INXS confirm Perth show was their last

INXS are reportedly breaking up. Picture: Sean Middleton Source: PerthNow

FOOTAGE has emerged of INXS drummer Jon Farriss' speech at the band's concert at Perth Arena on Sunday night, announcing that it was their final performance.

A Mix 94.5 listener known as Mike sent the footage of the announcement, first revealed here on PerthNow, to the radio station.

SEE THE VIDEO ON MIX 94.5 HERE

"Tonight is very likely to probably be the last show we ever do," Farriss said.

"Seriously we kind of kept it under wraps but we wanted to leave it till tonight to let you guys know and Perth is really important to us because we feel very connected to this wonderful city. I'm getting all teared up."

The band also released an official statement confirming the news on Tuesday.

"We understand that this must come as a blow to everybody, but all things must eventually come to an end. We have been performing as a band for 35 years, it's time to step away from the touring arena."

"Our music will of course live on and we will always be a part of that."

"We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the friends and family that have supported us throughout our extensive career. Our lives have been enriched by having you all as a part of the journey"

The band, which formed in Sydney in 1977, played at Perth Arena on Sunday night as a support act for American rockers Matchbox Twenty.

INXS has strong roots in Perth after being formed by Farris and his brothers Andrew and Tim, who spent part of their teenage years in WA, and late frontman Michael Hutchence.

The band has performed with several frontmen since the death of Hutchence in 1997, including Jon Stevens and Terence Trent D'Arby. Irishman Ciaran Gribbin has held the role since September 2011. The band's search for a permanent singer was documented in the 2004 reality TV series, Rock Star: INXS which was won by Canadian J.D Fortune.

Fortune tweeted on Monday: "They are my friends and I feel very sad for them. It was an honour to have been a part of the band's history. Love and Mayhem."

The tour was the final leg of their run supporting Matchbox Twenty, leading some to speculate if the band were referring to the end of a tour, not the end of their career and were misquoted.

It is believed the band had scheduled a two year break after the tour, which marked 25 years since their international breakthough Kick was released but decided they would no longer play live before the Matchbox Twenty gigs started.

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Trains between Cannington and Thornlie cut

SERVICES between Cannington and Thornlie train stations have been cancelled this afternoon.

A Public Transport Authority spokesman said a technical issue with a train had halted services on the Thornlie train line between the two stations from about 1.45pm.

He said the problem was minor, and there was a bus that serviced the same route.

Workers are trying to rectify the problem.

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Ultramarathon victims grateful for payment

Burns victim Turia Pitt (and inset, before the race) will receive $450,000 as an 'act of grace' from the state government. Source: Supplied

A $450,000 Act of Grace payment by the State Government will "go a long way" in helping Kimberley Ultramarathon burns victim Turia Pitt with her medical treatment, her lawyer says.

Ms Pitt and Kate Sanderson, who suffered life-threatening burns during last year's ill-fated ultramarathon, will both reveive the payments announced by Tourism Minister Kim Hames in Parliament today.
 
Both woman suffered burns to more than 60 per cent of their bodies when they were trapped in a gorge by a bushfire as they were running in the 100km race in September.
 
Lawyer Greg Walsh, who is representing Ms Pitt and two other men injured in the race, said Ms Pitt was "very appreciative" of the money.
 
"She's a wonderful young woman and she's very appreciative of what the government's done. They didn't have to pay any money so she's positive about it," Mr Walsh told PerthNow.

 
"She's pleased that the government's prepared to pay what she believes is a significant sum of money to help her and it will go a long to helping her in the short-term with her treatment."
 
Mr Walsh said he was still in discussions with the organiser of the event, Racing The Planet, and hoped to come to an out-of-court settlement with the company before Christmas.
 
He said Ms Pitt's ongoing medical costs for her horrific injuries would exceed $3 million.
 
"I'm very hopeful that Racing The Planet will now sit down and try to resolve these matters. It's in their interest to do so and this is the time to do it," he said.
 
"Turia doesn't want to go through all the stress and anxiety of litigation - it would just be horrendous for her."
Tourism Minister Kim Hames today tabled the government's response to an inquiry into the event, which recommended the state consider making ex-gratia payments to the injured competitors.

In handing down the government's response, Dr Hames said the payments would be made to "assist in alleviating their financial stress while they explore other options."

"The terrible tragedy that occurred on September 2, 2011, is something with which we can all empathise, but no one can truly appreciate the pain, suffering and disfigurement that Miss Pitt and Miss Sanderson have endured, and will continue to experience for the remainder of their lives," Dr Hames told Parliament.
"With this in mind, the Western Australian Government will make an act of grace payment of $450,000 each to Miss Pitt and Miss Sanderson under Section 80 of the Financial Management Act 2006.

"The Western Australian Government believes that having regard to the Committee recommendation, the gravity and extent of the injuries suffered by Miss Pitt and Miss Sanderson, and the uncertainty of any other act of legal redress available to them, an act of grace payment is appropriate."

Dr Hames said the Act of Grace payment was not an acceptance of any "legal, causal or moral responsibility" to compensate the athletes.

Michael Hull and Martin Van Der Merwe also received serious burns and required skin grafts, but will not receive compensation as their circumstances were not as "extraordinary", Dr Hames said.

Mr Walsh said his two other clients were not concerned about missing out on the Act of Grace payments.
 
"They were just concerned about whether Turia or Kate got compensation. They're really nice people and they were more concerned about them," he said.
 
Opposition tourism spokeswoman Michelle Roberts said the payment was not enough and she expected the woman to be offered $1 million or more.
"The Government is being very mean-spirited here. Clearly $450,000 won't be adequate," she said.

"I've spoken to a lot of people in the community about this issue. Just about all of them have said to me 'we don't mind our taxpayers' money being used to help these girls get on with their lives."

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Mother killed in freak Mt Lawley accident

Family members console each other at the scene of an accident where a car collided with a pedestrian. PICTURE: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

A WOMAN has been killed after she was hit by a car in Mt Lawley this afternoon.

The crash happened just after 3.30pm at the intersection of Walcott St and Learoyd St.

It's believed the woman was hit moments after her vehicle collided with another car and she stopped to inspect the damage.

A young boy, thought to be the woman's son, witnessed the crash.

Earlier reports indicated he was also injured but police have since said he was unharmed and taken away from the scene by ambulance.

Walcott St and Learoyd St have been closed and motorists are being asked to avoid the area.

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Heated exchange before alleged one-punch attack on footballer

Swans footballer Luke Adams arrives at District Court. Picture: Kerris Berrington Source: PerthNow

Dylan Winter, 20, accused of one-punch attack on Swans footballer Luke Adams. Piicture: Kerris Berrington Source: PerthNow

BLOOD began pooling around Luke Adams' head moments after it "cracked" against the ground in an alleged one-punch attack, the District Court was told today.

Friend and fellow Swan Districts team mate Travis Gray, 20, told jurors at the trial of Dylan Gerald Wayne Winter that seconds after Mr Adams became caught up in a verbal argument with passers-by, he saw him falling backwards and heard his head hit the ground.

"He was motionless," Mr Gray told the hearing.

"He did not move after he hit the ground. I rushed to his aid to try and protect him. He was already out cold."

Mr Winter, 20, of Port Kennedy, is accused of causing Mr Adams grievous bodily harm over the incident on May 1.

The alleged attack left the promising footballer in an induced coma for several weeks. Mr Winter denies the charge.

The court heard Mr Gray had been out drinking with Mr Adams and a few other friends in Northbridge that night when the incident occurred.

They had been at The Deen nightclub, where they remained until about 1am then left to get pizza and had planned to go to the Capitol nightclub afterwards.

It was as they travelled to the club that Mr Gray said he remembered a verbal argument take place between Mr Adams and a group along Lake Street in Northbridge.

After words were exchanged Mr Gray then said Mr Adams said to him in a "firm" tone: "C'mon Travy, let's go smash these c****."

When asked by Mr Winter's defence lawyer Craig Eberhardt if Mr Adams caused the argument, Mr Gray said he could not remember.

However the 20-year-old did admit under cross examination that he deliberately withheld this information when he gave his first police statement because he did not want people to think Mr Adams started the fight.

When re-examined by prosecutor Amanda Forrester if he thought Mr Adams had started the argument, Mr Gray replied: "I am not sure who started it."

Mr Gray also told the hearing that when the comments were made he was about two metres in front of Mr Adams and was positive no-one else could have heard.

He also said he could not see anyone near Mr Adams when the comments were made nor did he see him being punched.

He only saw him "falling backwards" and went to his aid immediately.

"He was falling backwards with his arms up in the air," Mr Gray told the court. "I heard his head cracking on the ground."

Mr Gray said that when he rushed over to Mr Adams he was also punched in the back of the head however it wasn't hard enough to hurt him.

When he got to Mr Adams he said blood started "pooling" around his head and he went into shock.

A crowd gathered and an ambulance was called.

Mr Gray told the court Mr Adams never regained consciousness.

Earlier the court was shown CCTV footage showing Mr Winter and his friends being kicked out of the Library nightclub then becoming caught up in a scuffle with bouncers.

The footage also showed the group being issued with move-on notices by police just after 2am – about half an hour before the alleged incident with Mr Adams.

Other footage showing Mr Adams leaving The Deen nightclub and staggering down Lake Street was also shown to the jury.

No CCTV captured the alleged incident.

The court was also told Mr Winter, who fled from the scene, texted a friend later that day and told her that Mr Adams was "mouthing off so he got what he deserved".

The trial continues.

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PM announces child sex abuse inquiry

The Prime Minister will recommend that the Governor General establish a royal commission into child sexual abuse by religious institutions.

A ROYAL commission will be held into "vile and evil" child sexual abuse after cabinet today approved Julia Gillard's plan for Australia's most extensive inquiry into the protection of minors.

It will look at the history of religious groups, sporting organisations, Scouts and Guides, schools and state institutions.

Ms Gillard said too many children had suffered abuse and too many adults had let them down.

"Any instance of child abuse is an evil and vile thing," she said.

"It is appropriate for there to be a national response through a royal commission. This, I hope, will help with the healing."

Ms Gillard said she wanted to ensure "this will never happen again".

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox says he will not rest until there is a Royal Commission into child abuse in the Catholic Church.

Australian Greens leader Christine Milne said it would be welcome, if difficult, news for thousands of Australians.

"I hope this can bring some peace and justice to shattered lives, lift the shadow off all those good people in the church striving to do good for others, and make sure nothing like this ever happens again," she said in a statement this evening.

Bravehearts founder Hetty Johnston welcomed the announcement of a wide-ranging powerful inquiry into institutional responses to allegations of child abuse.

She says the issues are endemic, and sweeping powers are critical if the inquiry is to succeed.

"The Royal Commission needs to include not only the churches," Ms Johnston told AAP.

Pressure is mounting for Julia Gillard to launch a royal commission into child sex abuse in the Catholic Church

"It needs to include family and other courts, government organisations and other institutions, anybody who who has a duty of care."

But it is also vital, she said, for retrospective legislation to be passed urgently to make the destruction of documents illegal.

"Perhaps some of these organisations will be madly shredding documents as we speak.

"The parliamentarians need to put it out there that retrospective legislation will be introduced that makes the shredding of documents illegal and that people will face consequences for destroying evidence."

Ms Johnston said today's announcement would have caught some institutions off guard.

"I'd like to make sure the evidence is maintained intact," she said.

The declaration of the Royal Commission is, she believes, a watershed in our history.

"We are a nation that should be proud of ourselves today, I don't know that any other country has done it like this and certainly not with such strong bipartisan support.

"One in five Australian children, 59,000 of our children, are sexually assaulted every year - more than most football stadiums can hold.

"We are well past due this ... and I'm incredibly proud we have a parliament that has the backbone to stand up for our kids. It's really exciting."

The Brotherhood of St Laurence said a royal commission into child sexual abuse is long overdue and it hopes it will bring crimes committed against children out into the open.

The Brotherhood's executive director Tony Nicholson said it's obscene that institutions have covered up their crimes for decades.

Mr Nicholson said it's important the terms of reference, still to be announced by the prime minister, are comprehensive.

The Gillard announcement

The reach of the national inquiry will be vast and the Government expects it to take a considerable time to conclude after starting in the New Year.

Ms Gillard said she also wanted to take her time to form the terms of reference for the royal commission.

"I want to take the time to get this right," she said.

"So over the next few weeks we will be consulting with the organisations that represent the survivors of child abuse, with religious organisations, with state and territory government to ensure the terms of reference are right."

No one has been selected as a royal commissioner.

The Prime Minister said there had been too many instances of adults averting their eyes from the abuses and that she was determined that institutions would no longer fail to respond.

She said the focus would be on institutional responses to abuse reports, including those of police.

"There is also, I believe, cause for concern that other adults who could have done something to make a difference to the lives of these children didn't do what they should have," the Prime Minister said.

"Either by becoming complicit in children being moved around for example, or by averting their eyes by acts of omission.

"I think we have to learn the lessons about how institutions can best respond when there are allegations of abuse."

Priests 'used guns, dogs in abuse'

The inquiry would cover children in state care, under the care of all religious organisations, and those looked after by private groups and schools. It was still not clear whether issues of compensation would be considered.

Ms Gillard said the terms of reference would be drawn up after discussions with religious groups, state leaders and the victims of abuse.

The Prime Minister said she had spoken to Catholic Cardinal George Pell who had been "most co-operative".

She said a royal commission offered "the broadest sweep of potentials for the working of the commission".
"That's why I've chosen it."

She said they needed to ensure the royal commission process did not end up holding up prosecutions that may be under way.

Ms Gillard gave no timeframe for the inquiry but said it would take some time.

"It should take the time necessary," she said.

Ms Gillard said she had already spoken to the premiers of NSW and Victoria, states which are already pursuing their own inquiries.

"Both of them are prepared to take a cooperative approach," she said.

Premier Barry O'Farrell has already set up a Special Commission of Inquiry into allegations involving alleged paedophilia involving the Catholic Church in the Hunter.

Ms Gillard made the announcement after senior NSW police officer Peter Fox broke his silence over an alleged cover-up of a pedophile network inside the Catholic Church.

Earlier, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott backed a Royal Commission into child sexual abuse as long as it was not limited to a single institution.

He said in a statement that "if the government were to propose a royal commission to investigate the sexual abuse of children, it is something the Coalition would be prepared to support".

Detective Chief Inspector Fox, the "hero" who spearheaded the push for a Royal Commission into child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church,  today welcomed Mr Abbott's support as a "magnificent gesture".

"My God, (Cardinal) George Pell's best mate!" he said.

"Whether I'm an Abbott fan or not… I really wasn't counting on his support but now that he's backing the Royal Commission that will probably change my mind about him a helluva lot."

His revelations about priest paedophiles and coverups have fuelled the push for a Commission, with politicians from all parties (including former Labor PM Kevin Rudd and former Liberal PM Malcolm Fraser) supporting the idea.

Det Chief Insp Fox, a senior investigator who spent decades unearthing evidence of abuse, said he welcomed the support and felt that the movement was "on a real roll" but said he would not relax until it was in the bag.

"I'm never going to allow myself to relax until we have (a Commission) for certain," he said.

"This isn't just now it's been going on… people have been plotting this for 15 years. It's looking more promising now than at any time in the past but I won't take it for granted until it's stamped and done."

Government Whip Joel Fitzgibbon also demanded a Royal Commission in the interests of "the victims, their families and the Catholic Church".

Nicky Davis from the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests said her first reaction to the announcement was to hug her son and sob with joy.

"Our suffering is being recognised, our voices are being heard and this is a wonderful thing," she told ABC television.

Victims wouldn't be able to heal while the truth was covered up, Ms Davis said.

She urged the prime minister to ensure that victims' voices were heard when the commission's terms of reference were put together.

"We are the experts in how they managed to get away with this for so long," she said.

The process

Prime Minister Julia Gillard will recommend to the Governor-General a Royal Commission be set up.

It will inquire into institutional responses to instances and allegations of child sexual abuse in Australia.

The terms of reference will be worked out in coming weeks with a view to the commission being established before the end of 2012.

Attorney-General Nicola Roxon and acting minister for families Brendan O'Connor will co-ordinate work on the terms of reference.

The inquiry commissioner or commissioners will be named in coming weeks.

Ms Gillard plans to speak to state and territory leaders in coming days about how the Royal Commission may relate to current or proposed inquiries in their jurisdictions.

Discussions will also be held with victims' groups, religious leaders and community organisations.

The inquiry will look at religious institutions, state institutions and schools and not-for-profit groups like scouts and sports clubs.

The government says the commission is not targeted at any one church.

It's too early to say how long it will take.

Royal Commissions

There have been 129 Royal Commissions appointed by the government of Australia since 1902.

The last, in 2008, was into equine influenza.

A Royal Commission has considerable powers, albeit restricted to its terms of reference.

It can compel witnesses, offer indemnities and seize documents.

The Costigan Royal Commission on the Activities of the Federated Ship Painters and Dockers Union and the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody each lasted four years.

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A little Variety and Coby is raring to go

The Antonio family, from left, Kade, 15, dad Glenn, Coby, mum Sonia and Blace, 13. Source: PerthNow

COBY Antonio can barely walk, because he has a rare syndrome that has prevented his joints from forming properly.

But next month the Mindarie 10-year-old will be one of thousands taking part in the third annual Santa Fun Run for Variety WA. Participants will be decked out in Father Christmas costumes, and Coby will race on a reindeer-decorated scooter.

Sonia Antonio said her little boy was three years old when he was diagnosed with the rare Morquio Syndrome.

"He's missing an enzyme that breaks down sugar, and through that all his joints are grossly malformed," Mrs Antonio said. "It affects all his joints his ankles, his hips, his wrists, his fingers."

Coby's biggest dream is to be able to run, and he is undergoing multiple operations to straighten his legs.

"The main thing at the moment is helping him walk and run," Mrs Antonio said. "All he wants to be able to do is run fast."

Variety WA gave the Antonios a grant to help them buy Coby's scooter. "We use it when we go for walks and he hooks the dog up to it," Mrs Antonio said. "But it means he's all set for high school, which takes the biggest load off our minds."

The 4km Santa Fun Run in Fremantle will take place on November 25. A Santa suit is provided when you register. Last year, the run raised $40,000.

www.varietysantafunrun.com.au

For more great community stories, click here

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Keeping kids safe from abuse

Senior Constable Andrea Musulin from Carnarvon, finalist in WA Police Officer of the Year 2012. Source: PerthNow

CHILDREN as young as five should be taught how to protect themselves from abuse, according to a finalist in this year's Police Officer of the Year Awards.

Carnarvon's Andrea Musulin, a 44-year-old mother of six, volunteers hours of her spare time to run a 10-week program she has developed for local schools.

Sen-Constable Musulin teaches children from kindergarten to Year 12 "protective behaviours", including how to be assertive, ways to say no, being persistent in having their concerns heard, and to have a network of people they trust to talk to.

"Violence against children is not OK," she said.

"They don't have the knowledge and they're definitely not empowered enough to stop (abuse) happening.

"It's about intervening in the cycle of abuse and breaking it for them so they don't have to be abused for long periods at a time.

"It includes, first of all, their right to feel safe, that it's not OK if someone makes you feel unsafe, and we go into early warning signs of abuse.

"I am, in essence, working against the perpetrator."

Sen-Constable Musulin said her main message was for kids to be brave, speak up and stand strong.

As a young police officer working at Fremantle 1Police Station, Sen-Constable Musulin regularly dealt with domestic violence and child sex abuse. "Responding in the early days to it created a desire in me to do more in this field," she said.

Her dedication has seen Sen-Constable Musulin continue to volunteer even while caring for her disabled son, who was diagnosed with a severe case of Tourette's syndrome a couple of years ago.

She took leave without pay to care for him but continued her volunteering.

Sen-Constable Musulin returned to work part time early this year to be available for her son as well as for her teaching.

She is also volunteer chairwoman of the Carnarvon Family Support Service and the Child Sexual Abuse Response Service.

She recently developed the first on-air child protection program for isolated youth across WA with the Carnarvon School of the Air.

Click here for more community spirit stories

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Spring cleaning lands Freo retirees $1.4m

LUCKY FIND: A Fremantle couple found an old Lotto ticket that turned out to be worth $1.4 million. Source: PerthNow

A RETIRED Fremantle couple have discovered they are millionaires after finding an old Lotto ticket worth $1.4 million.

The woman said she was a weekly Saturday Lotto player, but only checked her tickets when she remembered to bring them to a Lotterywest retailer.

She found a ticket for the July 7 draw during a recent bout of spring cleaning, but kept it in her wallet for another few weeks before she got around to checking it.

"To be honest, I'd forgotten that I even had the ticket but I was waiting ot meet someone at the shops this morning and saw it in my wallet," she said.

"When they said I would have to come to head office, I thought I'd won about $1400 so it was a bit of a shock to hear that it was over a million dollars."

The couple will celebrate with a family dinner tonight and plan to treat themselves to a cruise to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

The ticket was bought at Hilton Plaza Newsagency, where there had been talk of an unclaimed 'million dollar ticket'.

www.perthnow.com.au/news/special-features/lotterywestcommunityspirit

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Wedding party nightmare after gang attack

SEVERAL wedding guests were seriously injured, with one having to undergo plastic surgery, after they were set upon by a group of people at a car park at Crown Casino on the weekend.

For bride Danika, her dream wedding turned into a nightmare when she, her new husband, and a group of guests arrived at the venue to continue celebrating.

Police said a verbal altercation broke out between the group of wedding patrons getting off a bus in the southern car park of the Crown Promenade Entertainment Complex and a group of young Aboriginals on Saturday between 12.30am and 1am.

During the altercation, a 30-year-old woman was struck and three men from the wedding party went to her assistance.

A brawl ensued between the groups, resulting in three guests being taken to Royal Perth Hospital with serious injuries.

A 40-year-old Thornlie man received a fractured nose and eye socket and concussion.

A 34-year-old Thornlie man was hit on the head with a beer bottle, which shattered, and then hit again on the back of the head with the smashed bottle.

A 37-year-old Bentley man was punched by an offender, causing him to fall backwards and hit his head on the pavement, resulting in contusions to his head and a concussion.

Danika, 28, said security guards were metres away from the group but did not help them.

"It was something you'd see in a movie, you wouldn't expect it to happen to you getting off a bus," she told Channel 10.

"I don't have any happy memories of Burswood anymore and I won't be keen to go back there."

Danika's brother-in-law, who was king hit, required plastic surgery for his injuries.

"I honestly thought he was possibly going to die," she said.

Her father, Phil, described the attack to Channel 10 as "relentless".

"They were just pursuing us to fight," he said.

Police are investigating the incident and would like to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time or who has any information. Contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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