'Untidy' hair causes race stir

WA school was forced to apologise over a racial discrimination complaint lodged by a family whose child was told their hair was "untidy". File image. Source: Supplied

A WA school was forced to apologise over a racial discrimination complaint lodged by a family whose child was told their hair was "untidy".

The child's mother argued that "because of her child's mixed cultural heritage, the child had naturally curly hair".

She pulled the student out of the school before lodging the complaint with the Equal Opportunity Commission.

The school apologised over the incident and agreed to change its hair policy "to recognise that while students do need to retain high standards of grooming, students do have different cultural and ethnic characteristics".

The incident was among a growing number of complaints lodged by young West Australians aged under 19 years with the commission.

In the past year, 43 complaints have been made by that age group, with impairment, age and sex discrimination making up the majority of incidents. That total was up from just 22 complaints three years ago.

Acting Commissioner Allanah Lucas said many educational institutions and organisations were developing cultural awareness, but many needed to work more with parents, teachers and students.

"It doesn't give you all the answers but if you don't know anything about the changing demographic around you then, yes, you're going to make assumptions - and then, of course, there are these continued stereotypes in our community," she said.

"That's the one thing that has hit me - when people are themselves ignorant they will act in an ignorant way. It's actually ignorance we need to deal with and somehow give people the information, the opportunity to get some sort of understanding."

Ms Lucas said she was concerned that pregnancy discrimination was emerging as an issue for young women in the workplace.

"There is that unconscious bias there, which is very sad to hear in 2013," she said.

Ms Lucas said the greatest challenge was proving complaints, urging young West Australians to document possible discrimination and keep any paperwork or text messages.

Among the other complaints included a grandmother who claimed that her grandmother was not allowed to attend a school camp because of her impairment. That issue was resolved after discussions were held.

Another young student received a $1000 ex-gratia payment from her employer and a written apology after saying she was subjected to unwanted sexual comments while working as a waitress and over text message.

yasmine.phillips@news.com.au

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Hayley mum shocked by rape connection

Hayley Dodd's mother Margaret pictured in Mandurah. PICTURE: Daniel Wilkins Source: News Limited

THE mother of missing teenager Hayley Dodd says she had no idea the Badgingarra property being searched for her daughter's body was once owned by a convicted rapist.

Margaret Dodd said the first she heard about the connection was through the media on Friday.

It is the latest twist in the Mandurah mother's 14 year fight for answers over her daughter's disappearance.

Yesterday, on what should have been Hayley's 32nd birthday, Ms Dodd issued a new plea for anyone involved in her daughter's disappearance to come forward.

She thanked police for carrying out a fresh search of the Badgingarra property, 220km north of Perth.

The property in less than 1km from where 17-year-old Hayley vanished in 1999.

"I don't know who police think is responsible, but they have got significant information that has made that place of interest," Mrs Dodd told The Sunday Times.

"If it is someone who used to live at that property, I would say, 'C'mon, it's been long enough now. Tell us where Hayley is. We just want her home. It would mean absolutely everything to the whole family'."

WA Police returned to Badgingarra on Wednesday to search a rural property once owned by 57-year-old Francis John Wark.

Wark is serving a 12-year jail term for the abduction and rape of a 32-year-old woman in North Queensland in 2007.

Court documents reveal Wark offered the woman a lift after seeing her walking along a north Queensland highway.

He then took her to his house, where he hit her over the head twice with a piece of wood before sexually assaulting her for several hours.

The ordeal only stopped when the woman managed to break free from a rope restraint and reach a neighbour's house for help.

Wark sold the Badgingarra property shortly after Hayley's disappearance. It has been reported he told neighbours he was suffering from lung cancer and wanted to be near family in Queensland.

WA police are remaining tight-lipped as to whether or not Wark is a suspect in Hayley's disappearance.

Ms Dodd said she believed the developments in the case were the most significant to date.

"At least police are investigating it and they're doing it thoroughly and I thank them for that," she said.

"I've only ever wanted them to do the job."

Ms Dodd said she was trying not to get her hopes up.

"If there's nothing in it (then) I'm going to come down with a real big bang," she said.

"People say time heals. No it doesn't. You just learn to live with the hurt.

"If we find Hayley we know where she is, and we know what's definitely happened to her.

"But she's not here. It's never going to end because she's never going to be back here're with us. She's not going to come down and take her nieces and nephews out. She's never going to come and have a cup of coffee."

WA police Commander Scott Higgins said the search at the Badgingarra house was based on "new facts", which had led to several people being interviewed also.

"We can't legally conduct this kind of search without facts - and we have some significant information,'' Commander Higgins said on Thursday.

Police have so far been reluctant to give details of the people being questioned, only to say there is more than one and some of them had been interviewed before.

They also confirmed they had visited the property before, but had not searched it in detail.

Yesterday, Hayley's sister Toni Dodd said she was feeling "mixed emotions".

"It's been really hard because you don't know if it's another false hope," she said.

"We want her to be found so we can lay her to rest.

"I'm just hoping they find something and they find something soon because every day that goes past is just longer and longer that we're waiting for answers."

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Register for 'high risk' e-drivers

Mitchell Walsh-McDonald leaves Perth Magistrates Court in August. The review into the EDL system was sparked after The Sunday Times revealed the Dot didn't oppose an e-licence application from him last year. Source: News Limited

A NEW register will be set up to vet "high risk" drivers applying for extraordinary licences to curb the number of dangerous motorists getting back on our roads.

The high risk applications would be referred to the State Solicitors Office so the state's top lawyers could argue against their case.

The tough new approach comes after The Sunday Times revealed the Department of Transport did not do enough to stop a notorious driver, whose reckless actions behind the wheel killed a young girl, from successfully applying for an E-Licence.

Transport Minister Troy Buswell ordered a review after these revelations.

A DoT memo obtained by The Sunday Times shows the review found a litany of problems with how E-Licences were granted, including:

- Important documents, like character references from doctors and employers, are not made available to Dot prosecutors until moments before court proceedings.

- There are "major inconsistencies" with regards to how long offenders must wait before applying for an EDL were also identified. For example, a person convicted of dangerous driving causing death can apply within 21 days yet a person charged with drink driving must wait one month.

- Regional courts are not routinely updating the DoT on the success of applications.

The review made several recommendations, including the new high risk register and for DoT prosecutors be mentored and coached by more experienced lawyers.

It comes as latest figures show 71 per cent of all E-Licence applications lodged in WA this year have been approved - a slight increase from the 69 per cent approved in 2012.

The Sunday Times revealed in August that the DoT didn't oppose an E-Licence application by serial drink-driver Mitchell Walsh-McDonald last year.

Walsh-McDonald was granted the licence despite a history that included knocking down and killing schoolgirl Jess Meehan 10 years ago. He was acquitted of a charge of dangerous driving causing Jess Meehan's death but admitted driving under the influence and driving without a licence.

The department initially claimed it opposed his application last year. But an investigation by The Sunday Times found the department gave the court reasons why it should be granted.

As a result Walsh-McDonald was able to get back behind the wheel until he was caught drink-driving again, his seventh offence. Four months ago he pleaded guilty to drink-driving, talking on his mobile phone while driving and breaching two conditions of his licence.

A DoT spokeswoman said this week: "The purpose of DoT's internal vetting process is to identify applications that could be deemed high risk to the public, based on consideration of the applicant's driving record and the circumstances of the case."

The spokeswoman said the DoT would refer applications to the SSO as necessary, but the "majority" of applications would still be processed "as routine business".

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Doctor qualifications can't be verified

Report says there are "systemic" problems with the credentialling protocols across the public health system. File image. Source: News Limited

A SECRET report reveals there is a high risk that WA doctors are treating patients without proper skills because there is no statewide database to track their qualifications.

The report says there are "systemic" problems with the credentialling protocols across the public health system, including a shortage of staff to monitor doctor qualifications and lack of oversight for foreign doctors.

It warns the process is so bad there is also a "high" risk the Health Department is breaching the State Records Act.

The report, obtained by The Sunday Times through Freedom of Information laws, said an audit was "unable to sight" evidence verifying the skills of four doctors working at regional hospitals.

Another 18 doctors in the WA Country Health Service were given jobs before the credentialling process had started.

The audit said the state of the 22 doctors should be investigated "urgently".

Fears about the qualifications of four doctors at Royal Perth Hospital were also raised.

"Senior management may be unaware of any clinicians operating within the health system without the appropriate credentials," the report said.

The audit said administration support for the credentialling committee was poor.

At King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women there is no dedicated support person for the committee. There is also no formal training provided to credentialling staff.

The report has been kept secret since it was given to Health Department executives in April 2012.

"While there are varied methods of recording medical practitioner credentialling data, there is no system-wide data base," it said.

"The absence of a system-wide credentialling data base is seen by (the) Audit as the most pressing matter."

Opposition health spokesman Roger Cook said the findings were "explosive".

"West Australians should be able to go to their local hospitals confident that the doctor they see is qualified to treat them," Mr Cook said.

A Health Department spokesman said work on a database had progressed since the report.

"Following a competitive tender process, a company has been selected to supply a Credentialling and Scope of Clinical Practice data system to WA Health," he said.

"The launch of the new system will be staged, with the South Metropolitan Health Service expected to use the system in early 2014."

The spokesman said other than those identified in the report, no other medical practitioners had been found to be working without proper credentials since the report.

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Show and tell cops under fire

Western Australian State Coroner Alastair Hope says cases where coronial information was misused by WA police officers had caused "irretrievable damage to public confidence in the coronial process". Picture: Theo Fakos Source: News Limited

RETIRING State Coroner Alastair Hope is calling for new laws to punish cops who share confidential information about investigations into fatalities.

Mr Hope says cases where coronial information was misused by WA police officers had caused "irretrievable damage to public confidence in the coronial process".

His comments were made public in the same week a Victorian homicide detective came under fire for using a crime scene photo of a semi-naked Jill Meagher during a charity talk about violence against women.

Mr Hope outlined two WA incidents to argue in his last annual report as State Coroner for new laws to lock down "substantial" penalties for cops who breach confidentiality.

"In one (incident) photographs of deceased persons was emailed to a large number of officers with no legitimate interest in the case and in the other photographs were shown at a Christmas party," Mr Hope said in his report.

"Misuse of this information can cause great distress to involved families and irretrievable damage to public confidence in the coronial process.

"Recent cases have highlighted a need for an offence provision with substantial penalty in cases where private and confidential coronial information has been misused."

Attorney-General Michael Mischin yesterday said he had asked his department "to look into the issue''.

And, Opposition leader Mark McGowan said Mr Hope had raised "legitimate concerns" and said the Barnett Government should "seriously consider his request for tough legislation to prevent misuse of confidential coronial information".

"It is even more important today because the internet means that once an image is uploaded, all control is lost and it can be seen or used by anyone," he said.

But, Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said cops were already adequately punished for their misdemeanours.

Through a spokeswoman, he told The Sunday Times: "The misuse of coronial, or indeed, any information is already well covered by WA Police policy and the code of conduct.

"Officers who misuse information may be subject to disciplinary action which may include loss of confidence and removal from the Western Australia Police.

"Some levels of computer misuse may also be in breach of the Criminal Code. The creation of additional law to deal with the situation simply adds more layers of red tape."

Mr O'Callaghan's spokeswoman said one officer had received an Assistant Commissioner's warning notice, and another had resigned from the police force following an incident in December 2011 involving the Broome Police Social Club.

"The event was attended by police personnel and their partners and a number of other guests. A police officer had prepared a 'slide show' to depict policing events in Broome during the year," she said.

"The images included crime scenes, crash scenes, victims of crime and general images of people around Broome. The show included images where deaths had occurred.''

Another incident had involved the distribution of offensive material at the Newman Police Station.

"Following the deaths of two persons, whose vehicle had broken down on the Talawana Track, near the Canning Stock Route in April 2005 an email with electronic photographic attachments was submitted by Newman Police," Mr O'Callaghan's spokeswoman said.

"It was found that an officer from the Newman Police Station forwarded the email and attachments to four other WA police officers.

"The initial four recipients of the email forwarded the message on and it ultimately went to a large number of people, within and external to WA Police.

"The investigation of this matter was comprehensive and all personnel who received the email were dealt with under the then managerial discipline model.

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WA woman free, Corby faces spy issue

Australian Sandra Sheed escorted by immigration officer after her release from Kerobokan jail. Source: Supplied

Some Indonesian politicians say Schapelle Corby's bid for parole should be rejected. Source: News Limited

AS one Australian woman was freed from Bali's Kerobokan Jail today, opposition continues to grow within the Indonesian parliament against Schapelle Corby's parole.

Former Perth woman, Sandra Cindy Sheed, was freed from jail after serving an eight-month sentence for theft from her boyfriend.

But former Queenslander Corby's release faces new obstacles on the back of the diplomatic row over revelations Australia spied on the Indonesian president's mobile phone in 2009.

Authorities in Bali have given the parole the green light but the application is now in Jakarta, waiting for departmental and ministerial approval.

And lawmakers from within Indonesia's House of Representatives continue to oppose her parole, saying that the current tension between Australia and Indonesia should be taken into account.

Commission III of the House of Representatives, which oversees legal affairs, is planning to call the Justice Minister before it to discuss the issue of Corby's parole.

Syarifuddin Suding, leader of the Hanura party faction at the House of Representatives and a member of the commission, told News Ltd that most members of the powerful committee agreed that the Minister should reject Corby's parole application.

"I have told the Law and Human Rights Minister not to give parole for Corby. If government gives parole to Corby, it will be a bad precedent for Indonesia's attempt against international drug rings. It will not give deterrent effect for them," Mr Suding said.

"Most of commission III members have agreed to recommend the Law and Human Right Minister to reject Corby's parole application. She should not be released," he said.

Mr Suding said the current tensions over the spy allegations should be taken into account when considering the parole bid and the President's decision last year to grant Corby clemency.

"As a sovereign nation, Indonesia must show that we are not easily underestimated, or even abused by other nations," Mr Suding said.

"The tension between Indonesia and Australia should be used as consideration."

Mr Suding said the President should revoke his decision, last year, to grant Corby a five-year sentence cut in response to her plea for clemency.

On her release today, a smiling Sheed, 42, was picked up from the jail by two officers from the Immigration Department. Outside the jail she said that she was feeling good and wasn't planning on returning to jail.

Sheed will now be deported back to Australia.

Kerobokan Jail Governor Farid Junaedi said he had met Sheed before her release and given her suggestions for coping with life on the outside.

"I met her this morning. And she looked good, she always say yes for what I suggested to her," Farid said. He said that Sheed had behaved well in jail.

Sheed, a long-term Bali resident, was convicted earlier this year of stealing a raft of household items from her former boyfriend, Stephen Blackwell.

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Shark hunters could be used - Barnett

Professional shark fishermen, such as this Augusta operator, could be used to take out large sharks threatening people on the WA coast. Source: News Limited

PROFESSIONAL shark hunters could be hired to patrol West Australian waters as the government considers tougher action on the risk the ocean predators pose to the public.

The death of surfer father-of-two Chris Boyd, 35, who was attacked by a shark at Gracetown on Saturday, sparked renewed debate about whether the time had come for a cull of larger sharks close to the WA shore.

With beaches in the state's South West still shut after more sightings of large sharks, Premier Colin Barnett says he is listening to the growing fears - and is ready to take a tougher line on assessing whether a shark is a threat.

That could include hiring professional shark hunters.

''(They) are an option, absolutely. If there are repeated sightings of a large shark in an area where people swim or surf, to me that is an imminent threat,'' Mr Barnett said.

``And I think we take a tougher line of what is an imminent threat, and if that means destroying the shark so be it.

A 2.5m bronze whaler shark was spotted 50m from Meelup Beach, closing the beach before a planned Leavers gathering. It has since been re-opened.

``But a cull would be a random destruction of sharks, and we are not going to do that.''

Meanwhile thousands of West Australians have taken to social media voicing their opposition to a cull of great white sharks.

Another beach in WA's southwest was closed today after a shark sighting just hours before a school leavers' event was due to be held on the sand.

The sighting of a 2.5-metre bronze whaler at Meelup Beach near Dunsborough immediately prompted the closure.

The beach was due to host the annual ``Don't Drink and Drown'', but just before 9am. Surf Lifesaving WA tweeted that the beach had been shut after the shark was spotted swimming 50 metres off shore.

The Department of Fisheries and WA Police were due to hold a press conference at the beach outlining their increased efforts to monitor the beaches in the area over the rest of the week.

Meelup Beach reopened just over an hour later, with the schoolies' event still scheduled to go ahead.

Lisa Clack, manager of the Department of Fisheries' Shark Response Unit, said they would continue to have extra support with additional patrols by sea and air, including extra helicopter patrols.

A fisheries officer will be in the chopper helping to identify shark species and size.

The helicopter and fisheries vessels will be on call from 7am to 5pm patrolling the coastline.

Police Superintendent Peter Hatch urged schoolies to take the advice of police and other local authorities.

The support will remain for the Kelloggs Ironman event, which is being held at Smith's Beach this weekend, and then the Busselton Ironman event the following weekend.

Beaches in Gracetown will also remain closed until this afternoon after an unconfirmed shark sighting of a 5m great white at Gracetown Beach yesterday afternoon.

This morning, authorities also announced extra safety measures across South West beaches to protect school leavers.

Superintendent South West District, Peter Hatch said many school leavers would be gathering for the annual Meelup Beach Day today and he was urging them to take the advice of police and other local authorities.

"Leavers are reminded to make use of the transport service to travel to the event and leave their cars behind," he said.

"Extra water safety measures are in place, with additional resources and support by air and sea, and sirens would be sounded if beaches needed to be cleared."

"The helicopter is on call from 7am to 5pm and Fisheries' vessels the Geographe and Hamlin will be patrolling the coastline," Ms Clack said.

"If water users in the south west hear a siren from the helicopter they should leave the water immediately. People should exercise caution when entering the water at south west beaches and we encourage them to use patrolled beaches at all times.

Beaches in Gracetown remain closed until this afternoon after an unconfirmed shark sighting of what was thought to be a 5m great white at Gracetown Beach yesterday.

Anyone wanting to receive alerts about shark sightings in the South West can follow @SLSWA on Twitter or refer to the Surf Life Saving WA Facebook page.

Any shark sightings should be reported to Water Police on 9442 8600.

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Not the package we expected

Unwrapped ... rhe incriminating photo, featuring the woman in a UPS shirt, that was posted online. Source: Supplied

TALK about getting caught on the job.

Bad Santa ... a picture posted on the woman's website. Source: Supplied

A United Parcel Service driver in Oklahoma City is in hot water with his bosses after a prostitute posted a picture of their afternoon encounter in the back of a company truck.

Far from being discreet, the revealing photo showed the woman wearing an unbuttoned UPS shirt and was accompanied by the words: "Look at my naughty time from yesterday."

The prostitute posted the picture on a local online exchange this week, apparently to promote her members-only website. Identifying herself as "happiness consultant Mary Ann" she went on to graphically described her interlude with the driver.

She also told how more explicit photos had been posted to the members section of her site.

The original post, which has since been taken down, was spotted by JohnTV.com, a website devoted to "exposing prostitution" in Oklahoma City.

Things escalated from there.

Happiness delivered ... the online posting from 'Mary Ann' referring to the interlude. Source: Supplied

Local station KWTV News contacted global delivery service UPS and they were not amused.

A spokeswoman said executives were outraged and the company was moving quickly to track down the identity of the driver involved.

Susan Rosenberg said: "It disrespects UPS drivers and customers. This is not behaviour we would ever condone for anyone, let alone for our company. We want to assure other drivers and our customers that this will be fully investigated."

Present and incorrect ... another picture from the woman's website. Source: Supplied

Brian Bates, founder of JohnTV.com, said: "What really shocked me is that a driver would put himself in this position, no pun intended, and then allow the pictures to be posted publicly."

The woman's website shows pictures of her in various costumes, including a Christmas-themed one, and includes the description: "I am a confidant (sic) woman who just loves to play ... with a great attitude, and some mad skills."

She has so far decided not to talk to local media.

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Shark season: What should we do?

Police speak to a surfer about the recent shark attack at Gracetown. Source: PerthNow

This three metre brown shark was spotted by fisherman 300 metres off the coast of Eagle Bay. Courtesy: Gemma Walsh

AS beaches in Gracetown re-open and the search for the shark that killed Chris Boyd is called off, debate still rages in our community as to what to do about the deadly predators stalking our 12,000km of pristine coastline.

Our seventh fatal attack in three years makes us the shark attack capital of the world and while this scary statistic has spurred the WA Government to react, their strategies simply haven't worked.

So as another long, hot summer approaches, PerthNow wants to know what you think about what's being done and if Saturday's tragic event will stop you heading to the beach this summer.

Comment below, send us an email or contact us on Twitter or Facebook about the State Government's strategies to combat shark attacks and how you're feeling about them as we head towards summer.

Shoot-to-kill just for thrills
The imminent threat order issued after the shark attack was rescinded on Monday night but it's almost impossible for authorities to track and kill a shark responsibile for fatal attacks. As former Fisheries minister Jon Ford said this week, unless authorities happen to be at the location of a fatality, and the shark responsible is hanging around, it's difficult to pinpoint the exact shark. "I'd share the reluctance of Fisheries to go out there and kill sharks," he said. Even Shark Response Unit spokesman Tony Cappelluti admitted they had no idea. "The scientific advice is that some white sharks remain in the vicinity of an attack site for a period, while others move on.

Lisa Clack from Fisheries shows the fins that a diver was wearing when he was bitten by a shark in Hillarys. Picture: Theo Fakos Source: PerthNow

Shark patrols don't stop attacks
They may give the public a sense of safety, and the State Government a sense of doing something, but in reality, shark patrols can't stop tragedies like Saturday's fatality. The Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter spotted eight sharks along the South West coastline on Saturday either side of the attack on Mr Boyd, just after 9am. But how many of these sightings were of the same shark? What was done to communicate the sightings immediately to beachgoers in the water? One thing the shark patrols are showing is the increase in the number of large sharks swimming close to shore.

NEWS. Pilot Michael Ng on shark patrol up and down the coastline. Watermans Beach. Report Braden Quartermaine. Photos: Natalie Slade Picture: Slade Natalie Source: PerthNow

Tagging doesn't equal control
While tagged sharks can be detected along the Perth coast through 18 receivers, from Ocean Reef to Warnbro Sound, there are only two satellite-linked acoustic receivers in the South West. Given the region's attraction as a surfing, beach and tourism destination, this is clearly not enough. Gracetown, where there have been three fatalities since 2004, is unable to host a receiver because the currents at the beach are too strong and Premier Colin Barnett has refused an offer from US research group OCEARCH to help them tag sharks along our coast.

Beaches near Gracetown have been closed because of a fatal shark attack. Source: News Corp Australia

Are nets a barrier or breakthrough?
While the use of shark nets increase the incidence of bycatch, they do reduce the occurrence of fatal attacks by decreasing local shark populations. Shark nets are common in New South Wales and also prevalent in Hong Kong and South Africa. The WA Goverment announced last month that a shark-proof fence designed to repel sharks, not trap them, would be trialled at Old Dunsborough Beach - a beach not common for shark sightings or recent attacks. Another for Coogee Beach has been hit by red tape.

The 300 metre long shark net will be installed 75metres off Coogee Beach. Picture: Supplied Source: PerthNow

Culling is cruel but can it work?
Gracetown surfers and business operators demanded the State Government start killing white pointers in the region but the great white is still a protected species and the ocean is their territory. Some suggested sharks bigger than 3m or those that swim close to shore to be culled but the school of thought suggests sharks are heading closer to shore and attacking more humans because of overfishing in our waters. There is no evidence to suggest that culling sharks will equate to fewer attacks and Premier Colin Barnett is talking tough but still wary.

A victim of a shark attack near Esperance is ferried by the Royal Flying Doctors at Jandakot. Picture: Jordan Shields Source: PerthNow

Deterrents at an expense
Scientists at the University of WA are researching shark deterrent measures including using sound, light and bubbles to deter the predators, while devices like shark shields, which emit electronic pulses and cause sharks a high level of discomfort, are also available. When Rockingham Encounters tour guide Elyse Frankcom was with a charter group diving with dolphins in 2010, she had a shark shield on her but failed to turn it on. She was attacked by a shark shortly after and subsequently activated her deterrent and the shark swum away. While this measure is not a 100 percent  guarantee it is a proven, albeit, costly method to protect beachgoers from sharks.

* Shark sightings should be reported to Water Police on 9442 8600

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Hayley Dodd: Police comb farm grounds for clues

Police have begun a major forensic search at a rural property near Badgingarra near where the teenager Hayley Dodd went missing in 1999.

GROUND penetrating machinery is being used on a Badgingarra property after police reviewed the case of missing teenager Hayley Dodd.

Several people are being questioned by police after they began a major forensic search at a rural property on North West Road, 10km east of the the Wheatbelt town, near where the teenager went missing in 1999.

The forensic search was initiated after the Special Crime Squad conducted a review into the case.

The search is not related to the current residents at the property.

PICTURES: Police search Badgingarra property

Hayley Dodd, rear, who disappeared while hitch-hiking near Badgingarra, about 210km north of Perth in July 1999.

Officers from the special crime squad and forensic officers have been at the home since early this afternoon, while two mobile police facilities are also at the scene.

State Crime Acting Commander Scott Higgins said Hayley's family had been briefed on developments.

Hayley's disappearance remains one of WA's most baffling and still unsolved missing person cases.

The 17-year-old was last seen walking along North West Road, about 200km north of Perth, after picking up a lift while hitch-hiking from Dongara.

Police investigate a property at Badgingarra in relation to the disappearance of Hayley Dodd 14 years ago. Picture: supplied

Today, forensic officers used specialised ground penetrating machinery in their search of the farm, which is expected to take several days.

State Crime Acting Commander Scott Higgins. Picture: file image Source: News Limited

Acting Commander Higgins said information had been uncovered recently that led Special Crime detectives back to the property.

He said the house had been visited by police in the past and those being questioned had been previously interviewed.

Margaret Dodd holds a photograph of her missing daughter Hayley with her father Ray, taken in January 1998, about 18 months before she disappeared.

"Part of this investigation includes a forensic search of a property in Badgingarra and further interviews with a number of different people," Acting Commander Higgins said.

"A review was conducted as part of the Special Crime squad's protocols into the disappearance. As a result of that, some information was uncovered which led us to go back to that property to conduct a proper forensic search.

"We're continually looking at new ways of examining as scientific breakthroughs come through, legislation changes, policy changes.

"We're searching for evidence which will help us uncover what happened to Hayley.

"Some of the people have been interviewed before but I'm not going to go into the specific details of individuals."

Acting Commander Higgins said detectives spoke to Hayley's mother, Margaret, about the search today.

"Hayley's disappearance has long been a case that has proven difficult but one that WA

Police remain committed to solving," he said.

"We know the family members of long term missing persons and unsolved homicide victims

suffer, and we want to find the answers that may bring them some comfort."

In an interview with PerthNow in June this year, Mrs Dodd said she hoped a coronial inquest, set down for January, would finally bring her and her family some closure.

"I am hoping for some answers, whether we get that is another story but hopefully people that the police are interested in can be called (as witnesses) and questioned and maybe we can find out what happened to Hayley," Mrs Dodd said in the June interview.

"Hopefully something new comes out of it and we get some sort of result.''

Mrs Dodd described the past 14 years without her daughter as "mentally challenging'' and said there was no doubt in her mind Hayley had been abducted.

Police investigate a property at Badgingarra in relation to the disappearance of Hayley Dodd 14 years ago. Picture: supplied Source: Supplied

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Binge drinking disappoints Collier

WA's school leavers praised for good behaviour, despite the emergence of a Facebook page illustrating teenage excesses on show.

Education Minister Peter Collier says school leavers reliance on alcohol to celebrate was disappointing. Picture: file image Source: News Limited

WESTERN Australia's school leavers have been praised for good behaviour on the first night of celebrations, despite the emergence of a Facebook page illustrating some of the teenage excesses on show across the state.

With around 10,000 leavers descending on Rottnest Island, Dunsborough and Busselton, WA Police monitoring the parties said there was little trouble to report.

They reported in Dunsborough one adult male, who was not a leaver, being arrested for disorderly conduct, 13 move on notices being issued, along with 11 liquor infringements and three liquor cautions.

And at Rottnest, 22 eviction notices were issued - 20 to so-called over-aged 'toolies' - while 23 liquor infringements were issued, and one juvenile was cautioned for having pepper spray in his possession.

The Facebook page "WA Leavers Embarrassing Moments", which invited posts of pictures of the aftermath of celebrations, was also attracting the attention of authorities, after gaining 11,000 likes in a few days.

"I have heard about it, and that is a shame - all they do perpetuate this myth that is good to embarrass yourself and get absolutely hammered," said WA's education minister Peter Collier. "Fundamentally our kids are good but they let down their guard in this instance, and they may make decisions when they become inebriated that they regret for the rest of their lives."

Despite the relatively quiet first night, Mr Collier said he was becoming disappointed with the reliance on alcohol to celebrate the end of a school career.

"As a former teacher I have seen a deterioration at what is expected at Leavers - once upon a time you went away to relax and enjoy yourself, now it has gone above and beyond that," Mr Collier said.

"Unfortunately in contemporary society there is a reliance on alcohol to have a good time, and binge drinking is almost the norm."

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Aussie Schoolies light up Bali

Teenagers attend a party in a nightclub during Australian "schoolies" celebrations following the end of the year 12 exams on November 24, 2013 in Kuta, Indonesia. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

WE have seen their antics on the Gold Coast and in Byron Bay but to really let your hair down it seems you need to skip the country all together.

The traditional migration to the Gold Coast is so last century and the new hotspot is Bali.

Australian school leavers have flocked to the Indonesian resort to let down their hair and celebrate the end of secondary studies.

There were plenty of partygoers willing to ham it up for the camera and show just how good a time they were having.

Teenagers attend a party in a nightclub during Australian "schoolies" celebrations in Kuta, Indonesia. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Teenagers attend a party in a nightclub during Australian "schoolies" celebrations in Kuta, Indonesia. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Bali is a world away from school and parental authority. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Sometimes the hangover starts well before the morning after. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

After years of study getting away with friends to let your hair down has become a right of passage. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Destinations such as Kuta in Bali are often chosen because of cheap alcohol and all night parties. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Teenagers can afford more by heading over to Kuta, Indonesia. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Two teenagers ride a motorbike taxi during Australian "schoolies" celebrations in Kuta, Indonesia. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Girls pose during a party in a nightclub during Australian "schoolies" celebrations. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Australian teenagers party in a hotel pool. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

All night parties and copious cheap alcohol is a lure too good to be true for Australian school leavers. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Teenagers attend a party in a nightclub during Australian "schoolies" celebrations. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Teenagers attend a party in a nightclub during Australian "schoolies" celebrations. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Teenagers attend a party in a nightclub during Australian "schoolies" celebrations. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Teenagers kiss during Australian "schoolies" celebrations following the end of the year 12 exam in Kuta, Indonesia. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Teenagers attend a party in a nightclub during Australian "schoolies" celebrations. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

A young man carries a girl on his back after partying hard in Kuta. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

It is amazing who you can bump into even when overseas ... it is such a small world after all. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Teenagers attend a party in a nightclub during Australian "schoolies" celebrations. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Teenagers attend a party in a nightclub during Australian "schoolies" celebrations. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Teenagers attend a party in a nightclub during Australian "schoolies" celebrations. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Teenagers attend a party in a nightclub during Australian "schoolies" celebrations. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Teenagers attend a party in a nightclub during Australian "schoolies" celebrations. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

An girl poses during Australian "schoolies" celebrations in Kuta, Indonesia. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

People move through a traffic jam on Poppies Line II Street during Australian "schoolies" celebrations. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

The ugly face of Australian school leavers in Bali. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

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Gracetown beach closed after 5m shark sighting

The family of great white victim Chris Boyd arrive in WA, schoolies charged with drug offences, and golden honour for Damien Oliver.

THE beach where a surfer was killed by a suspected great white shark has been closed again after a shark sighting close to shore.

A five-metre shark was spotted off the coast of Gracetown in Western Australia's South West this afternoon, prompting rangers to erect beach closure signs from North Point to South Point.

The Department of Fisheries has a vessel on the way to Gracetown and Surf Life Saving helicopter patrols are already underway.

The beaches will remain closed for 24 hours - until at least 2pm tomorrow - as a precautionary measure.

Chris Boyd, 35, was surfing at the popular surf break Umbies off Gracetown when a suspected great white shark bounced off another surfer's board and attacked him on Saturday morning.

The search for the shark that killed surfer Chris Boyd has resumed off Gracetown as some surfers are now calling for a cull of the large predators.

An imminent threat order issued after the shark attack was rescinded on Monday night after the Department failed to catch a shark potentially responsible for the attack.

Beaches at Gracetown have been closed again after a 5m shark was sighted this afternoon. Picture: Marie Nirmie

The Department of Fisheries advised that rangers installing beach closure signs from North Point to South Point in Gracetown following reports of a five-metre shark in the area.

WA Fisheries advised that one of its vessels is on the way to Gracetown and Surf Life Saving helicopter patrols area already underway.

Department of Fisheries Shark Response Unit spokesman Tony Cappelluti said there will continue to be a strong land, sea and air presence.

WA shark attack victim Chris Boyd, who died at Gracetown on Saturday morning.

"We have extra support with additional patrols by sea and air - extra helicopter patrols for the rest of the week with a fisheries officer in the chopper helping to identify shark species and size," he said.

"The helicopter is on call from 7am and 5pm. Fisheries boats the Geographe and Hamlin will also be patrolling the coastline.

There will also be additional coordination by Department of Fisheries' shark response officers who are working closely with local government and event organisers on the ground in the south west leading into events like the Kelloggs Ironman Smiths Beach, the Meelup Leavers event on Wednesday and the Busselton Ironman."

Earlier today, beaches in Gracetown were re-opened, with a patrol vessel from Perth and aerial surveillance continued while school leavers are in the area after Saturday's fatal shark attack

Chris Boyd surfing. Picture: Facebook

The beaches opened this morning after the imminent threat order to find the shark that killed surfer Chris Boyd was cancelled last night.

The search for the suspected great white was called off about 5pm yesterday.

Police will be in control of a school leavers party at Meelup beach tomorrow night but the Department of Fisheries will work with them to monitor the water.

Mr Cappelluti said while people needed to be cautious, there was no suggestion that the event should be cancelled.

Mr Boyd was surfing at the popular surf break Umbies off Gracetown when a shark, believed to be a great white, bounced off another surfer's board and attacked him on Saturday morning.

Beaches were closed and authorities searched unsuccessfully for the shark, which was deemed an imminent risk, but the search was called off on Monday night and the beaches were re-opened.

Lefthanders Beach with Umbies break, near Gracetown in WA's South-West. The beach has been closed again after a 5m shark was spotted this afternoon. Source: News Limited

Surfer's death 'quick and painless', doctor reveals

Meanwhile, a doctor who tried in vain to save Mr Boyd says there was little he could do but his death would have been painless and quick.

The popular father-of-two was surfing at Umbies surf break off Gracetown, in WA's South West, when the shark bounced off another surfer's board and attacked him on Saturday morning.

Anaesthetist Dennis Millard, who was surfing near Mr Boyd, says his injuries were clearly fatal.

``I think it would have been very painless and quick,'' he said.

The doctor has since bonded with the Boyd family who've described him as a ``wonderful man''.

``They're a very tight-knit family and they're obviously very distressed by what happened,'' he said.

``He was an absolute water man, who was a warrior of the ocean.''

Dr Millard also read a statement from Shae Nairn, who was surfing with Mr Boyd when he was attacked.

Mr Nairn said only he knew what happened in the water and he had done his best to convey the details to Mr Boyd's partner Krystle and the rest of the family.

The Boyd family have asked for privacy while they mourn, Dr Millard said.

The doctor, who is a keen surfer, said he was concerned about the number of shark attacks ``increasing out of proportion''.

Chris Boyd, who was killed in a shark attack on Saturday, was a keen surfer. Picture: supplied/Facebook. Source: Supplied

An imminent threat order issued immediately after the shark attack was rescinded on Monday night after the Fisheries Department failed to catch any shark that might have been responsible for the attack.

Shark Response Unit spokesman Tony Cappelluti said a great white shark was likely to have been responsible.

``We had no choice but to issue this order, especially as many school leavers are in the region at the moment,'' he said.

``The scientific advice is that some white sharks remain in the vicinity of an attack site for a period while others move on.

``There have been no further sightings of a white shark in the area and it is likely that the shark responsible for the attack is no longer in this general locality.''

Some surfers are calling for sharks larger than three metres or those that swim close to shore be culled.

The state government has indicated it will consider stronger protective options for ocean users but culling sharks is unlikely.

Mr Boyd's death is WA's only fatal shark attack this year.

It comes weeks after abalone diver Greg Pickering was bitten on the face and body by a five-metre great white while diving off the coast of Esperance.

There have been three fatal shark attacks at Gracetown in the past 10 years.

Surfer Bradley Smith was taken by a great white in 2004 and Nicholas Edwards was killed by a shark at nearby South Point in 2010.

The Department of Fisheries said it decided to rescind the order after vessels spent most of the weekend and Monday searching for sharks considered to be a threat.

Capture gear was deployed on two Department of Fisheries' vessels and aerial surveillance undertaken over three days.

Mr Cappelluti said the capture gear was identical to that used in the department's shark tagging research program.

The Department said people should continue to exercise caution when entering the water at South West beaches and preferably use patrolled beaches."

Any shark sightings should be reported to Water Police on 9442 8600.

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Australian dies in PNG plane crash

Three killed in plane crash, including an Australian ... Seven survivede the crash in a Cessna Caravan (file picture). Source: Supplied

AN Australian man is one of three people killed in a plane crash in Papua New Guinea.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the 38-year-old Victorian man was among those killed in the crash yesterday.

A DFAT spokesperson said two PNG nationals were also killed and consular officials were in contact with the man's family in Australia.

"Our thoughts are with the families of the victims,'' the spokesperson said in a statement today.

The single-engined Cessna Caravan charter plane, operated by Tropicair, crashed while flying in Gulf Province yesterday afternoon, ABC reported.

The Accident Investigation Commission says there were 10 people on board, and seven survived the crash.

Investigators have been sent to the scene.

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Nearly 200 WA cops quit force

Almost 200 police officers are set to quit the West Australian force under a voluntary severance scheme

WA Police Minister Liza Harvey, who has announced almost 200 police officers are set to quit the force. Picture: file image Source: News Limited

ALMOST 200 police officers are set to quit the West Australian force under a voluntary severance scheme designed to put more police on the streets.

Police Minister Liza Harvey says the government had approved terms to release 196 highly experienced officers who are no longer fit for "frontline duties''.

The severance payouts are set to cost about $37 million and will come from the police budget.

Ms Harvey says shipping the officers out will leave room and money to hire younger officers who can perform those duties.

``Many of these officers have served long careers in the police service but are no longer considered fit for frontline duties,'' Ms Harvey said today.

``The state government thanks them for helping make our community a safer place to live.''

The average age of the departing officers is 57, compared with the WA police's average age of 33.

Under the state government's Frontline 2020 review of the police, officers were allowed to access the severance package offered to all WA public servants earlier this year.

Under the state government's Public Sector Workforce Reform initiative, the government aims to slash 1200 jobs from across all agencies.

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Call for shark cull as search resumes

The hunt for the Great White Shark that killed a father of two continues.

THE search for the shark that killed surfer Chris Boyd has resumed off Gracetown as some surfers are now calling for a cull of the large predators.

Mr Boyd, 35, was attacked on Saturday morning while surfing at the popular Umbies break about 270km south of Perth.

The father-of-two was fatally mauled when the large shark bounced off another surfer's board and attacked him.

Mr Boyd was carried to shore, his left arm and part of his right leg gone, witnesses said.

The shark is believed to be a great white.

The search for the shark that killed surfer Chris Boyd has resumed off Gracetown as some surfers are now calling for a cull of the large predators.

Gracetown reels from fatal shock

This morning the Fisheries Department resumed the search for the shark at first light.

A department spokeswoman said the search would continue today but may be reassessed depending on what is found.

After a decade of unprecedented fatal shark attacks in WA's South West, some surfers are now calling for a cull of sharks larger than three metres.

It comes as the hunt continues for the suspected great white shark responsible for killing surfer Chris Boyd on Saturday morning.

The search resumes today for the shark that killed surfer Chris Boyd at Umbies break, Gracetown on Saturday morning.

Survivor: I knew straight away

While there have been several shark sightings in the area since the fatality, no sharks have been identified as the potential killer.

Several beaches remain closed and an imminent threat order is still in place as Department of Fisheries staff returned to the water today to reset baited hooks and lines.

A decision on whether to re-open the beaches is likely to be made about midday today.

Mr Boyd's brother, Nick, posted on Facebook at the weekend: ``Stay strong friends he was the best mate and a best brother RIP.''

Chris Boyd, pictured with girlfriend Krystle Westwood, was fatally mauled by a shark while surfing near Gracetown. Profile picture Facebook

Mr Boyd's partner, Krystle Westwood, and his parents have yet to speak publicly about their loss.

The Coolum Boardriders Club in Queensland, where Mr Boyd grew up before moving to Margaret River a year ago, hosted a drinks event on Sunday afternoon.

Attack prevention 'impossible'

Nick Boyd wrote on Facebook before the event: ``Play pennywise as loud as you can. Bring the house down.''

While many surfers and divers have said in the past that they know the risks they are taking in the water, some have now changed their mind.

Aaron Cockman, a close friend of Chris Boyd, at Gracetown. Picture: Marie Nirme.

Margaret River Boardriders Club president Tom Innes said that because great white sharks were a protected species under federal law, there were now too many of them close to shore and those larger than three metres should be culled.

``Sharks are increasing in numbers, they're attacking more people than they used to; there's obviously more sharks in the water and more aggressive larger sharks,'' he told ABC radio.

``I think these larger sharks need to be reduced in numbers.''peMr Innes said using helicopters did not set people's minds at ease and were ``wasted dollars'' because the South West region had a lot of dark reef areas where sharks were not visible.

The US-based organisation OCEARCH wants to tag and track great whites in WA as it has done elsewhere in the world.

Gallery: Pictures from the scene

But Premier Colin Barnett has dismissed that idea because WA already has a tagging system.

He also does not support culling sharks.

Fisheries Minister Troy Buswell said he would further discuss the issue with cabinet later on Monday to see what more the government could do.

He told ABC radio that if the state government was going to take a tougher stance on killing dangerous sharks that attacked people, it would have to seek approval from the federal government.

Mr Boyd's death is WA's first fatal shark attack this year.

It comes weeks after abalone diver Greg Pickering was bitten on the face and body by a five-metre great white while diving off the coast of Esperance.

WA's deadly waters

Gracetown is the site of three fatal shark attacks in the past 10 years.

Surfer Bradley Smith was taken by a great white in 2004 and Nicholas Edwards was killed by a shark at nearby South Point in 2010.

TRIBUTES FLOW FOR VICTIM

Family and friends of Mr Boyd have remembered him as a 'water man' who loved everything to do with the ocean.

Aaron Cockman, a friend and work colleague of Mr Boyd, said they were hanging out on Friday when the subject of sharks came up.

"We were having a conversation about a friend who shot a shark with a speargun," he said.

"I said to Chris 'if anyone is going to survive a shark attack it's you,' because he was such a water man."

Mr Cockman said he only found out yesterday morning about his friend's death after hearing a report on the radio.

"I'd like to send my love to his kids and especially to Nick his brother, I only saw him a month ago" he said.

Nick Boyd posted a tribute on his own Facebook page today: "Stay strong friends he was the best mate and a best brother RIP.''

Originally from Coolum in Queensland, Mr Boyd had been back in WA's South-West for about a year.

The Fisheries Dept spokesman reminded school leavers to stick to beaches patrolled by Surf Life Savers.

Today is the first official day of the annual Leavers celebrations, which sees thousands of teens flock to the South West and Rottnest to celebrate the end of Year 12.

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Trott's tour over due to 'stress'

Jonathan Trott has sensationally left the Ashes tour due to a "stress-related illness", with coach Andy Flower slamming David Warner's comments about the England batsman.

England's Jonathan Trott will return to England. AFP PHOTO / Patrick Hamilton Source: AFP

The Inside Cricket crew discuss Jonathan Trott's shock exit from the Ashes tour after revealing he is suffering from a stress-related illness.

JONATHAN Trott has dropped a bombshell on the England team by quitting the tour of Australia immediately due to a stress-related illness.

In a devastating blow to England's campaign, Trott's Ashes series is over after the classy No.3 returned home following his side's crushing first-Test loss at the Gabba.

England coach Andy Flower and director of cricket Hugh Morris informed the 17-man touring party that Trott had left Australia and will take an indefinite break from cricket.

It is the latest ruction to hit the Poms, who are attempting to pick up the pieces following their heavy 381-run loss to Australia in the Ashes opener at the Gabba.

Trott has been the backbone of England's top-order but the South Africa-born batsman said he has issues that are preventing him playing to his optimum.

England coach Andy Flower has slammed David Warner about the comments he made regarding Jonathan Trott in a press conference about the English batsman leaving the Ashes tour due to a "stress-related illness".

"I don't feel right that I am playing knowing that I am not 100 per cent and I cannot currently operate at the level I have come to expect," Trott said in a statement via the England and Wales Cricket Board.

"My priority now is to take a break from cricket so that I can focus on my recovery.

"I want to wish my team-mates all the best for the remainder of the tour."

Michael Clarke's sledge has nothing on these Ashes feuds, from a full blown Sydney riot to a fan assaulting a player.

Trott left for England last night following the team's first Test defeat against Australia, during which he played two strange innings and was shaken-up by Mitchell Johnson.

The 32-year-old registered twin failures at the Gabba, scoring 10 and 9 as he struggled with Johnson's bounce and aggression.

He was also the victim of insults from David Warner , who accused England of being "scared" of fast bowling and Trott of being "weak".

The Ashes can be a heated contest and it was on display late on Day 4 of the first test match as Australian captain Michael Clarke had some choice words for England's Jimmy Anderson.

Flower said Warner's verbal attack on Trott was not behind his decision to leave.

"Jonathan has been struggling with this condition for quite a while, we have been on tour for about a month and he has had his ups and downs through that month and it is not directly related to that (Warner's comment).

"I would also say players commenting to fellow professionals in the media is disrespectful and I think on this occasion he has got that horribly wrong."

Australia batsman David Warner states his attack on out of form Englishman Jonathan Trott was tactical and all part of the game.

Morris said England hierarchy is rallying around Trott, who has been a revelation since his Test debut in 2009, amassing 3763 runs from 49 Tests at 46.45.

"Trott is an incredibly talented cricketer who has proven himself time and again for England. The cricket side of things is unimportant now, all that matters is that Jonathan is given the time, support and space he needs to recover," he said.

"We fully support his need to leave the tour and the ECB will provide every assistance for Jonathan and his family through this period.

"Jonathan has asked for privacy and I would urge everyone to respect that."

The English have previous experiences of players suffering a stress-related disorder. Former opener Marcus Trescothick left an England tour of Australia in similar circumstances in 2006-07 .

Trott's decision came just 24 hours after former England skipper Michael Vaughan lashed his batting efforts at first drop at the Gabba.

"Trott's second innings at the Gabba was among the worst I have seen from an England No. 3 and the time has come for him to admit he has a problem against left-arm quick bowlers," Vaughan wrote in his British newspaper column.

"Trott does not need to confess to the media but he should go to the coaching staff and tell them he has an issue against that kind of bowling.

Jonathan Trott walks off as the Australian's celebrate. Picture: Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia

"You do not play shots like the ones he did on Saturday without something being seriously wrong in your mind.

"For the first time in his career Trott is facing a question mark about how he is going to cope with a crisis.

"Ian Bell, Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen have gone through that sort of period in the past and emerged stronger.

"Trott can do the same but he has hard work ahead of him because his problem is against pace and that kind of issue is so hard to resolve."

Trecothick was one of the first cricketers in the world to go public after his battle with depression against Sri Lanka in 2006 and again before the Ashes in Australia.

Jonathan Trott's Ashes tour is over after revelations the embattled England batsman is suffering from a "stress-related illness".

Speaking on BBC Radion, the former opening batsman said he felt for Trott.

"It would have been a horrible decision to make, to come out and talk about these things for the first time is tough, I'm sure he's not feeling great at all, but he's definitely made the right decision," he said.

"When you're in that state of mind you get very good at hiding these things but there comes a time where you have to talk about it. It just gets too big sometimes and the best thing to do is to take some time away from it.

"It's debilitating, it grinds you down, and its difficult to escape from, you can't get away from it in all areas of your life. There is no hiding place from it, 24/7. It's really, really tough and it will take time for him to get back on track again."

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Jet skier praised for shark bravery

NEVER FOUND: Surfer Ben Linden, 24, pictured with his girlfriend Alana Noakes, was taken by a great white shark near Wedge Island, despite frantic efforts to save him. . Source: Supplied

MATTHEW Holmes was on his jet ski when he saw a surfer being mauled by a 4m great white shark just 50m in front of him.

He took a friend to shore and then went back to help Benjamin Charles Linden, 24, but found him floating face down in the water with one leg gone and part of his other leg also missing.

Mr Holmes tried to pull Mr Linden up, but the shark bumped the jet ski.

He then saw the shark take Mr Linden's body in its mouth and swim towards the shore.

About 10 seconds later, the shark came back past Mr Holmes with its mouth closed.

Mr Linden's body was never recovered.

Ben Linden's partner relives devastating loss

WA coroner Barry Paul King concluded this month that Mr Linden died by ``misadventure'' in July 2012 near Wedge Island, north of Perth, as a result of a great white shark attack.

SAD FAREWELL: Friends of Ben Linden pay tribute to him during a memorial service.

"I commend Mr Holmes for his brave and selfless actions when attempting to assist the deceased,'' he said.

Mr King recounted how Mr Linden and his friend, Ryan James Soulis, had been surfing for about an hour and were sitting on their surfboards about 15m apart when they noticed the great white shark beneath them.

Family and friends farewell Big Red

As they began to paddle to shore, the shark circled underneath Mr Soulis and then surfaced to his right, close enough for him to feel the spray from its gills, Mr King said.

But the shark then went straight for Mr Linden.

"He knelt on his surfboard and raised his right leg out of the water to kick at the shark, but the shark attacked, taking the deceased in its mouth,'' Mr King said.

Mr Soulis looked back and saw the shark circling Mr Linden's lifeless body.

After Mr Holmes' failed attempt to rescue Mr Linden, a land, sea and air search was conducted, but nothing was found.

The only trace of Mr Linden was his shark-bitten surfboard, Mr King said.

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Rottnest toddler tragedy: coroner rules pillar unsafe

Four years after a three-year-old boy was killed in a tragic accident at a chalet at Rottnest Island, his family have been told a pillar at their chalet was built unsafely.

A FAMILY'S HEARTACHE: Michael Brasier, with his children Charlie and Sarah whose brother was killed in an accident at Rottnest Island four years ago. Source: News Corp Australia

Thomas Brasier was aged three. Source: News Corp Australia

FOUR years after a three-year-old boy was killed in a tragic accident at a chalet at Rottnest Island, his family have been told a pillar at their chalet was built unsafely.
An inquest into the death of Thomas Michael Brasier at Rottnest in October 2009 concluded today that the pillar was constructed unsafely and without proper reinforcements.

Coroner Dominic Mulligan said there were several opportunities to review flaws in the construction of the unit, which was built in 1975 and refurbished in 2006, but it was never properly improved.

"Because of the defective construction, the brick pillar was unable to resist lateral forces, such as that placed on it by the loaded hammock,'' he said.
A family holiday turned into a tragedy when a pillar collapsed and killed three-year-old Thomas who was playing on a hammock.

The Brasier family were among eight adults and 10 children who had gone to the island for a holiday.

One of the fathers attached a hammock to the pillar and a tree, and sat in it for a while, before allowing some of the children to sit on the hammock.

Less than 30 seconds after Thomas got onto the hammock with two girls, the pillar broke into three pieces, crushing him.

Thomas's father, Michael , who was a retired fireman and a practising registered nurse, tried to save his son by performing CPR before ambulance officers arrived.

Thomas' mother knew an emergency doctor on the island and he also tried to help, but commented that the injuries were among the worst he had ever seen.

The boy was flown to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital but was pronounced dead a short time later.

"I find death arose by way of accident,'' Mr Mulligan said.

He made three recommendations including that local governments responsible for issuing building permits receive details of all tie down connections for residential buildings before granting approval for projects.

Mr Mulligan also recommended local governments undertake inspections during construction of residential buildings.

He also recommended architectural drawings prepared for government bodies be archived in a central registry.

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'I just want her strangled, no blood'

AN elderly businessman instructed a hitman to strangle his estranged daughter-in-law and then bury her in a 30-foot-deep hole dug by an excavator, a West Australian court has heard.

Brian Vincent Attwell, 73, is on trial in the Albany Courthouse charged with the rare offence of attempting to procure the commission of a crime.

In his opening address today, state prosecutor James MacTaggart said the well-known local businessman was approached by a truck driver who said he desperately wanted work in the historic Great Southern town and had heard Attwell might be able to offer him employment.

Attwell agreed to meet the man, Mr MacTaggart said, but left him shocked after offering him $30,000 to kill Michelle Attwell, who the AD Contractors managing director despised intensely.

"I've got $30,000 to pay you right now. I want her gone,'' Attwell allegedly said.

Alarmed, the truck driver told police, who launched an investigation and instructed him to call Attwell back, saying he knew "a bit of a nasty bastard'' who would do it.

Attwell, who is wheelchair bound, was then called by a man named Josh, who agreed to fly to Albany from Perth to discuss the deal.

"Unbeknownst to the accused ... he was speaking to a police officer,'' Mr MacTaggart said.

Attwell then met Josh twice to discuss details and pay him a $10,000 down payment on the hit in two instalments.

He used foul names to describe his target, saying she had cost his son Ian $200,000 in a legal dispute.

"I just want her strangled, no blood,'' Attwell is claimed to have said.

But defence lawyer Tom Percy argued Attwell was simply exploring his options.

Mr Percy described his discussions with the truck driver and undercover officer as "bravado and puff, an attempt to express the depth of his frustration''.

Attwell was prone to exaggeration and bluster on matters that he felt strongly about, Mr Percy said.

And he hadn't got to the point of giving the go-ahead. The undercover police officer had never been given a detailed description of the woman, her address or a time to kill her.

Instead, he'd provided "nebulous details'', Mr Percy said.

It was no secret Attwell hated the woman, but was leaning towards having her followed, perhaps scared.

"At no stage was he actually committed to the prospect of causing her physical harm, let alone killing her,'' Mr Percy said.

"Nothing was ever concluded.

"There was a long way to go.''

The trial continues.

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Light rail project could be halved

Artist impression of a proposed light rail urban centre station. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

THE $2 billion light rail plan to connect Perth to suburban areas could stop short of the CBD.

Informed sources have told The Sunday Times that Premier Colin Barnett is becoming increasingly concerned about extending the light rail through either of the malls on Hay St or Murray St.

It comes after Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi's publicity campaign saying the project would "obliterate" foot traffic in the area and affect heritage landmarks.

Under the Government's pre-election light rail plan, a 22km network would be built from Mirrabooka to the CBD and then branch out to the western and eastern suburbs.

But, sources now say there is a widening difference of opinion between Mr Barnett and his Transport Minister Troy Buswell about the route.

The Sunday Times has been told that in the past few weeks, Mr Barnett has met with Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi to discuss the project - at which they discussed stopping the line from Mirrabooka at Kings Square, located within the Perth City Link Precinct.

Any future stops, such as the University of WA or Victoria Park, would be put on the backburner for future discussion.

It's understood Mr Barnett, who is struggling to come up with the money for the project, was sympathetic to the new plan.

Planning Minister John Day also shares concerns about running trams in Perth's busy malls.

Ms Scaffidi said yesterday: "The City of Perth would be very happy with a decision from the State Government that confirms the delivery of a Stage One of a MAX light rail service from the northern suburbs to Kings Square.

"This would see a fulfilment of a major election commitment by the Barnett Government and one that is for a service and form of public transport that we the City of Perth solidly support.

"It would leave the decision for a city route to service the central, eastern and western parts of our great city for a future time when we believe we could work on finding a better circuit system that would save our malls but also be a smarter plan to allow better services to other city precincts and future growth considerations to assist our capital city's growth needs.''

Mr Barnett has faced recent pressure from within his own party not to run trams through Perth's malls.

Upper House politician Peter Katsambanis and Perth MP Eleni Evangel have openly opposed the plan.

Mr Buswell and Mr Barnett announced the ambitious rail plan during the March election campaign, promising to start construction in 2016 and foreshadowing millions of dollars in commonwealth funding.

But new Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said he will not fund urban rail projects.

If Mr Barnett does shelve half of the light rail project, it will put him at odds with Infrastructure Australia and the Property Council of Australia, which believe that linking the CBD to the eastern and western parts of the city - particularly the universities - was vital.

"If the government stops this project at the City Link precinct it will be a disaster for the city," PCA executive director Joe Lenzo said yesterday.

"It would defeat the whole purpose of this project which was to link the northern suburbs to the CBD as well as out to the east and western parts of our city.''

Today, Mr Barnett responded to The Sunday Times story and reiterated that the project was still in the planning stages.

"I've said previously, because of some of the financial constraints on the states, we're looking at the timing of major projects," he said.

"Transport projects form part of that and decisions will be made either at next year's budget or maybe some decisions made at the mid-year review.

"But those decisions are in the process of being determined now.

"I think the important thing is it serves people within the city travelling around it.

"Now the City of Perth has argued against using the malls. The Public Transport Authority thinks that the use of the malls is absolutely essential.

"Primarily the government will make a decision but we want to make a decision that is acceptable to the City of Perth and we want to have a decision which makes best use of what will be a very big public sector investment in transportation."

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Data dummies put patients at risk

BUDGET cuts have compromised the accuracy of patient data vital to running WA's hospitals, an internal report reveals.

A Health Department memo obtained by The Sunday Times warns the recording of emergency department data by the state's public hospitals is in need of "significant improvement".

It says multiple reviews carried out between November 2011 and January this year have revealed instances of patient records being altered and even a potential breach of federal reporting guidelines.

Yet, despite conceding errors do occur, the Health Department insists its data is "generally considered to be of good quality."

Emergency department data is used to forecast demand and allocate staff and resources. It is also used to measure the performance of our state's hospitals against national benchmarks.

The January 30 memo outlines a number of concerns about how hospitals collect data, including how easily information can go missing or be accessed by unauthorised people.

The altering of paperwork at Armadale Kelmscott Memorial Hospital to "match" data entered into the computeris-based Emergency Department Information System was also highlighted.

The report said that the WA Country Health Service was possibly breaching federal reporting guidelines by classifying patients as "seen" when they had only spoken to a nurse and not a doctor.

Several health authorities blamed a lack of resources for the system's inadequacies.

"There are no dedicated EDIS data managers or site administrators at any site," the South Metropolitan Health Service said.

"EDIS data managers did exist at Fremantle Hospital and Royal Perth Hospital but were pulled due to budget cuts several years ago."

Opposition health spokesman Roger Cook said the report put serious doubt over the Barnett Government's claims that WA hospitals were meeting the Four-Hour Rule.

Officially called the National Emergency Access Target or NEAT, the Four-Hour Rule requires that 90 per cent of patients presenting to public emergency departments are transferred, admitted or discharged within four hours by 2015.

"It is clear from the Health Department document that the Barnett Government claims about how well the Four-Hour Rule is going cannot be believed," Mr Cook said.

A Health Department spokesman said it had undertaken "significant work" to rectify emergency data issues since the report, including the development of a quality assurance program and the establishment of the WA Health Emergency Department Data Standards Committee.

"Some errors in recording occur, but in the case of data for key performance indicators there are checks applied to detect arrant records," he said.

The spokesman said WA's NEAT performance was the best in Australia and denied claims EDIS data administrative positions had been lost to budget cuts.

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Complacency behind rise in drowning deaths

WA has suffered its highest number of infant drowning deaths in five years, closed coroner's case files reveal.

Five children aged under four drowned in 2012 - including four in backyard swimming pools, according to research by the Royal Life Saving Society WA.

The deaths have prompted WA Olympic swimmers and water safety campaigners to plea for parents not to be complacent as summer approaches.

They said the figures were a tragic reminder about the importance of supervision, checking pool fences, swimming lessons and learning first-aid.

It comes as Swim Australia and EnergyAustralia prepare to launch the SwimSAFER Week tomorrow aimed at stopping the growing number of drownings across the country.

In total, WA recorded 29 unintentional drownings last year, a 38 per cent increase on 2011 when 21 people died - and the highest since 2009.

The deaths of five children aged under four was the highest since 2007 and compares with a single death in 2011, the lowest in a decade.

Lauren Nimmo, Royal Life Saving Society WA's health promotion manager, said a growing population and more home pools had contributed to toddler drowning deaths.

A steady decline in the number of drownings until last year had also led to complacency about the issue, Ms Nimmo said.

"Unfortunately, the main contributing factor among under fours is a lapse in supervision from an appropriate parent or carer," she said.

"The majority, if not all, of the incidents occurred when supervision was absent. That may only be for a short period of time, but unfortunately that is when they are most likely to happen."

Children can drown in 30 seconds and in just a small amount of water, Ms Nimmo said.

Perth Olympic champion Bill Kirby said legendary water safety campaigner Laurie Lawrence broke down in tears when they recently spoke about the rise in drownings.

"There is people like him who take this to heart so much that he was actually crying on the phone just thinking about those poor kids," the 38-year-old said.

Kirby, who swam to gold at the Sydney Games in the 4x200m freestyle relay, has taught thousands of youngsters to swim after setting up Kirby Swim in 2002.

But he has also spoken to the devastated parents of drowning victims, one as a result of a faulty pool gate and another in a bath.

"I get pretty well choked up even just talking about it," the father-of-three said.

"I've seen the grief that they have had to go through. It's awful. It affects the family for a lifetime."

Kirby believes all children aged over three should be able to swim 5m, but said supervision was "10 times more important" than lessons because even well-abled swimmers can still drown.

"People get complacent and I'm guilty of that as a parent of three young children," he said.

"All my kids could swim by three, but now they are five, seven and nine I'm tempted to go and answer the phone when they are having a swim.

"But even though there is three of them, and they can all swim, I can't - it's such a silent thing that you don't hear."

More than 500 people in WA have been hospitalised from near-drowning over the past five years, including 108 cases in 2012.

Among the 29 deaths last year, 25 were male. The coroner's files also show eight deaths occurred at the home, including six in pools.

The highest number of deaths (15) was at coastal locations, including beaches, as well as on boats and rock fishing, with a further six at inland waterways.

The over 55 age group had the biggest number of drownings (10), which Ms Nimmo said were often contributed to by medical conditions.

The EnergyAustralia SwimSAFER week focuses on encouraging parents to enrol their kids in swimming lessons and knowing what to do in an emergency.

"Families should always have a first aid kit on hand, know emergency numbers, know how to administer CPR, and if a child is missing, always check water hazards first," Swim Australia chief executive Ross Gage said.

More than 300 swim schools across Australia will participate in the campaign, with children and their families learning water skills and the elements of an Emergency Action Plan including CPR.

Adrian Merrick, of EnergyAustralia, added: "We encourage all Australians to test their water safety knowledge at waterhero.com.au during SwimSAFER week to ensure they know what to do to keep their families safer around water."

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Police smash motorbike, car theft ring

Police have smashed an organised crime network that allegedly stole $500,000 worth of high-performance motorcycles and cars. Picture: file image Source: News Corp Australia

POLICE have smashed an organised crime network that allegedly stole $500,000 worth of high-performance motorcycles and cars from Perth CBD over several months.

Detectives from the Vehicle Crime Unit arrested 10 people after a six-month investigation, codenamed Operation Beaver.

Police say the group targeted high-performance vehicles, which had been ordered by "criminal associates.''

"A lot of times they were going into unit complexes, getting into secure car parks, breaking the locks and putting (the motorbikes) on the back of a ute or wheeling them out,'' Detective Sen Sgt Jason Beesley said.

"They were an organised group and they were selling off the bikes to criminal associates and other associates.''

It's understood the group stole between 30 and 40 motorbikes and many of those were rebirthed.

Police recovered about $200,000 worth of high-performance vehicles and parts during search warrants.

Several bikes were also recovered from a Malaga panel beating business.

The owner of the company has been charged.

More than 50 charges were laid against the group, including burglary, stealing motor vehicles, receiving stolen goods and drug offences.

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Ruthless Aussies take Ashes lead

Australia's players celebrate their victory in the first Ashes Test. Source: Getty Images

Australia have destroyed England by 381 runs to go one-nil up in the Ashes. Mitchell Johnson led the charge with 9 wickets for the match, as the Aussies took a giant step in their bid to win back the urn.

AUSTRALIA has won a spiteful first Ashes Test amid claims from England captain Alastair Cook their hosts had disrespected them.

Michael Clarke's men defined ruthlessness as they inflicted a 381-run four-day win.

Clarke even telling England number 11 James Anderson to "Get ready for a broken f***** arm" as Mitchell Johnson began his final spell.

Umpires were forced to calm proceedings as the sun set on a brilliant Test for Australia.

Clarke and Anderson have a heated history and Clarke admitted he felt Anderson enjoyed the art of sledging.

Despite two thunderstorms in the afternoon robbing more than two hours of play, Australia choked the life out of England with a short-ball barrage to bowl them out for 179 at the Gabba.

Australia's first Test win since January followed a 4-0 loss to India and a 3-0 loss to England this year.

Now England's players are in the selection firing line after they failed to make a dent in the fourth innings target of 561.

Michael Clarke tells Jimmy Anderson to face up against Mitchell Johnson. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

While David Warner singled out Jonathan Trott as the "weak" link on day three, several members of England's top order were reduced to shadows of their talent on day four.

Warner's claim that Trott's second innings dismissal was "pretty poor, pretty weak" and that England had "scared eyes" drew a sharp response from captain Cook post-match.

"I think the comment last night by David Warner was pretty disrespectful, to any professional cricketer really," he said.

"On the pitch it is pretty much a war.

The Ashes can be a heated contest and it was on display late on Day 4 of the first test match as Australian captain Michael Clarke had some choice words for England's Jimmy Anderson.

"There will always be a few words on the pitch and that's fine."

Clarke was adamant lines had not been crossed with the vicious sledging, some of which was clearly audible to television audiences through stump cam.

"It's tough hard fought cricket. From our point of view we've still utmost respect because England are a good team," Clarke said.

Brendon Julian and Stuart MacGill cast their eyes over all the action from the first day's play of the opening Ashes Test at the Gabba.

"There is always banter on the field. I cop as much as I give that's for sure.

"I've heard a lot worse on the cricket field than anyone in the Australian or English teams said in this Test match."

On day two, England lost six wickets for nine runs.

On day four, England lost four wickets for nine runs.

Predictably, their batsmen were easily distracted from the task at hand in their final innings.

Their quick loss of wickets began two overs after a 90-minute rain break.

Their shot selection erratic as Brisbane's weather.

Matt Prior hit an innocuous Nathan Lyon off-spinner straight to leg slip as if he was unaware a fielder was there.

Mitchell Johnson takes the match-winning catch. AFP PHOTO / Patrick Hamilton Source: AFP

Stuart Broad (out for four) and Graeme Swann (out for a duck) lasted for a combined four deliveries as Johnson intimidated them into submission.

Earlier Kevin Pietersen (out for 26) attempted to pull a Johnson short ball, which Trott should have advised him against, but only skied it to super sub Chris Sabburg at deep backward square leg.

Johnson finished the Test with nine wickets, including a second innings bag of five victims.

Only Cook made a half century for the mother country this Test.

The England captain's stoic knock proving batting was not impossible on this fast Gabba deck before he fell to Nathan Lyon for 65.

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