Received

The NSW government has announced a $1 billion support package for businesses hit hard by the Omicron outbreak as the state records its deadliest day of the pandemic so far.

There were 52 deaths and 13,524 new positive COVID-19 tests reported in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the government had the back of every business and worker in the state.

"No other jurisdiction, no other state to date has provided financial support except NSW," Mr Perrottet told reporters on Sunday.

The package includes a payment of up to $5000 per week, or 20 per cent of payroll, for businesses with a turnover between $75,000 and $50 million who suffered a 40 per cent downturn in January, and project to do the same in February.

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said the support package will help businesses "get through to the other side".

"When we get out of this wave we expect a snapback and that the economy will bounce back better on the other side of this," Mr Kean said.

He was however "disappointed" the package was funded by the state as he was hoping to make the announcement alongside the prime minister and federal treasurer, but they weren't "to be found".

"Rather than the commonwealth government stepping aside we expect them to step up as well," he said.

Federal Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said the NSW package was in addition to $63 billion in assistance already provided to the state by the Morrison government.

"We welcome states and territories putting in their bit on top of the billions of federal support that we have provided," he told reporters on Sunday.

The government has extended the Small Business Fees and Charges rebate program to $3000, which can include 50 per cent of the costs incurred to get rapid antigen tests for the workplace.

Relief for commercial landlords has also been extended until March 13.

Opposition treasury spokesman Daniel Mookhey says the support is too little, too late and "there is no recognition for the incredibly tough six weeks businesses have already been through".

"Businesses need to prove they lost 40 per cent of their trade in January, and yet they won't be compensated for that January loss."

"It's concerning that the support available to businesses will be half that of last year, despite the impacts on many businesses being worse than last year," Mr Mookhey says.

Opposition small business spokesman Steve Kamper says the government's refusal to backdate payments is "a cruel trick on businesses who have been hanging out for support".

Daniel Hunter, the CEO of advocacy body Business NSW, said the package would help keep the doors open for many businesses.

"What's crucial now is that customers have the confidence to return to businesses and do their shopping in a safe manner," he said.

Westpac chief executive of consumer and business banking Chris de Bruin says the bank's customers in retail, hospitality and entertainment sectors have been hit hard as consumers "take a more cautious approach to living with the virus".

Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox also had concerns about "the self imposed lockdown by many in the community".

"The dollars need to be matched by a concerted effort by governments to start putting the pandemic behind us both through words and deeds," Mr Willox said.

He says health authorities should stop reporting daily virus statistics because the "increasingly unreliable" data makes the community uneasy about returning to normal life.

There are currently 2663 people hospitalised with the virus, 182 of whom are in intensive care, with 73 people on ventilators.

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said 31 of the 52 deaths reported on Sunday were in aged care facilities.

© AAP 2022

Police raids targeting crime networks across Sydney have uncovered almost 20 guns, ammunition, drugs and cash with 115 people charged in the two-day operation.

Officers seized $1.2 million worth of prohibited drugs including methamphetamine, MDMA and cannabis.

Police say bikie gangs were among the groups targeted, with officers carrying out 66 firearm prohibition order searches and crime scene warrants, seizing 18 firearms and 672 rounds of ammunition.

Almost $100,000 in cash was also seized, with officers completing more than 450 bail compliance checks and inspecting almost 200 businesses.

The 115 people were charged with a combined 292 offences between Thursday and Saturday morning.

State Crime Commander, Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said the operation targeted "henchmen".

"This was about targeting the blind followers of these groups - people with a complete disregard for the safety of the community and those who think they may be able to fill the void and take over," Mr Smith said.

On Thursday afternoon police arrested two men in Bondi after they tried to flee while unloading a package from a car.

Police seized luxury watches, clothing, electronic devices, cash, and 4.5kg of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of almost $4 million at the property.

The men, aged 24 and 27, were charged with drug importation and criminal organisation offences. They were refused bail and are due to appear in court in late March.

After a police chase in Sydney's northwest on Thursday night, a 35-year-old man was arrested and charged with 20 offences, mostly related to alleged theft and armed robberies,

He was refused bail and will reappear in court on Monday.

On Friday morning police seized drugs, weapons, ammunition and cash from a Blacktown property where they arrested a 26-year-old man and charged him with 19 offences including drug possession.

© AAP 2022

A 28-year-old Ipswich man has been charged with murder over the deaths of two people as police continue a "complex" investigation after a house fire south of Brisbane.

The couple's bodies were found in the burnt-out remains of a Collingwood Park home on January 23, with post-mortem results later showing "evidence of violence".

The man was charged with two counts of murder, one count of arson and one count of unlawful use of a vehicle on Sunday morning, Queensland police said.

Detective Inspector Heath McQueen said the man is an "associate" of the alleged victims.

Police are now looking for two motor vehicles in relation to the investigation, a green dual-cab ute and a black Mercedes Benz.

They are also seeking to speak with anyone at Kruger Shopping Village, Redbank Plains or Hannant St, Collingwood Park on the morning of January 22.

The couple - who have been identified by colleagues on social media as Joe and Christine Stephan - were found in the lower level of the home that caught alight early last Sunday.

"We have identified that Joe and Christine died from significant injuries caused during an act of violence, and not as a result of the fires," Det Insp McQueen said on Sunday.

The couple had two children, and police are working with the family to provide support and welfare as the investigation proceeds.

On Friday, Det Insp McQueen described the circumstances of the house fire and deaths of the 68-year-old woman and 73-year-old man as complex.

"Post-mortems have been conducted ... I am unable to go into details other than confirming their deaths are suspicious, and not contributable to the fire, with evidence of violence," he said.

The 28-year-old is due to front Ipswich Magistrates Court on Monday.

© AAP 2022