Gday Sam, Nicely spotted I think it's part of the droughts & flooding rains caper.

Spot on Sam! This is the manifestation of the Southern Annular Mode (SAM in BoM speak). It has a positive/negative measure, and I'm not sure where BoM has it at the moment; but it is clear to any observer of the barometric charts that the highs are further south than normal and of a sausage shape. For a complete look at the Southern Ocean, try this chart: www.bom.gov.au/fwo/IDY65100.pdf .

So for us Victorians, we cannot even get a decent sea-breeze on Port Phillip and we have not had the rain that has devastated the east coast. Not unknown for this time of year, but worth noting all the same.

The flooding in NSW in 1974 and 78 were the same conditions. I was flying then with the Navy at Nowra and once the wind went sou east it rained.
It happened again in the 80s and 90s but I wasn't flying anymore so didn't look at it as closely.
And it is most common in March/April.
A regular weather pattern that occurs every number of years.

Grey nomad friends are currently in SA, yesterday when we spoke they hadn't seen any rain for two weeks. Here in Sydney looking outside and seeing blue sky is one of lifes pleasures.