Deportation 'a big mistake': Xenophon

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon is facing deportation from Malaysia after being refused entry.

UPDATE: A RELIEVED Senator Nick Xenophon says he was told he posed "some form of security threat" and had to be deported immediately from Malaysia.

Senator Xenophon, who was forced to sleep on a plane in economy class for two nights, was leading a group of Australian MPs for a series of meetings about Malaysia's electoral system.

He was meeting with the country's Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and a senior Government minister.

"My information is this (deportation) order was made at the highest levels of the Malaysian Government."

Senator Xenophon said initially he was taken to an interrogation area  where there were holding cells and detainees.

"I was told that I was going to be deported immediately because I posed some form of security threat which I think is both laughable and tragic that the allegation was made and no reason was given. I was only handed this notice as I was leaving last night, as I was being escorted back onto the plane."

He said he did not believe the drama would harm Australia's relation with Malaysia, saying the two countries were the "greatest of friends".

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said she was also disappointed with treatment of Senator Xenophon, and is glad he is back, "safe and well".

She said they would continue to work with the Malaysian goverment  over the incident.

Senator Nick Xenaphon returns to Australia after being deported from Malaysia. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

A tired Senator Xenophon arrived in Melbourne this morning saying he was still scratching his head trying to work out what Malaysian authorities were thinking.

"I think they have made a big mistake, that they have miscalculated " Senator Xenophon said.

Senator Xenophon said it was meant to be a low-key visit which probably would have received little media coverage.

"It is very good to be back."

Senator Xenophon said while the upcoming Malaysian elections had the "veneer of democracy", Australia had a moral obligation to intervene to ensure they were clean and fair.

He urged Foreign Minister Bob Carr and Prime Minister Julia Gillard to raise the Malaysian elections with the Commonwealth Secretary in London as a matter of urgency.

"Millions of Malaysians see Australia as a shining beacon of democracy in the region and seek our help for independent election observers."

Senator Xenophon said he may challenge the deportation notice in the Malaysian courts.

Foreign Minister Bob Carr says Malaysia's detention of independent senator Nick Xenophon is a surprising act

He said he understood he was the first Australian MP to be deported from any country.

"It was unexpected. I was quite gobsmacked when I was taken away early on."

"I have been told I'm now on the watch list, which is fairly ominous and that I'm on a do not enter list for an  indefinite period, so I don't know how many years or decades it will be before I'm allowed to step foot on Malaysian soil, which is a great pity."

Senator Xenophon said the only risk he posed was to embarrassing the Malaysian Government through his advocacy for clean elections."

The independent Senator was stopped immediately on arrival in Malaysia, held in custody for 16 hours and put under security detail.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd told Sky News today that: "detaining any member of an Australian parliament is just unacceptable".

"I'm sure Bob Carr has the matter well in hand."

While he said that he would disagree with Senator Xenophon on a range of matters, he said Australia should be "robust" with Malaysia over the incident.

Senator Nick Xenophon being detained at Kuala Lumpur's International Airport in Malaysia. Picture: Office of Nick Xenophon

"I think we should be appropriately robust," he said.

"It is absolutely laughable - I was due to have a meeting with a senior Government Minister among others," Senator Xenophon said from an interrogation room where he was being held.

"The people detaining me have been polite but they told me the orders to get me out of the country immediately came from 'high up'.

"They told me I am being deported under Section 81 of the Immigration Act, which says I pose a threat to the security of the country.

"This was supposed to be a low-key visit by members of the major parties but now it has blown up into an international incident. It confirms all the concerns that have been raised about people being opposed to any kind of electoral reform."

His detainment triggered a diplomatic incident, with Foreign Minister Bob Carr demanding his immediate release.

"We are seeking a full explanation of this," he said. "We think it is sad for a friendly country to deport an Australian member of Parliament, who was up there for peaceful purposes."

Australia's concerns were immediately raised with Malaysia's Foreign Minister, the Minister for Home Affairs and the Malaysian High Commissioner to Australia.

Senator Nick Xenaphon talks to reporters at Melbourne Airport. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Austalian High Commissioner Miles Kupa was allowed to see Senator Xenophon late yesterday - bringing him a takaway meal to supplement the biscuits he was fed - and he was moved from an interrogation room adjoining female prison cells to an office area before being taken to an airport lounge.

Senator Xenophon co-authored an international observers' group report released last year on the Malaysian electoral system that was critical of gerrymanders and that called for significant electoral reform.

His deportation caused an Australian delegation of MPs to cancel their planned visit to the country.

Liberal MP Mal Washer, Nationals Senator John Williams and ALP MP Steve Georganas were to join Senator Xenophon to meet Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, as well as Malaysia's minister in charge of parliamentary affairs Mohammed Nazri ahead of Malaysia's elections.

Senator Xenophon joined the Customs queue on arrival at Kuala Lumpur but was told there were "irregularities" with his passport and was taken to an interrogation room.

He was told he was not allowed to make calls but managed to make a call to the Sunday Mail when he was briefly left unattended and send a photograph of himself.

Senator Xenophon, who paid for his own trip, had planned to stay in Malaysia until Tuesday night. He says he will frame his deportation notice.

Nick Xenophon's deportation notice 

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Bizarre fireball hits after meteor

HOURS after a meteor exploded over Russia and injured more than 1000 people and an asteroid passed relatively close to Earth, residents in California reported seeing an unusual flash of light over the San Francisco Bay area that left many startled and thrilled.

Based on reports, the light streaking in the Northern California sky was a sporadic meteor, or fireball, and not a major event, said Mike Hankey, operations manager for the American Meteor Society in Genesee, New York. The group recorded at least 35 reports of the event, he said.

"Fireballs happen every single night, all around the world," he said.

Experts say smaller meteorites hit Earth five to 10 times a year but chances of a large meteor passing, such as the one that streaked over Chelyabinsk, Russia, are much rarer. Another meteor landed in the Bay Area in October and caused a loud sonic boom, a sound that could have been from the meteor travelling faster than the speed of sound, officials said at the time.

A fireball is spotted in North California after a meteor shower hits Russia. Photo: YouTube still Source: Supplied

Another meteor that exploded April 22 was seen over a large part of Northern California and Nevada.

On Friday, the Chabot Space and Science Centre in Oakland also reported receiving calls describing what appeared to be a fireball flying west around 8pm local time.

Jonathan Braidman, an instructor at the centre, described the object based off reports as likely being a small piece of an asteroid that "somehow" got on a collision course with Earth.

"This is a very common occurrence," Braidman said. "What is uncommon is that it's so close to where people are living."

Bay Area media outlets reported the fireball was reported seen from an area stretching from Gilroy, about 130 kilometres south of San Francisco, to Sacramento, about 145 kilometres to the northeast.

One viewer told television station NBC11 the object was bluish in colour and appeared to be heading straight to the ground.

San Leandro resident Krizstofer Loid told KTVU-TV that he was sitting on a lawn chair in the backyard of his home when he saw the object.

A meteor streaks through the sky over Chelyabinsk, about 1500km east of Moscow. Picture: AP Photo/AP Video Source: AP

"I saw, like, a blue streak from the sky coming down. I thought it was fireworks, but I didn't hear any sounds," he said.

The centre's large telescopes did not pick up the object during a stargazing event, astronomer Gerald McKeegan told KGO-TV.

"The media attention on the Russian thing got people's attention, so they're more likely to notice things in the sky," Hankey said.

While Friday night's fireball received a lot of attention in the San Francisco Bay area, Braidman notes that about 15,000 tons of debris from asteroids enter the earth's atmosphere every year.

"Usually these things break up into small pieces and are difficult to find," he said.

The news of North America seeing lights comes as Cuba also apparently experienced a phenomenon similar to but smaller than the meteorite that hit Russia.

In this frame grab made from dashboard camera video, a meteor, upper left, streaks through the sky over Chelyabinsk, about 1500km east of Moscow. With a blinding flash and a booming shock wave, the meteor blazed across the western Siberian sky and exploded with the force of 20 atomic bombs, injuring more than 1000 people as it blasted out windows and spread panic in a city of 1 million. (AP Photo/AP Video) Source: AP

Residents described a bright light in the sky and a loud explosion that shook windows and walls.

There were no reports of any injuries or damage such as those caused by the Russia meteorite.

In a video from a state TV newscast posted on the website CubaSi late Friday, unidentified residents of the central city of Rodas, near Cienfuegos, said the explosion was impressive.

"On Tuesday we left home to fish around five in the afternoon, and around 8:00 we saw a light in the heavens and then a big ball of fire, bigger than the sun," one local man said in the video.

"My home shook completely," said a woman. "I had never heard such a strange thing."

Marcos Rodriguez, whom the video identified as a specialist in anthropology, said all signs point to a meteorite.
 

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'For years, I felt like no one believed me'

Christ Church Grammar School, where the victim attended. Picture: Richard Polden Source: PerthNow

THE WA man who was sexually abused by a former Christ Church Grammar School teacher when he was a boy says he feels relieved his abuser will be behind bars.

In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Times the father, who cannot be identified, almost broke down several times as he revealed the anguish he suffered at the hands of Lindsay William Hutchinson, who was this week found guilty of the horrific crimes and will be sentenced on April 5.

He said for decades he felt ashamed, but this week finally felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders when a District Court jury unanimously found Hutchinson guilty.

The married former student, now in his 40s, was repeatedly raped and sexually abused by Hutchinson, the former musical director at the prestigious school, in the 1980s.

He said Hutchinson robbed him of his childhood, destroyed his love of music, affected his relationship with his parents and shattered his confidence.

He turned to drink and drugs in his late teens, then found the courage to come forward about his ordeal when he was 21, revealing his story to the school's chaplain and director of ethics, Canon Frank Sheehan.

While the man said he was able to build a loving relationship with his wife and children, the torture he endured as a boy had left some deep scars.

He said also he felt let down by the school and Canon Sheehan.

During the trial last week, the victim told the court that when he approached Canon Sheehan for advice he was told to "forget about it and put it behind me and...that I need to get on with my life".

This week Canon Sheehan released a statement saying he never said or inferred the man should forget about what had happened.

"During the meeting it was obvious he was in great mental anguish and understandably, extremely angry about his treatment by Hutchinson," he said in his statement.

"My firm recollection is telling him first and foremost that I believed he was telling the truth and reassuring him that he had done the right thing in speaking out.

"I was especially conscious of the need to offer a listening ear and do whatever I could to help this stricken young man regain his dignity and sense of worth.

"We talked about the fact that, given the horrific nature of his ordeal, his mental recovery would take time and I anticipated the need to be available to provide ongoing support."

Canon Sheehan said he never went to police with the allegations because he understood the father of another former student, who has also pressed charges against Hutchinson and had organised the meeting between the victim and himself, was doing so.

"That was all I heard of the matter until three years ago, when the police came to see me and asked for my assistance in their investigation of complaints made by this former student about Lindsay Hutchinson," he said.

Canon Sheehan said he had tried to contact the victim numerous times after the initial meeting.

 "I had a phone number by which to set up another meeting but despite repeated attempts thereafter, I was unable to speak again to the young man," he stated.

"Over the next two months, I made repeated attempts to call the number with no success. Attempts via other avenues also failed to draw any response."

The victim said he was not trying to "denigrate" Canon Sheehan, but was disappointed by his statement.

"I know he has done some good things in the community, but he did not call me after that meeting," he said. "My parents lived in the same house for 48 years, their phone number was the same in all that time."

The man said he hoped the result this week would encourage others to come forward.

"I am ecstatic he (Hutchinson) is in jail," he said.

"For years I felt like no one believed me but on Thursday, 12 others believed me. I now hope that other victims will now be able to come forward."

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First strike, hoon cars gone

High Wycombe residents Kevin Fitzgerald, Roma Giovinazzo and Pas Fitzgerald with Nathan Morton, Police Minister Liza Harvey and Premier Colin Barnett to announce new hoon laws. Picture: Matthew Poon Source: PerthNow

WA'S worst hoons will have their cars taken off them for good on their first strike under tough new penalties promised by Premier Colin Barnett if his Government is re-elected.

Mr Barnett will announce the proposed changes today as part of an election commitment to crack down on hoons who hold suburban streets to ransom.

Meanwhile, trail-bike riders will also lose their vehicles for good if they are caught riding them unlicensed on the road.

Under Mr Barnett's plan:

* Hoon drivers who "cause distress" to neighbours or damage to property, even tyre marks on the road, will have their cars permanently confiscated on their first strike;

* Vehicles will also be permanently confiscated on a second hoon offence, no matter whether or not the driver causes any damage; and

* $1.6 million will be spent over four years on an "anti-hoon" police campaign that includes 24 additional CCTV cameras for hot spots.

Police Minister Liza Harvey said confiscated vehicles would be auctioned and unroadworthy vehicles destroyed.

"It's unfortunate that we've come to this point," Ms Harvey told The Sunday Times.

"But I've listened to hundreds of people right across WA. People in Carnarvon and Kalgoorlie are as fed up with hoons as people in suburban High Wycombe and Forrestfield.

"We want this to be a deterrent to people and we want people to think again. If we take away the tool that's being used to cause the damage, we're halfway there."

The announcement of tough new penalties comes as figures reveal the true extent of dangerous driving on WA roads.

Police received more than 7200 complaints about "anti-social" road behaviour, including burn-outs, excessive speed and street racing, in 2012.

About 2000 complaints were made about unlicensed trail bikes on WA roads.

"We're talking about 138 complaints to police a week  that is a lot of people doing the wrong thing on our roads," Ms Harvey said.

"We've seen the tragic circumstances that can occur when people speed on local roads. Children have been killed, innocent bystanders have been killed and people have had vehicles plough into their homes.

"We need it to end."

Hoon legislation was introduced by the previous Labor Government in 2004 to target organised street racing and reckless driving. In 2010, amendments were made by former police minister Rob Johnson, ordering police to impound vehicles for 28 days for a first offence, three months for a second offence and possibly permanent confiscate them for a third.

The latest penalties, if introduced, will give police the power to seize a vehicle on the spot, and apply to the courts to have it confiscated permanently on the first offence.

Pas and Kevin Fitzgerald, who have lived in High Wycombe for 24 years, said they hoped tougher penalties would bring an end to hooning in their neighbourhood.

"We live opposite Norling Rd and they use that as a launching place," Ms Fitzgerald said.

"We have had someone end up in a tree out the front of our place. And it's such a shame because it used to be such a beautiful place to live."

Mr Fitzgerald said: "These people don't seem to have any concern about their vehicle, their tyres or people's lives."

LABOR REACTION

Labor Leader Mark McGowan today responded to the announcement, saying that the Liberals had waited until the eve of the State election to finally take an interest in the issue.

"Its last attempt at laws to combat hoons was a complete embarrassment and contained loopholes that resulted in innocent members of the public being punished," he said.

"Western Australians will remember the injustice caused to a Perth doctor, who had his yellow Lamborghini seized despite the fact a mechanic was driving the vehicle when hoon offences were committed.

"The Barnett Government was left red-faced and forced to address its half-baked laws.

"The so-called 'tough' laws resulted in few people being charged with hoon offences, a clear sign that the broken promise to deliver 500 additional police officers allowed hoons to escape punishment.

"Offenders can't be charged if there are not enough police to catch them, and the Barnett Government's broken police promise was one of its biggest failures in four and-a-half years in Government."

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Australians owe a debt to WA

Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the nation is in debt to WA as he helped launch the Liberals state election campaign.

Premier of WA Colin Barnett launches the Liberal's WA election campaign at the Campaign Rall at Octagon Theatre, UWA. Wife Lyn Barnett and Colin leave the function. Picture: Colin Murty Source: PerthNow

Tony Abbott, Leader of the Federal Opposition talks to the crowd at the launch. Picture: Colin Murty Source: PerthNow

FEDERAL Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says he would model his government on Colin Barnett's administration as he launched the WA Liberals state election campaign.

Mr Abbott and deputy opposition leader Julie Bishop were among those who joined Mr Barnett at the Octagon Theatre at the University of WA for the official launch of the WA Liberal election campaign.

The Opposition Leader was given an enormous reception by the crowd of about 300 before a speech in which he described West Australians as "the best Australians."

"How much I respect the premier of this state, how much I have learnt from him, how much I wish to model myself on him, should I get the opportunity to lead our country,'' Mr Abbott said.

"The Barnett government has become a model for all the governments that we run or hope to run. That's the kind of government that I wish to run in Canberra.''

Making a clear appeal to the parochial WA electorate ahead of the federal poll in September, Mr Abbott said the rest of Australia owed the state for driving the nation's economy.

"All of us owe a debt to you. Every Australian owes a debt to Western Australia and in an important sense, West Australians are the best Australians,'' Mr Abbott said.

Mr Abbott heaped praise on the Premier, whom he described as a friend and a person he modelled himself on, especially after the 2007 federal election.

"We were out of power (in 2007) in every state...some wondered whether our party had a future," he said.

"Then along came Colin Barnett and one by one the bad government's started to fall...there is one bad government yet to go.

"That's the big one in Canberra which must fall if our country is one more to flourish.

"I want to thank Colin for the beacon of hope that he has been to the Liberals right around our country."

Mr Abbott also threw down a challenge to Prime Minister Julia Gillard to visit WA in the lead up to the election.

"I do challenge the prime minister - come west, Prime Minister, come west. Don't be shy of coming to Western Australia,'' he said.

"Justify the carbon tax. Justify the mining tax. Because the first person it seems you have to persuade is your very own state leader.''

Colin Barnett used part of his 30-minute address to make several election promises.

He announced the science education centre Scitech will be rebuilt on the Burswood peninsula at a cost of $15 million, while $57 million will be spent over four years to employ 155 school health nurses.

Mr Barnett also trumpeted a plan to "bring back the family holiday" by building camping areas and chalets at a cost of $20 million in the state's national parks and added that an announcement on funding for medical research was coming later in the week.

The WA Liberal leader warned that changing the government on March 9 will mean a change of direction for WA.

"If you change the government, you change the state," he said. "And I urge you not to risk (voting) Labor and not risk our future.

"This government has been a good government, we have been ethical, we've been taken good and strong positions.

"We have been a government that makes decisions for the good of the people and for the good of the state."

This afternoon, WA Labor Treasury spokesman Ben Wyatt criticised the Liberals for what he called a 'focus on pet inner city projects' and he said the party had run out of ideas.

He said Mr Barnett showed little vision for Western Australia at the campaign launch.

"It's clear Mr Barnett has run out of ideas," Mr Wyatt said.

"We still haven't seen any tough decisions from Mr Barnett or any trace of how he will identify cost savings to pay for his promises, including the plan to move Scitech to Burswood Peninsula," he said.

"WA Labor supports science, but the best place to encourage it is in the classroom.

"That's our focus and that's why we announced a commitment to establish a selective Gifted and Talented program at South Fremantle Senior High School and the State's first Future Science Centre."

with AAP

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Labor claims 4000 new jobs from Metronet

WA Labor Leader Mark McGowan says Metronet will create 4000 jobs. Picture: Alf Sorbello Source: PerthNow

NEARLY 4000 jobs would be created by Labor's $3.8 billion Metronet public transport plan, Opposition Leader Mark McGowan claimed today.

Mr McGowan -- who has stamped a major point of difference in the election campaign by pledging to find some savings for Metronet by building Perth's stadium at Subiaco rather than Burswood -- said the jobs would come from constructing the system and in associated supply industries.

He said Labor based its 3900 jobs estimate on the construction of  WA's southern rail links and ``construction activity of  rail links in Victoria and South Australia''.

``We think it (the figure) is actually an under-estimate,'' he said.

``The Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the RAC all estimate the (road) congestion costs businesses money in Western Australia.

``I want to make the life of small businesses and large businesses easier, to help them create jobs.

``Our Metronet plan is going to fix congestion in our suburbs and make our city more liveable.''

He renewed a promise made on Friday to have Labor's transport plan costed by Treasury officials, saying he would meet them tomorrow, and that ``it won't be long'' before costings were done.

This came after Transport Minister Troy Buswell released on Friday the Public Transport Authority documents he said had formed the basis for the WA Government's estimate that Metronet would cost $6.4 billion, more than $2 billion above Labor's figure.

``(But) when will the Premier and  Mr Buswell be handing over their rail plans to Treasury for costing?'' Mr McGowan asked at yesterday morning's media conference to announce the extra jobs.

Labor's plan includes the establishment of rail lines to Perth Airport and Ellenbrook and northern and southern suburbs circle lines.

Mr McGowan has said that by building the stadium, which is currently costed at about $1 billion, at Kitchener Park taxpayers would save $250 million and still have the venue by 2018.

He has also said savings would also be found for Labor's transport plan by ``re-allocating taxpayers' money identified for the Oakajee project and deferring the new museum project''.
 

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'Plot to kill': Boys plan murder

• Two boys, aged 10 and 11, charged over alleged murder plot
• Were going to kill girl "because she was really annoying"
• Washington prosecutors will argue they are criminally responsible

TWO elementary school children have been charged with plotting to kill another student at their school, "because she was really annoying".

An affidavit has been lodged against the two boys, aged 10 and 11, after a gun, an ammunition clip and a knife were found in the 10-year-old boy's bag at Fort Colville Elementary School, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The boys were both in fifth grade at the Colville, Washington school, and were reportedly going to use the weapons to entice the girl outside and kill her "because she was really annoying".

They were also planning to attack another six children.

The knife was 8.25cm, and the gun was a .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun.

Stevens County prosecuting attorney Timothy Rasmussen told the LA Times the boys had a "plot to kill".

He said he would argue that the boys should be held criminally responsible for the charges.

The plot was uncovered when another student spotted the weapons and told a teacher.

The boys are facing charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and of witness tampering after they reportedly offered $80 to another student to keep the plot secret.

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Caviar simply invincible

Black Caviar shows she still has it as she storms to an easy win in her first race in eight months.

Black Caviar smashes track record as she notches third consecutive Lightning Stakes to record 23rd win.

Jockey Luke Nolen sends Black Caviar to the line to win the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes in record time at Flemington. Source: Getty Images

BLACK Caviar is back with a boom. Bigger, better - and faster - than ever.

In a comeback after a seven-month break, the champion mare blitzed her rivals in the race named in her honour, the Black Caviar Lightning, and broke the track record that has stood for 25 years.

WIN A SHARE IN A RACEHORSE

It is the first time the world's highest-rated sprinter has broken a track record - an indication of her power and potency now.

GALLERY: CHAMPION TO THE PEOPLE

On a day dominated by expectation, emotion and eventual exhilaration, Black Caviar:

SET a track record of 55.42sec, beating Special's best time of 55.5sec set in 1988;

BECAME the first galloper to win the Lightning for three consecutive years;

TOOK her record to 23 consecutive wins;

PASSED $7 million in prizemoney;

REGISTERED her 13th Group 1 win, equalling Sunline and Tie The Knot, to be only one shy of Kingston Town;

SPEARHEADED trainer Peter Moody's Lightning trifecta.

Black Caviar stretches out to win from Moment Of Change and Golden Archer. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

The mare wasn't flash out of the barriers, but immediately took control.

After an initial 200m in 13.62sec, she ran 10.37sec for the next 200m to have her rivals under pressure, and then scooted clear with her next 200m in 10.21sec.

Jockey Luke Nolen, still haunted by almost losing at Royal Ascot in Britain at her last run in June, resisted the temptation to ease her down, as is her normal practice.

This time he "gave her a squeeze" and she ran the next 200m in 10.17sec before finishing off the final 200m in 11.05sec.

It was breath-taking, even for Moody, Victoria's leading and hardened trainer.

Strapper Donna Fisher gives her pal Nellie a pat after her historic third straight Lightning Stakes win. Picture: Alex Coppel Source: Herald Sun

"I said to my girls that this is the first time I have been so nervous. I'm a bit emotional," he said with trembling hands.

"You always worry. You are on a hiding to nothing.

"To come back, do that, break the record, makes you lost for words.

"It could be her best career performance, given the time she ran."

There's only one horse the crowd wants to photograph as Black Caviar parades before the Lightning Stakes. Picture: Jason Edwards Source: Herald Sun

Nolen was beaming after the race, putting to rest his "brain fade" in the final stages of the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Ascot.

"I got too much of a kick in the a--- in Ascot for dropping my hands, so I gave her a squeeze to make sure she went to the line," he said.

"At Flemington, it's so big and with the wind and the grandstand, you don't get a real appreciation of how fast you are going."

The champ, who started the $1.10 favourite, and was supported by almost every one of the 27,047 fans, defeated Moment Of Change ($21) by two-and-a-half lengths, with a further three-and-a-quarter lengths to Moody's other runner, Golden Archer ($41).

Part-owner Jill Taylor after Black Caviar salutes in the Lightning Stakes. Picture: Jason Edwards Source: Herald Sun

Black Caviar is likely to head to the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 15.

Her effort - and she still has improvement in her - had others gob-smacked.

Robert Smerdon, who sees her daily at Caulfield and who marvels at her physique and unblemished record, said simply: "She is something else."

David Hayes was smiling broadly when he said of Black Caviar breaking Special's record, set under the guidance of his father Colin: "Bugger. What was Luke doing pushing her out like that to break the record?"

Punters continued to support the champ and took bundles off the bookies again.
 

Luke Nolen urges another effort from Black Caviar as she leaves her rivals behind on the way to smashing the course record for the 1000m dash. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

Corporate bookie sportsbet.com.au reported one bet of $500,000 at $1.10 and another $300,000 at $1.06. Others were also hit savagely by those who have never failed to collect on her appearances.

While all the attention was on Black Caviar, the effort of Moment Of Change was exceptional. He was having his first look at Flemington in preparation for the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) on March 9.

He chased determinedly and bookies immediately slashed his price from $8.50 into $4.20. Black Caviar is the $2.50 favourite for the handicap, but is unlikely to start.
 

Jockey Luke Nolen and Black Caviar return to scale to the delight of 27,000 roaring fans. Source: Getty Images

BLACK CAVIAR'S LIGHTNING SECTIONALS
(How the champ broke a 25-year track record)

2013
Track: Dead 4. Time: 55.42sec
(Previous record for 1000m at Flemington: SPECIAL, 55.5sec, 1988)

Start to 800m: 13.62sec
800 to 600m: 10.37
600 to 400: 10.21
400-200: 10.17
200-winning post: 11.05

2012
Track: Good 3. Time: 55.53sec

Start to 800m - 13.54sec

800m - 600m - 10.21
600m - 400m - 9.98
400m - 200m - 10.40
200m - finish - 11.40

2011
Track: Dead 4. Time: 57.20sec

Start to 800m - 13.76sec
800m - 600m - 10.49
600m - 400m - 10.34
400m - 200m - 10.59
200m - finish - 12.02

Catch us if you can: Black Caviar and Luke Nolen (second from right) set a frantic pace for their rivals as the pair close on the 700m mark. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

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History of everything in 90 minutes

A History of Everything is a good use of time. Picture: Brett Boardman Source: PerthNow

IF you were to condense the defining events of the past 14 billion years into just 90 minutes, where would you start?

The director of A History of Everything begins at the present day and presses rewind, taking the audience on a trip through the passage of time from a world dominated by Google and viral videos back through wars and genocides, empires and colonies, to a time when human life had not yet begun and there was just a tiny blue planet orbiting the sun.

Belgium-based theatre collective Ontroerend Goed was commissioned for the show by the Sydney Theatre Company, which of course counts starlet Cate Blanchett and husband Andrew Upton as artistic directors.

With a cast of just seven performers, the actors work across a two-dimensional map of the world spread across the stage.

Armed with ingenious props, the performers flit from continent to continent to depict moments in time. A squirter bottle is employed when there is a flood, and a toy gun is used for assassinations.

When we settle in to see the show at the State Theatre Centre, it is February 15, 2013.

We're informed the Perth Wildcats are playing, and a meteor has hit Russia, injuring more than 1000 people.

Times moves backwards quickly, chaotically, as the world's population clocks backwards from 7 billion.

The death of Apple creator Steve Jobs rates a mention, as does Rebecca Black's viral hit "Friday". 

A terrible Aussie accent is employed for Julia Gillard's famous misogyny speech.

"I did not have sexual relations with that woman," bellows President Bill Clinton from America in 1998.

As the 20th century ticks over to the 19th century, time is slower, less is happening.

The world's population is smaller, religion plays a bigger part.

When we get to a few million years ago, the earth looks very different.

A few billion years ago, and human life is nowhere to be seen. 

There is no denying the show has some very profound moments.

There is nothing like a glimpse of the entire history of the universe that gives you a sense of awe at the journey of humanity and the very small part you play in it.

It's a brilliant concept, and was executed exceptionally well.

While there were some slower moments, and the Big Bang was surprisingly underwhelming, the performance offered an interesting perspective at how we got to where we are today.

The history of everything in under two hours. It's a good use of time.

* A History of Everything runs until Feb 22 at the State Theatre Centre of WA. Visit perthfestival.com.au for tickets and information.

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Toddlers take over Scitech

Chloe Taylor blows bubbles with Theatre and Events Co-ordinator Renae Sayers. Picture: Will Russell Source: PerthNow

SCITECH has become a war zone of wide-eyed toddlers, furry baby animals, talking puppets, giant bubbles and hundreds of coloured balls in the battle to keep kids minds' curious.

The science education centre's annual Toddlerfest, which attracts an average of 1000 toddlers every day, provides exciting learning activities for babies and kids up to the age of five.

Scitech chief executive Alan Brien said children could sing and dance with the Kangaroo Creek Gang and puppet shows, pat baby animals, create play-dough creations and explore shapes by blowing unusual bubbles.

"This event is the perfect opportunity to highlight the long-term benefits of stimulating a child's learning at an early age," Mr Brien said.

"From following the movement of a ball to solving a puzzle, the range of activities are proven to enhance a child's learning and encourage young developing minds."

Representatives from specialists groups will be on hand with interactive displays to educate and inform parents about a range of services available for babies and toddlers.

Doubleview mum Carly Starcevich said her two-year-old daughter Teisha Young loved going to Scitech every month to see new displays and play in the children's area.

"There's nowhere else in Perth like here," Ms Starcevich said. "Kids can learn different things instead of just playing with the same old toys."

Scitech's Toddlerfest runs until 24 February at City West every day of the week, with free entry for children under the age of three. For more information, go to www.scitech.org.au or call 9215 0700.

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