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An unnamed woman has sued folk singer-songwriter Bob Dylan alleging he sexually abused her after giving her drugs and alcohol in 1965 when she was 12 years old.

A spokesman for Dylan, now 80, said the allegations were false. "The 56-year-old claim is untrue and will be vigorously defended," the spokesman said.

In a civil lawsuit filed late on Friday with the New York Supreme Court, the woman identified only as JC said Dylan sexually abused her at his New York apartment over a six-week period "leaving her emotionally scarred and psychologically damaged to this day".

Dylan, who was in his mid-20s at the time, "exploited his status as a musician to provide JC with alcohol and drugs and sexually abuse her multiple times", the lawsuit said.

The plaintiff is seeking unspecified damages. Her lawsuit was submitted just ahead of a New York state deadline, authorised in a 2019 law, for people to file legal claims involving allegations of sexual abuse of children that in the past were too old to pursue due to a statute of limitations.

Dylan emerged from the Greenwich Village folk scene in the early 1960s to become one of the most acclaimed and influential artists of the rock era with hits including Blowin' in the Wind and Like a Rolling Stone.

He has sold more than 125 million records globally and won the Nobel prize for literature in 2016.

© RAW 2021

A 15-year-old has been charged with attempted murder after Australian rugby great Toutai Kefu was stabbed in the stomach in his Brisbane home while disturbing a burglary.

The former Wallabies player was left in a critical condition while trying to defend his family on Monday morning, police say, and is now at Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Queensland Police say three juveniles were involved in the incident.

One of the boys, a 15-year-old from Goodna, was on Monday night charged with attempted murder, assault causing grievous bodily harm, break and enter and other offences.

He'll face Brisbane Children's Court at a later date.

Another 15-year-old boy remains in custody, while the third juvenile fled the home in Coorparoo and is yet to be apprehended.

Detective Superintendent Tony Fleming said Kefu's family woke to noises within their house and Kefu went to investigate.

"That person was accosted by at least one of the offenders in the premises and threatened to be stabbed if they didn't hand over vehicle keys," Det Supt Fleming told reporters.

"Other members of the family came to that person's aid and, during this time, very significant injuries occurred to the family."

Police say Kefu suffered "very serious wounds" to his abdomen.

A man in his 20s also suffered abdominal and back lacerations, a woman in her 40s injured her arm and a teen girl injured her hand.

Stephen Rashford, medical director for Queensland Ambulance Service, says emergency crews were dispatched following calls from police to attend a mass-casualty wounding.

"This was an incredibly frightening occurrence for this family ... this level of violence is unacceptable in our society," Dr Rashford said.

Police were told neighbours came to the aid of the family and caught one of the offenders, who was armed with a knife.

Police retrieved a knife and an axe at the crime scene and also believe a machete was used, though it wasn't recovered.

In the early hours of Monday, a silver Hyundai iX35 was stolen from the Forest Lake area and police believe this was the car used to take the alleged offenders to Kefu's property.

This car is yet to be located, Queensland Police say.

At least two of the offenders were allegedly out on bail at the time and under curfew but it's unclear if they were wearing GPS trackers.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk passed on her thoughts and prayers to Kefu and his family, while members of the rugby community have also paid tribute to him.

Kefu played 60 rugby Tests for Australia over a seven-year career.

© AAP 2021

NSW has reached a "disturbingly high" record of new local COVID-19 cases as the government extends support for tenants and landlords affected by lockdowns stretching past seven weeks.

The state recorded 478 new local cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday, at least 91 of which were out while infectious.

Eight deaths were also recorded, including 15-year-old Osama Suduh - the youngest person in Australia to die with the virus.

The teenager from southwest Sydney died after contracting pneumococcal meningitis and while he was also COVID-positive, it was not the reason for his hospitalisation or death.

Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the teen had been jabbed for pneumococcal meningitis but perhaps not for his particular strain.

Three men and a woman in their 80s, a man in his 40s, and a man and woman in their 70s make up the other deaths.

The death toll for the current NSW outbreak is 56.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian described daily infection numbers as "disturbingly high" and warned case numbers in the thousands could result if NSW's statewide lockdown fails to work.

At least 91 of the 478 new cases were circulating in the community for all or part of their infectious period, with 290 unknown.

"It is important for us all to protect our loved ones and ourselves by getting vaccinated," Ms Berejiklian told reporters.

Rising cases were recorded in Greenacre, Bankstown, Merrylands, Guildford, Granville, Blacktown, Mount Druitt and Yagoona.

Dr Chant also confirmed an outbreak in two wards - including a mental health facility - at Nepean Hospital had reached 30 cases.

Four COVID-positive inmates are also being housed at the remand centre of Silverwater Jail, including two cases uncovered over the weekend. Their source of infection is being investigated.

Better Regulation Minister Kevin Anderson said in a statement on Monday that the NSW government's residential tenancy support package would be paid for a second month.

Landlords who have reduced rent for their tenant can apply for up to $3000 to cover the two months from July 14.

There is a moratorium on evictions until at least September 11.

"We have always encouraged landlords and tenants to work together to negotiate on rental agreements," Mr Anderson said.

"It's hard enough having to lockdown in your home while we stop the spread of the virus, but this NSW government support means you can do that without fear of being evicted."

All of NSW was placed under a one-week lockdown on Saturday while Sydney and surrounds are locked down until August 28.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said almost 18,000 police officers were being supported by 800 members of the Australian Defence Force to enforce public health orders.

Police had until now been issuing four cautions for every ticket, but Mr Fuller flagged a tougher approach, saying it reaches a point "where you say people aren't getting this".

Tougher non-compliance fines of up to $5000 are now in place as Greater Sydney begins its eighth week of lockdown.

A "test and isolate" payment of $320 will also start this week for workers aged 17 and over who have symptoms and live in the NSW government's areas of concern.

But the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union NSW said the payment should be extended to all workers statewide.

NSW Labor also called for a statewide test and isolate payment, with Chris Minns demanding Ms Berejiklian ask Prime Minister Scott Morrison and other premiers for more help.

"The phone needs to be picked up," the opposition leader said.

There are also increasing concerns for Dubbo and Walgett, with high unvaccinated Indigenous populations, and a case in Bourke.

There are 99 active COVID-19 cases in the Western NSW health district.

© AAP 2021