in tote bags emblazoned with the Australian crest while he was in jail.

"He would put the tote bags where the bars were on the cell ... so both he and the guards who were detaining him could see the Australian crest and he could keep that optimism," Mr Albanese said.

"The Australian crest, of course, with the kangaroo and emu that don't go backwards."

The prime minister thanked leaders of ASEAN nations for their advocacy and asked for Prof Turnell's privacy to be respected upon his return home.

Prof Turnell was working as an adviser to ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi when he was arrested in 2021 after the military seized power in a coup.

He has continuously denied he committed any crime and Australian officials and media were locked out of his trial.

Amnesty International Australia director Tim O'Connor said Myanmar's military rule had repeatedly jailed innocent people.

Prof Turnell was one of four international prisoners freed on Thursday, including Japanese filmmaker Toru Kubota, ex-British diplomat Vicky Bowman and American Kyaw Htay Oo.

ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights said it was important to remember thousands of political prisoners remained in the country's jails.

© AAP 2022

Freed Australian economist Sean Turnell has landed in Melbourne after spending almost two years in a Myanmar jail.

Professor Turnell's flight touched down on Friday morning at Melbourne Airport, where he was reunited with his wife Ha Vu.

He left Bangkok late on Thursday evening before getting an overnight flight following his surprise release.

Prof Turnell was arrested in early 2021 after Myanmar's military junta seized power and was sentenced to three years' jail in September for "violating the country's official state secrets act".

Ha Vu said on Friday she was thankful to everyone who advocated for his release, including Foreign Minister Penny Wong and others in the Australian government.

"I am overwhelmed with joy at the news that my beloved husband, Sean, is coming home," she said in a statement.

"After nearly 22 months apart, our priority right now is to spend time together as a family."

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she spoke to Prof Turnell after he landed in Bangkok and described him as being in very good spirits.

"His return will be an enormous relief to his wife Ha Vu and to all of his friends and supporters here in Australia and overseas," she told reporters in Adelaide.

"Ha Vu has been a tower of strength through this ordeal and I wish both she and Sean well for this reunion and time together."

Prof Turnell was freed earlier on Thursday under an amnesty covering close to 6000 prisoners to celebrate Myanmar's National Victory Day.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in Bangkok for the APEC summit, spoke to the 58-year-old over the phone and said he was in "amazingly good spirits".

Prof Turnell, who lives in Mr Albanese's electorate, was even making jokes and apologised for not voting in the election.

Mr Albanese reassured him he would not be fined.

Prof Turnell also told Mr Albanese "people have been wonderful" and wanted to thank Australians for their support.

"He's a remarkable man and he was (in Myanmar) doing his job as an economic policy adviser - nothing more, nothing less," Mr Albanese told reporters.

Prof Turnell told Mr Albanese the Australian embassy in Myanmar dropped off food hampers in tote bags emblazoned with the Australian crest while he was in jail.

"He would put the tote bags where the bars were on the cell ... so both he and the guards who were detaining him could see the Australian crest and he could keep that optimism," Mr Albanese said.

"The Australian crest, of course, with the kangaroo and emu that don't go backwards."

The prime minister thanked leaders of ASEAN nations for their advocacy and asked for Prof Turnell's privacy to be respected upon his return home.

Prof Turnell was working as an adviser to ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi when he was arrested in 2021 after the military seized power in a coup.

He has continuously denied he committed any crime and Australian officials and media were locked out of his trial.

Amnesty International Australia director Tim O'Connor said Myanmar's military rule had repeatedly jailed innocent people.

Prof Turnell was one of four international prisoners freed on Thursday, including Japanese filmmaker Toru Kubota, ex-British diplomat Vicky Bowman and American Kyaw Htay Oo.

ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights said it was important to remember thousands of political prisoners remained in the country's jails.

© AAP 2022