Nurse to Hames: Cuts risking lives

A nurse has written a heartfelt letter to Health Minister Kim Hames about the effect of budget cuts at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. Picture: File image Source: News Limited

A NURSE has revealed in a heartfelt letter to Health Minister Kim Hames how budget cuts at one of WA's biggest hospitals are putting lives at risk and raising "ethical" concerns among staff.

The two-page letter, obtained by The Sunday Times, warns some of the state's most vulnerable patients are in the gravest danger.

The nurse tells Dr Hames one of Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital's most acute wards – responsible for patients with dementia, delirium and eating disorders – has been up to two nurses short for months.

It has also been forced to cut back on the use of agency nurses, who normally help cover gaps left by full-time staff. At the same time, the ward has taken on four extra beds.

"I do recognise that there was no easy way to deal with the budget cuts to the hospital, however, what concerns me, and the staff of (the ward), much more than this, is how it will affect the patients on the ward," the letter says.

"Since December 2013 the staff of (the ward) have been instructed to effect changes which resulted in (the ward) being deprived of assistants in nursing.

"This reform has been applied to several wards across SCGH."

The author goes on to say staff are no longer allowed to call in casual staff to look after patients requiring one-on-one care.

"Anorexic patients on the ward are there for extended periods of time (1-3 months) and during this time require a 1:1 Nurse Special (NS)," it says.

"Taking away the 1:1 NS has proved detrimental to their health due to the inability to prevent self-harm."

A plan to strip 250 full-time jobs from the hospital was uncovered by The Sunday Times in October.

Two weeks ago this newspaper also revealed at least 48 of the hospital's 615 beds would be cut.

Speaking to The Sunday Times this week, the nurse said she wrote the letter because she feared patients would die.

"I care about my patients and I cannot tolerate seeing them suffer," she said.

"I don't think the people of Perth actually realise what's going on and what might happen to their families when they come into SCGH."

Opposition Health Spokesman Roger Cook said the letter provided a clear insight into "how damaging" the cuts were to WA hospitals.

"It is clear that the Barnett Government and their dysfunctional decisions in health are putting patient safety at risk," he said.

"Staff are being asked to do more and more with less and less and the Barnett Government's cuts to healthcare are driving staff to the brink."

Health Minister Kim Hames said changes at the particular ward referred to by the nurse were not related to the decision to cut 250 full-time jobs.

"They relate to a decision to realign beds to better match inpatient bed demand and improve timely patient access to inpatient wards from the emergency department through this realignment," Dr Hames said.

"Realignment of beds to better match inpatient bed demand aims to responsibly deliver high quality health care within staffing levels consistent with those utilised by similar hospitals.

"Staffing of the ward is in line with other Perth hospitals with a similar patient mix as the staffing is guided by the Nursing Hours per Patient Day targets."

Australian Nursing Federation WA state secretary Mark Olson said the Government could not keep ripping money and resources from the health system without "potentially deadly consequences."

"We call on the minister to act on this desperate plea from frontline workers for more staff, because they know what West Australians need when they are at their most vulnerable, not the bureaucrats who are trying to save money before the budget, seemingly without regard for patient safety," he said.

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What to expect from The Stones

Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones will perform in Perth on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

A STUDY of set list pictures posted by The Rolling Stones on social media and the band's official website give a clear indication of what Perth fans can expect at the start of the band's Australian tour on Wednesday night.

It also allows admirers who weren't lucky enough to get tickets to the Perth Arena show a chance to play at home.

Having kicked off the "14 On Fire" world tour with their first show in Abu Dhabi last month, The Rolling Stones have been keeping the set list fairly consistent.

■ IS THIS WA'S BIGGEST STONES FAN?

Typically performing 19 songs, with the exception of a 20-song concert on their first night in Tokyo, the Stones have invariably been including their back catalogue staples, such as the 1968 single Jumpin' Jack Flash and Tumbling Dice from the 1972 classic album Exile on Main St.

The Brit rock gods have also been encouraging fans to vote for their favourite song in an online poll prior to each performance through RollingStones.com and the band's official app, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, Instagram, Tumblr and Pinterest pages.

Gimme Shelter, from the band's 1969 album Let It Bleed, was voted the United Arab Emirate's favourite Rolling Stones song. It has subsequently been included at five more shows.

The song is a shoo-in for the Perth show and likely to appear towards the end of the set.

China's Macao voted in Get Off Of My Cloud, which the Stones have churned out three times on the tour so far.

The Sunday Times is predicting the song will make the cut for the Perth show too.

While the 1969 hit song Honky Tonk Woman, which features sexual lyrics, was banned from the Shanghai show, where Street Flighting Man was voted in, it's almost certain to reappear in Perth, having been played at the other five Stones shows.

The 1966 gem Ruby Tuesday has only made two shows this year, but we're predicting it may be back for Australia.

The 1973 acoustic number Angie is another classic that has only been played twice so far but, having peaked at No. 1 in Australia, might be included.

Despite variations to the set list, the encore has repeatedly featured You Can't Always Get What You Want and (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction. This is unlikely to change.

With Mick Jagger having said it was likely the Stones would shake up the set list on tour, it remains to be seen whether the song list from last night's Singapore or the upcoming Perth show will hold any surprises.

The Rolling Stones will be performing in Perth on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

THE LIKELY SET LIST

1 Start Me Up

2 It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It)

3 You Got Me Rocking

4 Tumbling Dice

5 Get Off My Cloud

6 Doom and Gloom

7 Ruby Tuesday

8 Honky Tonk Women

9 Slipping Away

10 Angie

11 Midnight Rambler

12 Miss You

13 Paint it Black

14 Gimme Shelter

15 Jumpin' Jack Flash

16 Sympathy For The Devil

17 Brown Sugar

Encore:

18 You Can't Always Get What You Want (with the Al Khubairat Singers)

19 (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

As predicted by The Sunday Times

THE STONES BY NUMBERS:

● The Rolling Stones first visited Australia in 1965 and played three shows in Perth at the Capitol Theatre.

● Although Perth was included on the 1966 and 1973 Australasian Tours, we missed out on the Licks Tour in 2003 and A Bigger Bang Tour in 2006.

● It has been almost 20 years since the Stones were in Perth, having last played at Perry Lakes Stadium as part of the Voodoo Lounge Tour in 1995.

● The band's international touring party is made up of 117 people.

● They are playing one night only at each stop including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Hanging Rock and Auckland, New Zealand.

● Adelaide Premier, Jay Weatherill, confirmed taxpayers had spent $450,000 to lure the rockers to officially open the remodelled Adelaide Oval.

● Ticket prices for the sold-out Perth Arena show range from $200.95-$580.45, with packages starting at $575 and going up to $1275 for the VIP Tongue Pit Package, which includes early venue entry, a limited edition tour lithograph and a gift bag.

● There are more 50 listings on Gumtree for tickets to the Perth show with people asking up to $2500 for two seated tickets.

● Mick Taylor, who played with the Stones from 1969 to 1974, will be a guest at the shows.

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Buswell debacle ruins Barnett’s exit plan

It's understood Colin Barnett had been preparing to announce he would step down as Premier next year until Troy Buswell's latest crisis. Source: News Corp Australia

COLIN Barnett had been preparing to announce he would step down as Premier next year until Troy Buswell's latest crisis, The Sunday Times understands.

A well-placed Liberal source this week claimed the Premier had made up his mind in January that he would not be contesting the 2017 election.

He wanted to remain as Premier into next year – but would step down before 2016 to serve out the remainder of his political career as a Liberal backbencher.

The insider said Mr Barnett believed Mr Buswell could lead the party to the next election. But he was content to let the party choose his successor.

He was going to tell the public about his plans in the middle of this year. According to the influential Liberal, Mr Barnett's wife Lyn, his chief of staff Brian Pontifex and his confidante Narelle Cant all supported his decision to retire before 2017, telling him he "had nothing left to prove".

But Mr Buswell's resignation on Sunday – prompted by his mental breakdown and drink-driving allegations – had now scrambled the situation.

"In 2013 Barnett was cranky,'' the informed source said. "People were trying to get him to commit to run in another election and he felt pressured to do so.

"He was worried there was not a natural successor, although Troy was a backstop.

"Barnett was saying, 'I can't just leave everyone in the lurch'. He spoke to Narelle and Brian about his future towards the end of last year and told them he would think about his future over the summer break. They basically told him, 'You have served the party well for many years and there is no obligation to hang around if you don't want to'."

The source said Lyn Barnett had urged her husband to retire: "She told me he did not have anything more to prove – to anyone."

The source said Mr Pontifex had been approached by several global energy companies about a senior executive role.

Ms Cant was contemplating a role outside of politics that would allow more time with her family.

It is also understood Mr Barnett's promotion of long-feted Alfred Cove MP Dean Nalder to the Cabinet ahead of colleague Andrea Mitchell was done in the hope he would quickly become a contender for the leadership.

"A lot of people are going to be watching Dean's performance. He has only been a member of parliament for a few months, so now it will be interesting to see how he performs as a minister," a senior Liberal MP said yesterday.

"But yes, it is now out of him and Liza Harvey in regards to who will take over as leader, now that Troy is gone."

Liberal MPs close to Mr Buswell said yesterday it was "very likely" the Vasse MLA would not return to a position on the backbench.

"Troy may not want to come back," a Liberal source said. "There's no incentive for him to come back."

Mr Barnett yesterday dismissed claims he was planning to announce he would step down as Premier next year.

"I have consistently said that I would make a decision about my future one year before the next election," he said.

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Chief begged Buswell to stop drinking

Troy Buswell, Russell Gibbs, Vince Salpietro, Brett McCarthy and Michael Anghie at the February 22 wedding reception. Source: Supplied

THE chief-of-staff to former treasurer Troy Buswell begged her boss to stop drinking just hours before he allegedly had a series of prangs while driving home drunk from a wedding.

Insiders say Rachael Turnseck refused to watch her boss ruin his career at the February 22 event that led to his downfall, and left about 11pm.

Another source said they had regular "fierce fights'' about his drinking.

Despite a history that includes scandals such as chair-sniffing and bra snapping, Mr Buswell, 48, was considered one of the Liberal Party's best fundraisers, and Ms Turnseck would often chaperone him.

But at the wedding soiree of wine baron Vince Salpietro and Meme Luong, Ms Turnseck's worst fears came true.

The Vasse MP stayed to enjoy the lavish food and wine, and guests said he was in "good form'' among some of the state's most influential people.

This included property mogul Nigel Satterley and Mineral Resources chair Chris Ellison, Hawaiian property group chief executive and West Coast Eagles board member Russell Gibbs, former Eagles coach and captain John Worsfold and Australian cricket legend Adam Gilchrist.

The editor of The West Australian, Brett McCarthy, was joined by Seven West Media director Peter Gammel, Bankwest chief executive Rob de Luca and Ernst & Young managing partner Michael Anghie.

Some – such as Mr Satterley and McCarthy – were also at a 2011 Christmas party where Mr Buswell's former lover Adele Carles accused him of drunken behaviour.

On the night of the wedding, guests took in spectacular Swan River views from historic Mt Eliza House at Kings Park.

The wine was excellent and plentiful, courtesy of Mr Salpietro who owns and runs Grand Cru Wineshop and Cellars.

Mr Buswell celebrated late into the night.

He was seen outside the venue in the early hours of the morning, when he decided to get behind the wheel of his Government-issued Caprice for the 2km trip to his Subiaco home.

More than five parked cars on the route were found damaged and Mr Buswell's car was also damaged in an incident that triggered a mental breakdown.

Mr Buswell was hospitalised for 10 days before resigning from Cabinet last Sunday, and a police investigation is ongoing.

McCarthy said he was at the wedding with Buswell but he "didn't see anything that would lead me to suspect what would happen".

He said he was at the 2011 Christmas party too, but left before the alleged incident.

Mr Ellison and Mr Gibbs declined to comment.

Gilchrist and Worsfold could not be reached, while Mr Satterley said: "It was just a private wedding ... It was a beautiful wedding and, you know, that's it.''

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Murdered mum predicted own death

Selina Bello with her son. Picture: Channel 9 Source: Supplied

COMO hairdresser Angela Ferullo had a premonition that her ex-husband would end her life, telling her daughter: "He's going to kill me."

Selina Bello, the 24-year-old daughter Ms Ferullo died protecting along with her unborn grandchild, reveals this in speaking about the events that led to her 43-year-old mother's murder on June 24 last year.

Ms Bello was stabbed repeatedly in the att­ack and was told of her mother's death as she fought in hospital for her life and that of her unborn child.

"There were times when she did sort of say 'He's gonna kill me' or 'He's going to hurt me, Selina'," Ms Bello has told Channel 9's A Current Affair in her first in-depth interview.

Ms Bello, who worked as a hairdresser with her mother, was doing the hair of 67-year-old Peggy Kew when Ms Ferullo's ex-husband James Bill Payet walked in.

Selina Bello talks about the day her mother Angela Ferullo was murdered and she was stabbed at their Como hair salon. Picture: Channel 9

"I seen him out the corner of my eye as he walked past the window and my heart dropped because I just thought 'This isn't going to be good'," Ms Bello, who was five months pregnant at the time, said.

She tried to protect her mother, who was working in the back of the salon, by telling the knife-wielding Payet she did not know where she was. As Payet turned on her, Ms Ferullo ran in from the back of the salon and threw herself across her daughter. She was stabbed to death.

A Current Affair host Tracy Grimshaw said Ms Bello wanted to draw attention to the scourge of domestic violence. , who flew to Perth to interview Ms Bello, said she wanted to do the interview herself because it would help draw attention to the scourge of domestic violence in Australia. It will go to air tomorrow night.

"This is more than a story about a violent man and the tragic death of a WA woman," Grimshaw said.

Angela Ferullo, who was murdered in her Como hair salon in June 2013.

"It's a broader story of domestic abuse and domestic violence in this country. It happens behind closed doors most of the time."

Ms Bello hadn't seen the knives in Payet's hand when he walked into the salon.

"She knew that he was angry and posed a risk," Grimshaw said. "She knew he was going to hurt her mother so she said she didn't know where mum is.

"So he picked up Selina by her throat and threw her across the salon and then began attacking her. And her mother came out. It's a hell of an ordeal."

Ms Bello was stabbed five times, including in the stomach, and underwent emergency surgery.

Ms Kew, a grandmother of 10, was stabbed in the shoulder and chest as she tried to fight Payet off with a chair.

Almost nine months after the attack Ms Bello is now the mother of baby son Emilio and has returned to the salon.

Payet pleaded guilty in February to the murder of Ms Ferullo and other charges.

He is due to be sentenced in the Supreme Court in Perth in May.

● See the full interview on A Current Affair with Tracy Grimshaw on Channel 9 at 7pm tomorrow (Monday).

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Mike Nahan WA’s new Treasurer

The Opposition is calling for an independent inquiry into the Troy Buswell debacle

WESTERN Australia's current Energy Minister Mike Nahan is the state's new treasurer, following Troy Buswell's resignation after a mental breakdown.

Premier Colin Barnett's government was thrown into disarray this week when Mr Buswell resigned his cabinet roles in treasury and transport after revelations of a late-night car crash on February 23.

Mr Buswell was hospitalised for 10 days after a mental breakdown.

Police continue to investigate the car crash along with damage to other vehicles and property elsewhere in Subiaco.

Mike Nahan will be sworn in as WA's new Treasurer, pictured with Governor Malcolm McCusker.

Revealing his cabinet reshuffle decision, Mr Barnett said Mr Nahan would take over the treasury portfolio ahead of the state budget in May.

The State Opposition says Mr Nahan becomes the seventh change of treasurer in less than six years.

WA Labor leader Mark McGowan said that number was unprecedented in post-war history for the state.

New Transport Minister Dean Nalder pumps out the kilometres around his Alfred Cove electorate. Picture Theo Fakos

"Under the Barnett government, Western Australia has been dealt a revolving door of treasurers,'' Mr McGowan said.

"Today's appointment of Mr Nahan means there has now been 14 changes in treasurer in the past 40 years - with half of them occurring under Mr Barnett.''

First-term MP Dean Nalder has been elevated to the position of finance minister and transport minister.

New Transport Minister Dean Nalder and his wife Colette.

There had been speculation Mr Barnett would retain the treasury portfolio until the important upcoming state budget but instead he put a huge vote of confidence in Mr Nahan.

``It is a challenging time but in WA we have an action plan'', Mr Nahan said.

Mr Barnett said he would oversee the privatisation of WA assets as the government tries to claw back the AAA credit rating it lost last year.

Mr Nalder, the MP for the southern Perth constituency of Alfred Cove, was only elected to parliament in last year's state election after defeating incumbent independent Janet Woollard.

A former league and state footballer in WA, playing for South Fremantle, Mr Nalder was raised on a family farm near Wagin and owned and operated his own farming property before working in the banking sector.

The premier paid tribute to Mr Buswell, despite his controversial past and scandalous demise.

``Troy Buswell served the Liberal National government very well and we will miss his intellect and his capacity for hard work,'' Mr Barnett said.

``I thank him for his enormous contribution to the state and wish him all the best for the future.''

Mr Barnett said Mr Nahan's economic background would serve the state well.

``Mike Nahan has ... impressed me with his ability to work through complex financial and logistical matters in the energy and finance portfolios over the past year,'' Mr Barnett said.

``I believe he will be an outstanding treasurer.''

Mr Nalder's political pedigree was highlighted. His grandfather Sir Crawford Nalder was a deputy premier and his father, Cambell (Cambell), represented the National party in the seat of Narrogin.

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Fears MH370 ‘at bottom of sea’

WSJ's Andy Pasztor has been reporting on Flight MH370 since it disappeared. Here he explains how a plane can still transmit pings that allow investigators to track it even after its main tracking systems or transponders are shut off.

How the hunt for Flight MH370 has been dogged by confusion and contradictions.

The search for missing flight MH370 has shifted to the Indian Ocean. Investigators now fear the aircraft is languishing on the sea bed. Source: AFP

• US says Malaysian authorities detected several 'pings'
• US investigators studying radar 'blip' at 2.15am local time

INVESTIGATORS searching for missing flight MH370 reportedly now fear the aircraft is sitting at the bottom of the Indian Ocean.

The claim comes on the heels of revelations by the Wall Street Journal that MH370 sent out intermittent 'pings' transmitting the aircraft's altitude, speed and location for up to five hours after it vanished from civilian radar screens.

The WSJ reported that the final ping was sent from over the ocean, at a 'normal' cruising altitude, five hours after MH370 took off.

"There is probably a significant likelihood" that the aircraft is now on the bottom of the Indian Ocean a US official told CNN this afternoon.

Chinese state news agency Xinhua is reporting tonight that a Chinese seismology and research group detected an "earthquake wave" in waters between Malaysia and Vietnam at about 2.55am local time last Saturday.

"The sea floor event could have been caused by the plane possibly plunging into the sea," the group told Xinhua.

"The strength of the earthquake wave indicates the plunge was catastrophic."

The area is 116 km northeast from where contact with MH370 was lost and is considered a non-seismic region.

READ MORE: NEW HOSTAGE THEORY

According to sources, U.S. Investigators are looking at data transmitted by the engines on Malaysia Air Flight MH370 that may have come after the planes transponders was shut off. WSJs Jason Bellini speaks with David Sourcie, author of Why Planes Crash.

The CNN source revealed that Malaysian authorities believe several 'pings' from the plane's service data system, known as ACARS, were transmitted to satellites in the four to five hours after the last transponder signal, suggesting the plane flew to the Indian Ocean.

"That information, combined with known radar data and knowledge of fuel range leads officials to believe the plane may have made it to the Indian Ocean, which is in the opposite direction of

MH370's original route, which heighten fears of a terror hijacking, or bizarre action by the pilots," the report said.

READ MORE: A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE WITH NO ENDING

US investigators are almost certain that the dual communication modes on flight MH370 were deliberately shut down by someone on board.

They now believe the data reporting system was turned off at 1.07am while the transponder — which transmits location and altitude — shut down at 1.21am, indicating the plane did not come out of the sky because of a catastrophic failure.

However, no credible group has claimed responsibility for the plane's disappearance and there is no evidence — yet — linking the pilots, crew or passengers to any terrorist or criminal organisation.

THE MYTHS OF MALAYSIA AIRLINES' FLIGHT MH370 DEBUNKED

FLIGHT MH370 PILOT'S FINAL WORDS: "ALL RIGHT GOOD NIGHT"

According to Bloomberg, the Americans have been studying a radar blip detected hundreds of kilometres west of the plane's intended route, in the area of the Malacca Strait, at about 2.15am. There are also reports today that a second blip at 2.30am will be reinvestigated after initially being dismissed.

The Boeing 777 had enough fuel to fly the 4345km to Beijing and reserves to fly to a diversion airport.

The latest twists, in what is rapidly becoming known as one of the greatest aviation mystery of all time, have fuelled conspiracy theories.

PLANES THAT MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARED LIKE MH370

The USS Kidd was diverted from the Gulf of Thailand to the Indian Ocean where MH370 is believed to have gone down. Source: Supplied

This morning the USS Kidd was diverted from the Gulf of Thailand to help search the latest suspected crash site, an area west of Malaysia in the northern Straits of Malacca and Andaman Sea.

The Navy destroyer was sent at the request of the Malaysian government, Commander William Marks of the U.S. 7th Fleet.

"We're not out here freelancing, and it's not just something the U.S. Navy thinks and no one else," Commander Marks said.

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Buswell adviser interviewed by police

The chief of staff of disgraced former WA treasurer Troy Buswell has been interviewed by police investigating the car crash that led to his resignation.

THE chief of staff of disgraced former West Australian treasurer Troy Buswell has been interviewed by police investigating the car crash that led to his resignation.

Mr Buswell stepped down from cabinet this week following revelations he was hospitalised for 10 days after a mental breakdown in the wake of a car crash in the early hours of February 23.

He has been at a wedding reception.

Police continue to probe the events that led to Mr Buswell's car crashing into the gates of his own house, and are also investigating damage to other cars and property in Subiaco.

The debacle surrounding former treasurer Troy Buswell continues with police investigating whether he crashed into several parked cars during that drunken drive home

Rachael Turnseck was at the same wedding, leaving several hours before Mr Buswell's fateful journey home.

Premier Colin Barnett confirmed today that she had been interviewed by police.

WA opposition leader Mark McGowan is demanding a public inquiry into the events to find out whether the government had covered up a crime.

The damaged front of Troy Buswell's ministerial car, which was towed away for further police examination today. Picture: Nine News

"Driving a vehicle while extremely intoxicated is inexcusable under any circumstances. Covering up incidents around that is inexcusable under any circumstances," Mr McGowan said.

"I don't believe the excuses that are being given and there is significant evidence that needs an inquiry."

Troy Buswell, left, at the now infamous Kings Park wedding on Saturday 22nd February. Picture: NINE NEWS.

Troy Buswell's damaged Ministerial car at his Subiaco property before being towed. Picture: Matthew Poon.

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‘Beyond rehabilitation’: Killer locked up

Years before Brett Cowan abducted Daniel Morcombe he appeared in this interview from Front Up in 1999. Courtesy: SBS

Daniel Morcombe was abducted and murdered by Brett Cowan. Source: News Corp Australia

THE serial pedophile found guilty of murdering Queensland schoolboy Daniel Morcombe has been sentenced to life in prison, with the judge saying he is "beyond rehabilitation".

Brett Peter Cowan, 44, will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars.

In an emotional address, Supreme Court Justice Roslyn Atkinson set a minimum non-parole period of 20 years, but added he should never be released.

Cowan showed no emotion as sentence was passed.

Justice Atkinson was required to sentence Cowan to a non-parole period of at least 15 years, but said she felt Cowan's crimes warranted a harsher penalty.

"Everything about what you did to that child was horrific and disgraceful,'' she told Cowan in the Brisbane courtroom.

"This is not just a murder, but a terrible murder. It has had widespread and shocking impacts.''

She said it was important to also make it clear the community denounced the conduct in which he was involved and to protect the Queensland community from him.

"For the offence of murder the only sentence available is life imprisonment and yours is a case where that sentence is certainly appropriate,'' she said.

"For the reasons set out by the learned prosecutor in his addres I am able to set a parole eligibility date later than 15 years, which is the statutory minimum.''

She said in view of his criminal history and ``enormity'' of the crimes he had committed it was appropriate to set parole eligibility after 20 years served in jail.

"They should take into account that you are a plausible and opportunistic liar before they consider any view you might have about whether or not you have been rehabilitated,'' she said.

She said on count two, the charge of indecently dealing with a child, she sentenced Cowan to 3.5 years in jail to be served concurrently with the life sentence.

Justice Atkinson said she sentenced him to misconduct with a corpse at the maximum available penalty, two years in jail to be served concurrently.

She took into account 945 days Cowan had served in pre-sentence custody.

Jurors on Thursday found the 44-year-old father of three guilty of indecently dealing with 13-year-old Daniel, murdering him and interfering with his corpse after luring him from a Sunshine Coast bus stop on December 7, 2003.

The Morcombes did not wish to be present for sentencing. They were instead at a fundraising event for the Daniel Morcombe Foundation at Carbrook Golf Club.

A clearly emotional Justice Roslyn Atkinson addressed Cowan before passing sentence.

She said Cowan saw an opportunity on the day he took Daniel Morcombe.

"You were, in your own words an opportunistic offender, you were waiting for an opportunity,'' she said.

Supreme Court Judge Roslyn Atkinson made an emotional closing statement before sentencing Cowan. Source: News Limited

She said Cowan offered the boy a lift, a plausible story and told him you were waiting for a friend.

"You didn't look like a monster, you didn't look like a paedophile you looked like an ordinary persona and you persuaded him that would be a safe thing for him to do,'' she said.

Justice Atkinson said Cowan took Daniel to an isolated area off Kings Rd.

"He didn't know what your intentions were. When you got him inside, you indecently dealt with him, you attempted to pull down his pants, he was obviously horrified, he resisted and tried to run away,'' she said.

"You knew that if he ran away he would be able to identify you, your car, the place where you'd taken him, your registration number, you knew if he ran away you'd be caught so you killed him.

"Killed him because you didn't want to get caught. Killed him intending to kill him.''

MORE NEWS:

WHAT THE JURY WASN'T TOLD ABOUT BRETT COWAN

'DANIEL'S KILLER RAPED ME TOO'

SPECIAL FEATURE: CATCHING THE DEVIL

Justice has been served for the family of Daniel Morcombe, with Brett Peter Cowan found guilty of his murder

Justice Atkinson said it would have taken more than ``a few seconds'' to kill him.

"You put his body in the back of a car, drove to the old sandmining site…,'' she said.

"You covered him with branches and left him. When you returned a week later his body was for the most part gone, no doubt disturbed and torn apart by wild animals.''

She said everything about what Cowan had done to the boy was ``horrific and disgraceful''.

"This is not just a murder but a terrible murder. It has had widespread and shocking impacts of course and primarily, on his family, his parents and of course his two brothers, particularly his twin brothers.

"But you gave no thought to them and its not apparent to me that you've ever given any thought to that or to them.

"I've seen no evidence in the months you've been in this court … that you ever felt any remorse for what you did apart from feeling sorry for yourself that you might get caught.''

She said the abduction of a child in broad daylight by a stranger was very unusual and for that "we can all be extremely grateful''.

"The fear of the stranger drives fear into the hearts of everyone in the community that vulnerable children might be taken by a predator like you and dealt with in this way,'' she said.

"These are chilling and disgraceful crimes.''

Media swarm the prison van carrying Brett Cowan to jail after his sentencing Source: News Corp Australia

She said Cowan was now aged 44, but was 34 when he killed Daniel Morcombe.

Justice Atkinson said he had committed terrible crimes throughout his life, escalating in offending.

"When I talk about your upbringing of course it reminds me of other victims of these crimes: your family, your parents, siblings and most terribly your own children who will forever be associated with you and your name,'' she said.

She said Cowan's criminal history commenced when he was 17 and convicted for break and enter and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Justice Atkinson said Cowan was convicted in the District Court in Brisbane with indecent dealing with a boy under 14 on September 8, 1989, a crime committed on December 5, 1987.

She said the boy was seven-years-old and Cowan was acquitted of the offence of sodomy.

"You were sentenced to two years imprisonment,'' she said.

She said Cowan continued to offend in minor ways, but most importantly went to the Northern Territory and committed a ``horrific'' series of offences against a small boy who was only six.

"Again you just took advantage of an opportunity to commit acts of sexual violence against this child,'' she said.

Justice Atkinson said Cowan was convicted of an aggravated act of gross indecency, deprivation of liberty and another offence in relation to the offence.

She said Cowan was sentenced to seven years and ``pretended to be keen to be rehabilitated''.

"You are a convincing, plausible and adaptive liar and you are prepared to lie to advance your own interests,'' she said.

Killer Brett Peter Cowan. He is responsible for sex attacks on up to 30 children and was previously jailed for nearly killing a young boy in a brutal frenzy. Source: Supplied

"None of the Morcombe family wish to be present for the sentencing proceedings, for reasons that are personal to them,'' Crown prosecutor Michael Byrne QC said.

He said the family had asked him to pass on their gratitude to the court.

Detectives who worked the case sat in the seats at the front of the public gallery that Bruce and Denise Morcombe had filled since the commencement of the trial on February 10.

Cowan, also known as Shaddo N-unyah Hunter, stood in the prisoner's dock wearing the same grey suit jacket he has been dressed in over the past five weeks.

Justice Atkinson had words to those who called for longer or harsher sentences against sex offenders.

"People who call for longer or harsher sentences against sex offenders need to consider the evidence in this case that Mr Cowan killed Daniel Morcombe to avoid detection and if the sentence for a sex offence is the same as a sentence for murder, my concern is that would act as a perverse incentive to offenders to kill victims,'' she said.

"Killing a victim is worse than sexual offending against a victim and this case is an example of that.

"I just want to ensure that I have said that, so that those who call for greater sentencing of sex offenders have to be aware that this is not an area where there are simple solutions.

``That is not to suggest the courts should or do go easy on sex offenders whose behaviour is of course, entirely abhorrent.''

Justice Atkinson first heard then rejected an application from The Courier Mail and other media to broadcast the sentencing.

The crown prosecution had argued that Cowan should be jailed without parole for longer than the mandatory minimum 15 years.

Jurors on Thursday found the 44-year-old father of three guilty of indecently dealing with 13-year-old Daniel, murdering him and interfering with his corpse after luring him from a Sunshine Coast bus stop on December 7, 2003.

Decades before the disappearance of schoolboy Daniel Morcombe, his killer, Brett Peter Cowan was abducting and molesting children.

After deliberating for almost eight hours, the jury was discharged on Thursday after reaching a unanimous verdict.

The Courier Mail is now able to reveal Cowan's perverted sexual past, which includes horrific sex attacks on boys in Brisbane and Darwin in 1987 and 1993, for which he served nine years in jail.

During sentencing submissions before Supreme Court justice Rosyln Atkinson, crown prosecutor Michael Byrne QC argued Cowan deserved a longer sentence.

He cited Cowan's previous convictions, which the jury was not told about, including the rape of boys aged six and seven.

But Cowan's defence lawyer, Angus Edwards, argued his client deserved a more lenient sentence because he didn't intentionally kill Daniel.

Daniel's parents Bruce and Denise have tendered victim impact statements describing the anguish of losing their son at the hands of a child molester.

With Cowan present in the courtroom, Denise Morcombe described him as a ``perverted soul'' who underestimated the Morcombe family's drive to catch Daniel's killer.

"That was your mistake, you evil, evil, unhuman thing,'' she wrote.

Cowan isn't listed with the Supreme Court for Friday but a Department of Justice spokesman said the judge would be delivering a sentence.

22.16 | 0 komentar | Read More

Plane was flown towards islands

Malaysian authorities have stated that flight MH370 was flying without problem when it lost radar contact and that they are investigating all possibilities surrounding its disappearance.

Needle in a haystack ... searchers continue looking for Flight MH370. Source: AFP

• New hostage theory being investigated
• US naval ship diverted to help search

MALAYSIA Airlines Flight MH370 was deliberately flown across Malaysia towards the Andaman Islands, military radar-tracking reportedly suggests.

Two sources told Reuters that an unidentified aircraft that is believed to be Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 was following a route between navigational waypoints — indicating it was being flown by someone with aviation training — when it was last plotted on military radar off Malaysia's northwest coast.

The military radar's tracking system last plotted the unidentified plane heading towards India's Andaman Islands, a chain of isles between the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal.

Waypoints are geographic locations, found by calculating longitude and latitude, that help pilots navigate along established air corridors.

A third source familiar with the investigation told Reuters inquiries were focusing increasingly on the theory that someone who knew how to fly a plane deliberately diverted the flight, with 239 people on board, hundreds of kilometres off its intended course from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

"What we can say is we are looking at sabotage, with hijack still on the cards," said that source, a senior Malaysian police official.

All three sources declined to be identified because they were not authorised to speak to the media and due to the sensitivity of the investigation.

As a result of the new evidence, the sources said, multinational search efforts were being stepped up in the Andaman Sea and also the Indian Ocean.

US investigators are convinced the communication systems on flight MH370 were shut down by someone on board and have satellite data showing the missing plane flew on for up to five hours after it disappeared.

Intermittent data "pings" from the missing Malaysia Airlines jet reportedly gave its location, speed and altitude for an extended period after it vanished from civilian radar screens, with the last transmission putting the plane over water at a "normal" cruising altitude.

In another new development Chinese researchers detected a "sea floor event" near the waters between Malaysia and Vietnam, about an hour and 30 minutes after flight MH370 was last detected by civilian radar on Saturday, Xinhua News reported late this afternoon.

The area, 116km northeast from where the last contact with the Boeing plane was recorded, used to be a non-seismic region, according to a University of Science and Technology of China research group on seismology and physics, and could have been caused by the plane plunging into the ocean.

The increasing number of claims and contradictory counterclaims emerge as the seven-day search continues to be dogged by confusion and chaos.

READ MORE: A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE WITH NO ENDING

READ MORE: LOST PLANE — 'THIS IS NOT CONFUSION'

Sources have told America's ABC News that two communications systems on the Malaysia Airlines jet were shut down separately, more than 10 minutes apart.

The data reporting system was turned off at 1.07am, while the transponder — which continuously transmits key flight information — was shut down at 1.21am.

This would indicate the flight did not suffer some kind of immediate catastrophic failure or accident.

Despite authorities in Malaysia denying that the Boeing 777 flew on for an extended period after it was last tracked on radar en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur, unnamed US officials have said the plane did send signals to a satellite for four or five hours after it went missing.

This indicates it was still flying and may have even reached the Indian Ocean — hundreds of kilometres away to the west from its intended course.

"We have an indication the plane went down in the Indian Ocean," a senior official told ABC News.

The US Navy has diverted a ship from the Gulf of Thailand to the area to join the ever-widening search and sent a P-8 Poseidon surveillance plane.

Commander William Marks, of the US 7th Fleet, told CNN that the search remained coordinated with the Malaysian authorities, insisting the navy was "not out here freelancing''.

READ MORE: DEBUNKING THE MH370 MYTHS

As misinformation continued to swirl around, Malaysia authorities yesterday rejected reports that police had searched the home of MH370's chief pilot and attempted to debunk the theory that the plane had flown on for several hours.

They also revealed that Chinese satellite imagery, purporting to show what looked like debris in the South China Sea, was released without permission and was not connected to the search.

Change of course ... the USS Kidd has been diverted to the Malacca Strait. Source: Supplied

WHERE DID THE PLANE GO?

Many investigators now believe the plane definitely turned back from its intended route to Beijing and flew across Malaysia and the Malacca Strait, close to the top of Indonesia.

READ MORE: POLICE RAID HOUSE OF CHIEF PILOT

US officials told CNN that several "pings" which, had they connected, would have carried GPS and weather data from the airliner to satellites in the hours after it lost contact, and known radar information suggests the plane may have gone as far as the Indian Ocean.

A separate official told the AP news agency that the Boeing jet wasn't transmitting data to the satellite but sending out a signal to establish contact. Boeing offers a satellite service that can receive a stream of data during flight on how the aircraft is functioning.

Message of hope ... words of support for MH370 at Kuala Lumpur airport. Source: AP

The unnamed official said Malaysia Airlines didn't subscribe to that service, but the system was automatically "pinging" the satellite anyway.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the transmissions didn't include data about any of the plane's critical systems but did include information on the flight's location, speed and bearing.

READ MORE: WHO'S IN CHARGE? CONFUSION REIGNS

They said the final ping was sent from over water at a "normal" cruising altitude.

It remains unclear why the transmissions stopped.

Malaysia Airlines said it hadn't received any such data and Boeing has so far declined to comment.

But if all the information is correct it would mean the plane was likely still flying for up to five hours — or more than 1,600km — in the opposite direction to where it had last made contact with air traffic controllers.

WSJ has confirmed that the pilot had the ability to manually turn off the transponder on Flight MH370. A mid-air catastrophe could have destroyed it. Why is the transponder so significant? WSJ's Jason Bellini has #TheShortAnswer.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said "some new information that's not necessarily conclusive" could lead to "reallocating some assets" toward the Indian Ocean.

"We are looking at information, pursuing possible leads, working within the investigation being led by the Malaysian government, and it is my understanding that one possible piece of information or collection of pieces of information has led to the possibility that a new search area may be opened," he said.

Even NASA has now offered its support and expertise, saying it will open up images taken using its satellites and cameras on board the International Space Station, which could identify objects larger than 30 metres.

WHO TURNED THE TRANSPONDER OFF?

A source has told ABC News that US investigators are "convinced that there was manual intervention" in shutting down two communication systems on Flight MH370.

READ MORE: SAFETY RECORD OF THE 777 REVEALED

READ MORE: FINAL WORDS FROM THE COCKPIT

The data reporting system is thought to have been turned off at 1:07am — 14 minutes before the transponder. Aviation consultant John Nance said this indicates it may well have been a deliberate act.

Searching ... a Vietnamese officer uses binoculars during an aerial mission. Source: AP

The development raises the frightening spectre of some kind of hostile action on board MH370 and it is understood investigators are now deepening their inquiries into the backgrounds of all passengers and crew.

One report in local Malaysian newspaper Harian Metro says that one of the passengers was a 35-year-old Uigher, a Muslim group in the Xinjiang region of China, who had been working at a Turkish University and who reportedly has some knowledge of aircraft.

Muslim separatists from the group are suspected to have been behind a March 1 attack at a railway station which left 29 people dead and 143 wounded.

Investigators are now also considering whether the jet may have landed at any point during the four or five hour period under scrutiny.

Flying beasts ... Malaysia Airlines planes on the tarmac in Kuala Lumpur. Source: AFP

AN UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION

Malaysian authorities yesterday moved to reject many of the theories being put forward about the plane's mysterious disappearance.

They said the continued failure to find MH370 or any wreckage was a "crisis situation", promising to spare nothing in their effort to discover what has happened.

"This situation is unprecedented. MH370 went completely silent whilst over the open ocean ... this is a crisis situation. It is a very complex operation and it has not always been easy," Mr Hussein said.

READ MORE: WHAT ISN'T MALAYSIA TELLING US?

At a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said their best guess is that the plane turned back and someone turned off the plane's responder around the same time.

Eye in the sky ... a Malaysian helicopter prepares to help the search effort. Source: AP

"There is no real precedent for a situation like this. The plane vanished. We have extended the search area because it is our duty to follow every lead and we owe it to the families," he said.

"Trust me, we will spare nothing in our efforts to find MH370."

Mr Hussein and Malaysian Airlines CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya both denied reports that the plane flew on for four hours after it was last detected on radar. Some experts had earlier suggested that the plane's Rolls Royce engines continued to emit data for four hours, before the emergence of information about the satellite signals.

READ MORE: 'I SAW MH370 BURST INTO FLAMES'

"These reports are inaccurate. The last transmission form the aircraft at 1:07am which indicated everything was normal," Mr Hussein said.

Mr Yahya reiterated: "Based on our records the last AKS transmission was done at 1:07 local time. It did not run beyond that ... Rolls Royce and Boeing did not receive any further transmissions beyond the last transmission that was done at 1:07."

Well wishes ... posters and drawings in the viewing gallery at Kuala Lumpur airport. Source: AP

Mr Hussein also revealed that Malaysia was sharing sensitive military radar data with other countries, including China and the US, in a bid to track the plane's last movements.

He told reporters MH370 was fully serviced and fit to fly by maintenance records. The last routine maintenance was conducted on February 23.

Asked about reports the mobile phones of passengers were still ringing after MH370 was lost, he answered: "We are still doing some investigations on this."

EVER-EXPANDING SEARCH ZONE

More planes and ships from Indonesia and Singapore have already been called in to join the search on the western coast of Malaysia and to the north.

READ MORE: MYSTERY OF THE MISSING HOUR

India has also established a search zone in the Andaman Sea. The new area covers 35,000 square kilometres off the northern tip of Sumatra, Indonesia's largest island, also on the opposite side of Malaysia from the plane's intended path.

Despite this, Mr Hussein said the main search and rescue efforts were still concentrated in the South China Sea, closer to the plane's original flight path.

"Our main effort has always been in the South China Sea," he told a packed house of media.

Say a prayer ... Students in the Philippines light candles for Flight MH370. Source: AP

The huge search effort has so far failed to find any evidence of the plane's fate despite scouring land and sea for six days. It has been repeatedly dogged by false leads and conflicting information, drawing mounting accusations that Malaysia is bungling the response.

MH370 was last tracked on civilian radar at 1.30am (4:30am AEDT) in the South China Sea, shortly before entering Vietnamese air space.

It then disappeared from radar and a plane, believed to be the missing Boeing 777, was tracked on military radar at 2.15am in the Malacca Strait, 322 kilometres northwest of Penang.

READ MORE: HOW DID MH370 VANISH? THE THEORIES

The radar information has made sightings of a low-flying plane, in the area of Kota Baru, on the eastern side of Malaysia, near the Thai border, more credible.

Police have taken statements from more than six groups of locals in the areas of Kelantan and Terengganu, on the eastern peninsula of Malaysia, who saw an aircraft flying overhead at low altitude between 1.30am and 1.45am in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Several were fishermen in boats out at sea who are familiar with aircraft flight paths and patterns.

GLIMMER OF HOPE SNUFFED OUT

It emerged yesterday that a Chinese satellite had spotted three blips of varying sizes, the largest of which is 24m by 22m, in waters close to the jet's intended flight path. The missing Boeing 777-200ER jet had a wingspan of 60.9 metres and a length of 63.7 metres.

But the glimmer of hope of finding the aircraft was quickly snuffed out when Vietnamese authorities said the area had already been "searched thoroughly" by forces from other countries over the past few days.

Here are the top five theories circulating on-line, news and social media as to what has happened to Malaysian Airlines flight MH370.

Mr Hussein said China had told Malaysia that the satellite photos released on the website of a state oceanic agency were released "by mistake and did not show any debris".

Two Australian RAAF AP-3C Orion aircraft continue to support the Malaysian coordinated search mission.

The aircraft are operating from Royal Malaysian air force Base Butterworth, near Penang. The current Australian area of operations is to the west of Malaysia.

22.16 | 0 komentar | Read More

‘Keep our son’s killer locked up’

Peter and Catherine Godden, the parents of a 14-year-old James who was murdered by a young couple in 1997, have pleaded for authorities to keep one of their son's killers behind bars. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: News Limited

THE parents of a 14-year-old boy tortured and murdered in 1997 are pleading with authorities to keep one of their son's killers locked up.

The Prisoners Review Board is set to consider whether Richard Wells, formerly known as Richard Leatch, should be given parole after serving a minimum 17-year sentence for the sadistic killing of James Godden.

Wells and accomplice Tammie May Sherratt, both 19 at the time, were camping in bushland at Byford, southeast of Perth, when Wells knocked James off his trail bike, before taking him to their campsite.

There, James was brutally assaulted and tortured before Wells strangled him with rope and dumped his body near a creek bed.

Sherratt and Wells were both given life sentences for the shocking and unprovoked crime. Justice Kevin Parker, who sentenced the pair, described the murder as the "absolutely pointless and unjustified loss of the life of a young man who was entirely innocent."

James' parents Peter and Cathy Godden told The Sunday Times they strongly oppose Wells, now 35, getting parole when the matter comes up for review in the next few months.

As far as they were concerned, Wells had never shown any remorse.

"We want this man locked up forever in some capacity ... just as long as he does not get onto the streets," Mr Godden said this week.

"He's just too dangerous. He is a very sadistic and sick man.

"We want to keep the case fresh in people's minds because unless it is spelt out what this monster has done, it could slip through the cracks.

"What he did is just not normal behaviour.

"We were at all of his court appearances and he was giggling, arrogant and smug. It just beggared belief."

A report by the Prisoners Review Board on whether Wells is fit to be freed from jail is to be provided to the Attorney General in early September.

Mrs Godden said her son's murder had torn her family to pieces.

She could not see herself ever forgiving Wells or Sherratt.

"How could you release someone like that back into the community?" Mrs Godden asked.

"James suffered a long, drawn out torture ... I will never forgive either of them."

The couple said their position was not motivated by revenge.

"It's not about revenge, people just need to be protected," Mrs Godden said.

Sherratt, who was handed a minimum te rm of 12-years jail, has previously been refused parole. Her situation will be reviewed again in September next year.

22.16 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pregnant mum, daughter living in car

A homeless mother, who is 25 weeks pregnant, and her eight-year-old daughter have been sleeping rough in their Holden Commodore for the past two months. Picture: Stewart Allen Source: News Limited

HOMELESS pregnant mother has been living in a car with her eight-year-old daughter for the past two months in a case a State MP said would "shock" Perth.

The woman, who is six months pregnant, has been rejected for priority public housing and turned away by refuges who say they are too full.

The 28-year-old mum and her daughter have slept on-and-off in their 1996 Holden Commodore since January 3, through a scorching summer.

The vehicle has no air-conditioning and the pair can only escape the heat by parking in the shade, going for a swim or staying with friends at the weekend.

Midweek the mum parks the saloon near a children's playground in a north-eastern Perth suburb close to her daughter's primary school.

At night, her daughter places towels over the car's windows for privacy and does homework on the back seat, which is also a makeshift bed.

Their clothes and toiletries are neatly sorted in small boxes in the car's boot, along with a supermarket basket of food and a few toys.

They use the toilets at a McDonalds restaurant, shower at the school and buy takeaway meals with some of the $700 in benefits she receives each fortnight.

"My daughter sleeps on the back seat, I sleep on the front passenger seat lent back," the woman, who The Sunday Times has chosen not to name, said.

"At first she thought it was fun. It was just like a little camp-out for her. I honestly didn't think it was going to take this long to get help."

With the assistance of her local MP, West Swan's Labor MLA Rita Saffioti, she has approached eight refuges for accommodation over the past nine weeks.

They were all unable to provide shelter as they were either full or she did not match criteria, such as being a domestic violence victim.

"What do I do? I'm 25 weeks pregnant, I don't have time to wait," the woman said.

Until last July, she rented privately and worked as a phlebotomist, but lost her home when the landlord sold the property.

Unable to work due to poor health — she has Arnold Chiari 1 Malformation and suffers debilitating headaches — she couldn't afford to rent elsewhere and moved into her uncle's home.

She got pregnant soon after to man who left her and in January was kicked out of her uncle's home after a falling out.

She contacted Crisis Care at the Department of Child Protection and said she was told they were not responsible for social housing.

Referred to the Homeless Advisory Service, she was provided a list of refuges and services to contact, but has yet to find shelter.

Ms Saffioti, who secured the girl a school place, wrote to the Housing Minister Bill Marmion seeking his assistance.

In his reply, Mr Marmion said the woman's application for priority assistance was declined as officials considered she had other housing options available to her.

He suggested she consider community housing, a bond assistance loan or a subsidised property through the National Rental Affordability Scheme.

Ms Saffioti said she was "gobsmacked" a pregnant mother living in a car with her young daughter was not a priority for public housing and the Minister had lacked empathy.

"I ask, who can afford a rental on an income of just $700 per fortnight? This Government is completely out of touch with society," she said.

Mr Marmion said the situation was very sad, but it was also sad Ms Saffioti was "playing politics".

The Sunday Times contacted the woman about her situation after she posted an advert on a classifieds website asking for help.

Mr Marmion also said it was the role of the Department of Child Protection to help out families with crisis care, not the Department of Housing.

"Yes it is true that like every western democracy — we and the taxpayer are unable to provide a government subsidised home for everyone who wants one," Mr Marmion said.

"In this case the Department of Housing have offered help with bond money. However, it is my understanding that this help has been rejected.

"It is also important to note that an applicant for priority status must have 'no other viable housing options, but public rental housing'. It is my understanding that Ms X has not demonstrated an inability to secure alternative accommodation or that she has exhausted options such as bond assistance."

The woman believes she cannot afford to rent privately and fears she would fall into debt.

Minister for Child Protection Helen Morton said: "The Department for Child Protection and Family Support has provided Ms X with referrals to accommodation services on numerous occasions, which she has chosen to decline.

"I am seeking further information on why these options of either long-term or temporary accommodation were unsuitable to Ms X."

However the woman yesterday insisted: "I have not declined any accommodation. I have not been offered any accommodation."

Ms Saffioti called on anyone who is able to assist this family with accommodation to call her office on 92483822.

22.16 | 0 komentar | Read More

What worries kids: self image a primary concern

YouthCare chaplain Helen Hames at Hawker Primary School in Warwick. Picture: Theo Fakos Source: News Corp Australia

PRIMARY school students are twice as worried about their self image as their high school peers, WA research shows.

Primary pupils raised self concept and image as concerns with school chaplains during more than 2700 confidential discussions last year. This was compared with about 1100 in secondary schools.

And younger students were also more concerned about loneliness, violence and mental health issues.

But high school pupils were more likely to be raising issues around self harm and suicide, along with drug and alcohol use, and leaving home.

The latest report from YouthCARE, which provides chaplains to most of the 598 WA public schools now offering the service, details the reasons behind almost 100,000 school chaplain discussions in 2013.

Most children visited the school chaplain for a "general catch-up" (28,288), followed by issues relating to family relationships (15,750), followed by peer relationships (14,697) and bullying and harassment (7093).

Education Minister Peter Collier said the report revealed the "plethora of complex issues" that children took to school. "Gone is the notion that bullying is hitting someone in the shoulder or hitting someone in the arm," he said.

Mr Collier said almost 600 public schools now had chaplains, up from just 148 in 2007.

He denied they formed part of the "Christian indoctrination" of public schools, saying they provided a contemporary role that brought the public system into line with the private sector.

"There was a perception and I emphasise this, a perception, that private education provided more in terms of better quality pastoral care," Mr Collier said. "If we're going to do our job as a government, and do our job as a community, we must support to students who are bringing this plethora of complex issues with them on a day-to-day basis."

YouthCARE chief operating officer Fiona Beermier said many children turned to chaplains because "they're a non-disciplinarian within the school environment".

"While YouthCARE chaplains are Christian people, their role in the school is actually about providing pastoral care to the school community," she said.

LONLINESS STARTS AT HOME

HELEN Hames is working on the front-line in schools every day.

The nurse-turned-school chaplain counsels primary and secondary students at Hawker Park Primary School and Mirrabooka Senior High School.

Mrs Hames said even she was surprised by how often loneliness and self-esteem issues came up in young primary school children.

"Certainly young children do think about it perhaps even more than even I thought they would," she said.

"And I think perhaps people are so busy these days, they don't have as many people to express their feelings to because of time-poor situations or whatever it is going on at home.

"The main issues that I deal with are peer relationships and family relationships in primary schools.

"And then when we get into high school, we're dealing more with the bullying, the behavioural issues – and by that time of their life, a lot of the children have experienced some sort of grief and loss.

"I certainly find that if there are issues at home, children have trouble concentrating in class and participating in activities so having someone to voice their concerns with tends to help them settle in class and participate more actively."

Mrs Hames said personal battles, which had seen her overcome being adopted and abused, helped her connect with her students.

"I think it gives me more empathy towards children and it helps me to understand them a little bit better and help them work through their issues," she said.

"I am very busy as a chaplain. I have a lot of students, family members, members of the school community access the service and then I'm able to then refer them out to appropriate services, either within the school or outside the school."

WHAT'S WORRYING OUR PRIMARY STUDENTS:

Family relationships (11,578 visits vs 4172 in secondary schools)

Peer relationships (10,201 visits vs 4496 in secondary schools)

Bullying and harassment (4697 visits vs 2396 in secondary schools)

Self concept and image (2719 visits vs 1152 in secondary schools)

Loneliness (1497 visits vs 258 in secondary schools)

Violence (1197 visits vs 406 in secondary schools)

WHAT'S WORRYING OUR SECONDARY STUDENTS:

Self harm and suicide (1300 visits vs 458 in primary schools)

Academic issues (750 visits vs 632 in primary schools)

Sex and sexuality (609 visits vs 503 in primary schools)

Drug and alcohol use (540 visits vs 64 in primary schools)

Leaving home (250 visits vs 60 in primary schools)

TOTAL: 98,894 visits in 2013

Source: YouthCARE

22.16 | 0 komentar | Read More

Historic beams halt quay work

The works down at Elizabeth Quay have uncovered what could be a very old jetty. Workers have uncovered some very old wood pillars. Source: News Corp Australia

Men's Shed overseer measures a wood pylon. Source: News Corp Australia

WORK had to be stopped on Perth's waterfront project this week after a "sizeable wooden beam" was dug up that may have major archaeological significance.

The Sunday Times was alerted to the discovery by workers concerned about the lack of protocols around heritage on the $2.6 billion Elizabeth Quay project.

Historians and the Opposition have seized on the find to renew calls for tougher measures on-site to protect the history of the esplanade area – which dates back to 1868 and is a permanent entry on the State Register of Heritage Places for its "very high historic value".

However, this would prove a nightmare for builders and cause delays to one of the Barnett Government's most important projects.

The Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority, who is running the project, confirmed last night the wooden beam "artefact" was located during excavation works at Barrack St jetty.

"Works in the area ceased immediately and Archaeological and Heritage Management Solutions attended (the) site to assess and catalogue the artefact," MRA chief executive Kieran Kinsella told The Sunday Times.

"Under instruction from AHMS, works are continuing in order to extract the timber for further assessment and preservation."

Mr Kinsella also revealed a "series of timbers" thought to be piles from the William St wharf dated about 1900 were found late last year.

The timbers were simply "donated to a local Men's Shed who indicated they would reuse the wood to make furniture".

Mr Kinsella said the State Heritage Office was advised of the find.

Men's Shed promotions officer Brett Pollock said they received about 30 wooden pylons, each a couple of metres long.

Some of the "magnificent timber" was now being used as seats around an oval at Tom Perrott Reserve in Mosman Park.

History Council of WA president Lise Summers said she was "flabbergasted" to learn how the timber pylons had been dealt with.

"That (find) should've been made public," she said.

"Anything to do with heritage they hide away in embarrassed silence."

Dr Summers said the newly discovered wooden beam could be part of the original Barrack Square jetty, dating about 1904.

"If they found it where they are dredging now that is very much in the City Baths area (a former public swimming facility dating back to 1898 of major historical importance)," she said.

Dr Summer called for the way heritage is dealt with at the Elizabeth Quay site to be overhauled.

Opposition heritage spokeswoman Margaret Quirk said the current strategy in place at Elizabeth Quay to protect the site's history was "toothless".

"This is a registered heritage site that is being destroyed without any regard to its significance," she said.

"Finds like this are simply an inconvenience to the Government who wants to just get on with the project."

Mr Kinsella said there were "significant strategies" in place to monitor the heritage and environmental values of the Elizabeth Quay site during construction of the inlet.

"The MRA has worked closely with specialist contractors Hocking Heritage Studio and AHMS, the SHO and a range of stakeholders to inform planning for Elizabeth Quay and assist in documenting the heritage values of the site," he said.

The Sunday Times approached Planning Minister John Day for comment but was redirected to the MRA.

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Driveway tragedy: toddler hit by car

A TODDLER has died in hospital after being struck by a car, thought to be driven by her mother.

Police are investigating the death of the 16-month-old girl, who was struck by a Saab station wagon in the driveway of her Thatched Court home in Bibra Lake about 7.55am.

The toddler was taken to Fremantle hospital but police have advised that she has passed away.

Police believe the girl was struck by the car being driven by her mother, as she was reversing out of the driveway.

Major Crash officers are investigating.

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