Fresh produce scam ‘widespread’

Police raided Safari Place in Carabooda last week. Picture: WA Police. Source: Supplied

UP to a fifth of the fresh produce sold in WA supermarkets is produced using exploited workers or cash payments to avoid the taxman, industry sources say.

And an average WA family would pay up to $20 more a week for fresh fruit and vegetables if all workers were paid award wages.

The WA fruit and vegetable industry is under the microscope after a massive raid involving more than 500 officers and nine government departments on the Le family's Perth vegetable-growing empire in the past week.

Authorities questioned 240 suspected illegal workers, many living in squalid conditions and allegedly forced to work on farms in Perth's northern suburbs for little pay.

But industry sources say it is the tip of the iceberg, with many growers using exploited workers from Asia who work below the award wage because they have overstayed visas or so they can also claim government benefits.

Cash in hand is the "standard business model" for some producers to avoid tax and superannuation payments.

One source suggests up to 20 per cent of fresh produce in WA supermarkets involved illegal workers. Source: News Corp Australia

Vegetables WA former executive officer Jim Turley said it was well known many producers did business in cash.

And a whistleblower whose wife worked at one of Perth's biggest fruit producers – which supplies Coles – said the company had been "employing illegal workers on a massive scale for years".

Regional Labour Hire managing director David Moffat, who has been providing horticulture workers for more than a decade, said dodgy operators put immense pressure on legitimate growers. He said some workers were paid $12-$14 an hour – below the $28-$30 an hour employers must pay when payroll tax, superannuation and insurance are included.

A major WA lettuce grower estimated 20 per cent of the fresh produce in WA supermarkets came from farms using exploited workers.

"And that's a conservative estimate," he said.

Ben Darbyshire, chairman of FruitWest, said apple, stone fruit and citrus growers mainly used backpackers for harvesting and "there is no question of exploitation because there is an award they are paid to".

Independent Grocers Association WA president John Cummings said he was shocked to learn of the exploitation.

A Coles spokeswoman said the supermarket had an ethical sourcing policy requiring contractors not to use child or illegal labour and to pay staff "appropriate wages".

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MH370: FBI probe death threat

Family of missing Malaysian Airlines Captain Zaharie Shah from flight MH370 pay tribute to him. Courtesy: Chumguan Phoon/YouTube

SINCE Flight MH370 vanished, life hasn't been the same for one of the passengers' girlfriends whose been robbed, had a death threat and bizarre telephone calls.

Sarah Bajc has revealed she has also been robbed twice. But she, nor the FBI can explain how the series of frightening incidents are linked to her partner Philip Wood, who went missing on the Malaysia Airlines plane.

All she knows is that they started after the plane went missing, and who ever is behind the incidents has left her very upset.

Bajc told NBC News she got an instant message warning that "I'm going to come and kill you next" about two weeks after MH370 disappeared on March 8.

The phone calls came from a China-based number, and once an FBI agent assigned to help her and Wood's family was alerted to the strange calls, they stopped.

MH370: Conspiracy theories more mysterious than the missing plane

Targeted ... Sarah Bajc and her American boyfriend Philip Wood. Picture: Sarah Bajc/Facebook Source: Supplied

A number of pornographic images and phone calls were also received from the samephone number.

"It was just another straw on the camel's back, very upsetting," Bajc told NBC News.

Bajc claims the phone calls and messages started after her apartment was robbed for the first time, two weeks after MH370 officially went missing.

"Whoever came wasn't very careful because I'm a real neat freak, so it was immediately apparent to me that some things had been moved," she said.

Still missing ... Philip Wood, an IBM executive who was aboard the Malaysia Airlines flight that went missing. Source: Supplied

"My housekeeper was out of town so it couldn't have been her and I got home before my son got back.

The password on my safe had been reset which happens when you try the wrong code three times."

"The second time was a couple weeks later and my neighbour saw two people leaving my apartment. I have no illusions of privacy here [in Beijing]."

Bajc was preparing to move from Beijing to live with her partner, a 50-year-old IBM Malaysia employee.

A mini-sub hunting for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 will be back in the search zone within days, an official said today, as the Australian ship carrying the device prepared to leave on the mission.

Australian vessel Ocean Shield is carrying the US Navy Bluefin-21 mini-sub which had been scouring the seabed for the plane until it docked to resupply early this week.

Ocean Shield was due to head backtoday to the remote area of the Indian Ocean where transmissions believed to have come from the plane's black box recorders were heard last month, a journey expected to take three days.

Once in the area, Ocean Shield will be able to deploy the Bluefin-21 to look for "any non-normal items, any metallic items", US Navy Captain Mark Matthews told the ABC.

"They'll either find something or they won't, that's about all I can box in, but what you do is you go look at your best indications and you pursue them until they're exhausted," he said.

Matthews said it was impossible to know for sure whether the signals picked up were from the plane's black box.

"It is certainly a man-made signal, but what it's from, I can't look at it and positively say, 'Hey that's an underwater locator beacon'," he said.

Extensive air and sea searches over vast stretches of the Indian Ocean have failed to find any sign of MH370 which mysteriously diverted from its Kuala Lumpur to Beijing route and is thought to have crashed far off Australia's west coast.

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Witnesses to describe ‘assaults’

Count 1

ROLF HARRIS between the 1st day of January 1968 and the 1st day of January 1970 indecently assaulted (victims name), a female person aged 7 or 8 years, by touching her inappropriately.

Count 2

ROLF HARRIS between the 1st day of January 1975 and the 1st day of January 1976 indecently assaulted (2nd victim), a female person aged 14 years, by rubbing her.

Count 3

ROLF HARRIS between the 31st day of December 1978 and the 4th day of April 1981

indecently assaulted (3rd victim), a female person aged between 12 and 15 years, by digitally penetrating her on an occasion other than in counts 4, 5 and 7.

Count 4

ROLF HARRIS between the 31st day of December 1978 and the 4th day of April 1981

indecently assaulted (3rd victim), a female person aged between 12 and 15 years, by digitally penetrating her, on an occasion other than in counts 3, 5 and 7.

Count 5

ROLF HARRIS between the 31st day of December 1978 and the 4th day of April 1981

indecently assaulted (3rd victim), a female person aged between 14 and 15 years, by digitally penetrating her, on an occasion other than in counts 3, 4 and 7.

Count 6

ROLF HARRIS between the 31st day of December 1978 and the 4th day of April 1981

indecently assaulted (3rd victim), a female person aged between 12 and 15 years,

by performing oral sex on her, on an occasion other than in count 8.

Count 7

ROLF HARRIS between the 31st day of December 1978 and the 4th day of April 1981

indecently assaulted (3rd victim), a female person aged between 12 and 15 years,

by digitally penetrating her, on an occasion other than in counts 3, 4 and 5.

Count 8

ROLF HARRIS between the 31st day of December 1978 and the 4th day of April 1981

indecently assaulted (3rd victim), a female person aged between 12 and 15 years, by performing oral sex on her, on an occasion other than in count 6.

Count 9

ROLF HARRIS between the 1st day of January 1984 and the 1st day of January 1985 indecently assaulted (3rd victim), a female person aged 19 years, by touching her inappropriately.

Count 10

ROLF HARRIS on the 31st of May 1986 indecently assaulted (4th victim), a female

person aged 14 years, by touching her inappropriately.

Count 11

ROLF HARRIS on the 31st day of May 1986 indecently assaulted (4th victim), a

female person aged 14 years, by touching her inappropriately.

Count 12

ROLF HARRIS on the 31st day of May 1986 indecently assaulted (4th victim), a

female person aged 14 years, by digitally penetrating her.

FULL COVERAGE

GROOMING GIRLS: Harris a Jekyll and Hyde character

APOLOGETIC: Harris wrote to father of alleged victim

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West Aussies spend most on mum

West Aussies will spend the most on mum this Mother's Day. Source: Supplied

WEST Australians have a mother complex.

A new study has found sandgropers will spend on average $67.10 each celebrating Mother's Day today — the highest spend per person in the country.

It's 20 per cent more than South Australians, whose residents average the lowest at $56.20.

But community leaders are urging West Australians to do more than just dip into their wallets to tell mum they love her.

Across the country Australians are predicted to spend just over $1.4 billion this Mother's Day. An IBISWorld study found most people will take their mother out for a restaurant meal, buy her flowers or give her a gift voucher.

The study found house appliances were the biggest growth market for presents, up 4.7 per cent on last year.

IBISWorld Australia general manager Dan Ruthven said many children saw homeware as "functional".

"Vouchers are a safe and easy option, especially for those struggling for ideas or time," he said.

Mr Ruthven said eating out was always popular because it took the stress of cooking away from the day.

IBISWorld senior industry analyst Sebastian Chia said West Australians would spend more than residents in other parts of Australia because wages were higher. The high cost of living also meant some products were more expensive in WA than elsewhere.

Archdiocese of Perth spokesman James Parker called on West Australians not to "cut corners" by turning only to material goods for present ideas.

"Our nation is living in an age when material possessions are easier to acquire than ever before," he said. "Gifts are great, but not at the expense of life-giving relationships."

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Troy Buswell’s gravy train trip to shame

Troy Buswell returned to Parliament in time to watch Mike Nahan deliver the 2014 West Australian State Budget. Source: News Corp Australia

BIG sections of Troy Buswell's research report justifying his expensive taxpayer-funded trip to Europe and Asia to study light rail last year are plagiarised from public websites and brochures.

A simple check using ­Google reveals many parts of the disgraced former treasurer's 20-page report have been lifted word for word from the internet.

Mr Buswell, who resigned as WA treasurer after revelations he had smashed into four cars in Subiaco while driving home in his ministerial car from a February wedding, supposedly spent three months working on the research paper – which was handed in one month overdue.

Some of the plagiarism is so blatant he did not even bother to update facts.

For example, he refers to Bombardier being part of a consortium "selected in May" to build the Gold Coast light rail system, when it should be May 2011.

● READ TROY BUSWELL'S RESEARCH REPORT

The Sunday Times ran the report through the WriteCheck software used to detect plagiarism by university students. It found 29 per cent of report into the European leg of the tour was plagiarised.

According to Curtin University's academic integrity guidelines, if more than 10 per cent of work is copied it is considered plagiarism of the "highest level" and could lead to expulsion.

Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute director Peter Newman said the extent of Mr Buswell's plagiarism was "amazing".

"We would not just fail a student who did this, but they would be expelled," he said.

The university's School of Media head Joseph Fernandez said the report was "slipshod". and would see serious consequences in a tertiary environment.

"If Mr Buswell does not respond to the questions raised by this slipshod report on his study tour the Premier should take the lead and demand a full explanation from Mr Buswell and take appropriate action," he said.

The report has no references, no minutes or specific dates for meetings with officials and no details of discussions held.

Much of the 20-page report is also taken up by captionless photographs that come with no explanation as to what is in the picture, or why it is significant.

Mr Buswell makes six short findings on light rail, which he could have deduced from his office in Perth.

One of the "key findings" is how "light rail can form a very effective component of an integrated public transport system".

Another is that "over time" light rail "can become an embedded part of the community".

Opposition transport spokesman Ken Travers last night said Mr Buswell "should have stayed home and saved taxpayers a small fortune".

"The truth is (Mr Buswell) could have put this report together without ever leaving his office in West Perth," he said.

The Sunday Times asked Jemma Green, a transport expert from Curtin University's Sustainable Policy Institute, to critique the report.

She said it resembled an "early draft".

"The report lacks any detail on how much these foreign rail programs cost, how they were financed and what value was created as a result of them," she said.

The Sunday Times revealed last week the trip cost taxpayers almost $14,000 on hotels, meals, laundry and airport transfers.

Where did Troy Buswell get his report from? Source: Supplied

Premier Colin Barnett has so far refused to release the full cost of the August-September trip, but said Mr Buswell would be made to explain the credit card bill. Yesterday he refused to comment on the study report.

The trip's itinerary included Switzerland, Germany, France, China and Hong Kong. Mr Buswell took the trip with Public Transport Authority managing director Mark Burgess.

While in Europe they were joined by Mr Buswell's then chief of staff Rachael Turnseck. In Asia they were joined by Department of Fisheries director-general Stuart Smith.

Mr Buswell returned to ­Parliament this week for the first time since his resignation as treasurer, which followed a mental health breakdown.

He refused to answer questions about whether he was drunk when he drove from the wedding.

Mr Buswell said he had been diagnosed with bipolar depression, but was looking to forward to life as a backbencher serving Vasse.

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Thugs kill school’s 14 pet chickens

A GRAFFITI tag might be the key to discovering the people behind a shocking attack that saw 14 pet chickens at a Perth primary school killed.

The dead chickens were discovered at St Brigid's Primary School in Middle Swan on Monday and had apparently been killed over the weekend.

Police say the killers left behind a graffiti tag on the chicken coop, and identifying the tagger might help them find the culprit.

The RSPCA is also investigating the incident.

A spokesman from the RSPCA said the cause of death of the chooks was not yet known, because the school gardener — in an effort to protect the students from a traumatic sight — had already buried the animals by the time investigators arrived.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Where to buy for less than $430,000

MEDIAN UNIT PRICES BELOW $430,000

Source: RP Data. All data is to February 2014.

Suburb Median Sale Price

(12 months)

ARMADALE $276,000

BALDIVIS $415,000

BALGA $307,000

BALLAJURA $342,500

BASSENDEAN $392,500

BAYSWATER $290,000

BECKENHAM $363,000

BELMONT $417,000

BENTLEY $420,000

BERTRAM $293,250

BIBRA LAKE $346,000

CANNINGTON $405,000

CLARKSON $395,000

COCKBURN CENTRAL $427,000

COOLBELLUP $324,500

CURRAMBINE $385,000

DIANELLA $400,000

EAST VICTORIA PARK $427,500

FORRESTFIELD $319,750

GIRRAWHEEN $310,000

GLENDALOUGH $325,000

GOSNELLS $315,000

HAMILTON HILL $388,000

INGLEWOOD $353,500

JOLIMONT $405,000

JOONDALUP $415,000

JOONDANNA $410,000

KALLAROO $390,000

KARDINYA $406,000

KELMSCOTT $312,000

KEWDALE $410,000

KINGSLEY $390,000

LANGFORD $335,000

LATHLAIN $358,500

LOCKRIDGE $311,000

MADDINGTON $310,000

MAYLANDS $394,000

MIDLAND $355,000

MORLEY $357,500

MOSMAN PARK $370,000

MOUNT LAWLEY $425,000

NOLLAMARA $420,000

NORANDA $375,000

ORELIA $192,500

OSBORNE PARK $345,000

QUEENS PARK $411,000

REDCLIFFE $362,500

RIVERVALE $375,000

ROCKINGHAM $300,000

SAFETY BAY $310,000

SAINT JAMES $416,500

SEVILLE GROVE $299,250

SHOALWATER $255,000

SORRENTO $345,000

SPEARWOOD $335,000

THORNLIE $315,000

TUART HILL $390,000

VICTORIA PARK $395,000

WAIKIKI $342,000

WEMBLEY $310,250

WEST LEEDERVILLE $390,000

WHITE GUM VALLEY $235,000

WOODVALE $405,000

YOKINE $371,000

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Nic Naitanui close to $4m deal

West Coast skipper Darren Glass has backed star ruckman Nic Naitanui to return to form.

Show me the money: Nic Naitanui is close to signing a multi-million dollar five-year deal with West Coast. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper. Source: News Corp Australia

BESIEGED West Coast ruck star Nic Naitanui is on the verge of a multi-million dollar contract despite indifferent form that has bitterly divided estimates of his value in the Eagles long term plans for premiership success.

He is poised to agree to a package in the region of $4 million over five years and effectively secure the highly marketable and affable big man as an Eagle for life.

Naitanui, 24, will also get incentives if he achieves key performance assessment levels on and off the field over the length of his new contract.

He is expected to complete negotiations on a hotly debated deal and his true market value during the Eagles bye over the next fortnight.

Final negotiations are scheduled for after Sunday's clash with Greater Western Sydney in Perth.

His deal could even be announced late this week after further discussions with Naitanui's management and Eagles players return from a brief in-season break ahead of a return to duty against Collingwood in Melbourne on Saturday-week.

West Coast's Nic Naitanui - a match-winner at his best. Source: News Corp Australia

West Coast is also into formal discussions with veteran winger Matt Rosa on a deal that will keep the 143-gamer an Eagle for the rest of his career.

Rosa, 27, is tipped to sign a new three-year deal and end any prospect of the unrestricted free agent from returning to finish his playing days in his home state of Victoria.

Naitanui and his manager Paul Connors are in final stages of settling his new agreement with Eagles football heavyweights.

He will have performance-based incentives drawn into the lucrative deal that is tipped to make Naitanui the highest paid Eagle ever and on more than former pin-up star Ben Cousins and his 2006 premiership teammate Daniel Kerr.

Some of his inducements will include reaching certain amounts of games in seasons ahead, finals appearances and important finishes in club champion voting as well as pre-set performance accomplishments to be established and constantly assessed by Eagles powerbrokers.

He will also continue to receive additional AFL funded ambassadorial payments and league approved additional services partnerships, like his Channel Seven contract which are payments outside the Eagles salary cap.

West Coast management is believed to have made Naitanui his new offer with significant consideration to his undoubted playing potential and on reference back to the last season when he was fully fit in 2012 and was chosen as all-Australian ruckman.

He has had a disrupted start to the 2014 home-and-away season under new coach Adam Simpson after a second straight horror summer training schedule severely disrupted by serious groin problems.

He is playing under severe duress this season with further groin complications.

The potentially imposing enforcer staggered through just 11 matches last year on the back of a highly compromised off-season training and a late decision for surgery which forced a significantly delayed start to the 2013 campaign in Round 6.

In each of the last two summer programs he has significantly lacked critical foundation fitness, which is now affecting Naitanui's overall endurance levels and capacity to run out games.

He has averaged around 10 possessions and just 14 hit outs a game so far this season amid widespread condemnation of his lack of productivity.

Top analysts and commentators are distinctly separated on opinion of his true worth with hard hitting commentators like Brownlow medallist Brad Hardie and former Essendon goalkicking ace Matthew Lloyd calling for the hulking Naitanui to be dropped last month.

He has averaged just 10 possession an outing so far this season with only 14 hit outs with about one mark a game through seven engagements ahead of today's clash with fledgling Greater Western Sydney at Patersons Stadium.

He has booted just one goal (1.3) this season as criticism of his form has raged through AFL circles and whether the gigantic budding ruck star is worth approaching $1 million a season on potential rather than proven ability.

Across his 95-game career Naitanui averages 12 disposals and two marks an outing, as well as 20 hit outs.

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Harris heads to court for sex abuse trial

Veteran Australian artist and entertainer ... Rolf Harris arrives with his wife Alwen Hughes (right) and daughter Bindi (left) at Southwark Crown Court in central London. Picture: Leon Neal Source: AFP

AUSTRALIAN entertainment icon Rolf Harris has arrived at court to stand trial for allegedly indecently assaulting four girls.

His alleged history of sexual abuse began with an indecent assault of a pre-teen girl as early as 1968, the year he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire.

Mr Harris, who is facing the opening of his sex-abuse trial in Southwark Crown Court, London, has pleaded not guilty to 12 charges of indecent assault against four girls, aged seven to 19, between 1968 and 1986.

The alleged offending occurred during the height of Mr Harris's international career which saw him celebrated in Australia, England and the US as a singer/songwriter, artist and TV host.

The now 84-year-old, from Bray in Berkshire, has consistently denied the charges against him.

Trial judge Justice Nigel Sweeney told jurors they must approach the case in an open-minded fashion, use their life experience to assess witnesses and ignore material and media coverage outside the courtroom.

Accompanied during his entrance to court by his wife Alwen, once inside the London courtroom Mr Harris sat behind the glass-walled dock and listened intently as the prosecution outlined the case against him.

The assaults against child victims were alleged to have occurred after Mr Harris rose to fame in the early 1960s with his hit song 'Tie me kangaroo down, Sport', his famous depiction of the Jake the Peg character and the international fascination in his didgeridoo and 'wobbleboard' playing.

Throughout the period of alleged offending, Mr Harris's prominence as a television personality continued to increase courtesy of the BBC1 program The Rolf Harris Show in the 1960s and 70s.

He was the subject of a This Is Your Life special and later hosted programs including Rolf's Cartoon Club and Animal Hospital.

Not alone ... Rolf Harris arrives with his wife Alwen Hughes and daughter Bindi at Southwark Crown Court in central London. Picture: Leon Neal Source: AFP

The charge sheet filed before the court lists 12 counts of indecent assault, including against a girl aged seven or eight on an occasion between January 1968 and January 1970; of a girl, 14, between January 1975 and January 1976; of a girl aged 12 to 15 between December 1978 and April 1981; of a girl aged 14 to 15 between 1978 and 1981; of a girl aged 12 to 15 between the same dates; of a girl aged 19 between January 1984 and January 1985 and of a girl aged 14 on May 31, 1986.

In 1982, Mr Harris performed at the opening of the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane.

A few years after the last alleged offence, in 1989, Mr Harris presented a child abuse prevention video called 'Kids can say no'.

A jury panel of 12, comprising six men and six women, and three additional jurors, are expected to hear evidence over several weeks.

Perth-born Mr Harris, who has lived in the United Kingdom since 1962 but regularly returned to Australia for family visits and promotional events, was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1989 and advanced to Officer (AO) in the Queen's 2012 Birthday Honours.

In 2001 he was awarded the Centenary Medal "for service to entertainment, charity and the community" and in 2005 painted an official portrait of Queen Elizabeth.

Prior to the prosecution opening, Justice Sweeney told jurors that while he was the judge of the law, they alone were the judges of the facts.

"As judge of the law, I have various duties to manage the conduct of the trial, to see fair play and to rule, typically in your absence, on any legal argument and in due course to sum the case up to you, directing you on the law that you will have to apply," Justice Sweeney said.

"As judges of the facts, your duty, pooling your common sense and experience of life, is to assess the witnesses and the other evidence that is put before you in the trial, and in due course to decide the relevant facts and thereby, having applied my directions of law, to reach a verdict according to the evidence.

"A number of duties follow from your role as judges of the facts. It's your duty to try the case on the evidence. The evidence is the evidence that you hear in this courtroom and nothing else."

He warned jurors not to discuss the case with anyone else, not to post entries on social media and not to research the case themselves.

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Where Oscar’s gunshots hit Reeva

Oscar Pistorius' defence has called an anaesthetist to testify at the double-amputee runner's murder trial.

A BALLISTICS expert testifying for Oscar Pistorius's defence has claimed the bullets that hit Reeva Steenkamp were not in the order prosecutors claimed, offering key evidence in the star's murder trial.

Wollie Wolmarans sought to show that the sequence of the bullets showed Steenkamp was reaching for the toilet door, and not putting her hands to her face defensively.

The model's final movements have been used by the defence to show Pistorius shot the 29-year-old mistaking her for an intruder, while the prosecution has sought to show he knew she was in the cubicle and wilfully fired.

OSCAR PISTORIUS: Sells luxury death house to pay for murder trial

In happier times ... Oscar Pistorius and late girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Source: AP

Wolmarans told the court that Steenkamp was close to the toilet door and leaning slightly forward when the first of four gunshots hit her hip.

The next bullets hit her arm and hand, and the final bullet hit her head as she was falling backward.

Struggling ... Oscar Pistorius listens to evidence in court during his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria, South Africa today. Picture: Themba Hadebe Source: AP

Wolmarans's testimony runs in the face of police ballistics testimony, which said one bullet missed and ricocheted off the wall, injuring Steenkamp's back and that the final bullet hit her hand and head, as she was sitting in a defensive position with her hands over her head.

The defence witness said all four hollow-point bullets hit the 29-year-old model and law graduate, saying the same bullet could not have hit both her hand and head, otherwise there would be brain tissue found on her hand.

"I would not expect that tissue to go on the wall, it would be on the inside of the hand," said Wolmarans. He said the back wounds were "consistent with falling off a blunt surface" and caused when Steenkamp fell on a wooden magazine rack in the toilet.

Evidence challenge ... Wollie Wolmarans giving evidence in the Pretoria High Court. Picture: Herman Verwey Source: Getty Images

In dispute ... ballistics investigator Captain Christian Mangena examines the evidence. Picture: Themba Hadebe Source: AFP

The state's version, that Steenkamp fell into a seated position on the magazine rack, "doesn't make sense to me," said Wolmarans.

The expert testimony bolsters the defence claim Steenkamp was reaching for the toilet door handle when she was shot by Pistorius.

The Paralympic gold medallist claims he shot his girlfriend by accident, believing her to be an intruder in his up-market Pretoria home.

In contrast, the state claims 27-year-old Pistorius shot Steenkamp in a fit of rage following an argument. If found guilty of premeditated murder, the double-amputee faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

Pistorius began the day in good spirits, cracking a rare smile in court as he greeted Wolmarans, an ex-policeman with over thirty years' experience in ballistics.

Yet as Wolmarans testified on graphic details about Steenkamp's death, the world famous athlete bent his head in the dock, shielding his eyes with his hand from photos of the bloody crime scene shown on the court television monitors.

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State Budget: Your five-minute guide

WA families to pay more under Treasurer Mike Nahan's first State Budget. Source: PerthNow

FAMILIES have been slugged with a $324 increase and the Barnett Government will sell off billions of dollars worth of assets to claw back debt. Here's a five-minute guide to the big decisions.

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Wild storm blacks out 13,000 homes

Residents were evacuated from this three-storey appartment in Cottesloe after a gust of wind tore the roof off. Picture: Theo Fakos Source: News Corp Australia

A STRONG cold front dumped nearly 50mm of rain on Perth and parts of the South West — and brought thunderstorms with destructive 100km/h winds which blacked out thousands of homes.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a Severe Thunderstorm warning for the south and south-east of the state, from Walpole to Salmon Gums east to Isrealite Bay.

The Bureau is forecasting destructive winds up to 100km/h which could cause damage to homes and property.

An earlier warning for the metropolitan area and Great Southern has now been cancelled.

Hawkstone Street's most famous resident Alan Bond gets the papers after an apartment block lost its roof across the road from Mr Bond's home. Picture: Theo Fakos

The Bureau said wind gusts of 106km/h had been measured at Busselton Jetty, 102km/h at Rottnest and 98km/h at Swanbourne and Melville Water.

At the height of the storm, 13,000 homes were without power, but Western Power, by 1pm, had restored electricity to more than 10,000 of those properties.

A three-storey apartment block in Hawkstone Street, Cottesloe, oppposite Alan Bond's house, lost its roof when a squally gust struck.

Motorists battle awful weather on the commute to work this morning, looking north on Kwinana Freeway from Cale Street, Como. Picture: Main Roads camera

Residents of the three-storey building were left shivering in the rain after strong winds ripped the roof off their building.

The apartment was evacuated this morning and Department of Fire and Emergency Service crews are on site attempting to secure the building.

The SES received 89 calls from the Perth metropolitan area reporting storm damage overnight, mostly for leaking roofs and fallen branches.

The hardest hit suburb appears to be Cockburn, which had 16 calls reporting damage.

A DFES spokesman said more calls were expected as residents awoke and inspected damage from last night's storm.

Senior forecaster with the Bureau of Meteorology, Neil Bennett, said: "A strong cold front and rain band moved over western parts of the state from late Wednesday afternoon.

"Heavy rain occurred with the rain band and Learmonth Airport recorded the heaviest fall in the State with 93.8mm, which is the wettest May day on record there (records commenced on January 1, 1945)

"The heaviest fall in the Metro area was 63.2mm at Karnet.''

"Early this morning an area of showers and thunderstorms moved aver the Metro area generating damaging wind gusts.''

13,000 WITHOUT POWER

More than 13,000 homes were without power throughout Perth, including about 2000 in Bayswater.

A spokesman from Western Power said strong wind and lightning were responsible for most of the blackouts and crews were working to have the power back as soon as possible.

More thunderstorms hit the city and southern suburbs early this morning, bringing more rain and lightning.

And the forecast for today is for more showers, isolated thunderstorms this morning, possible hail with 25-40km/h winds.

Perth can expect a top of just 19C, with a further 8mm-10mm of rain likely.

Perth received 47mm in the downpour, from around 3pm to 9am today, with Karnet in the Hills recording 63mm, Bickley 62mm and Roleystone 60mm.

Dwellingup, 100km south of the city, recorded 53mm.

Pearce, 45km inland, got 40mm, but Swanbourne recorded just over 9mm. Mandurah has had 20mm.

GODSEND FOR WA FARMERS

The rain is a godsend for WA farmers, who are enjoying one of the best starts to the grain growing season ever. After a dry start, many farmers have now received two good opening rains as they work round-the- clock to get crops into the ground.

Much of the agricultural region, from Kalbarri south-east to Esperance received at least 10mm to 15mm, with many getting much heavier falls.

In the North West, Learmonth, topped the state with 94mm.

The slow moving rain band, which hovered over the metropolitan area for much of the night from late yesterday, moved inland and delivered good rains to some parts of the Wheatbelt.

On the Midwest coast, Geraldton and nearby Badgingarra got 36mm, with most centres receiving 20mm to 40mm, at West Dandaragan. Kalbarri got 47mm.

Further inland, Cunderdin and Dalwallinu received just over 22mm to 6am today, while Southern Cross got 25mm.

In the Great Southern, Culford got 44mm, Cuballing, just north of Narrgoin, 39mm, Williams 38mm, Pingelly 36mm and Wickepin 35mm.

Wandering, 120km south-east of Perth, had 34mm and Katanning 22mm.

In the South West, many centres received between 25mm-45mm with Harvey getting 47mm, Donnybrook 46mm, North Boyanup 42mm. Collie received 29mm and Witchcliffe 28mm. Bunbury had 26mm.

There are more showers forecast for today, with conditions expected to ease later in the day.

Residents were evacuated from this three-storey appartment in Cottesloe after a gust of wind tore the roof off. Picture: Theo Fakos Source: News Corp Australia

THE WEEK AHEAD

Thursday

Min 13C

Max 19C

Showers. Chance of a storm.

Friday

Min 13C

Max 21C

Shower or two.

Saturday

Min 14C

Max 22C

Shower or two.

Sunday

Min 12C

Max 23C

Morning shower or two.

Monday

Min 14C

Max 23C

A few showers, easing

Tuesday

Min 14C

Max 21C

Partly cloudy.

Wednesday

Min12C

Max 21C

Mostly sunny

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Serco contract to be reviewed early

CCTV shows Cameron John Graham on the run in January. He and another prison kicked their way out of a Serco van in Geraldton. Source: Supplied

A REVIEW will be held into WA's court security and prisoner transport services contract two years before it is due to end.

In the Budget, the government says it will carry out a "mid-term evaluation" of the $50 million–a-year contract which is currently held by multi-national Serco.

As part of "efficiency" savings, the government says it will be evaluating programs to "identify opportunities to deliver services more efficiently and effectively" and that a "suite" of "performance indicators" for custodial services was being developed.

While the current contract with Serco is not due to expire until the end of June 2016, the Budget says a review to "inform future procurement decisions" will be held in mid-2014.

The WA Prison Officers Union, which along with the Opposition, has been calling for the government to dump Serco and hold a forensic inquiry into its policies and procedures following a series of escapes this year, says it hopes the review will not just look at costs, but also look at the quality of service delivery.

"It would be a good thing for the service delivery to be reviewed as long as that is done not just with an eye to driving down costs but also moving up quality," secretary John Welch said. "One would hope it would look at not just the question of cost but also the question of quality, and we know there have been significant concerns over a long period of time about the quality currently provided."

Maximum security prisoners Cameron John Graham and Kelden Edward Fraser escaped while under the watch of Serco on January 3. The pair managed to kick their way out of a prison van at Geraldton airport.

Two weeks later remand prisoner Bradley McIntosh-Narrier escaped from Serco guards at Joondalup hospital.

Following an investigation by the Department of Corrective Services into the Geraldton escape, it was revealed guards had left an external door open to allow for ventilation and that there was a fault with a lock on the internal door.

Serco was ordered to upgrade its entire fleet and pay more than $420,000 for the massive manhunt.

It will spend nearly $300,000 upgrading its fleet of vans.

There are provisions in WA's court security and custodial services contract that says the escape of two or more prisoners in a service year that are deemed to be the contractor's fault constitutes an "event of default".

Serco has been contacted for comment.

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Viney wins bump appeal, free to play

Melbourne's Jack Viney has been cleared to play this weekend after the AFL appeals board overturned the two-match suspension he was handed by the tribunal.

A happy Jack Viney leaves the appeal hearing at AFL House. Picture: Colleen Petch. Source: News Corp Australia

MELBOURNE'S Jack Viney is free to play against the Western Bulldogs after beating his two-match suspension for rough conduct — and the odds — at the AFL Appeals Board.

The hard-nosed midfielder said footy can "just go back to normal now" after confusion surrounding the bump was settled by last night's verdict.

Suspended on Tuesday night by the AFL Tribunal for his part in the clash that left Adelaide's Tom Lynch with a broken jaw, Melbourne appealed that decision on the grounds that "the decision was so unreasonable, that no tribunal acting reasonably could have come to that decision having regard to the evidence before it".

Viney's odds going in to the hearing weren't great given that just one of the 14 cases previously taken to this Appeals Board had been successful.

But after a 74-minute session at Etihad Stadium — heard by Chairman Peter O'Callaghan QC, Brian Collis QC and Michael Green — followed by a 14-minute deliberation process, O'Callaghan emerged to deliver the words so many in the AFL community wanted to hear.

"We have concluded that the appeal should be upheld," O'Callaghan said after noting the difficulty of the case given the "hysteria" around it.

"And while the board is not obliged to give reasons ... we will do so in due course."

A noticeably relieved Viney said afterwards: "I always thought I was in the right".

"So I'm just really glad to be able to play," Viney said.

He also said, despite enduring "a stressful week", he would be fully ready to play at the MCG tomorrow night.

Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said the club felt it was important to appeal "not only for our footy club and for Jack but for the good of the game".

FOOTBALL'S BIGGEST TRIBUNAL CASES

"There's been some confusion about our argument," Mahoney said.

"We were certainly never saying anything about the bump, we actually support the rule that if a player chooses to bump and makes head high contact that there's the chance that he may be cited.

"However our argument all along was that Jack was playing an instinctive game, he had a very limited reaction time to make a decision and it was all in protection of himself rather than going for the bump."

Did the Appeals Board get the Jack Viney decision right?

Viney's case was led by David Grace QC, who said slow motion replays of the incident gave unfair appearance of Viney's actions being "a voluntary and intentional bump".

"What happened to Mr Lynch was an accident. It wasn't in any way intended as a result of a bump," Grace said.

"Mr Viney could not reasonably foresee that the consequences of the evasive action that he took — even if it was technically described as a bump, which is not conceded (by Viney) — was within his control.

"What I submit is that the Tribunal jury ought to have so found, on the balance of probabilities, that there was nothing Jack Viney could have done to change the intentions or be able to control the actions of Lynch and (Alex) Georgiou.

"The course of action was set in train and there was nothing he could do. Half a second is what he is being criticised for. That half a second time span does not allow considered decision making to occur."

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Tough times: Families $324 worse off

Political editor Joe Spagnolo takes you through the WA State budget including the hit families will cop in the wake of increased household costs.

WA Premier Colin Barnett. Source: News Corp Australia

HOUSEHOLD annual fees and charges will go up more than $300 as part of a tough WA Budget that will also see the Barnett Government raid the Royalties for Regions scheme and sell major assets.

Releasing his first State Budget, Treasurer Mike Nahan made no excuses for a tough Budget – revealing state debt now topped the $20 billion mark.

Part of the Budget will see first home buyers no longer be exempt from the stamp duty tax for homes under $500,000. The new threshold will be $430,000.

FULL COVERAGE

● AT A GLANCE: Your five-minute guide

● BREAKDOWN: Winners and losers

● STANDARD AND POOR'S: Budget leaves WA 'open to shocks'

● HOUSING: Stamp duty hit for first homebuyers

As foreshadowed in The Sunday Times on the weekend, household fees and charges will go up by about $324 from July 1. Electricity charges alone are set to go up by about $62 a year.

The average family will now spend $5224 a year in household fees and charges (not including gas) as compared to $4900 this year.

Breaking an election promise not to raise power bills by more than the inflation rate, Premier Colin Barnett has authorised electricity hikes of 4.5 per cent per cent.

Water charges will go up 6 per cent, or $84 a year.

As well, there will be 20 per cent hikes in student fares and 5 per cent increases in the Emergency Services Levy.

And, parking in the Perth CBD will also be more expensive in 2014-15, with a $365 increase in the Perth Parking Levy over two years.

Treasurer Mike Nahan delivering his first State Budget to Parliament. Picture: Stewart Allen Source: News Corp Australia

Land tax will increase 10 per cent.

Dr Nahan tried to play down the increases by saying WA families were still well off compared to those in other states across Australia.

"If you compare the NSW basket of goods it is 40 per cent higher (than WA), " he said.

"It is (increase WA fees and charges) is what you have to do."

Dr Nahan, the fourth Treasurer for the Barnett Government since it came into power in 2008, said tough measures were needed to get the state's finances back on track.

"It's the right budget for its time," he said.

● HEALTH: Another $40m for Fiona Stanley Hospital

● STATE DEBT: TAB, port facilities in sell-off firing line

● COMMENT: WA Budget targets wrong people

Dr Nahan said the Utah Point bulk export facility at Port Hedland, Kwinana bulk terminal, the TAB, Perth Market Authority and "surplus" hospitals sites like Princess Margaret were all were likely to be sold off to pay back debt.

He would not say when the assets would be sold or how much the Government expected to reap from the fire sale.

However, informed Liberal sources have told PerthNow that the Government is hoping to get about $1.5 billion every year up until the 2017 election.

"The government will keep a close eye on the state's debt levels, and in conjunction with sound budget management, will pursue an orderly program of asset sales. This will be overseen by the Premier," Dr Nahan said.

Former treasurer Troy Buswell looks on as his successor Mike Nahan delivers the Budget he had much involvement in. Picture: Stewart Allen Source: News Corp Australia

Dr Nahan said the Water Corporation's assets, like wastewater treatment plants, were also on the radar.

In a controversial move, Mr Barnett will raid $3 billion from the Nationals' Royalties for Regions fund over the next four years – instead of their normal 25 per cent entitlement.

According to Treasury forecasts, the Nationals were entitled to $6.9 billion over the next four years in Royalties for Regions funding, but will only get $4 billion to spend.

WA's precarious financial position was highlighted by revelations WA would record a $183 million surplus for 2013-14 - well short of the $386 million forecast by Treasury last August.

The surplus is expected to drop to just $5 million in 2015-16.

● LAW AND ORDER: Police wage cap row

● TRANSPORT: Student fares up 20 per cent

● EDUCATION: Education spared further cuts

● SOCIAL WELFARE: $90m boost for child protection

State debt will tip the $22 billion mark this financial year, increasing to just under $30 billion in four years time.

Business investment is expected to drop to $60 billion over the next four years, but exports are expected to increase from $140 billion in 2013-14 to $170 billion in 2017-18.

Despite the pressure of delivering his first Budget just two months after being made Treasurer, Mr Nahan was quite relaxed.

He even referenced a few less-fortunate Liberal colleagues when recounting his reaction to being told to wipe $420 million out of the Budget two weeks ago, because a drop in iron ore prices affected projected revenue from royalties.

"So I sat down and had a bottle of wine. I wasn't driving. And no, it wasn't Grange," he said.

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Rents drop again, vacancies rising

Rents in Perth are dropping as vacancies increase. Picture: file image Source: News Corp Australia

REIWA president David Airey. Source: News Limited

HAPPY hump day, tenants — Perth rents have dropped again, according to the latest figures for April.

Rents dropped $10 to a median of $450 per week across the metropolitan area for the three months to April, data released today from the Real Estate Institute of WA shows.

There are now more than 5000 rental homes on the market in Perth, representing a vacancy rate of 4 per cent.

And instead of queues 20 deep at rental home inspections as was seen in 2012, For Lease signs can now be seen in suburbs across the city.

"Supply is now a third above where it might usually be and the number of properties for rent is around 56 per cent higher than the same time last year," REIWA president David Airey said.

"As a result we have seen the median rent slowly coming down over the last nine months, having dropped again around April," Mr Airey said.

The data shows the median weekly rent for a house is now $460 per week while apartments and units cost a median of $440 per week.

"This represents a drop of 2.2 per cent in the three months to April and 4.3 per cent over the last year," Mr Airey said.

Rents peaked in September last year at a median of $480 per week, although the market had been easing since early 2013.

Mr Airey attributed the shift in the market to the downturn in the mining sector, slower population growth and first homebuyer activity over the past year.

"Many tenants have left the rental system to buy a home of their own while interest rates are very low," Mr Airey said.

Mr Airey said it was important for landlords to understand the changed conditions and to talk with their property managers about setting the right price for new leases.

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Man denies fatal push charge

Patrick Sunill Lilii, 26, accused of fatally pushing a man away outside a Perth nightclub. Zak Harvey hit his head on the ground and died three days later. Picture: Calla Wahlquist Source: PerthNow

A MAN who allegedly pushed away a man who tried to drunkenly hug him outside a nightclub, causing him to hit his head, has pleaded not guilty to grievous bodily harm.

Zak Alan Harvey, 32, died three days after his head hit the pavement on Murray Street outside Capitol Nightclub in Perth on April 20.

Police say that Mr Harvey was intoxicated and had been trying to hug people standing outside the club.

He is alleged to have put his arms around the neck of Patrick Sunill Lilii, 26, who allegedly pushed him away, causing him to fall to the ground.

Mr Lilii today pleaded not guilty to the charge, through his lawyer, at Perth Magistrates Court.

The prosecution indicated it was considering upgrading the charges.

Mr Lilii, who was supported by family members, was committed to the District Court on July 31.

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’Hero’ acted on instinct to save teen

A good Samaritan has saved a teenager pulling him from a burning car.

An 18-year-old man is fighting for his life after he was pulled from the burning wreck of his car which was struck at high speed by a stolen car on Kwinana Freeway. Source: PerthNow

A MAN who pulled a teenager from a fiery crash, potentially saving his life, says he's not a hero and was acting on instinct.

An 18-year-old is fighting for his life after the car he was driving was struck by a stolen car at high speed on Kwinana Freeway just south of the Narrows Bridge late last night.

The teenager was driving a Suzuki Swift in the northbound lanes about 10.25pm when it struck a guard rail near the Mill Point Road entry, causing it to veer back into traffic, colliding with a Ford Festiva, which was also travelling north.

Police believe the two vehicles were travelling together, and the Festiva, which had three people on board, was stolen.

It is believed the Suzuki caught fire on impact, trapping the injured driver who was then pulled from the wreckage by Lyle Thomas.

Mr Thomas told Nine News he acted on instinct when he pulled over his car.

"I was really worried for his life, but that's really all I was concerned about," he said.

"I opened the door, undid the seat belt and I could see he was bleeding and I was worried about damaging his spine.

"I knew that he had no chance in the car. I had to move him."

Mr Thomas said others then pulled over to help, including a registered nurse.

The teen was taken to Royal Perth Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.

Two people in the stolen Festiva were arrested at the scene but they are also in hospital, believed to be suffering possible back injuries.

A third person in the Festiva fled the scene.

Police would like to speak to anyone who saw the crash or either vehicle prior to the crash. Anyone with any information is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Perth, South West face downpour

Motorists deal with stormy weather, as seen from the Main Roads camera overlooking Leach Highway this afternoon. Picture: Main Roads WA Source: Supplied

PERTH and the South West face a drenching tonight with up to 25mm tipped to fall from late afternoon today.

The first strong cold front of the season is likely to bring heavy rain to much of the south of the state, but showers will extend from as far north as Port Hedland to Israelite Bay in the south-east of the state over the next 24 hours.

Motorists are urged to take care with the weather creating treacherous road conditions during peak hour drive home.

● PERTH TRAFFIC CAMERAS: How does your journey look?

Rain in the late afternoon, possibly from around 4pm, with isolated thunderstorms is expected to deliver 15mm-25mm of rain to the city.

Perth can expect a maximum today of 23C.

Perth had 1.8mm overnight, with Bickley in the Hills getting 11.4mm to 9am today.

Perth and the South West face a drenching tonight. Picture: File image Source: News Limited

The rain will come as a blessing for grain growers, many of whom enjoyed one of the best starts to the season with falls up to 45mm in some parts last week.

A second cold front which delivers further rain would be almost too good to be true for farmers throughout the Wheatbelt.

The Bureau of Meteorology forecast for Perth is: "Cloudy. Isolated showers, increasing to rain in the late afternoon with isolated thunderstorms, gusty winds and heavy falls possible. Winds north to northwesterly 20 to 30km/h tending west to northwesterly in the evening.''

"A strong cold front and associated rain band will cross the west coast Wednesday evening, moving across the state during Thursday, producing a period of heavy rain and gusty winds.

"A weak ridge of high pressure will develop in its wake through central parts of the state on Friday with a moist westerly flow persisting over southern parts.

STATE FORECAST

Showers over central and western parts of the state west of a line from about Port Hedland to Israelite Bay. Rain, thunderstorms, moderate to heavy falls and gusty winds developing in the west late in the day.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Thursday

Min 13C

Max 20C

Rain easing. Chance of a storm.

Friday

Min 13C

Max 21C

Shower or two.

Saturday

Min 12C

Max 20C

Shower or two.

Sunday

Min 12C

Max 23C

Chance of a shower.

Monday

Min 14C

Max 23C

Shower or two.

Tuesday

Min 14C

Max 21C

Shower or two.

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Pain, no gain: Budget to hit families hard

BUDGET LOOMS: WA Treasurer Mike Nahan and Premier Colin Barnett. Source: News Limited

COLIN Barnett will announce his sixth consecutive WA Budget surplus tomorrow – but at a huge cost as he jacks up fees and charges to help pay off mounting state debt.

Government sources said new Treasurer Mike Nahan would announce small surpluses for 2013-14 and the new financial year, but was expected to deliver a tough Budget for WA families.

Sources say:

● Mr Barnett would break a key election promise by increasing electricity charges by 5 per cent, instead of the inflation rate of 2.5 per cent

● Water charges would also go up 5 per cent, as would the fire and emergency services levy and student fares would go up between 15 and 20 per cent

● The Barnett Government is expected to go against the wishes of the real estate industry by tampering with the first home buyers $500,000 transfer duty free threshold. Land tax could also go up

● In an effort to pay back state debt, which is tipped to bust the $20 billion mark for the first time in WA's history, Mr Barnett is preparing to sell off about $1.5 billion worth of state assets in 2014-15, with the Kwinana Bulk Terminal, Utah Point bulk export facility at Port Hedland and possibly the TAB set to go.

It is not known how much of the government's privatisation plan will be announced tomorrow.

● STAMP DUTY SET TO LOWER

● COMMENT: TIME FOR TOUGH LOVE

Mr Barnett today confirmed the stamp duty concession for first home buyers would change in tomorrow's Budget.

Mr Barnett told a media outlet during a question and answer session that the stamp duty concession would continue, "although we are examining the level at which it is pitched".

The Opposition also expects electricity price rises will be aggressive.

During the election campaign last year, Mr Barnett promised to keep power price rises "at or around inflation", but newly installed Treasurer Mike Nahan recently said that would be a "struggle".

The premier described the Budget as "reasonably tough ... to suit the times we're in".

"The next couple of years are going to be a little bit tougher for everyone," he said.

"But we have kept any increases in taxes and charges to a minimum."

Real Estate Industry of WA boss Neville Pozzi told PerthNow young West Australians were already struggling to enter a market where the median house price had climbed to $550,000.

He said the current regulations, which meant first home buyers paid no stamp duty on homes up to $500,000, had helped stimulate what had been a struggling market.

He said lowering the stamp duty free threshold would force many young people into the outer suburbs, which were traditionally cheaper.

"All this will do is reduce the availability of properties that first home buyers can purchase," he said.

"If the number of first home buyers falls, then it also affects trade up buyers in the market which would then have a significant knock on effect to transfer duty.

"This could yet come back to bite the government."

State opposition leader Mark McGowan said the big increases in fees and charges were "an assault on ordinary families and a monumental broken promise."

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Six armed holdups in 14 hours

A BOTTLE shop and five petrol stations have been hit by armed robberies and police believe they were the work of one man.

Police from the Regional Investigations Unit are investigating the armed holdups that occurred between 8.49pm last night and 9.52am this morning.

The robberies began at 8.49pm last night with a holdup at the Craigie Tavern Bottleshop, on Eddystone Avenue in Craigie.

Further robberies occured at 12.51am at the Gull petrol station in Burswood; 3.50am at the BP service station on Main Street in Osborne Park; 4am at the Caltex Starshop, Wanneroo Road, Northlands; 9.33am at United Petroleum, Walter Padbury Boulevard, Padbury; 9.52am at Coles Express at the corner of Marmion Avenue and Marina Boulevard, Ocean Reef.

Police believe said the offender in the holdups used a syringe in at least one of the robberies and pretended to be armed with a gun in another.

The offender was described as being in his mid to late 20s, unshaven and wearing a dark coloured hoodie.

This afternoon, police advised that they were questioning a 35-year-old man in relation to the robberies.

There was another armed holdup at about 7.05am this morning at a Caltex petrol station in Madeley but police do not believe it is linked with the other six.

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

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Was he drunk? Buswell refuses to answer

Disgraced former Treasurer Troy Buswell is refusing to say what happened on that infamous night in February when he crashed his car and left behind a trail of destruction in Subiaco.

Former WA Treasurer Troy Buswell won't comment on claims he was drunk when he crashed his car.

PREMIER Colin Barnett has denied any notion of a 'cover up' or preferential treatment for disgraced former Treasurer Troy Buswell.

In Parliament today, Mr Barnett said he did not believe it was his job to ask whether Mr Buswell had been drinking - after the Vasse MLA admitted to crashing his ministerial car on February 23.

"Give me any evidence of interference in the police investigation," Mr Barnett told Parliament.

"I have simply acted as I have seen fit at each stage as information has become available.

"I do not excuse or condone in any way whatsoever what happened leading to the damage."

• EDITORIAL: Troy Buswell must go

• SNAPSHOT: Scandals through the lens

Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said Mr Buswell's comments this morning, where he refused to answer questions about the night of Feburary 23, was not good enough.

He also took a swipe at the Premier, who said part of the MP's punishment was losing his ministerial portfolio.

"Standards are so low in the government that we have a senior minister, driving, I think, blind drunk down the streets, risking lives, damaging property, and yet the premier says he does not have to explain himself," Mr McGowan said.

"And the police minister says he does not have to explain those events.

"That is not acceptable."

Do you think, using Mr Buswell's words, that "the matter has been dealt with"?

This morning, Mr Buswell refused to say what happened on that infamous night in February when he crashed his car and left behind a trail of destruction in Subiaco.

Addressing the media, Mr Buswell said he had been diagnosed with bipolar depression, but refused to answer questions on whether he was drunk on the night.

The Vasse MLA said he was "embarrassed" and "mortified" by what had happened, saying he believed a return to work would help with his rehabilitation.

• COMMENT: Buswell might as well have said nothing

• OVERSEAS TRIP: Buswell 'surprised' over $780 dinner bill

Asked why he did not speak to police about crashing his car into four other cars in Subiaco on his way home from a wedding in Kings Park, Mr Buswell said he had left it up to his lawyers to speak to investigators.

When questioned why he did not report smashing his ministerial car to the Premier or his office till March 9, the former Treasurer said he had been in hospital for several days after his "breakdown" on February 23.

Mr Buswell addressed Liberal MPs at a party room meeting this morning, some of whom have told PerthNow he needed to tell the "whole story" in order to gain any respect from the public.

Troy Buswell at his packed media conference outside of Parliament House. Picture: Marie Nirme. Source: Supplied

"Police have conducted a thorough investigation into a number of traffic accidents that occurred that night in Subiaco. Police formed a view they were caused by me, engaging in careless driving and I have accepted the consequences of my actions," Mr Buswell said.

"Police have investigated those matters ... I'm not a police officer and I'm not a lawyer from whom they would have received advice," he said.

"In my view, the matter has been dealt with."

"In relation to my health I have been diagnosed with bipolar depression, I have been receiving treatment for that from the 24th of February and that treatment is ongoing.

"I expect that treatment will continue for a long time to come.

"This has been a very difficult time for me and my family but all the advice I have from my doctor and others is returning to work is an important part of my recovery."

Heaven help me: Troy Buswell during a press conference outside Parliament House in Perth. Picture: Marie Nirme. Source: Supplied

Asked whether he was drunk on the night, Mr Buswell said: "The police have conducted an investigation and charged me with a range of driving offences and I accept responsibility for my actions. I have no more comment to make around events surrounding those matters.

"I am embarrassed and mortified that this happened, and I apologise and will continue to apologise to those people whom this has impacted."

Asked why he did not speak to police, Mr Buswell said: "Like a lot of people in those circumstances where there was a police investigation I engaged a lawyer and that lawyer basically communicated on my behalf to police."

Mr Buswell said that following the crash he was in hospital for "some 10 days" and was not in a state of mind to report the crash to the Premier, till March 9 – when police contacted Mr Barnett and his office.

In relation to who would pay for damage to the ministerial car and other vehicles, Mr Buswell said: "As I understand it Risk Cover has indicated they will assess those accidents.

"They have sought additional advice from the WA Police force but I haven't had any other contact with Risk Cover.

Feeling the strain: Troy Buswell during a press conference outside Parliament House in Perth. Picture: Marie Nirme. Source: Supplied

"I will wait until I receive additional advice from the government insurer."

Mr Buswell would not commit to completing a full term.

"I want to get better and continue serving my constituents. At the end of the day they're two simple but challenging goals," he said.

"What I can guarantee is that my full focus is on getting better and my focus is on continuing to provide the very best level of service I can to my constituents."

Mr Buswell was spotted riding his bush bike to a gym in Northbridge. Later, he walked to Parliament.

He said he may apply for an extraordinary licence.

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Buswell ‘surprised’ over $780 bill

Troy Buswell and his chief-of-staff were living it large on a taxpayer-funded credit card, escaping to the French countryside during a 'fact finding.'

Former Treasurer Troy Buswell said he was surprised by $780 meal bill from his French ministerial trip. Source: News Corp Australia

The town of Vrigny in France, where Mr Buswell and two others shared a $780 dinner. Source: Supplied

DISGRACED former Treasurer Troy Buswell says he was "surprised" he racked up a $780 meal bill in the French countryside while on a taxpayer-funded trip to check out light rail.

As The Sunday Times revealed this week, Mr Buswell and his chief-of-staff Rachael Turnseck were living it large on a taxpayer-funded credit card, escaping to the French countryside during a "fact finding" light rail mission last year — at the same time that WA lost its prestigious AAA credit rating.

Credit card documents, obtained under Freedom of Information laws, show that the fallen Treasurer and Rachael Turnseck racked up almost $14,000 on hotels, meals, laundry and airport transfers during the two-week trip in August-September last year, which included time in Asia.

They dined at Tinquex where the bill for Mr Buswell, Ms Turnseck and Public Transport Authority director Mark Burgess's dinner blew out to more than $780.

At one point, Mr Buswell and Ms Turnseck toured the French countryside, staying at the tiny hamlet of Vrigny in the famous Ardennes region — which is world acclaimed for its fine dining and champagne houses, including Moet-Chandon and Veuve Clicquot.

"Well I was surprised to understand that particular amount, but more broadly in relation to government travel it is entirely appropriate for government ministers to travel," Mr Buswell told media today.

"That particular part of that trip I was in Reims (France). Why Reims — because they had a light rail system of similar scale to Perth.

"It had been delivered using a public-private partnership.

"It went through a mall through the city.

"In relation to the location, the spot where we stayed was in the greater Reims area.

"It was in a village which was a couple of decent drop punts from the edge of Reims.

"I didn't book the accommodation, that was just how it transpired."

Premier Colin Barnett is refusing to release the full report of Mr Buswell's trip, saying it will be tabled in parliament soon.

Mr Barnett is expected to announce a number of cash-saving measures in Thursday's State Budget after racking up a $20 billion state debt.

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Majestic manors at rock-bottom prices

This Bedfordale property is one of several sprawling estates that are up for sale in WA. Source: Supplied

A STRING of luxury country homes have hit the property market in the past few months, following the sale of embattled billionaire Ric Stowe's sprawling Bullsbrook mansion late last year.

Featuring 20 rooms, eight bathrooms, two pools, two helicopter pads and a polo field, the majestic Devereaux Farm, once valued at nearly $70 million, sold to mining services business owner Luke Herbert for $21.35 million in October.

A dozen or so of Perth's stately semirural homes, with land of more than 200ha in some cases and features such as indoor lap pools, libraries and expansive wine cellars, are currently up for sale.

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Garland International principal John Garland said more had been listed in the past few months than was usual for this time of year.

Sellers would normally wait until the season had broken and all the paddocks were green before putting their homes on the market, Mr Garland said.

But more were listing because of WA's transitioning economy and the desire to downsize.

Increased confidence from big sales, such as Devereaux Farm, and the addition of more buyers to the market were also key, Mr Garland said.

"There are people who are relocating due to the mining downturn, and there are more properties on the market," Mr Garland said.

"But on the flip side of that with the oil and gas interest looking to be big or bigger than the mining interest, there are people looking to shift here for that."

Other buyers who required "something above the norm" were businessmen who had found success in WA's mining boom and overseas buyers.

Buyers from South-East Asia, India, China, Europe, South Africa, and some from Canada and the USA, were looking to WA's big estates for space, lifestyle and future capital growth, Mr Garland said.

"Buyers are looking at places from 30 minutes from the city to an hour from the city," he said. "They don't need to be traditionally located in the western suburbs."

The view from a property in Bedfordale, which is attracting interest from overseas investors. Source: Supplied

Elders Real Estate agent Ian Henry said Perth's big estates weren't "running out the door", but prices were down on the height of the boom.

Mr Henry said the homes were often used by Perth's business elite as second homes or holiday getaways as an alternative to a long drive "down south".

For buyers seeking a big semirural property without the hefty price tag, there are nearly 100 homes of 2ha or more on the market for less than $1 million.

But the blocks were not for aspiring developers.

Chair of the Urban Development Institute of Australia's planning committee Jane Bennett said in most cases just one home could be put on a block, regardless of size.

"Sometimes an ancillary dwelling can be built," Ms Bennett said. "In a rural setting that might be a cottage separate to the main house."

Ms Bennett said anyone hoping to subdivide and develop should talk to their council or look up its town planning scheme, as regulations were different in almost every location.

Other policies which could affect planning were lot size, where amenities such sewage and water were located and bushfire provisions.

Ms Bennett said the recent gazetting of Mundaring's town planning scheme indicated a shift towards standardising the rules, but nothing had been articulated by the Department of Planning.

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Tour De Fridge: Drunk antics go viral

The binge drinking antics of reportedly up to 80 young Perth men on pushbikes has gone viral and has even made headlines in the UK.

WE already knew it, now the rest of the world knows it too – Perth is home to a lunatic breed of binge drinkers.

A video capturing the alcohol-charged antics of up to 80 young men on bikes has gone viral.

The 13-minute video on YouTube, called "Tour De Fridge — Ellenbrook 2014", has attracted more than 50,000 hits in its first week.

It shows a large number of young men dressed in silly outfits riding from one party to the next on pushbikes and drinking themselves stupid.

Drunken antics of Perth men was captured on a video titled "Tour De Fridge - Ellenbrook 2014" posted on YouTube.

It's believed the event occurred on Good Friday in and around Ellenbrook. It followed a similar event in 2013.

Some of the participants tried to perform stunts on their bikes while drunk.

At one point, a WA police car with two officers arrived at one of the houses.

Drunken antics of Perth men was captured on a video titled "Tour De Fridge - Ellenbrook 2014" posted on YouTube.

In another scene, a man somersaults off a roof into a small swimming pool.

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