No cane and able to return home to Perth

THE Perth-based maritime worker arrested by Singaporean authorities for swearing on a Tiger Airways flight out of Perth has had his passport returned and been told he faces no further action.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed today that Bruce Griffiths, 47, had been allowed to leave the country after initially being accused under the country's outrage of modesty laws.

It had originally been thought he may face the cane as a potential punishment, after becoming involved in a swearing match with another male passenger whose sleep he disturbed while allowing a female passenger out of her seat.

But as PerthNow revealed yesterday, that punishment was ruled out by local police and Mr Griffiths was today told he was free to leave the country.

"Singapore Police have advised the Australian High Commission that Mr Griffith's case was concluded today and his passport has been returned to him,'' a DFAT spokeswoman said.

"Our obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 constrain us from providing any further details of the case without consent of the individual concerned.''

Australian consular officials have been assisting Mr Griffiths, who had his passport seized on January 4.

Tiger Airways had earlier confirmed there was an incident on the flight, and said it would not compromise on its zero-tolerance policy of bad behaviour on its carriers.

"Tiger Airways has a zero tolerance policy towards inappropriate behaviour on board our aircraft,'' a spokeswoman said.

"Safety and security of staff and passengers underpins the operation at all times and is something we will not compromise.''

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Serial killer Catherine Birnie could walk

Serial killer Catherine Birnie's life sentence will be reviewed on Friday, January 25 2013. Source: PerthNow

CATHERINE Birnie, jailed for life over four horrific murders which shocked Perth in the 1980s, will have her life sentence reviewed tomorrow by the Prisoners Review Board.

Birnie, who is now aged in her early 60s, was jailed for a minimum 20 years for the murders of four young Perth women she committed with her de facto husband David Birnie in 1986.

The pair had known each other since childhood, before beginning a love affair a year before the murder spree in which they killed Mary Frances Neilson, 22, Susannah Candy, 15, Noelene Gladys Patterson, 31, and Denise Karen Brown, 21.

The couple were sentenced to strict-security life sentences with 20-year minimums.

David Birnie was found dead in his cell in 2005.

Under law, Catherine Birine must now have her jail sentence reviewed every three years.

Three years ago, the then Attorney-General Christian Porter rejected Birnie's release and any change in her status.

Tomorrow, the Prisoners Review Board will again review Birnie's jail sentence before providing a report on their recommendation to current Attorney General Michael Mischin for a final decision.

"I can confirm that the Prisoners Review Board will be reviewing Ms Birnie's matter tomorrow (Thursday) for her three-yearly statutory review," a Prisoners Review Board spokeswoman said.

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Parched towns soaked by Peta onslaught

Cyclone Peta as seen from the PerthNow car on the North West Coastal Highway, 70km west of Karratha. PICTURES: Theo Fakos Source: PerthNow

ASTONISHING rainfall in the Pilbara region of Western Australia has doubled the water in one of the state's dams in just 24 hours.

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Peta and associated weather have dumped more than 28 gigalitres of water into the Harding Dam since Wednesday morning, elevating the dam's storage level from under 40 per cent to 80 per cent in just one day.

The category one cyclone weakened rapidly after crossing the Pilbara coast to the east of Point Samson at around 4pm on Wednesday, the Bureau of Meteorology in WA said.

But the weakening front still brought huge rains.

Hooley Station was the wettest location in WA in the 24 hours to 9am this morning with 261.6 mm, which was its wettest day in 29 years of record.

The last wettest day on record for the station was 159.5 mm on February 22, 2001.

Mount Florance also recorded its wettest day since records started at the station 106 years ago, recording 220mm, while Coolawanyah received 178mm and Wittenoom 122mm.

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Peta is now lying in the inland central parts of the Pilbara and will move slowly westwards as it weakens.

Thunderstorms and heavy rain, which may lead to flash flooding, are still forecast for parts of the Pilbara.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services warned people in the Fortescue River catchment to prepare for possible minor flooding expected on Thursday and Friday.

All roads are open but authorities advise drivers to take extreme caution on approach to floodways.

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Bushfire contained in Trigg

Amateur footage of bushfires in the suburb of Trigg in northern Perth.

Trigg resident 'Snakey' hoses down his home as a fire burns in nearby Trigg Bushland Reserve. Picture: Thomas Roy Photography. Source: PerthNow

Trigg Bushland Reserve after the fire that threatened homes in Trigg and Karrinyup. Picture: Thomas Roy Photography Source: PerthNow

A helitac works to bring a bushfire in Trigg and Karrinyup under control. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: PerthNow

The aerial view from the Channel 10 news chopper. PICTURE: Channel 10 Source: PerthNow

Another view of the fire from Karrinyup Road. PICTURE: Amelia Broun / Twitter Source: PerthNow

A fire burns near West Coast Highway in Karrinyup, forcing road closures and peak-hour traffic mayhem. PICTURE: Drew Barrett Source: PerthNow

ROADS were closed and Trigg residents were told to evacuate their million-dollar homes as a bushfire burned in Trigg Bushland Reserve this afternoon.

The fire was first reported at 4:06pm and contained just after 6:30pm.

There is no longer any threat to lives or homes but there is a lot of smoke in the area.

Firefighters from eight stations and volunteer firefighters from five stations are working to bring the blaze under control.

They have been assisted by the aircrane, four helitacs and an aerial intelligence helicopter.

West Coast Highway remains closed between Pearl Parade and Karrinyup Road.

Karrinyup Road is closed between West Coast Highway/Marmion Ave and West Coast Drive.

Motorists have been warned to avoid the area.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services has issued a bushfire advice for people in Trigg and Karrinyup in an area bounded by West Coast Highway, Milverton Avenue, Lynn Street, and West Coast Drive.

This includes Elliott Road, Lefroy Street, King Albert Road, Hepworth Avenue, Joffrey Road, Spence Street, Trigg Place.
 

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The Hottest 100: What the bands think

Hottest of the hot: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Birds of Tokyo and the boys from The Rubens. Picture: Supplied Source: news.com.au

THE votes are in and the day is nearly upon us where we all crank up the volume and settle in to enjoy the Triple J Hottest 100 Countdown. But who have the bands got their money on?

Having backed their top songs for 2012, music lovers across the nation will tune in to Triple J this Saturday for the famed Australia Day countdown to see how their faves fare against the rest.

Of course, there are the "sure things" expected to crack the holy list - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis are the boys we can't stop talking about, while Aussie beat-maker Flume will surely score a nod or two and Mumford and Sons looks set to dominate.

We chatted to The Rubens frontman Sam Margin, who was happy to spill on his predictions as to who will top this year's list.

Sam Margin's predictions:

-Alt-J: Breezeblocks
-Tame Impala (probably two songs)

-The Black Keys: Gold On The Ceiling

While The Rubens are favourites this year with hit singles My Gun and The Best We Got, the super talented musician said the four boys from country NSW will be content with just cracking the list.

"Anywhere in the top 100, if we beat the top 100, we'll be happy. If we scrape into the top 20 that would be absolutely amazing", he said.

Birds of Tokyo drummer Adam Weston shared his own fantasy forecast for the countdown:

Adam Weston's predictions:

-The Shins: Simple Song
-Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: Thrift Shop
-Tame Impala: Elephant

"[Elephant] is a stompin' kind of track; it's quite infectious", he confessed.

Adam, who's mother's birthday falls on Australia Day, admitted that there is a fairly strict "no radio" policy in his house so he relies on updates from the band via text.

"We'll be happy to crack the top 50 this year", Weston told.

Online bookmakers were forced to suspend betting earlier this week when some tech-whiz decided to ruin the surprise and circulate his very own Warmest 100 Countdown, which was created by compiling some 35,000 song votes shared on social media sites.

But this doesn't mean we can't still have our very own Fantasy Top 10.

PerthNow's Top 10 Frontrunners:

Of Monsters and Men: Little Talks
Flume: Holdin On
Mumford & Sons: I Will Wait
The Rubens: My Gun
The XX: Angels
The Temper Trap: Trembling Hands
Rudemental: Not Giving In (ft. John Newman & Alex Clare)
Ball Park Music: Surrender
Two Door Cinema Club: Sun
Alabama Shakes: Hold On

Last year, Aussies voted for Gotye's Somebody That I Used To Know as the top song of 2011, with Angus and Julia Stone's Big Jet Plane taking out the title in 2010.

Who have you tipped to take out the top dog spot for 2012? Have your say below.

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Perth prepares for big bang at Skyworks

PERTH CELEBRATES: Fireworks from the South Perth foreshore on Australia Day last year. Picture: Bohdan Warchomij Source: PerthNow

IT will begin with bouncy castles and a circus and end with several big bangs when Perth celebrates Australia Day this weekend.

In what has become Western Australia's biggest annual community event, the City of Perth's 29th annual Australia Day Skyworks on the Swan River is expected to be more colourful than ever this year.

Last year's crowd numbers were down to about 250,000 due to extreme heat and a thunderstorm, but with a sunny 35 degrees expected this Saturday, organisers are hoping for larger crowds.

There are free activities at Langley Park, following the closure of some viewing points due to the construction of Elizabeth Quay.

The Langley Park Entertainment Zone would offer circus shows, motor cross displays, bouncy castles, mini-golf, face painting, and a laser and water show during the 30-minute pyrotechnics display.

Boaties will also be able to get closer this year, with new river access restrictions expanded to east of the Narrows Bridge.

Limited alcohol will be permitted in two Picnic Zones at Langley Park and Kings Park, but other areas will remain alcohol-free.

Other local councils will also host events including the Cities of Fremantle and Cockburn that will host the Indian Ocean Skyshow at Bathers Bay.

Police Commander Murray Smalpage said there would be a significant police presence where large crowds were expected to gather.

"Police will focus on anti-social behaviour and alcohol-fuelled violence as they ensure families have a safe and enjoyable night wherever they choose to celebrate,'' he said.

Surf lifesavers are also reminding beach-goers to swim between the red and yellow flags, apply sunscreen and stay hydrated over the long weekend.

Since patrols began this season in October, Surf Life Saving WA volunteers have performed 481 rescues, administered first aid to 1840 beach-goers and carried out 10,609 preventative actions.

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WA minister defends observatory decision

Perth Observatory , Bickley Generic Pic Stewart Allen Picture: Allen Stewart Source: PerthNow

THE West Australian government has defended its decision to axe research at Perth Observatory, saving $300,000 but putting a handful of astronomers out of work.

WA Environment Minister Bill Marmion today said the State Government had limited funds for research so they had to be put to use effectively.

Mr Marmion said the observatory at Bickley, near Kalamunda in the Hills region, suffered from light pollution due to nearby residential development and didn't have the same capacity as the University of WA's Gingin observatory, about 84km north of Perth.

The WA government had invested $70 million in the Square Kilometre Array radiotelescope project in remote parts of the state's Murchison region, which would create spin-offs for local astronomers, he said.

And optical astronomy was simply being overtaken by radioastronomy, Mr Marmion said.

"Sometimes the hard decisions have to be made," he told ABC radio.

"We are moving our focus more towards the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and supporting (key SKA scientists) Professor (Peter) Quinn's team in what is a world-leading technology which allows telescopes to look further into the universe.

"Technology is moving on."

Mr Marmion said WA was set to lead the world in radioastronomy.

"We will still have the optical telescope at the Perth Observatory.

"We've actually got more telescopes looking up into the night sky.

"We're moving into the new age with radioastronomy and will be able to look further into the universe through our advance in technology."

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Aussie 'bikie links' in Thai shooting

This gun was photographed on a police desk as the Australians were interviewed. Picture: Phuketwan.com Source: Supplied

TWO Australian men with alleged links to an outlaw motorcycle gang have been arrested in Phuket over the shooting of two German tourists.

The men were allegedly involved in an altercation with a Danish man over a motorbike at Patong Beach on Tuesday.

Johann Baschenegger, 41, and Joseph Woerner, 71, were wounded near the Baan Pirin Hotel about 7.45pm in Soi Sansabai, according to Thai news service Phuketwan.

Shea, believed to be from Sydney, was arrested at The Aussie Bar in Soi Bangla.

Cohen, reportedly a long-term expat who owns a hotel in Patong, was arrested in the OTOP bar sector off Rat-U-Tit 200 Pi Rd.

Police are questioning the men, believed to have links to either the Rebels or Bandidos motorcycle gangs, over the incident.

The shooting victims were taken to Patong Hospital.

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Deep shock on death row in Bali

Lindsay June Sandiford in the cell she now refuses to leave. Source: AFP

BRITISH woman Lindsay Sandiford is in shock and tears after being sentenced to death in Bali and won't leave her jail cell, refusing to even see her sister.

Guards at Bali's Kerobokan Jail said that the 56-year-old had spent most of the day in her cell crying and depressed and had not wanted to see anyone.

When her sister, Hilary Parsons came to the jail to visit her, she even refused to leave the cell to go to the visiting area and eventually Ms Parsons was escorted to the cell block, in highly unusual circumstances.

"She looked shocked and very depressed today. She also kept crying. She just locked herself in the cell and she doesn't want to talk and meet anyone," a female guard said.

Sandiford is being held in Cell number 10 at the women's block of the jail and has about 12 women in her cell.

She is not in a cell with Australians Schapelle Corby or Renae Lawrence, but in a cell especially for detainees, or women not yet convicted.

That however will now change with her conviction and death sentence handed down yesterday.

She will be one of four foreigners on death row in Kerobokan Jail.

One guard said that during her detention Sandiford, had been dubbed the "Queen of Cocaine" over the drug she was caught with in her suitcase as she flew in to Bali from Bangkok.

Schapelle Corby has long been dubbed the Queen of Marijuana by the Indonesian press.

Prior to her conviction this week, guards said that Sandiford had adapted well to prison life and spent time doing embroidery in the cell block.

But the prison itself is highly overcrowded and three times over capacity. There are 988 male and female prisoners in a jail originally built to house one-third that number.

There are 126 female prisoners held in 10 cells in the women's block area, known as Block W.

Sandiford, a grandmother, now joins almost 200 other people on death row in Indonesia.

She faces years of appeals. If she loses all of those in court, her final chance at reprieve will be to seek clemency from the Indonesian President.

It took Schapelle Corby seven years from the time of her conviction to receive her clemency, cutting her sentence from 20 years to 15 years.

Indonesia has not executed anyone since the Bali bombers in late 2008 and many analysts had believed this signaled an unofficial moratorium on the death penalty.

But then, at Christmas time, the Attorney-General's office announced that 10 prisoners would be executed in 2013.

Two Australians, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran of the Bali Nine, are on death row in Bali, having lost all their legal appeals.

They have lodged clemency pleas with the President, but these are yet to be decided.

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Mayor stuck after Pilbara cyclone fury

Cyclone Peta as seen from the PerthNow car on the North West Coastal Highway, 70km west of Karratha. PICTURES: Theo Fakos Source: PerthNow

Cyclone Peta as seen from the PerthNow car on the North West Coastal Highway, 70km west of Karratha. PICTURES: Theo Fakos Source: PerthNow

Heavy rain as a result of a tropical has caused flooding in Port Headland. Source: PerthNow

THE Pilbara coast has felt the force of category one Tropical Cyclone Peta, with communities on high alert although conditions were expected to weaken.

The major export operations at Port Hedland were to resume today after temporarily closing when Peta hit to the east of Point Samson.

Send your pictures to the PerthNow newsdesk

Port Hedland Port Authority said conditions had improved, with the swell and wind reducing enough to allow shipping operations to restart from 4pm.

The Bureau of Meteorology's alert just before 3pm said a cyclone warning continued in coastal areas from Port Hedland to Dampier, including Karratha.

Gales with gusts to 100km/h are expected close to the cyclone centre over the next few hours, the bureau said.

Squally thunderstorms are expected while locally heavy rainfall is possible, prompting a flood watch for the Pilbara.

Mining giant Rio Tinto closed its Cape Lambert facility at Port Walcott and Dampier port yesterday as it prepared for the wild weather and expects most of its coastal operations will resume in the morning.

The resumption of ship loading will depend on prevailing sea conditions, however.

Although the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Peta could move back off the west Pilbara coast later in the week, it was not expected to redevelop into a tropical cyclone.

MAYOR REFUSED ENTRY INTO TOWN

Port Hedland mayor Kelly Howlett was even caught up in the drama, forced to miss a council meeting due to the severe conditions.

Ms Howlett was travelling with PerthNow to Port Hedland to attend a council meeting when our team was forced to turn around due to the extreme weather.

She said the severity of the cyclone caught her by surprise.

"It was very intense considering it was a Category 1 system," she said of the conditions.

"We couldn't get through and were forced to turn back.

"There was 30-45cm flooding on the highway and extreme gusts of winds."

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