Who is at the top of Perth's A-list?

John and Margarita Hughes are a must-have for any big Perth event. Picture: Alf Sorbello Source: PerthNow

JUST 25 invitations are the difference between a bona fide Perth party and an awkward fizzer.

And the names at the top of the A-list pecking order may surprise some readers.

Perth's top 25 A-listers in pictures

According to top fashion event organiser Jacqui Brown, the No.1 guest isn't a soap star or a singer.

And, though she is always decked out in the latest must-have garb, she's not a fashion designer either.

Instead, she's the wife of a car king.

The always-effervescent Margarita Hughes - with her husband John - is the must-have at any big event, says Ms Brown.

"Due to the economy being the way it is, the people on the guest list need to end up being beneficial for the client," she said.

"(Ms Hughes) is obviously going to be invited to every hot event in town.

 "So when she's at your event, compared with someone else's, it means that every other guest in the room will see the event as that little bit more credible because she's chosen to attend."

Ms Brown said that in today's economic climate events had to translate into sales.

After a week of big events  from the launch of the Perth Fashion Festival program on Tuesday to StyleAid on Friday, the state's premier event planners told The Sunday Times their secrets for the perfect guest list.

Ms Brown said bloggers were popular guests until a few years ago, when event organisers realised many of them had no real influence.

Marketing and communications expert Nicola Bedwood is responsible for the guest list at the coveted Ronald McDonald House Charities Mercedes-Benz Ball on November 2.

"I look for the people who will be receptive to the cause, who may be able to contribute in some way," she said. "The quality of the guest is more important than their celebrity."

Publicist Caitlin Irving said she wanted potential future customers on the A-list at shop, bar or restaurant openings.

 "It's not enough to just be good looking or well-known  we want people who are interested and interesting," she said.

Perth PR stalwart Rosita Stangl said just because somebody was rich didn't mean they were A-list.

Melissa Lekias, who runs PR firm Magenta, said the guest list was one of the most critical factors.

"Whether it is their personality or the way they dress or that they just know how to work the room - having a couple of special guests adds a dimension that makes it memorable for everyone," she said.

Perth's Top 25 A-listers (in no particular order):

WA car king John Hughes and his wife Margarita

Property mogul Nigel Satterley and his wife Denise

Business woman Emma Milner and husband Peter

WA Governor Malcolm McCusker and wife Tonya

Iron ore magnate Andrew Forrest and wife Nicola.

Businessman Warwick Hemsley and Minister for International Development Melissa Parke.

Perth property developer and businesswoman Rhonda Wyllie and former Nine Network managing director Jeff Browne

SMS technology entrepreneur Zhenya Tsvetnenko and his fashionista wife Lydia

Crown casino boss Barry Felstead and his wife Katrina

Mining magnate Chris Ellison and his wife and Tia.

Cricket legend Adam Gilchrist and his wife Mel

Melissa Karlson - The daughter of Rhonda Wyllie

West Coast eagles star Chris Masten and model Emmi Moore

West Coast Eagles player Sam Butler and his wife fashion label owner Natasha

Fashion illustrator Pip McManus - fashion illustrator

Channel Nine weather presenter Sally Ayhan

West Coast Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui

West Coast Eagles Ruckman Dean Cox and his wife Kerry

Fremantle Dockers captain Matthew Pavlich and his wife Lauren

Weather presenter Angela Tsun and Western Force rugby player Patrick Dellit

Media personality Basil Zempilas and his wife, blogger Amy Zempilas

Ten newsreader Narelda Jacobs and partner Lauren Swinfield

Businessman Kim Ledger and his wife Ines - Kim is the father of the late actor Heath Ledger

Blogger and restaurant owner Rayne Embley and West Coast Eagles player Andrew Embley.

Wheels and Dollbaby founder Melanie Greensmith and Divinyls guitarist Mark McIntyre.
 

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Compo blocked for abuse victims

Michael Hilder is one of Dennis John McKenna's victims who has been left high and dry. Picture: Theo Fakos Source: PerthNow

NINE former schoolboys who were sexually abused by WA's worst paedophile while boarding at a state-run hostel in Katanning will have their compensation claims blocked by the Barnett Government.

Despite the victims believing Premier Colin Barnett encouraged them to seek civil compensation when he told Parliament there would be no "limitation" on seeking damages, The Sunday Times can reveal the victims have been warned by Attorney-General Michael Mischin that any attempts to sue would be thwarted because too much time has passed since the crimes were committed.

The nine former students, who were boarders at St Andrew's Hostel during warden and serial paedophile Dennis McKenna's reign of terror, are seeking civil damages through Bradley Bayly Legal for personal injuries arising out of sexual abuse they suffered between 1975-1990. Their evidence was pivotal to the Blaxell Report into systemic child sex abuse at state-run boarding hostels, which was tabled in Parliament in November last year.

An ex-gratia scheme set up by the Barnett Government offered up to $45,000 for children who were abused while under the care of the Country High School Hostels Authority.

Mr Barnett conceded that money was not adequate compensation.

"If people receive an ex-gratia payment, there is no limitation on them proceeding to seek civil damages, so there is no caveat attached to that," he told Parliament at the time.

But The Sunday Times has been provided with correspondence between the Attorney-General and Bradley Bayly Legal by the victims, which reveals that if the victims start proceedings then Mr Mischin will apply to the court to have the matters struck out.

"I will not give an undertaking, on behalf of the state not to plead a limitation defence in respect of any claims brought on behalf of your clients, nor would I recommend that any statutory body corporate waive any relevant limitations provisions if a claim were to be made against them," Mr Mischin wrote on July 22.

The victims' legal team claims Mr Mischin is wrong and that the six-year limitation period in this case could and should be waived, especially given that the six-year period would have expired before some of the victims turned 18.

Mr Mischin said the reluctance to waive limitations provisions arose from a number of policy factors recognising that lengthy time lapses between crimes and compensation increased the likelihood of miscarriages of justice and "carries with it significant direct and indirect costs".

Last night Mr Mischin told The Sunday Times that Mr Barnett's comments in Parliament had been taken out of context by the victims.

"This comment was in the context that under the original version of Redress WA, which was announced on 17 December 2007, applicants who accepted an ex-gratia payment from Redress WA were required to waive their right to take any further action against the State Government with respect to the abuse or neglect described in their application," he said.

"The Premier's comment in Parliament was not to the effect that there were no limitations issues (under the Limitation Act or the Crown Suits Act) affecting any civil claims by Mr McKenna's victims." The victims' legal team will seek to meet Mr Barnett in light of his comments that there was "no caveat attached" to civil proceedings.

A Bradley Bayly Legal spokesman, who declined to be named, said it would be a pointless and potentially expensive exercise to take the matter to court if the Attorney-General maintained his position.

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E-licence debacle prompts review

Serial drink-driving offender Mitchell William Walsh-McDonald received an extraordinary licence. Picture: Lincoln Baker Source: PerthNow

AN "urgent review" of the state's extraordinary-licence scheme has been called after revelations the Department of Transport did not oppose an application last year by serial drink-driver Mitchell Walsh-McDonald.

Transport Minister Troy Buswell told The Sunday Times last week that Walsh-McDonald's application in September was "opposed" by his department, but "the court made the decision it should be granted".

But Mr Buswell has been left red-faced by audio from the September 27 court hearing showing that the department not only did not oppose the E-licence, it gave the court reasons why it should be granted.

"This is a difficult application to assess," a lawyer for the department told the court.

"It is no secret that he has an absolutely woeful traffic record, including drink-driving and the fact that he can't comply with court orders.

"(But) it has to be acknowledged the last offence was something like two plus years ago, so I guess he can be given some credit compared to the rest of the record."

The lawyer said there were two factors that suggested Walsh-McDonald "can be trusted to comply with the conditions of an extraordinary driver's licence"  first, that it had been 2 1/2 years since his last offence and, second, that he was then in a "stabilising" domestic relationship.

Magistrate Paul Roth responded: "On the basis that whilst the (department) director-general does have substantial hesitancy about granting the extraordinary driver's licence, the director-general doesn't necessarily object to it, he's not consenting or agreeing to it, but not necessarily objecting to it either. I consider it is appropriate to grant the extraordinary driver's licence."

He added: "You so much as spit in the street I'm going to pull this licence off you."

This week Walsh-McDonald, 29, was convicted of his seventh drink-driving offence and two breaches of his extraordinary licence. His court appearance was on the 10th anniversary of the death of schoolgirl Jess Meehan, who died two days after he hit her while driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.165. He was fined $2850, his extraordinary licence was cancelled and he was banned from driving for two years.

Mr Buswell has conceded the department "did not do enough to oppose" Walsh-McDonald's E-licence application.

"I do not direct the day-to-day operations of the department, but I do believe the department should have strongly opposed the application," he said.

"I have requested that the department urgently review its handling of the Walsh-McDonald case, and EDL applications in general."

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Power bills to hit an average of $2000 a year

Electricity prices are set to hit record highs. Picture: Thinkstock Source: The Courier-Mail

FAMILIES will be slugged an average of $2000 a year for electricity by 2016.

Budget papers reveal yearly "approved increases" of 7 per cent for electricity prices from 2014 through to at least 2016-17. They have already gone up 4 per cent this year.

This will take the average annual family power bill from $963 to $1998 under Mr Barnett's reign, despite his promise during the March state election campaign to keep electricity prices "at or around the rate of inflation"  which is now 2.5 per cent.

Meanwhile, according to the Clean Energy Council, more than 75,000 households targeted by the Barnett Government's solar-panel backtrack will lose up to $800 a year. The average loss would be $240.

Treasurer Troy Buswell announced in the Budget on Thursday that the solar feed-in payment would be cut from 40c to 30c a kilowatt from October 1 and to 20c in 2014.

Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said the 7 per cent electricity rises were a clear breach of Mr Barnett's election promise.

"This is a doubling of the average household's power bill at a time when Mr Barnett is increasing costs across the board and increasing taxes," Mr McGowan said.

Mr Buswell said on Thursday that state debt  $3.6 billion in 2008  was heading towards the $30 billion mark.

Mr Barnett has argued previously he had to raise electricity prices because a 10-year freeze on tariffs during the former Labor government's reign had meant revenues were well below the cost of electricity production and supply.

"Despite these increases, the majority of non-contestable electricity tariffs are still below the cost of production and supply," the Budget papers say.

Lesmurdie couple Jason Laffrey and Sarah Dalby installed a 2kW system in 2011 to take advantage of the 40c/kWh feed-in payment. Ms Dalby said the decision to slash the rate by half was "nothing short of outrageous".

"I really want people to fight this," the mother-of-one said.

A spokesman from the Treasurer's office said the forecast electricity tariff increases "are assumptions (forecasts) that assist in framing the Budget".

"As per every upcoming Budget process the Government will make decisions regarding electricity/water tariffs and therefore these assumptions are subject to change," the spokesperson said.

"For example, last year in the same document a 5 per cent increase in electricity tariffs was forecast, whereas it only went up 4 per cent."

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Rudd boots abusive Labor candidates

Kevin Rudd in Tasmania for day six of the campaign. Picture: Adam Head Source: News Limited

PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has dumped two Labor candidates, including a man who abused a woman in a wheelchair.

Mr Rudd demanded the resignations of Geoff Lake, the candidate for Victorian seat of Hotham, and Queensland candidate for Kennedy, Ken Robertson.

The Herald Sun revealed on Saturday that Mr Lake had been forced to apologise to fellow Monash councillor Kathy Magee in 2002 for calling her a slut at a council meeting.

Mr Rudd said he had asked the ALP national secretary to report on the allegations against Mr Lake from his previous career in local government - particularly his conduct toward fellow councillors.

He said in a statement it was "inappropriate for Mr Lake to continue as the endorsed Labor candidate for Hotham.''

"The National Secretary has informed me that he is not satisfied that there has been full disclosure about these previous matters,'' he said.

"I cannot be confident that he has met the standards I would expect and demand from members of the federal parliamentary Labor Party.''

Mr Lake did not reply to calls. He resigned after the Sunday Herald Sun approached Labor HQ at 8pm with allegations ALP campaign officials had improperly used retiring member Simon Crean's printing entitlement to distribute election material in the seat.

ALP secretary George Wright said he was concerned by the allegations.

The Sunday Herald Sun has copies of material distributed in Mr Lake's name that included reply paid envelopes funded by Mr Crean's office.

Mr Robertson, who was standing for the Queensland seat of Kennedy, confirmed he had withdrawn his candidacy after calling Opposition Leader Tony Abbott "racist' and a bigot in an interview last week.

"Yes, it's true. It was my decision,'' Mr Robertson told the Sunday Herald Sun.

"All I've got to say is, I made an apology for what was said and my comments were not meant to be greater than what they were. I have nothing further to say about what happened.''

"But I will be supporting the Labor Party and Kevin (Rudd) until my last breath."

Of the electorate he had hoped to represent he said: "They have to help return a Labor candidate to this seat.''

Fadden MP and Coalition frontbencher Stuart Robert had called on Mr Rudd to sack Mr Robertson for breaking with the ALP's promised "positive" approach.

The ALP now faces a scramble to find suitable candidates for the key seats. Mr Lake had been considered almost certain to retain the seat of Hotham for Labor, which retiring veteran Simon Crean holds with a margin of more than 14 per cent.

Geoff Lake, who is running for the Labor safe seat of Hotham, has admitted he offered an apology to a fellow Monash councillor over a 2002 exchange. Source: News Limited

Mr Lake, a lawyer chosen to run to replace Simon Crean in the prized seat of Hotham, admitted he offered a signed apology to fellow Monash councillor Kathy Magee over a 2002 exchange.

"I leant over to Councillor Magee and ... said, "I can't believe what you did you f------ b---h. You are a f ------ for doing that," Mr Lake confirms in papers.

Documents lodged with the Victorian Equal Opportunity Commission included an admission that his conduct had been "demeaning and degrading", and offensive to women.

Mr Lake said he deeply regretted his remarks.

"It was 's---t' or 'b----'. It was inappropriate," he told the Herald Sun.

"I learned an important lesson that day.

Ex-councillor Kathy Magee remains offended by Mr Lake's comments. Picture: Tony Gough Source: News Limited

"I was a young mayor and I got angry one night and I spoke to her in angry way, which I acknowledged then and I acknowledge now."

Mr Lake won preselection for the former Labor leader's seat after a bitter contest.

He was backed by Mr Crean and former Victorian Labor premier Steve Bracks.

Ten years on, Ms Magee has not forgiven or forgotten.

"When someone calls you a s---, it tends to be offensive," she told the Herald Sun.

"I had never had someone call me that before. You just don't talk to a colleague like that. He was definitely an interesting person."

Ms Magee also claimed Mr Lake tried to charge drinks and brunch to her hotel account at a council conference.

Labor candidate Ken Robertson said he hoped Australia "never has to suffer (Tony Abbott's) Catholicism". Source: News Limited

Mr Lake denied this, but confirmed he did refund Ms Magee the disputed money.

"That was not me," he said.

"She said she was $30 out of pocket and I said, 'Look, Kathy, let's not have these disagreements. Here's $30, and let's move on."

Documents also reveal that in 2003 another fellow councillor, Tom Morrissey, accused Mr Lake of stalking him, and sought an intervention order.

In an application to the Magistrates' Court, Mr Morrissey, who has since died, said Mr Lake distributed his mobile number, alleging he had travelled at ratepayers' expense, which prompted dozens of abusive calls.

And he accused Mr Lake of parking a car at his business with placards repeating the claims.

- with Patrick Lion

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Zhivago clothes missing from Hummer

Police found the Hummer that belongs to Zhenya and Lydia Tsvetnenko in Bedford. The Zhivago clothes that were inside it are still missing. Picture Theo Fakos Picture: Theo Fakos Source: PerthNow

Zhivago designers Lydia Tsvetnenko and Lara Kovacevich look at their white Hummer which was found dumped in Bedford after being stolen from Guildford early this morning. The clothes that were inside are missing. Picture: Theo Fakos Source: PerthNow

Millionaire businessman Zhenya and Lydia Tsvetnenko. Picture: Alf Sorbello Source: PerthNow

THE white Hummer stolen from millionaire Zhenya Tsvetnenko has been found in a Bedford street, in Perth's eastern suburbs.

Mr Tsvetnenko wrote on Facebook this morning the white Hummer was stolen from a mate's house in Guildford overnight.

The Hummer H2, one of only two in Perth, also contained designer clothes that were to be shown at charity event StyleAid tonight but police have confirmed they remain missing.

Police said the Hummer was found in Craven Street, Bedford, down an alleyway, just a couple of kilometres away from where it was stolen.

A relieved Mr Tsvetnenko immediately posted an update on Facebook, saying: "Well, thanks to everyone's help! The car has been located parked and locked in an alley way. They were obviously going to come back to it.''

Mr Tsvetnenko's wife Lydia and her business partner Lara Kovacevich were planning to showcase new pieces from their label Zhivago at StyleAid tonight.

They will still take part in the charity event, instead using archival Zhivago gowns and items from their own wardrobes.

Map of Bedford

 

 "It's yet to be determined whether items inside the vehicle were stolen. Forensics are yet to examine the vehicle," police spokeswoman Naomi Smith said.

Earlier today Tsvetnenko wrote on his Facebook page: "Please Help! About 4 hours ago our white Hummer H2 was stolen from a friend's house in Guildford with Zhivago's Spring/Summer collection ready to be shown at the charity event Styleaid tonight," he wrote.

"Please help by calling the Police directly on 131 444 if you see it. The registration is 1DWN775."

The StyleAid fundraising event, which raises money for the WA Aids Council, is set to be held at Crown Perth tonight.

Mr Tsvetnenko is one of WA's wealthiest businessmen and made his fortune in 2002 with a business that enabled customers to receive paid SMS entertainment services on their mobile phones.

In 2010, he was named in the top 10 of Australia's richest people under the age of 40.

He and his wife Lydia are often pictured at Perth social and charity events.

Anyone who sees the vehicle or has any information should call police on either 1800 333 000 or 131 444.

The StyleAid fundraising event, which raises money for the WA Aids Council, is set to be held at Crown Perth tonight.

Mr Tsvetnenko is one of WA's wealthiest businessmen and made his fortune in 2002 with a business that enabled customers to receive paid SMS entertainment services on their mobile phones.

In 2010, he was named in the top 10 of Australia's richest people under the age of 40.

He married his long-time partner Lydia and the couple are often pictured at Perth social and charity events.

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Massive bombs found by NSW police

Two massive bombs both bigger than those used in the Boston Marathon attacks were made and going to be used to a blow up a Sydney hospital and the Macquarie St offices of a leading Sydney eye surgeon. Source: News Limited

TWO massive bombs both bigger than those used in the Boston Marathon attacks were made and going to be used to a blow up a Sydney hospital and the Macquarie St offices of a leading Sydney eye surgeon according to NSW police.

They said two fully assembled bombs with detonators and packed with 60cm long shrapnel pieces connected to a butane gas bottle were found in a duffel bag under a home in Albion Park on the South Coast in April.

The devices were both set to go off at 1.48pm on a Saturday in April at the two locations but had not been placed.

But just days before the bombs were to detonate the accused, a 42 year-old Illawarra man, fled Australia to Malta.

His ex-wife, who was unaware of the alleged plot, found the bombs two days later and called police.

The NSW bomb squad were called in to examine the devices. Police were preparing to extradite the man from Malta but he was arrested at Sydney Airport on Thursday evening when he attempted to re-enter the country. He was charged with one count of manufacturing an explosive device with intent to injure.

In Central Local Court yesterday a non-publication order was placed on the name of the hospital, the surgeon's identity and address of his offices by Magistrate John Andrews.

Police say the accused was being treated for an eye condition by the surgeon for the past five for a genetic condition. During a routine eye treatment a dye was used which he believes caused him an injury and blames for the decline in his eyesight although there was no medical evidence backing up his claims.

Magistrate Reynolds ordered the accused to undergo a psyche evaluation at St Vincent's Hospital.

More at The Daily Telegraph

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Train users to fork out for parking

Train users will have to pay for parking at all metropolitan train stations from July 2014. Picture: Bohdan Warchomij Source: PerthNow

PERTH commuters will add an extra $38.3 million to government coffers when they are forced to pay for parking at all metropolitan train stations from next year.

The Barnett Government plans to extend paid parking at train stations from July next year, budget documents reveal.

The measure will create extra $19.9 million in revenue from 2014-15 to 2016-17 and reduce operating costs by $18.4 million.

Opposition leader Mark McGowan said it was an attack public transport users who were being "savaged" by the government.

"Now that Mr Barnett has removed that incentive, we will see more cars on the roads and remaining train users will be forced to pay around $460 more per year to pay for parking at train stations.

"The decision will also push more public transport users to look for free parking on streets surrounding train stations."

However, Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute senior research fellow Jemma Green said claims the additional fee would result in more people driving to the city were wrong.

"Paid parking is $2 a day, if you park in the city it's like $4 an hour, so why would somebody want to pay $4 an hour for 8 or 9 hours a day, when they can just pay $2 and get on the train?

"I don't buy that argument at all," she said.

Instead, the researcher urged the government to make it easier for commuters to catch buses to the train station and leave their cars at home.

"We need high quality transport links, frequent and rapid transit buses to get them to the train station so that time wise it's as comparable to travel to the train station by bus as it is by car," she said.

"This involves having more dedicated bus lanes, so buses aren't the victim of traffic in the main arteries as well as more frequently buses particularly at the peak times."

Ms Green said the commitment to MAX Light rail and the Airport link was good, but questioned the decision of the government to spend so much money on building a new football stadium that would do nothing to improve productivity.

"More than $1 billion is proposed to be spent on (the stadium) and I don't believe this represents a good use of taxpayers' dollars at this time," she said.

"I think there are limited economic benefits from putting a stadium in when you compare it against the productivity gains you could get from putting in more public transport."
 

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Coles lashes union over Nedlands crash claim

A Coles Online delivery driver lost his leg in a crash in Nedlands last Thursday. Picture: Supplied. Source: PerthNow

SUPERMARKET giant Coles has launched a scathing attack on a union it likens to "vultures feeding'' on the misfortune of a delivery driver whose leg was amputated after a crash in Perth.

WorkSafe is making preliminary inquiries into the accident involving a 31-year-old Coles Online delivery driver at Nedlands last night.

His legs were crushed when a 51-year-old woman crashed into the delivery van as he was unloading groceries.

A Royal Perth Hospital spokesman said one of the man's legs had been amputated and it was unclear whether he would keep his other leg.

The Transport Workers Union (TWU) said the incident could have been avoided as not enough was being done to safeguard Coles Online drivers.

The union said Coles instructed its drivers to park on the road outside customers' homes and not in their driveway, and claimed there was inadequate lighting at the rear of the vans.

Coles reacted angrily.

"If media reports of TWU claims about this incident are accurate, the union leadership should be condemned as vultures feeding on any unfortunate incident to push their Safe Rates wages campaign,'' the company said in a statement.

"This is insulting and hurtful to our team member, his family and the other driver involved in the incident and it pre-empts the ongoing police investigation.

"Our priority is the wellbeing of our team member and his family and our thoughts are with them all.''

The 51-year-old driver was treated for shock.

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Slow and steady for England early on

England win the toss and bat as the 4th Test gets underway

AUSTRALIA had worked their way on top despite some determined England batting on a hard fought first day of the fourth Ashes Test at Chester-le-Street.

When England captain Alastair Cook was trapped in front by Jackson Bird for a dour 51, the home team had lost three wickets for 46, to be 4-155 tea.

England seemed to have taken the upper hand when Cook and Jonathan Trott survived some tight Australian bowling in the first session to push past one hundred.

But the wickets of Trott, Kevin Pietersen and Cook in the afternoon session had the home team under pressure.

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Despite batting unconvincingly, Cook threatened to provide the bed rock of a significant total as he absorbed 153 balls over 216 minutes in compiling his half century. But he was out just before tea, leaving a ball from Bird that would have hit off stump.

Nathan Lyon had provided two vital breakthroughs. The off-spinner had Jonathan Trott caught at short leg by Usman Khawaja for 49, just as he threatened to accelerate the scoring rate.

Shane Watson picks up Australia's first wicket after Umpire's decision is overturned by Hot Spot

Then, as importantly, Lyon had Kevin Pietersen caught behind for 26, prodding at a ball that left him. That after Pietersen had looked in menacing form, lofting Lyon for two straight fours in his previous spell.

Shane Watson had made the early inroads for Australia, when he had Root caught behind by Brad Haddin for 16.
Although not before yet another test of the now controversial Hot Spot technology.

Umpire Tony Hill turned down a confident appeal by the Australians, prompting an instant referral by captain Michael Clarke. The replay showed a small Hot Spot mark on Root's bat, and the decision was reversed.

This suggested that, if players really were using silicone tape to avoid detection as has been alleged, Root is at the end of the supply chain.

More importantly for Australia, it provided a vital wicket just as the England openers appeared set to survive a tough session in heavy, humid conditions that had provided encouragement for the Australian bowlers.

Having been moved down the Australian batting order to No.6, Watson has undergone yet another transformation, this time from specialist opener back to would-be all-rounder.

Jackson Bird celebrates his first Ashes wicket - that of England skipper Alastair Cook.

The latest reinvention might not particularly please a cricketer who had made it clear he prefers to bat first. But Watson responded in the best possible way by making an urgently needed breakthrough.

England's Ashes-clinching 2-0 lead in the series had been a matter of skill, rather than good fortune. But, having won for the toss for a third time in four Tests, Cook again provided his team with a potential advantage.

So it seemed vital Australia used the new ball well in heavy conditions that would probably provide the best bowling conditions of the first three days. Cook and Root, however, frustrated them in first hour despite some tight early bowling.

Bird, added to the Australian team for Mitchell Starc, came closest to claiming a wicket when Root edged his first ball just wide of gully.

Bird was named for his first Test of the series, and his third overall. He was man of the match in his most recent appearance for Australia against Sri Lanka at the SCG, and had been impressive in the tour games here.

Starc, who was also discarded after the first Test despite taking five wickets, might consider himself slightly unlucky having taken three wickets in the first innings at Old Trafford.

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Rayney faces wait for retrial news

Lloyd Rayney faces a wait of at least several weeks before finding out if he will face a retrial for the murder of his estranged wife Corryn.

Barrister Lloyd Rayney arrives at the opening yesterday of the DPP appeal against his murder acquittal. Picture: Kerris Berrington Source: PerthNow

Lloyd and Corryn Rayney on a flight to Bali months before her death. Source: Herald Sun

LLOYD Rayney faces a wait of at least several weeks before finding out if he will face a retrial for the murder of his estranged wife Corryn.

The three judges presiding over the state's appeal against his 2012 acquittal reserved their decision today following two days of legal argument.

Today marks exactly six years since Ms Rayney, a former WA Supreme Court registrar, disappeared after a bootscooting class. Her body was found buried head-first in Kings Park nine days later.

Last November, former Northern Territory judge Justice Brian Martin cleared Mr Rayney of killing his wife.

Following the acquittal, the state lodged an appeal against the decision.

The state has argued over the course of two days that Justice Martin failed to give enough weight to all of the evidence presented in the trial. Yesterday the discovery of a dinner place card bearing Mr Rayney's name in Kings Park was described as a "smoking gun".

But lawyers representing Mr Rayney have argued the state's case should be thrown out because their argument had no "prospect of succeeding" and suggested the three appeal judges should not grant a leave to appeal.

Outside court today, Ms Rayney's sister Sharon Coutinho told the media that the past six years had been a "long journey" for their family and that the ordeal was far from over for them.

She added that spending two days in an appeal hearing was not how the family wanted to commemorate the sixth anniversary since Ms Rayney went missing.

Justices Mark Weinberg, Anthony Whealy and Terrene Buddin said they would hand down their decision "as soon as we practically can."
 

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Ashes players 'fooling' Hot Spot

Hot Spot is an infra-red technology used to determine whether the ball has made contact with the bat. Source: Supplied

AUSTRALIAN captain Michael Clarke has strongly denied his players have been using silicone-based tape on their bats to avoid detection by HotSpot technology.

Clarke says it's normal for players to protect their bats with things like fibreglass facing.

The Australian captain says he hasn't witnessed anything untoward going on with England players either, after a report on the Nine Network said the ICC was investigating players from both teams on the issue.

If batsmen are trying to cover up edges, the theory appears flawed, given it could just as easily contribute to incorrect lbw dismissals where the ball has been hit first.

It was reported earlier that players in the current Ashes series may have been cheating the Hot Spot technology which is a crucial part of the Decision Review System (DRS) by using a silicone-based tape on their bats.

According to a report on Channel Nine, batsmen may be the using tape to negate the effect of the Hot Spot technology.

The Hot Spot technology used under the DRS is an infra-red imaging system which is used to tell whether a batsman has hit a ball.

The ICC general manager of cricket Operations, Geoff Allardice, is in Durham for the fourth Test to investigate the matter.

Channel Nine reports that concern centres around the Kevin Pietersen dismissal in the second innings in Manchester, when the umpire gave the English batsman out after a noise was clearly heard.

Pietersen appealed the decision on review, and was given out, even though nothing showed up on Hot Spot.

Australian batsmen may also be using this method, Nine says.

Using grainy black and white footage, Hot Spot clearly shows a bright white patch where friction has occurred. The system has been notoriously unreliable throughout this Ashes series and now we may know why.

It is not yet known whether English or Australian players are allegedly involved.

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Perth cops a soaking

Perth received a 5.8mm dumping of rain within half an hour. Picture: Alf Sorbello Source: PerthNow

PERTH was drenched by rain just in time to create havoc for the evening peak hour period.

8.6mm of rain has been recorded in the guage since 9am, with 8.2mm of that falling between 4pm and 5:45pm.

Further showers are forecast for Perth tonight, but are expected to ease by Thursday afternoon.

Residents in the South West are also in for a soaking, with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services issuing a flood warning for the region.

After a freak weather event yesterday created a dangerous water spout, sending five people to hospital, people in Bunbury, Harvey, Donnybrook and Busselton were this afternoon told to prepare for more stormy conditions.

DFES say there is the possibility of minor flooding in the South West today and tomorrow.

As at 3.27pm today the Bureau of Meteorology advises that widespread rainfall of 10 millimetres to 20 millietres has been recorded within the catchments between Cape Naturaliste and Mandurah during the past 6 hours to 3pm.

For those at risk of floods

WHAT TO DO:
• Watch for changes in water levels so you are ready if you need to relocate.
• Never walk, swim or play in floodwaters, as they are dangerous.
• With water moving quickly people need to stay out of the Vasse, Preston, Lower Collie and Harvey River catchments, this includes no swimming or kayaking.
• If you are a traveller do not park or camp adjacent to rivers.

IF DRIVING:
• Floodways and river levels may rise rapidly so be careful at crossings.
• Do not drive into water of unknown depth and current.
• Take care on gravel and unsealed roads as they may be slippery and muddy, and you could get bogged.

ROAD CLOSURES:
No roads are closed.
There is water over Caves Road, between Metricup Road and Fifty-One Road, and drivers are being asked to use caution and drive slowly.

FLOOD DETAILS:

Overnight moderate rainfall of 10 millimetres to 20 millimetres with isolated heavier fall is forecast.

Stream rises and localised flooding will continue with minor flooding in the upper area of the Preston River catchment.
Current river levels are available from Department of Water at www.water.wa.gov.au.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS:
• For SES assistance call 132 500
• In a life threatening situation call 000
• For the latest flood information call 1300 659 213 or visit www.bom.gov.au/wa/flood.
• For information about road conditions and closures contact the local shire or Main Roads WA on 138 138.

KEEP UP TO DATE:
Call 1300 657 209, visit www.dfes.wa.gov.auor listen to news bulletins.

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Rudd offers Gillard campaign spot

The Prime Minister said the former prime minister would be welcome to campaign with him whenever she liked to help him win on September 7. Courtesy: 7.30 Report

KEVIN Rudd has invited Julia Gillard to join him on the hustings.

The Prime Minister said the former prime minister would be welcome to campaign with him whenever she liked to help him win on September 7.

"Julia would be welcome to participate in the campaign in any way she chose fit," Mr Rudd told ABC's 7.30 program.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has been invited to join Kevin Rudd on the campaign trail. Source: News Limited

"And as you know, when I've been asked about Julia in recent days, I've been very direct and very frank about the positive role she's played in our party and the contributions she's made to disability care policy, education policy and the measurement of academic standards of schools - great achievements."

Mr Rudd's invitation during this campaign follows the 2010 campaign when he was accused of being the source of damaging leaks against Ms Gillard.

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First home owner grant on the block

It is tipped changes will be made to the first homebuyers grant in the state budget. Picture: Ian Mainsbridge

THE Real Estate Institute of WA says it is concerned the state budget will have bad news for first home buyers.

The institute believes the Barnett Government is set to abolish the first home owner grant on established homes when the budget is delivered on Thursday afternoon.

Such a move would prompt an immediate backlash from the property sector, as it would "skew the market".

REIWA president David Airey ambushed Premier Colin Barnett on ABC radio on Wednesday morning, inviting him to quash the rumour that the $7000 First Home Buyer Grant (FHOG) would be axed on established homes. The Premier evaded the issue.

"You'll have to wait till tomorrow," Mr Barnett said.

The peak industry body representing about 80 per cent of real estate agents in WA is also concerned there may be budget pain in the area of stamp duty.

It has warned the state government not to mess with funding arrangements for first home buyers in the budget.

Currently the state government exempts first home buyers from stamp duty on purchases under $500,000, saving most around $14,000.

In addition to this, the state distributes $7000 to eligible first home buyers through the FHOG.

Mr Airey said relief from stamp duty was a huge saving to first time buyers while the FHOG itself helped many into their first home at a time when house prices had grown significantly since the grant was introduced in 2000.

"Together these two benefits to first home buyers have helped nurture and grow this market to the point where activity is now very strong, he said.

"Other states which have done away with stamp duty relief and changed the rules on the FHOG have seen the numbers of first home buyers crash through the floor."

Currently the FHOG scheme provides the grant to first home buyers who purchase an existing home and also to
those who built a new home on a block.

However, Mr Airey said there were worrying signs that the Barnett government will abolish the FHOG for existing homes and apply it only to those which are newly built.

"This will disadvantage around 70 per cent of first home buyers who prefer an established home over a house and land package and this in turn will distort the market at a crucial time in its recovery," Mr Airey said.

Mr Airey said first home buyers were currently very strong in the market as they took advantage of stable prices and low interest rates.

"It would be a dreadful policy decision to mess with this in any way because the repercussions will ripple through the whole housing sector," Mr Airey said.

Mr Airey said it was nonsense to suggest that shifting the FHOG to new-builds only would assist the construction industry, because it was already under strain from strong demand.

According the Office of State Revenue, the median purchase price for first home buyers across WA in June was $430,000.

In June there were 1,681 FHOG grants paid with just 483 requested for new builds.

REIWA is urging the government not to create more turbulence at a time when a sensitive market was just moving into a more stable phase.

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Fallen AFL star Ben Cousins 'attacked'

Former AFL player Ben Cousins was reportedly bashed in an East Fremantle park.

FORMER AFL star Ben Cousins has reportedly been thrown to the ground during a fight at a park in Perth.

Police have confirmed there was a verbal argument between two men in an East Fremantle Park, in Irwin Street at 4.45pm (WST) yesterday. 

The 35-year-old Brownlow Medal winner, who has had a long public battle with methamphetamine addiction, was in the park when he was approached by a man yelling "I am going to kill you", a witness said.

During the scuffle one of the men, believed to be Cousins, was thrown to the ground, police said. The two men then left the location in separate vehicles. 

Ben Cousins: the brilliant but wayward AFL star.

Reports suggest Cousins was with relatives, including children, when the alleged attack took place.

Police last night confirmed officers were called to the park, near the corner of Canning Highway and Irwin Street. But when they arrived everyone had left.

The alleged attacker has been described as a suspected bikie.

This morning, police spokeswoman Susan Usher confirmed there was an incident at the small park, where two men including a 35-year-old man, believed to be Cousins, got into a verbal argument.

"No complaint's been made to police, which means it's not a police investigation," Ms Usher said.

Cousins, who joined the Eagles in 1995 as a talented teenager from Wesley College, became one of the club's favourite sons, a decorated all-Australian, club captain and 2006 premiership player who played 238 games.

But his football world came crashing down when he was sacked in 2007 after his methamphetamine addiction spiralled out of control.

He spent a year out of the game, but finished his career with Richmond, where he played a further 32 games in two years. 

He has continued to battle drug addiction, featuring in a tell-all documentary for national television, where he admitted his ongoing fight with substance abuse, and has since been charged with possessing a prohibited drug, a charge that was later dropped.

Cousins has never been far from the headlines with a hospital admission for drug-induced psychosis and an $800 fine in June last year for drug possession after he was arrested at Esperance airport with 4.56g of methylamphetamine concealed inside his body.

He had flown to Esperance, 800km south-east of Perth, to attend a rural drug rehabilitation clinic.

Cousins has recently become a father for the second time, with partner Maylea Tinecheff, who had a baby girl a few weeks ago. Cousins also has an 18-month-old son Bobby.

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BigRead: America on a knife edge

The US is closing its embassies in the Muslim world this weekend after receiving an unspecified threat.

AMERICAN diplomatic posts in 19 cities in the Muslim world will be closed at least through the end of this week, the State Department said yesterday, citing "an abundance of caution".

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the decision to keep the embassies and consulates closed is "not an indication of a new threat.''

REACTION: Australia responds to heightened US concerns

She said the continued closures are "merely an indication of our commitment to exercise caution and take appropriate steps to protect our employees, including local employees, and visitors to our facilities.''

Diplomatic facilities will remain closed in Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, among other countries, until Saturday, August 10.

The State Department announcement on Sunday added closures of four African sites, in Madagascar, Burundi, Rwanda and Mauritius.

The U.S. has also decided to reopen some posts on Monday, including those in Kabul and Baghdad.

Bangladeshi policemen stand guard outside the US embassy in Dhaka on August 4. AFP PHOTO/Munir uz ZAMAN Source: AFP

The Obama administration announced last Friday that the posts would be closed over the weekend and the State Department announced a global travel alert, warning that al-Qaeda or its allies might target either U.S. government or private American interests.

The weekend closure of nearly two dozen U.S. diplomatic posts resulted from the gravest terrorist threat seen in years, the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee said Sunday.

Senator Saxby Chambliss said "the chatter'' intercepted by U.S. intelligence agencies led the Obama administration to shutter the embassies and consulates and issue a global travel warning to Americans.

"Chatter means conversation among terrorists about the planning that's going on - very reminiscent of what we saw pre-9/11,'' Chambliss told NBC's Meet the Press.

"This is the most serious threat that I've seen in the last several years,'' he said.

Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, told ABC's This Week that the threat intercepted from "high-level people in al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula'' was about a "major attack.''

Yemen is home to al-Qaeda's most dangerous affiliate, blamed for several notable terrorist plots on the United States.

They include the foiled Christmas Day 2009 effort to bomb an airliner over Detroit and the explosives-laden parcels intercepted the following year aboard cargo flights.

Congressman Peter King, who leads the House Homeland Security subcommittee on counterterrorism and intelligence, said the threat included dates but not locations of possible attacks.

"The threat was specific as to how enormous it was going to be and also that certain dates were given,'' King said on ABC.

Congressman Adam Schiff. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File) Source: AP

Congressman Adam Schiff, a House Intelligence Committee member, said the "breadth'' of the closures suggests U.S. authorities are concerned about a potential repeat of last year's riots and attacks at multiple embassies, including the deadly assault in Benghazi, Libya, where the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans were killed.

In addition, Interpol, the French-based international policy agency, has issued a global security alert in connection with suspected al-Qaeda involvement in several recent prison escapes including those in Iraq, Libya and Pakistan.

Those prison breaks add to the concerns about an attack, said Schiff, a Democrat, also noting the approaching end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

"So you have a lot things coming together. ... But all of that would not be enough without having some particularly specific information,'' he said.

J. Christopher Stevens, the US ambassador to Libya, who was killed in the attack on the American consulate in Benghazi on September 11, 2012. AFP PHOTO/MAHMUD TURKIA Source: AFP

The Obama administration's decision to close the embassies and the lawmakers' general discussion about the threats come at a sensitive time as the government tries to defend recently disclosed surveillance programs that have stirred deep privacy concerns and raised the potential of the first serious retrenchment in terrorism-fighting efforts since September 11.

The Senate Judiciary Committee chairman has scoffed at the assertion by the head of the National Security Agency that government methods used to collect telephone and email data have helped foil 54 terror plots.

Schiff said he has seen no evidence linking the latest warnings to that agency's collection of "vast amounts of domestic data.''

A burnt vehicle and broken furniture inside the US consulate compound in Benghazi after it was attacked on September 13, 2012. AFP PHOTO/GIANLUIGI GUERCIA Source: AFP

Other lawmakers defended the administration's response and promoted the work of the NSA in unearthing the intelligence that lead to the security warnings.

"The bottom line is ... that the NSA's job is to do foreign intelligence,'' Ruppersburger said. "The whole purpose is to collect information to protect us.''

Added King, a frequent critic of President Barack Obama: "Whether or not there was any controversy over the NSA at all, all these actions would have been taken.''

Friday's warning from the State Department urged American travellers to take extra precautions overseas, citing potential dangers involved with public transportation systems and other prime sites for tourists.

It noted that previous terrorist attacks have centred on subway and rail networks as well as aeroplanes and boats.

It suggested travellers sign up for State Department alerts and register with U.S. consulates in the countries they visit. The alert expires on August 31.

The statement said al-Qaeda or its allies might target either U.S. government or private American interests.

US President Barack Obama and Yemen's President Abdrabuh Mansur (L) met in the Oval Office of the White House on August 1. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN Source: AFP

CURRENT AUSTRALIAN TRAVEL ADVICE FOR THE MIDDLE EAST

Bahrain - Reconsider your need to travel

Iran - Reconsider your need to travel

Iraq - Do not travel

Israel, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank - Exercise a high degree of caution

Jordan - Exercise a high degree of caution

Kuwait - Exercise a high degree of caution

Lebanon - Reconsider your need to travel

Oman - Exercise normal safety precautions

Qatar - Exercise a high degree of caution

Saudi Arabia - Reconsider your need to travel

Syria - Do not travel

United Arab Emirates - Exercise a high degree of caution

Yemen - Do not travel

Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

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Margs among world's friendliest

Margaret River locals have been listed as among the friendliest in the world. Picture: Supplied Source: PerthNow

LOOKING for the most welcoming places in the world to visit? It turns out you don't have to look very far.

Travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler has unveiled the results of its readers choice survey on the world's friendliest cities, with two Australian destinations making a list of the top 10.

Scroll down for the list

Hobart was beaten to the top spot only by the 'Island of Magic', Florianopolis in Brazil. It's a city described as having "outgoing locals, gorgeous views and an excellent airport".

Meanwhile, the Tasmanian capital, which was also recently named one of the world's best cities to visit in 2013 by Lonely Planet, was praised for its 'unique location, beauty and kind, friendly city natives'.

"They know how to treat visitors," one commenter said. Another described it as "one of the best places I've visited".

The second Aussie destination to make the top 10 list, Margaret River tied with Paro, Bhutan, for sixth place and was praised for its vineyards and beaches.

A Conde Nast Traveler spokesperson said: "It's no wonder this small town, just south of Perth on Australia's west coast, ranked high in the friendliest category: It's known for excellent vineyards and plenty of surfing; who wouldn't be happy? Our readers also praised the town's ambience and restaurants."

Do you think the locals are friendly in Margaret River? Comment below.

The survey also uncovered the world's most unfriendly cities.

Newark, New Jersey was voted the worst, with one reader saying she "ran into a lot of rude people there" and others arguing the only reason to visit was for a cheap stopover on the way to somewhere better.

Islamabad, Pakistan was named the second unfriendliest, followed by Oakland, California and Luanda, Angola.

YOUR SAY: Do you agree? Tell us below.

Friendliest cities:

1. Florianopolis, Brazil

2. Hobart, Tasmania

3. Thimpu, Bhutan

4. Queenstown, New Zealand

5. Charleston, South Carolina

6. Paro, Bhutan

Equal 6. Margaret River, Australia

7. Mandalay, Burma

9. Kilkenny, Ireland

Equal 9. Ubud, Bali

10. Chiang Mai, Thailand

Florianopolis, Brazil. Picture: Atramos/Flickr Source: Supplied

Unfriendliest cities:

1. Newark, New Jersey

2. Islamabad, Pakistan

3. Oakland, California

4. Luanda, Angola

5. Kuwait City, Kuwait

6. Lome, Togo

7. New Haven, Connecticut

8. Detroit, Michigan

9. Atlantic City, New Jersey

10. Tangier, Morocco

Newark, New Jersey. Picture: Dougtone/Flickr Source: Supplied

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Body found in East Perth bushland

SOUTH bound lanes of East Pde in East Perth are expected to be opened soon as police rule death non-suspicious.

The body was located in a tent on a vacant lot this afternoon.

Police have closed East Pde between Summers Street and the Graham Farmer Freeway but are expected to reopen the streets soon.
 

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Jockey dies after falling off horse

A jockey has died after being thrown from her horse during a race in Darwin.

Simone Montgomerie comes off her horse at the Darwin Cup. Source: News Limited

Simone Montgomerie was a mother of one. Picture: Elise Derwin Source: News Limited

THE racing community is reeling after jockey Simone Montgomerie died following a race fall during the Darwin Cup meeting.

Champion jockey Nash Rawiller said he had never left a racecourse feeling so sad and numb, while trainer Lee Freedman said the whole racing industry feels the pain.

From a noted racing family, Montgomerie, 26, was thrown from her mount Riahgrand when she was coming down the home straight in the sixth race of the day at Darwin Racecourse on Monday.

The mother of two tumbled off her horse and was trampled by the rest of the pack.

Two doctors treated her at the scene, but Ms Montgomerie passed away shortly after arriving at Royal Darwin Hospital.

"I've never left a racecourse feeling so sad and numb!" tweeted Rawiller, who was in Darwin for the Cup.

"Great jockey and beautiful young lady. Thinking of her family and close friends."

Hall of fame trainer Freedman said words couldn't express his distress at the news of her death.

"They face such danger. Everyone in racing feels this pain," he tweeted.

Simone Montgomerie was a mother of a five-year-old daughter. Picture: Facebook Source: Supplied

Ms Montgomerie's father Peter Montgomerie trained 2005 Melbourne Cup runner-up On A Jeune.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy, who won the 2000 Melbourne Cup aboard Brew and rode runner-up On A Jeune, expressed his condolences.

"I'm shattered by the news," McEvoy told news.com.au.

Kerrin McEvoy: "She was a beautiful girl, it's just a tragedy." Source: News Limited

"I know Simone really well, we actually did pony club together. My condolences go to the Montgomerie family.

"She's a beautiful girl, it's just a tragedy."
Montgomerie rode 27 winners for the season, beating another woman, Felicia Bergstrand, by three.

"This was not something I ever thought about achieving, but when it comes it is a bonus," Montgomerie said a few days ago.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy said he would remember the pony club days he shared with Montgomerie forever.

"It's a cruel game at times. Rest in peace Simone. Thoughts go out to the big Mont family," he wrote.

A full investigation into the circumstances of the accident has already been initiated by stewards, said Darwin Turf Club chairman Brett Dixon.

"As far as the Darwin Turf Club is concerned, she was our family, and we're all devastated by this accident," he told a press conference.

Mr Dixon said Montgomerie suffered traumatic injuries.

The rest of the carnival, including the Darwin Cup itself, was cancelled after officials spoke with distraught jockeys.

NT Chief Minister Adam Giles said it was a sad day for the Australian racing industry.

"Simone was a champion jockey at the top of her game and a pioneer of women in racing who will be sorely missed," he said in a statement.

National Jockeys' Association general manager Des O'Keeffe says the organisation will support Ms Montgomerie's family.

"We also have support for any jockeys who need it. We have counselling services they can ring," he said.

"It is unbelievable that this has happened just two days after National Jockeys Celebration day around the country. I have had many jockeys ring me and they are absolutely shattered."

National Jockeys Celebration day was held on Saturday by the National Jockeys Trust which provides support for families of killed and injured jockeys.

Recently, Gold Coast-based New Zealander Ashlee Mundy was home for the summer circuit when she died on December 30 after a fall at Kurow, while Corey Gilbey was killed in a fall at Julia Creek in Queensland on November 12, 2011.

Read more at the NT News .

- with AAP

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Kochie's still my friend, says Mel

Mel and co-host David Koch at Melissa Doyle's Sunrise leaving party. Source: Supplied

After her leaving announcement on Sunrise, Melissa Doyle broke down in tears. Courtesy: Sunrise Seven Network

Daily Telegraph columnist and new Ten Mornings host Joe Hildebrand on the shock departure of Sunrise host Melissa Doyle

SHE has built a reputation for cutting through the hype to be first with the morning news.

So as the sun sets on her Sunrise career, Mel Doyle has one last exclusive for her loyal audience: there is no feud with her co-host David Koch.

On the eve of her final week on the morning news and current affairs show - which she is leaving to take up a prime-time news post in two weeks - a fired-up Doyle angrily denied allegations she and Koch had barely spoken off camera during the past week and that her relationship with her replacement Sam Armytage was icy.

"I do not know where these rumours start," Doyle said yesterday.

"I cannot state strongly enough: I have never, ever had any problems with my relationship with Kochie.

"He is honestly one of my dearest friends. He held farewell drinks for me at his house yesterday. He said to me, 'It has to be my house. Not at a restaurant. Not a venue. My home. Because we are family'.

"And we are family. We have spent 14 years sitting next to each other. We have stood in fire zones and flood zones.

"He held my hand when he announced my pregnancy with (second child) Talia on air. We have been through it all."Doyle spoke highly of her replacement.

"I think Sam is fantastic," she said. "She will make that show her own and put her own stamp on it and I'm excited for her."

Natalie Barr, Mel Doyle, and Kylie Gillies at Melissa Doyle's Sunrise leaving party. Source: Supplied

Rumours have circulated this week that the atmosphere on set had been made worse because viewers - and the Sunrise cast - were unsure whether to embrace Doyle or Armytage as host during Doyle's final two weeks.Despite stepping in to host the show for the past five weeks - during which time Doyle covered the royal birth and took a holiday - Armytage took a back seat on Monday to allow for Doyle's "farewell", which culminates on Friday.

The move has drawn a mixed response from viewers, with some wanting to clarify the timing and plans for Doyle's departure, and "some wanting to know where Armytage was", according to a Channel 7 source.

But Doyle said: "It doesn't feel awkward to me. I always said that I wanted to come back and do a proper farewell.

"I announced it on the show that there was no way I was just going to walk out. There was no way I was doing it like that.

Since announcing her plans to leave the show on air in June, Doyle had to personally deny via Facebook that she had been "boned" by executives who felt she had become "too mumsy".

She maintained the decision to leave the show was hers and said she was on an overseas holiday with her husband when she was "swamped by inaccuracies" she read online.

Melissa Doyle's Sunrise leaving party: Mel with Michael Pell. Source: Supplied

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Abbott facing 'unlosable election'

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott leaves the stage after talking at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on July 25, 2013 in Brisbane. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

TONY Abbott has been the most ferocious and disciplined Opposition Leader of his age and will now test whether voters believe he can also be an effective Prime Minister.

Mr Abbott will have to confront that Liberal bogey, "the unlosable election", 20 years after it wrecked John Hewson's bid to oust an unpopular Labor government headed by Paul Keating.

Mr Abbott worked for Dr Hewson in that period and has skilfully avoided repeating his mistakes: Simple statements and no complex policy blueprint, for starters.

However, the return of Kevin Rudd to the Labor leadership has narrowed the comfort zone Mr Abbott and the Coalition enjoyed while Julia Gillard was Prime Minister.

Like Kevin Rudd, Mr Abbott has removed two Labor leaders to reach this election. The first was Kevin Rudd, who became Prime Minister at the 2007 election which saw off Mr Abbott's mentor John Howard.

In late November, 2009, the Coalition was rating just 35 per cent of primary votes as recorded by Newspoll. That's when Mr Abbott took the Opposition Leader's job from Malcolm Turnbull in a bitter internal brawl over climate change policy.

Seven months later in June 2010, the Coalition's primary vote was at 40 per cent and the ALP was rattled enough to oust Kevin Rudd.

The 2010 election called with a rush by an ill-prepared Julia Gillard was inconclusive and it seemed Mr Abbott was set to become Prime Minister if only he could get an election called. Ms Gillard kept her minority government together and refused to oblige.

By mid-June this year Mr Abbott had 48 per cent of the primary vote, and it was Ms Gillard's turn to be evicted from the PM's office, to make way for her predecessor Mr Rudd. The seven-month contest between the two men was renewed.

Mr Abbott will face a government which has admitted unemployment will be well above six per cent soon, economic growth will slow, and its calculations of revenue are out by roughly $100 billion over projections for four years. That would seem to make this showdown a certainty for the Coalition, but there is that unlosable election bogey. Mr Abbott doesn't have the personal popularity of Mr Rudd.

In 1993 Australia was still bleeding from a Keating-induced recession and on the Thursday before polling day official figures showed an unemployment rate of 11.1 per cent and in raw figures more than one million Australians out of work.

Two days later Paul Keating was returned.

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The five key election issues for WA

Cost of living pressures will be a major election issue for West Australians. Source: PerthNow

PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has called a general election for September 7.

ASYLUM SEEKERS
The on-going issue of asylum seekers was magnified for West Australians in May this year when a group of 66 people on board a boat sailed into Geraldton port.
It is believed to be the first boat to reach the mainland in a major regional centre.
The detention of asylum seekers at facilities in Leonora and Northam continues to highlight the issue for West Australians.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's announcement that no asylum seeker who comes by boat will ever be resettled in Australia under his new refugee laws, is aimed at blunting Tony Abbott's stop the boats policy.

TRANSPORT
Kevin Rudd has allocated $500m towards the airport rail link and light rail projects and, the Labor leader has hinted at further funding for urban rail projects in WA.
Meanwhile, Opposition leader Tony Abbott says he will not put one cent into urban rail funding. Instead, he is willing to fund road projects.

GST
For the first time, WA's GST receipts have fallen below 50 cents.
Neither federal Labor or the federal Liberals have promised WA a better GST deal.
Despite this, it's definitely an election issue for our voters.

THE CASH COW DILEMMA
Tony Abbott's weapon against Labor has been the cash cow phemomena in WA.
He argued that a mining tax, coupled with a carbon tax, was proof that the engine room of the nation was being used as a cash cow for Canberra.
But Rudd has now moved to an emissions trading scheme, robbing Abbott of a major weapon during the election.
But Abbott will continue to argue against the virtues of a mining tax during the poll.
Rudd will have to convince voters WA will be a beneficiary of a Federal Labor Government's generosity - if it wins another term of government.

COST OF LIVING
The Greens have already put cost of living pressures on the agenda by releasing to plan to ease the state's housing affordability crisis.
In WA, electricity prices have gone through the roof since 2008 - as have rental prices, water charges and other cost of living expenses.
If Rudd and Abbott can announce policies to ease cost of living pressures in WA, they will be onto a winner.

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Fine-dodgers to be named and shamed

WA's worst fine defaulters will be named and shamed under new laws. Picture: Theo Fakos Source: PerthNow

WEST Australia's top 100 fine defaulters will be named and shamed and their vehicles will be clamped and licence plates seized.

The new laws target thousands of people who owe a total of $259 million in unpaid infringements and court fines, with the most serious fine defaulters owing $67 million.

Under the new laws, the Sheriff's Office can wheel clamp vehicles for 48 hours or seize licence plates for 28 days if a person has more than $2000 in unpaid fines and infringements.

WA Attorney General Michael Mischin said clamps would be removed and licence plates returned after fines were paid, or offenders made a time-to-pay arrangement with the Fines Enforcement Registry.

In the worst cases, the removal of licence plates could be permanent, he said.

The Attorney General said there were 4976 people with more than $2000 in unpaid infringements, particularly serious speeding and red-light camera offences, owing a total of $17.3 million.

There are also 9635 people who have more than $2000 in unpaid court fines totalling $49.7 million.

"The public has had enough of these fine bludgers who have flouted the law and refused to pay what they owe the state, leaving law-abiding West Australians to foot the bill,'' Mr Mischin said.

WA's top 100 fine defaulters will also have their names, suburbs and amount of outstanding fines published on a state government website to be launched soon.

The laws come into effect on August 21.
 

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Abbott wins first poll

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said the election is about trust and who is more "fair dinkum". Picture: Kym Smith Source: News Limited

TONY Abbott's Coalition have begun the election campaign slightly ahead of Labor and with the Opposition Leader also the preferred prime minister, according to a poll.

A Seven News/Reachtel poll tonight put the Coalition's two-party preferred vote on 52 per cent compared to 48 per cent for Labor.

In the better PM stakes, Mr Rudd scored 49 per cent and Mr Abbott 51 per cent.

The Coalition were also stronger on the economy 60 per cent to Labor on 40 per cent.

Earlier, Mr Abbott attempted to turn Kevin Rudd's campaign question of who voters trust on its head, asking the nation who they think is more "fair dinkum" and can deliver results instead of being all talk.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said it's time for the people to decide his fate. Picture: Gary Ramage

An hour after Prime Minister Kevin Rudd opened hostilities framed by Australian flags in his prime ministerial courtyard, the Opposition Leader held a press conference in the opposition party room in Parliament House before a Liberal Party campaign backdrop declaring "Choose real change - a stronger Australia."

In a bid to paint Mr Rudd as all talk and no action, Mr Abbott said he had a plan to get the budget under control, build infrastructure and would stop the boats.

Our how political reporters have covered the unfolding events in the blog below.

"The choice is the positive policies of the Coalition or more of the same with the Labor Party and Mr Rudd," he said.

"Mr Rudd was talking about who do you trust? It's really about who do you think is more fair dinkum? Who can you rely on to be build a better future?

Mr Abbott said his team had been stable for three years while the government had been gripped by dysfunction.

"Who do you think is more fair dinkum?" he said.

"The people who stopped the boats in the past? Or the people who started them again?"

Mr Abbott said he wanted to build a country where people would not feel like strangers and where the bonds of community would be stronger.

He said the government had spent too much time turning Australians against each other, noting the first law passed by the new Rudd government was the controversial 457 foreign worker legislation.

The Coalition Leader said he would reveal his costings in the course of the campaign but would only say that would happen "at some time point" in good time before the election.

He said the budget position would be stronger than Labor's and all policies would be fully costed.

Mr Abbott also ruled out doing any deals with the independents to form a minority government.

"Australia needs strong and stable government," he said.

Mr Abbott said he was open to negotiation to more than one campaign debate. Mr Rudd this afternoon offered to debate Mr Abbott tomorrow night on Sky and has offered each of the TV networks a Sunday debate.

Australians will go to the polls on September 7, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced in a statement.

Earlier, Mr Rudd announced the election date by asking voters "who do the Australian people trust best to lead them through the difficult new economic challenges which now lie ahead?"

2013 SOCIAL MEDIA WAR

He said the China resources boom was over and days after delivering an economic statement revealing a $30.1 billion deficit this financial year, Mr Rudd said Labor was best placed "Manage the big economic challenges which lie ahead."

"The old politics of the past just won't work for the future. Negative personal politics doesn't build a single school," he said.

"Australia needs a new way of dealing with challenges."

He also sold Labor's record of preventing Australia slipping into recession during the Global Financial Crisis.

Moments after earlier asking Governor-General Quentin Bryce for a September 7 election, Mr Rudd emailed Labor supporters, telling them "It's on" in the subject line.

Mr Rudd then called on supporters to "chip in $5" to help his campaign, which he said would be "one hell of a fight."

He sought to revive the class warfare which senior Labor MPs had rejected, claiming "Abbott and a few millionaires will out spend us" before asking supporters for their pocket change to help Labor's campaign.

Prime Minsiter Kevin Rudd tweeted this image of himself, working on his speech announcing the election to the nation. Picture: Instagram/Twitter/Kevin Rudd Source: News Limited

"Australians now face a choice. And the choice couldn't be starker," he wrote.

"I have a positive vision about the country we can be. In this election I'll be talking with Australians across the county about better schools for our kids, investing so we can create good jobs, and about how the NBN can help keep our economy strong.

"Tony Abbott has a different approach. He'll bang on with the same negativity that we're all sick of. He's only got three word slogans because he doesn't have the ticker to debate his real agenda."

Security guards undertake a check prior to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd arriving at Government House in Canberra. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: News Limited

Mr Rudd revealed his political advisers had told him he was beginning the campaign as "the under dog."

Labor polling shows the Coalition would have won an election held at the weekend.

Mr Rudd's opening salvo against Opposition Leader Tony Abbott was Labor's claim Coalition costings have a "$70 billion hole."

He linked Queensland Premier Campbell Newman's public service cuts, including 4000 workers, to the federal Liberal party, claiming Mr Abbott would "slash and burn" in an "austerity drive."

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Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and wife Therese Rein leaving their home in Brisbane. Picture: Mark Cranitch. Source: News Limited

Promising help for manufacturing and cost of living pressures, Mr Rudd said he had a "positive plan."

"Australians by their nature are positive practical people who believe in nation building," he said.

He promised also that he had learned from past mistakes by the government.

"You the Australian people have seen me at my highest highs and my lowest lows. You have witnessed some of those moments right here," he said of the Prime Minister's courtyard at Parliament House.

"They have made me a stronger person.

"I would be deeply honoured to serve you, the Australian people."

Foreign Minister Bob Carr will represent Mr Rudd at the G20 summit in Russia on September 5.

Comparing starting his campaign by asking for $5 donations from supporters to that of the US President, Mr Rudd said "President Obama did something like this in the US."

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