Woman, police dog hurt after break-ins

A POLICE dog was injured and an elderly woman hospitalised following two burglaries south of Perth this morning.

A 76-year-old woman was confronted by three dark skinned males who forced entry into her home at 12.20am in Mensa Close, Rockingham.

The callous thieves fled the woman's home with some of her property.

The theft left the woman in shock and she was taken to hospital.

Rockingham Police and a Dog Squad unit attended to the crime and their inquiries led them to a residence in Shoalwater.

While at that location officers disturbed a burglary in progress on a residence in Hawkers Street.

Two offenders were chased and during apprehension police dog Vector received a serious laceration to his head.

Although injured, Vector managed to bite one of the offenders who was also tasered by police.

Vector was taken to the Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital for emergency treatment.

He had a number of staples applied to his wound.

The injured offender was also taken to hospital for treatment.

Five people have been taken into custody for questioning.

Anyone with information regarding either of these incidents is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Hospital air-con needs emergency treatment

A chiller from Melbourne and other equipment sitting in Royal Perth Hospital's supply bay. Source: The Sunday Times

MORE than $1 million has been spent patching up Royal Perth Hospital's 25-year-old cooling systems in the past six years - the cost of two new chillers.

But taxpayers will now also fork out a further $800,000-plus to install a second-hand chiller, and to lease another, as RPH tries to avoid evacuating hundreds of patients because the machines, which run airconditioning, are failing.

The Sunday Times revealed last week that two of the hospital's three primary chillers had failed, and that according to Health Department director-general Kim Snowball, if another main one went down "we're going to have to consider moving patients''.

At least $100,000 will be spent leasing one chiller from Melbourne if it is needed for the next two weeks as expected, according to industry sources, who said it would cost from $7000-$10,000 a day to lease, and thousands more to transport. It was activated on Friday night.

A second-hand chiller has come from Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital free, and after initially refusing to reveal installation costs, late yesterday the WA Health Department confirmed it would cost about $700,000 to set up at RPH, and said the "total cost of all current repairs and replacements is not yet clear''.

Health Minister Kim Hames confirmed a new chiller would have cost $500,000.

To add to RPH's woes, the deadly bacteria, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, has been detected in patients in several wards of the Perth campus, which is so run-down its sign on Wellington St is missing the "L'' off the word hospital.

Senior clinicians, who revealed the $1 million repair bill, said the chiller problems were not only the fault of a "stingy State Government'' that did not want to spend on equipment, but also resulted from the "ineptitude of senior RPH management'' who did not fight for equipment when governments rejected their requests to get some.

Dr Hames said that as well as the leased chiller which was activated on Friday night, "one main chiller and the light load chiller are functioning and supplying the building needs'' and that "RPH's airconditioning is running as per normal''.

But clinicians asked if everything was "normal'' why was there a chiller from Melbourne and other equipment sitting in RPH's supply bay yesterday.

On the superbug detection, Dr Hames said: "Infection-control measures have been taken to immediately reduce the risk of VRE spreading.''

United Voice acting secretary Carolyn Smith said the cooling system problem was not an issue that had "crept up'' on the Government, but it preferred to spend money on Elizabeth Quay rather than hospitals and this was "absolutely wrong''.

Opposition health spokesman Roger Cook said the Government was content to do a "patch-up'' job on longstanding serious problems at RPH rather than re-develop it as the Liberals had promised at the last state election.

"The Health Minister needs to come clean about how he will protect RPH and its patients,'' he said.

Australian Medical Association WA president Richard Choong said the AMA had consistently emphasised the importance of maintenance in the WA health system and would continue to do so "in the run up to the state election''.

Labor on road to clash with miners

Opposition Labor Leader Mark McGowan says mining companies should pay more for the public roads they use. Source: The Sunday Times

MINING companies will be forced to pay for the public roads they use under a Labor Government in WA and resources billionaires Gina Rinehart and Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest will be targeted first.

If elected premier in the March state election, Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said he would "demand" mining companies contributed up to half the cost of sealing and upgrading key public roads.

The plan was immediately condemned by mining bosses as an unfair tax on the resources industry, which already paid for roads through heavy vehicle registration fees, fuel levies and royalties.

But Mr McGowan said taxpayers should not have to foot the multimillion-dollar bill for roads that suffered the most wear and tear from mining vehicles.

"Considering their investments are many billions of dollars, it's not that big an ask," he said.

"We need to ensure the mining industry continues to be successful, but that it also plays its part. We'd seek matching contributions from the mining companies who use those roads.

"I'd be demanding they contribute. They are the ones causing the huge damage to the road. It's a win-win for them, anyway, because better roads are good for their vehicles and safer for their staff."

Some mining companies already contribute to Main Roads or local shires for road maintenance. But it is on a voluntary basis because there is no statewide policy under the Barnett Government, and costs are rarely split 50-50.

Labor said its first priority would be to seal 100km of Marble Bar Road linking Newman to Nullagine, which accesses Ms Rinehart's $10 billion Roy Hill iron ore project and the Cloudbreak mine run by Mr Forrest's Fortescue Metals Group in the Pilbara.

Mr McGowan pledged $50 million to seal and upgrade that stretch of road if he won government and said he wanted a "50-50 arrangement" with miners to fund the other $50 million needed.

The road has claimed five lives since 2008, the latest in July when nurse Connie Smith died in a head-on collision with a LandCruiser ute while transporting two burns patients.

Dust on the unsealed stretch, 1200km north of Perth, can be so bad that visibility is virtually zero.

Mr McGowan said it was a model Labor would "roll out across the state", particularly for roads in the Pilbara and Goldfields, and he would discuss the proposal with WA's mining magnates.

Chamber of Minerals and Energy boss Reg Howard-Smith said it would add to the soaring cost of doing business in WA as mining companies were already grappling with the Federal Government's mineral resources rent and carbon taxes.

Darryl Hockey, spokesman for Ms Rinehart's Roy Hill project, said "it shouldn't be forgotten that the community of WA already benefits enormously from the resources industry".

"We already have a very strong track record of corporate citizenship and new demands for road upgrades should be met from (the Government's) Royalties for Regions (fund)," he said.

Fortescue Metals said it would "continue to work with governments of any persuasion" to manage the impacts of traffic on public roads.

WA Farmers president Dale Park said more money had to be found because WA's rural roads were "rapidly deteriorating".

Premier Colin Barnett would not comment on Labor's plan, but he has promised to spend $20 million over two years to upgrade Marble Bar Rd.

DUI up but Skyworks revellers commended

A view of the Australia Day Skyshow on the Swan River from the QV1 building. Picture: supplied by PerthNow reader Brian Source: PerthNow

Nate Fox-Muhl ,7, from Karrinyup, celebrating Australia Day at Trigg Beach yesterday. Picture: supplied by PerthNow reader Arthur Muhl Source: PerthNow

WEST Australians were mostly well-behaved during the country's biggest Australia Day event on Perth's Swan River foreshore, with only a slight increase in the number of people caught drink driving.

Police commended the public's behaviour during the various celebrations held for Australia Day, particularly at Perth's annual Skyworks, which attracted an estimated 300,000 people.

Commander Murray Smalpage said people were mostly responsible within the City of Perth's designated drinking zones in Kings Park and Langley Park.

"The message about responsible alcohol consumption seems to be having an effect and the community has come together to celebrate the spirit of our country without any significant issues,'' he said.

"We did, however, see a small increase in the number of people charged for excess 0.08 per cent and DUI (driving under the influence), which shows while the behaviour of people at the events was good, some may need to consider how they get to and from those events if they plan to drink.''

Compared to last year's figures of six people being caught with an alcohol reading of more than 0.08 per cent, this year there were 12 people caught.

Those with a reading of more than 0.05 per cent was also up from one last year to three this year.

People picked up for driving under the influence, which means an alcohol reading of more than 0.15 per cent, was also up from four in 2012 to eight this year.

Meanwhile, Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi said the fireworks display was a spectacular and colourful event.

She said extra effort went into ensuring the success of the Skyworks this year due to the Elizabeth Quay construction work, which cut a large viewing section out of the foreshore.

"It's the biggest Australia Day event in the country and uniquely West Australian,'' Ms Scaffidi said.

"The pyrotechnics were dazzling, as always, and the new laser show was simply amazing.

"However, the real colour display was on the masses of people around the foreshore covered in Australian flags and face paint enjoying the 29th Australia Day Skyworks.''

FIGURES FROM WA POLICE ON AUSTRALIA DAY:
- Total arrests and summonses: 161
- Assault a police officer charges: 5
- Assault charges: 3
- Disorderly conduct: 44
- Drug offences: 8
- Move on notices: 202
- Liquor infringements: 88
- Traffic infringements: 237
- Excess 0.05 per cent: 3
- Excess 0.08 per cent: 12
- Driving under the influence: 8

Hospital witness harassed by caller

Police are investigating a campaign of intimidation against a key witness in the Peel Health Campus inquiry.

A CAMPAIGN of intimidation against a key witness in the Peel Health Campus inquiry is under investigation.

Ashton Foley contacted staff at the inquiry and police after a man believed to be linked to the company running the hospital phoned several of her former employers for information about her, telling one she was a "liar and a fraud".

Ashton Foley contacted police after a man believed to be linked to the company running the hospital phoned several of her former employers for information about her, telling one she was a "liar and a fraud".

The man, believed to be Jordan Fogarty, the son of Jon Fogarty, major shareholder of Health Solutions WA, claimed he was a recruiter when calling.

He also allegedly tried to access Ms Foley's email account by attempting to change her password.

Ms Foley, who quit as the hospital's chief operating officer in September over concerns about its operation, said inquiry staff told her on Friday that her allegations about the calls would go to inquirer Bryant Stokes and would be investigated.

Police told The Sunday Times they would warn the caller to stop his activities.

Police have been provided with the caller's number by Ms Foley. The number came up on caller ID at one of the companies contacted and the company passed it on to her.

When she and The Sunday Times phoned the number, a voicemail message identified it to be Jordan Fogarty's.

Ms Foley, who is now a chief executive of a government hospital in the eastern states, said she would not be intimidated.

She will appear at the inquiry next month and was praised for testifying at parliamentary committee hearings, which last year examined allegations of corruption and political intrigue at the hospital. "

Mr Fogarty and HSWA seem to have lost sight of the fact that there are hundreds of documents confirming the issues raised in the parliamentary committee hearings, and that several witnesses not only confirmed my concerns, but in fact highlighted an array of other improprieties and misdeeds," she said.

Opposition health spokesman Roger Cook called on Health Minister Kim Hames to ensure Ms Foley was protected from such "insidious activities".

Dr Hames would only say that "some of these allegations are very serious and I would encourage Ms Foley to report them to the appropriate authorities".

Neither of the Fogartys would comment, but Jon Fogarty told The Sunday Times: "Call me again and I'm going to call the police."

Premier Colin Barnett begrudgingly announced the inquiry last month into the hospital, as recommended by the parliamentary committee.

It looks unlikely to finish before the March 9 state election, despite Mr Barnett previously saying it would.

Pilot praised after TV chopper crash

A Channel 10 cameraman is in hospital after a helicopter crashed east of Perth.

The wreckage of the Channel 10 news helicopter. Source: PerthNow

THE TV cameraman who had a lucky escape when the helicopter he was filming from crash landed in Perth has returned to his office, after thanking the pilot of the aircraft for saving his life.

Adam Delmage, a cameraman for the Ten Network in Perth, and Paul Debenham from helicopter charter company Heliwest, both walked away from the crash in Baskerville, a rural suburb northeast of Perth on Saturday.

They were filming a truck rollover from the air when their aircraft made a 'hard landing', with the tail snapping away from the body of the chopper as it rolled.

Mr Delmage made a brief appearance at the Network Ten offices today to thank friends and colleagues for their support. Having been treated for neck pain, and with his arm in a sling, Mr Delmage is believed to be taking some time off work to recover.

He was also keen to praise the actions of the pilot, whom he said had saved his life, and those of others already on the scene for the earlier traffic accident.

"Debo my chopper pilot today did an amazing job getting us down the way he did with trees, people, powerlines, hills etc. Everything happened so fast, he saved my life and I didn't know if he was alive for a while there," Mr Delmage posted on his Facebook page.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has launched an inquiry into the crash, which was caught on camera by other media personnel at the scene.

"I kind of got flung out the cabin and was hanging over the door," Mr Delmage said.

"If it had rolled one more time I wouldn't be here. The tail was up on end, the chopper was on its side.

"I thought the pilot was dead. I didn't know whether to run back and help him out because I didn't know if it was going to go up in flames."

Carjacking at fake roadblock in Bentley

A WOMAN was dragged from her car by a gang of men after she stopped at a fake roadblock in Bentley last night.

Police say the 38-year-old woman was driving along Sevenoaks Street between 9.30pm and 10pm when she slowed down after seeing white bollards blocking the street.

As she slowed down, two dark skinned men walked in front of her car causing her to stop.

When she stopped two to three other men opened the front and back passenger doors and got into her car.

One of the men who had walked in front of her car then came to the driver's side door and told her to get out, grabbing her by the wrist and dragging her from the car and throwing her onto the road.

The gang of men drove off in the woman's 2005 blue Honda Odyssey, registration number 1IJI 555 and were last seen heading towards Welshpool Road.

Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Broome 'army' ready for war on gas

Local Broome Resident and anti gas hub campaigner Shaun Clark is one of thousands opposed to the Kimberley gas hub. Picture: Theo Fakos Source: The Sunday Times

AN army of thousands will join a blockade at James Price Point as protesters yesterday warned that the campaign to stop the $40 billion Kimberley gas hub would be the biggest since saving old-growth forests.

The Broome community says drill rigs and machinery for the final phase of exploration which the Woodside-led consortium will carry out regardless of whether it decides to proceed with a gas hub will be "blocked at all costs".

"This is war," Broome Community No Gas Campaign spokeswoman Nik Weavers said.

Tensions peaked this week when the Barnett Government granted Woodside the right to disturb Aboriginal graves and sacred sites near James Price Point, 60km north of Broome, for drilling and surveys.

Tensions peaked this week when the Barnett Government granted Woodside the right to disturb Aboriginal graves and sacred sites near James Price Point for drilling and surveys. Picture: Theo Fakos

Aboriginal elder Phillip Roe, a law boss for the Goolarabooloo people, pointed out the graves of his ancestors buried in the dunes and said he would die before giving up the fight for his homeland and its flora and fauna.

When The Sunday Times visited the blockade camp, dozens of highly organised protesters including a doctor, nurse and public servants were preparing to face Woodside workers and police.

Ms Weavers said: "People in town are waiting for the word and willing to be arrested. There's thousands from all walks of life indigenous and non-indigenous.

Dozens of highly organised protesters are preparing to face Woodside workers and police, including local resident Shane Hughes, pictured. Picture: Theo Fakos

"We're expecting police to escort machinery. If we've got to front up to 100 police, so be it. The community is angry. People are disappointed. They've ignored us. They've labelled us tree huggers and ferals. They don't realise it's the everyday people and it's because we love Broome."

As revealed by The Sunday Times last week, the estimated $40 million gas hub project is threatened by the proponents' preference for an offshore floating LNG facility that would be much cheaper and more profitable for Woodside and its joint-venture partners. A final investment decision by the consortium on whether to proceed with a gas hub is due in the next few months.

A Woodside spokeswoman said the company would work closely with traditional owners to identify and manage Aboriginal culture and heritage at the site. She would not say when the drill rigs would move in.

The last mass arrests were on Black Tuesday in 2011 when 26 people were taken into custody for blocking machinery.

Premier Colin Barnett is determined to see the project go ahead and said issues at the site were minimal.

The Goolarabooloo Jabirr Jabirr native title claim group signed a deed for a $1.5 billion Kimberley-wide package, but many local Aborigines did not sign and remain opposed.

Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said he would prefer gas to be piped to Karratha for processing and the Greens want the gas to remain untapped.

'RPH on verge of collapse'

A source at Royal Perth Hospital said the Government should be "ashamed'' for neglecting fundamental equipment and risking lives and said, "you wouldn't expect this in a Third World country." Source: PerthNow

HUNDREDS of patients face evacuation from Royal Perth Hospital as it teeters on the verge of "collapse'' because most of its decades-old cooling systems have broken down.

Outgoing Health Department director-general Kim Snowball has confirmed that two of the hospital's three primary "chillers"' have failed, and says that if another "main chiller goes down, we're going to have to consider moving patients''.

Senior clinicians told The Sunday Times repairs to the 25-year-old units would take weeks, if not months, and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Meanwhile, the remaining unit was overloaded.

The sources said also that RPH had presented business cases to the State Government since 2006 to replace critical machinery, but the old chillers had remained. They said the Government should be "ashamed'' for neglecting fundamental equipment, risking lives, while it was spending more than $1 million to rent offices near the Swan River in Mt Pleasant, for South Metropolitan Health Service bureaucrats.

"There's a real risk the hospital will collapse," one said. "You wouldn't expect this in a Third World country."

Mr Snowball confirmed that a disaster preparedness and management unit was now dealing with the problem and that airconditioning to administration areas had been stopped after a second major unit failed on Tuesday this week, following the breakdown of the first one on Christmas Day.

He said the smaller fourth unit was "operating at half capacity'', and if the last big unit died "we're going to have to move quickly, because you've got people in (intensive care) who are suddenly going to have no air conditioning''.

"On a real hot day in Royal Perth you get hot real quick and then you've got risk of infection, you've got patients who are then getting so hot they are distressed,'' he said.

"We're talking about heart transplant patients and ICU patients. These are really unwell people."

He said RPH senior staff had told him they were "pretty confident'' everything would be "ok''.

"(But) pretty confident is not quite good enough if I've got to move 500 seriously ill patients,'' he said.

"Even though we're confident it won't (fail), we need to alert our hospitals across the system, to make sure that they are prepared  in the event that that was to occur  that they are prepared to take patients from Royal Perth.''

Mr Snowball said chillers had been obtained from Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Karratha, and RPH was looking at bringing in a repair team from Melbourne.

Sources asked how such numbers of patients could be shifted to other, already stressed hospitals. They said there were serious concerns that surgery and other services could be cancelled and that stored drugs could spoil as temperatures rose.

Health Minister Kim Hames said the chillers were on a "planned replacement program" and an "ongoing maintenance schedule", but that recent "extraordinary" hot weather had put additional strain on the units.

He said funding had been allocated for ongoing maintenance and replacement of RPH infrastructure, including the air conditioning systems.

Dr Hames said that in addition to a replacement unit being obtained, a fan on the smaller chiller would be replaced on Tuesday and would operate at full capacity the next day.

Parts had been obtained to repair the remaining main chiller and RPH would lease a unit as a contingency measure.

"RPH is also reducing load on the remaining units by either limiting non-clinical areas to receiving ventilation but not cooling (and) increasing the cooling temperature in non-clinical areas," he said.

Opposition health spokesman Roger Cook said the Government had promised to protect RPH, but despite WA's wealth had allowed it to crumble and instead focused on the Elizabeth Quay development.

Australian Medical Association WA president Richard Choong said the AMA had previously emphasised hospital maintenance and capacity issues with Dr Hames and would continue to do so leading up to the state election.

United Voice acting secretary Carolyn Smith said the Premier had "spent $25 million on a plush new palace for himself"', but RPH patients and staff would swelter in the hottest months of the year.

Smoky bushland fires north of Perth

Water bombers have been called to assist at two fires north of Perth. Source: PerthNow

FIRE crews are working to control two large fires burning north of Perth, which are causing a lot of smoke but not posing a risk to lives or homes.

Lake Pinjar fire

AN out of control and unpredictable bushfire is raging near Lake Pinjar, north east of Perth this afternoon.

The fire started about 1.30pm between Higgins Road and Regelia Road.

Up to fifty volunteer fire-fighters are on the scene and water bombers are also helping put out the blaze.

The cause of the fire is unknown and while there is no threat to lives or homes, there is a lot of smoke in the area

Tree top fires in Gnangara Pine Plantation

Bushfire advice has been issued for people in the northern part of the Gnangara Pine Plantation in the City of Wanneroo.

The out-of-control fire is burning in a north-east direction and flames are burning in the tree tops.

No roads are closed but motorists should avoid the area and be aware of fire and other emergency services personnel working on site.

The Department of Environment and Conservation is managing the fire.

Laverton fire reaches 45,000 hectares

Bushfire advice also remains for people travelling on Connie Sue Road, 80km south of Warburton in the Shire of Laverton today.

A fire there is burning in bushland on both sides of Connie Sue Road and although there is no immediate danger, residents in the area need to be aware and keep up to date in case the situation changes.

The fire is approximately 45,000 hectares in size and the DFES is continuing to monitor the blaze.

'Top timber wasted to refurbish railway'

TOP TIMBER: Jarrah railway sleepers in a Picton holding yard before being sent out to fix railway lines. Picture: Kim Redman Source: PerthNow

ANGRY: Clint Clarke from Port Jarrah Furniture in Fremantle says using prime-grade jarrah for railway sleeper is 'ridiculous' and 'totally wrong' . Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: PerthNow

WA'S finest jarrah trees are being cut down and sold for railway sleepers by the State Government's logging agency despite a policy banning the practice, according to insiders.

Jarrah in WA is harvested by the Government-run Forest Products Commission, which rates logs as first, second or third-grade.

Only lower-quality logs are allowed to be used for railway sleepers, while higher-grade jarrah must be ``value-added'' and used for high-quality products such as furniture or floorboards.

But big swaths of WA's freight rail lines are being re-sleepered, fuelling a big rise in demand.

To meet the orders, the FPC stands accused of downgrading top-quality jarrah.

It logged more than 170,000 tonnes of jarrah in the past financial year and the demand for third-grade logs used to make the sleepers was double the previous year at 20,000 tonnes.

Al Corbet, former owner of the Australian Craftwood Timbers mill near Manjimup, claimed fine jarrah was being used for sleepers in a ``rampant waste of WA's finest timber''.

Other mill workers in the South-West also said the FPC appeared to be supplying top-grade jarrah for sleepers.
WA Forest Alliance spokeswoman Jess Beckerling said she, too, had testimony from those working in the industry of fine jarrah being turned into sleepers a practice ``straight out of the Dark Ages''.

"We're talking 200-year-old logs, prime grade something you'd make a beautiful dining room table with,'' Mr Corbet said. ``Most Third World countries have a better harvesting regime than WA. It's appalling.''

Forestry Minister Terry Redman said the claims were a matter for the FPC.

A spokesman for the agency said as much profit as possible was derived from harvested timber. He said timber sleepers were eco-friendly because they stored carbon, while concrete ``requires large quantities of energy to produce''.

"Accusations that logs are deliberately downgraded for any reason are false,'' he said. ``Those making such claims should be asked to provide evidence. It is too easy to make such statements which are aimed at damaging the integrity of FPC's staff.''

Fremantle-based Port Jarrah Furniture owner Clint Clarke said using fine jarrah for sleepers was ``wrong'', while South-West Environment Centre convenor Mark Sheehan said concrete or plantation timber should be used instead.

An Auditor-General's report into freight railways found concrete sleepers lasted 50 years compared with 20 for jarrah.
 

Narelle no longer a threat to mainland

EYE OF THE STORM: The NW has been high alert for days as Cyclone Narelle builds off the coast. Source: PerthNow

CYCLONE Narelle is no longer a threat to WA communities but residents have been warned to avoid potential hazards caused by storm damage.

The all clear has been given to the state's north in and near Exmouth and Coral Bay.

However, Coral Bay residents should remain cautious with strong winds still impacting the area.

The Bureau of Meteorology said at 2.30pm today the category three cyclone was about 355km west of Exmouth and 440km northwest of Carnarvon, and moving south southwest at 14km/h.

It is expected to continue south southwest and not come closer to the coast before weakening.

The bureau says the cyclone is also unlikely to produce gales on the coast, although a severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Sunday afternoon and evening for parts of the Gascoyne and Central West districts, including coastal areas between Cape Cuvier and Northhampton.

Tides along the west Pilbara coast and down the west coast are likely to rise above the normal high tide mark with flooding of low lying coastal areas possible, the bureau said.

Road users have been advised gusty winds, thunderstorm activity and high tides may affect driving conditions, and road conditions could change.

"Please approach all floodways with extreme caution, obey road closure signs and do not drive into water of unknown depth and current,'' the State Emergency Service advises.

"If driving through heavy rain, please slow down and turn your lights on, or if visibility becomes poor, pull over and park until it passes.''

Authorities said there was no damage to homes or other infrastructure during the cyclone threat.

Incident management teams in Karratha and Carnarvon have both begun demobilising.

Earlier today
A blue alert was current for people in or near coastal and island communities from Exmouth to Coral Bay and a cyclone warning was current for people in or near Exmouth to Denham.

But a cyclone warning was cancelled for people in or near Onslow to Exmouth.

The Bureau of Meteorology said that at about 11.30am today the category three cyclone was estimated to be 335km west north-west of Exmouth and 460km north north-west of Carnarvon, and was moving south south-west at 15km/h.

The cyclone is expected to continue to move south south-west and will pass west of the Northwest Cape today.

If the cyclone moves on a track that brings it closer to the coast, then gales with gusts to 100km/h may develop in coastal areas between Exmouth and Cape Cuvier during Sunday and may extend south to Carnarvon and Denham late today or early tomorrow, the bureau said.

Tides along the west Pilbara coast and down the west coast are also likely to rise above the normal high tide mark with flooding of low lying coastal areas possible.

The State Emergency Services is continuing to monitor the situation while incident management teams in the Pilbara have begun demobilising and will continue to do so throughout the afternoon.

Teams in the Midwest Gascoyne region remain active as the cyclone travels down the coast.

Meanwhile, residents living near or between Cape Cuvier, Carnarvon, Denham, Kalbarri, Northampton and Meekatharra have been warned to get ready for severe thunderstorms developing from late Sunday morning and continuing into the evening.

WA police told AAP today that no emergency incidents had been reported as a result of Cyclone Narelle.

Wind speeds over 215kph can bee seen in this NASA animation of Cyclone Narelle, created using data from NASA's TRMM satellite.

Police probe fatal Keysbrook crash

POLICE are investigating a fatal crash south east of Perth yesterday which claimed the life of a 30-year-old man.

The crash happened on the South West Highway in Keysbrook, about 60km south east of Perth.

It's believed the Esperance man was a back seat passenger in a Nissan Patrol which lost control before rolling and hitting a tree sometime between 2am and 7.30am on Saturday.

Investigations have led police to believe that there were two other people in the vehicle at the time of the crash.

These people are yet to come forward and their injuries are unknown.

Anyone who has information about the crash should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
 

Buswell v Wyatt: money men at war

Labor is convinced it can pick up votes by hammering the credentials of Treasurer Troy Buswell (pictured) during the election campaign. Source: The Sunday Times

A London School of Economics masters graduate, Ben Wyatt (pictured) said he would retain a surplus and protect the state's AAA credit-rating at all costs. Source: PerthNow

A "LAZY" Treasurer versus a financially "illiterate" upstart. The knives, and calculators, are out in the battle for economic bragging rights ahead of the March state election.

Labor is convinced it can pick up votes by hammering the credentials of Treasurer Troy Buswell during the election campaign while putting its man for the job, Ben Wyatt, front and centre.

With both men considered their party's best attack dog, and best media performer, it is shaping up as one of the most entertaining battles of the campaign.

Yesterday, Mr Wyatt challenged Mr Buswell to a live debate which the Treasurer agreed to and labelled his foe a "lazy" Treasurer who had "panicked" when iron ore prices dropped and "destroyed the best set of finances in the country".

But Mr Buswell bit back with plenty of venom of his own, saying his opponent had "economic illiteracy" and that "if Ben Wyatt wants to be taken seriously as an alternative treasurer, he needs to do more than utter sweeping statements with no detail about how a Labor government would fund such extravagant promises".

A London School of Economics masters graduate, Mr Wyatt said he would retain a surplus and protect the state's AAA credit-rating at all costs. He would also:

* Defer or scrap some road upgrades to pay for Labor's multibillion-dollar Metronet rail network.

* Guarantee department budgets were maintained instead of forcing "savage, lazy, blunt-instrument cuts" on police, health and other services.

* Reduce the cost of living, including power bills. "We're facing ballooning debt and a deficit next financial year," he said. "That's extraordinary on the back of strong revenue growth of $5.5 billion over the Government's single term in office."

"'I can't take the position that Troy Buswell has taken to simply keep borrowing."

He said he would fund the promises by redirecting money out of CBD projects and "find savings" where Mr Buswell had been unable to.

Mr Buswell's mid-year review predicted a Budget surplus of $140 million for this financial year and a deficit of $187 million for next. Public sector debt is said to reach $24 billion in 2015-16. He said Labor's $6.4 billion Metronet plan would plunge WA into even greater debt. "Mr Wyatt is talking about cutting road projects to fund Labor's train promise," Mr Buswell said.

"This is his sole solution to Perth's congestion challenges and epitomises the type of ill-considered, lazy politics for which Mr Wyatt has a reputation," he said.

"The total spend on new roads and the maintenance of our existing road system over the forward estimates period is $5.7 billion. Even if every new road planned was scrapped and all road maintenance deferred there would not be sufficient funds to pay for Metronet."

Mr Buswell blamed much of the debt blowout on a declining share of GST revenue from the Federal Government.

Gas saviour now a pipe dream

Premier Colin Barnett yesterday warned the multinational consortium behind the $40 billion gas hub at James Price Point that they ''don't own'' the gas riches off WA. Source: News Limited

COLIN Barnett is desperately clinging to his dream of a $40 billion gas hub at James Price Point in the Kimberley despite a now-widespread belief it is doomed.

The Premier yesterday warned the multinational consortium behind the project led by energy giant Woodside that they ''don't own it'', referring to the gas riches in the Browse Basin off WA.

And Mr Barnett, who has met the key players recently, insisted he would not let Woodside, and the second-biggest partner in the consortium Shell, abandon the James Price Point location in favour of a floating processing plant offshore a move that would rob the state of a fortune.

But the consortium, which is reconsidering the project design and has promised a final decision within months, is pushing heavily for Mr Barnett to compromise so it can switch to a floating LNG processing plant. Insiders believe it is now the only economically viable option.

Trashing the contentious processing at James Price Point would torpedo thousands of jobs in WA and the $1.5 billion benefits package negotiated with native title claimants, the Goolarabooloo Jabirr Jabirr.

Fallout from the likely collapse of the much-hyped James Price Point hub is set to flare as a major election issue, with Labor leader Mark McGowan accusing Mr Barnett of mismanaging the project.

And though the consortium isn't due to make a final investment decision until June, industry sources say Woodside is likely to announce its interest in the floating option ahead of the March 9 poll.

Mr Barnett, who has also flagged with The Sunday Times the prospect of other options to save the site, said he would be mad to allow the switch and was confident the Federal Government would also resist it, even though taxes would still flow to the commonwealth.

"They don't own it," Mr Barnett said. "They have a right, which is time-limited, to develop it and to develop in a way that is agreeable to Australia."

"This is gas owned by Australians and there is no other country in the world that would simply allow a gas to be developed offshore with no benefit for the local economy other than the taxation benefit and the companies know that.

"If there is a floating LNG the entire project will essentially be constructed in the Philippines or Korea .There will be no jobs for Australians and there will be very few ongoing operational jobs for Australians."

Mr McGowan said if he became premier he would "do everything humanly possible" to stop the push for a floating plant.

But international gas experts say it is shaping as the only way for the project to move forward because Australia was no longer "the only show in town" when it came to liquefied natural gas and there were many more attractive opportunities around the world.

Tony Regan, LNG consultant at Tri-Zen International in Singapore, said the market had changed dramatically with many new projects, particularly in the US, Canada and East Africa.

"Browse is one of 47 potential LNG projects an unprecedented number that hopes to be sanctioned and is not top of anyone's list," he said.

"It just looks too expensive unless they can find a way of addressing these costs. That is not a case of knocking off 10 per cent here or there, but a need for a fundamental rethink about the approach.

"That means an entirely new approach using FLNG as potentially that could halve costs the economic case for FLNG is very strong."

Mr Regan said the $US15 billion cost blowout at Chevron's Gorgon venture, announced last month, had further spooked investors.

"Australian projects look extremely expensive, if not probably the most expensive in the world," he said.

Mr Regan said Mr Barnett's insistence on James Price Point had complicated the situation.

"The Premier has pushed very aggressively for that and would see it as a major climbdown if the plant wasn't built at James Price Point and that has hugely complicated matters," he said.

"It was a compromise that was not supported by most of the shareholders in the project at the time and probably is still not.

"I just can't see how Browse can be sanctioned based on the current plan to bring the gas ashore at James Price Point and liquefying it onshore. (The situation) desperately needs a compromise and that really means the Government compromising (which means) dropping James Price Point, dropping the idea of an onshore plant and permitting the project to go ahead as FLNG."

Chevron has already backed away from Browse, selling its stake in August. BHP has sold its minority stake to PetroChina, a Shell partner elsewhere. Shell has upped its stake, further fuelling speculation of a tilt for FLNG at Browse.

Mr Barnett said he was aware that Woodside was "re-working the project" to reduce costs.

"I recognise that costs are high, but I also look down to the Carnarvon Basin and I see Chevron building two LNG projects: Gorgon which is bigger, Wheatstone which is of a comparable size," he said.

"There are higher costs here (in Australia), but I tell you what in a world of political uncertainty there is an extremely high value placed upon the political and legal security of Australia, particularly from the Japanese and the Japanese still are by far the biggest gas purchaser in the world. I had discussions with Woodside only a couple of weeks ago and they know my position. I understand they are looking at different ways of reworking the project, but they are still working on the basis of onshore gas."

The Premier said he didn't know whether the consortium would reject or proceed with the James Price Point plan.

"But if I'm re-elected Premier I will continue to push for this project to go ahead," he said. "And if they don't give it the green light I will not stop."

Mr McGowan said he didn't see James Price Point getting off the ground.

"My expectation is that the project will not proceed," he said.

Mr Barnett said Ann Pickard, head of Shell's Australian operations, knew his opposition to the floating option at Browse.

"Ann knows my view and Shell were very clear that when we agreed to Prelude that they would only be promoting FLNG for small gas fields," he said.

The Premier was confident the Federal Government didn't want FLNG at Browse.

"I met Martin (Ferguson, Federal Minister for Resources and Energy) only a few weeks ago in Canberra. I don't think I'm putting words in his mouth, in saying he still strongly favours the (Browse) gas coming onshore."

Shell Australia declined to comment . A spokeswoman for Woodside said: "We are undertaking a disciplined assurance process to determine project costs and economics to be in a position to make a final investment decision in the first half of 2013."

Fisherman drowns at Esperance beach

A man has drowned at a beach near Esperance, south-east of Perth. Picture: Ian Munro Source: News Limited

A FISHERMAN has drowned this afternoon after being swept off rocks at a beach near Esperance, about 720km south-east of Perth.

The man, believed to be in his mid 50s, died after he was pulled from the ocean near Twilight Beach Road just after midday today.

Police have revealed the man was fishing with his wife along rocks when they were swept off.

Police say the man's wife managed to get herself out of the water but say the man was unable to find a suitable exit point before he was soon overcome by exhaustion and drowned.

It's understood the man had been in the water for over an hour before he was found and brought to the beach to be resuscitated.

Paramedics worked on the man for some time but he could not be revived and died around 1pm.

Abalone fisherman fighting for his life

The swift actions of a beach inspector has saved the life of an abalone fisherman at Trigg Beach. Source: PerthNow

The abalone season has already claimed two lives. Source: AAP

ABALONE season in Western Australia has almost claimed another life, with only the swift actions of a beach inspector saving a 50-year old man at Trigg Beach in Perth.

The fisherman was spotted unconscious in the water at 7.30am and dragged to shore by the City of Stirling beach inspector.

The inspector performed emergency resuscitation on the man both in the water and on shore, City of Stirling beach services manager John Snook said.

After reviving the fisherman, he was taken by ambulance to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, where he is said to be in a critical condition.

The dramatic rescue is the latest disaster to strike an abalone fisherman in Perth, with two having already died since November.

In late December, a Chinese man in his 40s drowned in the waters near Cape Leeuwin in the state's southwest while diving for the marine delicacy.

And in November, a 20-year-old Malaysian was swept out to sea in treacherous conditions while on an abalone hunt north of Perth.

The man was caught in a strong rip in Yanchep Lagoon, 55 kilometres north of Perth, and was swept away.

He had been with a group searching for the expensive delicacy on the first day of the heavily restricted recreational fishing season.

The disaster triggered calls for metropolitan abalone fishing spots to be closed in dangerous weather.

Sunday is the third official day of the abalone season, with an hour on the first Sunday of every month from November to March set aside for fisherman to legally collect the large edible sea snails.

Pizza stores targeted by armed robber

POLICE are hunting for an armed robber who held up two pizza shops in Perth's southern suburbs last night.

The armed robber first struck at the Dominos Pizza chain on Rostrata Avenue in Willetton about 8.45pm.

The man threatened staff with a knife and demanded cash.

He was given a quantity of money and left the store on a black Honda motorcycle.

Just a few minutes later the same offender entered the Eagle Boys pizza store on Beeliar Drive at Cockburn Central and again demanded cash at knifepoint.

He became agitated when the staff member told him he could not open the till and eventually left empty handed.

The man is described as 170cm tall, of a solid build, has a New Zealand accent and was dressed all in black.
Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The judge who holds Rayney's fate

A Victorian Court of Appeal judge will decide if high-profile WA barrister Lloyd Rayney will face a retrial over the alleged murder of his estranged wife Corryn. Source: News Limited

LLOYD Rayney's fate will rest in the hands of a Victorian judge who kept the infamous "Facebook killer" behind bars.

Victorian Court of Appeal Justice Mark Weinberg will decide if the high-profile WA barrister will face a retrial over the alleged murder of his estranged wife Corryn.

Mr Rayney was last year acquitted of killing the Supreme Court registrar and mother of their two daughters, and of the lesser charge of manslaughter, after a three-month judge-only trial. But WA Police has appealed that decision.

Justice Weinberg will examine the verdict handed down by former Northern Territory chief justice Brian Martin and decide whether there are grounds for the appeal.

Justice Weinberg is a former Federal Court judge and Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions. He was also an ACT Supreme Court judge, a non-resident Judge of the Supreme Court of Fiji and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island.

He has also presided over a number of high-profile cases since joining the bench 14 years ago including a recent appeal by drug baron Tony Mokbel.

He refused an appeal by "Facebook killer" Ramazan Acar, the Victorian who boasted on the social networking site about killing his daughter, Yazmina, before stabbing her and dumping her body. The decision was later re-appealed.

A spokeswoman for the Attorney- General told The Sunday Times that Cabinet had recently approved the appointment of Justice Weinberg to handle the Rayney appeal, which was expected to last up to three days.

She also said that Justice Weinberg would not be paid by the WA Government for his services because of an arrangement between the states that allows them to sit in other jurisdictions.

But WA taxpayers will have to foot an estimated $20,000 bill for his accommodation and travel expenses.

Taxpayers can also expect to pay at least $30,000 to the New South Wales DPP, which conducted the unsuccessful state case.

Because of the Rayneys' links to the WA legal fraternity Mr Rayney was a former state prosecutor an interstate prosecution team had to be hired, as well as Justice Martin, making the trial one of the most expensive in WA history.

The spokeswoman said while no date had been set for the appeal, it was believed the hearing could be in May or June. She said also it was not possible to estimate any retrial costs at this stage, if the appeal was successful.

Calls for Buswell to 'reveal process'

Troy Buswell's decision, while housing minister, to install Andrew Whitechurch as the chairman of Keystart came as a shock to its board members.

TROY Buswell broke a promise to the board of a government body when he dumped its chairman in favour of a banker who allegedly witnessed him drunkenly dry-hump a millionaire businessman at a party.

The Sunday Times can reveal Mr Buswell's decision, while housing minister, to install Andrew Whitechurch as the chairman of Keystart came as a shock to its board members, who were told they were all going to be reappointed.

The appointment of Mr Whitechurch, now an executive at Bankwest, has also raised serious concerns among the board about conflicts of interest.

And board members have raised eyebrows that over a four-month period Mr Whitechurch supplemented his $66,000 chairman's fees to the tune of $125,000 by acting as a paid consultant for Keystart at a rate of $400 an hour.

Yesterday, the chairman he replaced former Department of Housing director-general Robert Mitchell said he was "surprised" when he was dumped.

He said Mr Buswell attended a board meeting in October 2011 and said everyone was being reappointed. "(He) did make it clear that the board had functioned very well and he was going to reappoint all board members," Mr Mitchell said.

Without explanation, a few months later the chairman was replaced by Mr Whitechurch, who has extensive experience in the banking industry as the former general manager of NAB in WA.

He had left that job, and had not yet been hired by Bankwest, when he was given the plum government role by Mr Buswell.

The appointment came just a few months after Mr Whitechurch had allegedly been sitting on a sofa at a party next to Perth millionaire Nicholas Kailis when Mr Buswell jumped on the seafood tycoon in a drunken gag that backfired.

Mr Buswell's former lover, Fremantle MP Adele Carles, has said Mr Whitechurch and property developer Nigel Satterley were in the room when Mr Kailis retaliated to the "dry-humping" by striking Mr Buswell in the face.

Mr Buswell, who is suing Ms Carles for defamation, has disputed her "version of the event".

Mr Whitechurch has declined to comment on the party incident. Mr Satterley said he saw nothing untoward.

In April, Mr Whitechurch was appointed by Cabinet, on Mr Buswell's recommendation, to be chairman at Keystart and the Country Housing Authority, which are responsible for distributing more than $4.5 billion of government home loans to low-income earners. Mr Buswell, now Treasurer, told Parliament in May that he didn't know Mr Whitechurch well.

A spokeswoman for Mr Whitechurch said he had met Mr Buswell "on a handful of occasions but has no personal relationship".

Michael Bonney, who was a director with Keystart for 10 years before recently retiring, said the decision to appoint Mr Whitechurch was a surprise.

"(Mr Mitchell) was a good chairman," he said.

Mr Bonney said he had concerns Mr Whitechurch's job with Bankwest chief executive of products and marketing was a conflict of interest with his Keystart role.

"I would've preferred if it hadn't been the case," Mr Bonney said. "Andrew explained his position to the board and said he would be cognisant to manage any conflicts that did arise from time to time. I just think that there is certainly a perceived, or potential for a perceived, conflict."

Keystart chief executive John Coles said Mr Whitechurch was paid the consultancy fees to provide a review of its range of products and lending criteria.

He said legal advice confirmed board members could be paid for services outside the normal board attendance fees.

A spokesman for Mr Buswell said Mr Whitechurch's appointment was "conducted in accordance with the correct protocols that apply to all government board appointments".

Opposition spokesman Bill Johnston called for Mr Buswell to reveal what process was used to select Mr Whitechurch.

"He clearly has a strong financial background, but Mr Buswell must detail who else was considered for this role."