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Heavy rains are set to once again batter NSW, with multiple weather alerts in place warning of potential flooding and landslips.

Intense showers are forecast for metropolitan Sydney, the Illawarra and parts of the Central Tablelands over the weekend, with the possibility of flash flooding.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned of six-hourly rainfall totals of between 80 and 150mm across Saturday and Sunday, with some areas forecast to receive a month's worth of rain over the weekend.

The weather system comes on the first weekend of school holidays in the state, and drivers are being asked to take extreme caution.

"We know floodwater is extremely dangerous, especially for drivers. If the road is flooded, turn around and find another way," Transport for NSW's Roger Weeks says.

Routes in and out of Sydney are likely to have congestion and heavy traffic is expected at known pinch points, particularly around Sydney Airport.

Hazardous surf and swell conditions could also develop in coming days.

The BOM said on Friday afternoon the system may develop into a low on Sunday or Monday, prolonging the persistent rain into next week.

Heavy falls across the weekend could to lead to rising river levels as the deluge hits multiple already-saturated catchments.

"We know these are quite dangerous systems," Bureau of Meteorology Manager of Hazard Preparedness and Response Jane Golding told media on Friday.

"They've been known to produce some widespread flooding in the past, and that's certainly on the cards for the next few days."

Ms Golding said the deluge could lead to flash flooding and landslips.

"The landscape is quite vulnerable at the moment and the water can move very quickly down the slopes and through the waterways," she said.

Flooding is possible for the Hunter, Central Coast, the Greater Sydney region and the South Coast from Saturday, with flood watches in place for catchments between Newcastle and Batemans Bay, including Sydney and the Illawarra.

Areas at risk include Newcastle, the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie, the Upper Coxs, Colo, Macdonald, Woronora, Patterson, Williams and Lower Hunter rivers.

Also at risk are the Upper and Lower Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers.

"What our hydrologists are seeing is the rain is potentially enough to cause major flooding there again, which will be the third or fourth time in the last two years for those communities," Ms Golding said.

© AAP 2022

French President Emmanuel Macron doesn't want an apology from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over the handling of the submarine debacle, because he "is not responsible for what happened".

Mr Macron embraced the new prime minister after he arrived at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Friday, for their first official meeting after Australia scrapped a $90 billion submarine contract last year.

Mr Macron was asked if Mr Albanese should apologise over the handling of the deal, but the French president indicated the relationship had mended.

"We will speak about the future, not the past," Mr Macron said.

"He (Mr Albanese) is not responsible for what happened."

The previous coalition government's decision to dump the contract with Naval Group in favour of acquiring nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS partnership with the UK and US damaged the relationship.

France temporarily recalled its ambassador from Canberra, and Mr Macron told Australian reporters that former prime minister Scott Morrison had lied to him.

Mr Albanese visited France following Mr Macron's invitation in a bid to "reset" the relationship between the two countries.

Australia will pay the French company about $830 million in compensation for the cancelled contract.

Mr Macron warmly welcomed Mr Albanese upon his arrival to the palace, and placed his arm around his back.

He also kissed Mr Albanese's partner Jodie Haydon on the hand before introducing them to his wife Brigitte.

In an opening statement, Mr Albanese said his visit represented a "new start" for the relationship.

"Australia's relationship with France matters," he said.

"Trust, respect and honesty matters. That is how I will approach our relations."

The leaders discussed climate change action, the war in Ukraine, Pacific policies and expanding cultural exchange between the two countries through the arts and education.

Mr Macron said France and Australia would be taken to "new horizons" through repaired relations.

Previously, Mr Albanese said the meeting with Mr Macron on July 1, the start of a new financial year was an "appropriate time" to enter a "new dawn" between Australia and France.

The prime minister said the nation's lack of climate change action and "breakdown" of the relationship with France had stalled negotiations for a trade deal with the European Union.

Later that day, Mr Albanese visited the art museum Fondation Cartier, which has an exhibition honouring the life of First Nations artist Sally Gabori, who died in 2015.

Addressing those gathered for the event, Mr Albanese declared his government will promote arts and culture, and support a greater exchange with France.

He also reaffirmed his support for constitutional recognition of Indigenous people.

Mr Albanese is yet to confirm if he will travel to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, following an invitation by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, due to underway security assessments.

The prime minister is expected to return to Australia early next week.

© AAP 2022

A major review has called for Queensland to adopt affirmative consent laws to better deliver justice to victims and survivors of sexual assault.

The final report of the Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce makes 188 recommendations to improve the way the state's criminal justice system handles those impacted by abuse and violence.

The sweeping proposals include changing the law relating to sexual assault, refining and strengthening the responses of courts and stakeholders, and bringing the law of affirmative consent in line with other states.

An affirmative consent model means a person must do or say something to declare they have consent before sex - also called "enthusiastic consent".

It is designed to negate the argument an accused offender had "reasonable grounds" for believing the complainant consented.

Other changes relate to custody, prison and sentencing reform so fewer women offenders will be unnecessarily incarcerated.

Headed by former Court of Appeal president Margaret McMurdo, the task force received hundreds of submissions including more than 250 from victim-survivors of sexual assault and 19 from offenders.

"For too long society has regarded sexual violence as a taboo. But it is prevalent in our community with one in five women and one in 20 men experiencing sexual violence," Ms McMurdo said.

"Those who do report find their experiences, from police to jury trial and verdict, traumatising, confusing, disempowering and slow."

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk paid tribute to the 700 people who made submissions and said the recommendations will be considered by cabinet soon.

"It is, I believe, the most comprehensive report of its kind ever to be undertaken in Australia," she said on Friday.

The report follows the findings of an inquest into the murders of Brisbane woman Hannah Clarke and her three children at the hands of her husband, Rowan Baxter.

"Sexual violence remains one of the most heinous forms of violence in Australian society, with females representing an estimated 84 per cent of reported sexual assault victims," Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman said.

"Two in five of these assaults can be linked to domestic and family violence."

Ms Fentiman said this was the "incomprehensible reality" victims face and why it was vital to remove barriers to women coming forward.

The attorney-general said the findings of Ms McMurdo's report spoke volumes and would be carefully considered.

The task force was established in March 2021 with the first report, Hear her voice, making 89 recommendations including a new criminal offence of coercive control.

The state government has committed to introducing the legislation by the end of 2023.

Coercive control includes isolating a partner from family and friends, monitoring their movements, controlling their access to money, and psychological and emotional manipulation.

That form of abuse disproportionately affects women.

The government has also allocated $363 million to expand domestic violence courts, boost support services, plan a First Nations strategy and fund perpetrator programs "to change men's behaviour".

"These are complex issues that require significant consideration to determine how best to strengthen our criminal justice system to better respond to women and girls experiencing violence," Ms Fentiman said.

Liberal National spokeswoman Amanda Camm said the report exposed the serious failings of the current system.

"Women are being turned away from police stations, struggle to get into sexual assault support services, and are being let down by a broken justice system," Ms Camm said.

"The seriousness of these failings cannot be overstated. As each day passes, another woman risks not being safe."

© AAP 2022