Teen who bashed deaf man dodges jail

A TEENAGER has dodged a jail term after pleading guilty to bashing a deaf man at a Perth train station, but he will face imprisonment if he offends again in the next year, a judge has warned.

Joshua William Bignell, 18, bashed Seow Oh, 28, fracturing his eye socket, in Carlisle in June last year.

Bignell bashed and kicked Mr Oh from behind as he was walking to his car parked at the station.

Bignell was originally charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, but the charge was later upgraded to grievous bodily harm.

Today in the District Court, Judge Phillip Eaton handed Bignell a pre-sentence order, subject to three reviews over the next 12 months.

Judge Eaton decided not to imprison Bignell immediately because he was young, had a troubled childhood and mental health problems, and was "now in a stable situation''.

If Bignell committed an offence in the next 12 months, it was likely he'd be sentenced to an immediate term of imprisonment, Judge Eaton warned.

"You can just about bank on that,'' he said.

"If you're going well, I'll allow the order to continue.

"If things are falling apart, then I won't hesitate to bring it to an end.

"If you fail, Mr Bignell, then the consequences will be grim.''

Judge Eaton said the maximum penalty for the offence was 10 years' imprisonment, meaning Bignell was "in the big league'' after "fairly relentless offending'' in recent years.

"Offences on people at our railway stations, on the platforms of our railway stations, are only too prominent in our community and everyone is concerned about it,'' he said.

Mr Oh's sight - as far as the court knew - was still intact, Judge Eaton said.

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Chaplain had 'unhealthy' interest in girls

THE child pornography trial of a former Perth private girls' school chaplain heard the accused had an unhealthy interest in young girls.

Matthew David O'Meara appeared in District Court today, accused of possesing child pornography on thumb drives while a chaplain at the Anglican school in August 2010.

The prosecution claims Mr O'Meara has an unhealthy interest in young girls.

However, in his opening address today, Mr O'Meara's lawyer Laurie Levy said his interest in young people was a natural one for someone involved in education and did not extend to pornography.

Today the court was told a drama teacher, whose office at the time was in the chapel building near the chaplain's office, found a black USB drive on her desk and held on to it for two weeks, thinking it was a student's.

However, she handed the drive in when students showed her how to open the files and she was concerned with the images of a young girl on it.

The police were called soon after the teacher handed the USB to the school's head of IT.

The trial continues.

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IR floodgates open after Barnett surrender

THE industrial relations floodgates have opened on West Australian Premier Colin Barnett after he capitulated to the state nurses union.

After offering a 12.75 per cent wage rise over three years and having that rejected by Australian Nurses Federation (ANF) members amid work bans and strike threats, Mr Barnett offered a last-minute compromise on Sunday.

His offer of 14 per cent was well short of the union's demand for 20 per cent, but still won over most members, leaving them set to be Australia's highest paid nurses and midwives.

The Liberal leader said he'd had little choice but to put something better on the table, saying he had been advised by WA chief medical officer Gary Geelhoed that patient's lives would definitely be at risk.

But it's the fact he let it get down to the wire that's drawn criticism.

He had insisting early last week that nothing could be done during the caretaker period, before clarifying an in-principle agreement could be reached, just not signed until after the March 9 poll.

No sooner had Mr Barnett told reporters he hoped the matter wouldn't set a precedent for other unions, than the WA Prison Officers Union (WAPOU) warned it might lob another IR grenade into the election campaign in a bid to secure higher pay.

WAPOU said it had not planned to take industrial action while politicians were on the hustings, but the nurses issue had suggested "the only pathway to a fair pay offer is industrial action" and that the state government "only listens to unions who threaten strike action".

Members will meet on Wednesday to plan their campaign.

Meanwhile, the Maritime Union of Australia has kicked off its week-long state conference, while the State School Teachers' Union of WA has "condemned" Mr Barnett's refusal to not sign up to Prime Minister Julia Gillard's Gonski reforms, labelling his stance "a disgrace".

He could take some solace, however, from the absence of any strike threat in the teachers' union statement.

Separately, a social media war erupted between the two major parties over a Liberal radio advertisement that claimed the opposition's airport rail line, part of its $3.8 billion Metronet project, would finish its journey 1.5km from the terminal.

WA Labor state secretary Simon Mead said the claim was incorrect because the rail line would transport passengers directly to the integrated domestic and international Perth Airport, due for completion in 2021.

Mr Mead's letter, addressed to a radio station, warned the media company it was party to the Liberal's misleading and deceptive advertisement, calling for it to be immediately pulled from the airwaves as it violated part of the Trade Practices Act 1974.

But the Liberals' state secretary Ben Morton said that act had been superseded.

"If Labor are going to pull these types of stunts, they should really cite acts of parliament that actually exist," Mr Morton said.

"They have no credibility."

The Liberals also referred to a tweet by opposition transport spokesman Ken Travers, in which he referred to "an internal people mover" - "maybe a rubbed wheeled tram" - to get passengers to the terminal.

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Dangerous Rusty moves quickly on NW

Cyclone Rusty hovers off the Broome-Pilbara coast as it gathers strength. Source: PerthNow

BIG ONE: Cyclone Rusty is now a Category two storm, but has the potential to develop into a destructive Category four cyclone. Source: PerthNow

Catch up with Channel 9's Sally Ayhan for local weather and a sneak peek into what to expect over the next 24 hours.

Cyclone Rusty off the Broome-Pilbara coast. Source: PerthNow

FORECASTERS say Tropical Cyclone Rusty will cause havoc in northern Western Australia in the next 24 hours, warning it could bring major flooding, huge winds and a potentially deadly coastal tide.

The slow-moving cyclone, which is currently a category two, was about 250km north of Port Hedland and 345km west of Broome at 5pm, moving south at 6km/h and building.

The Bureau of Meteorology say the storm front could be as intense as a category four as it crosses the coastline later this week, which could bring wind gusts as high as 230km/h.

Tropical Cyclone Rusty is moving slowly towards the coast. It has recently moved to the south southeast but it is likely to take a southerly track overnight.
 
Gales are expected on the coast between Wallal and Whim Creek overnight. During Tuesday afternoon gales could extend west to Karratha and begin to extend inland towards Marble Bar and Millstream.

 
Further intensification is likely as the tropical cyclone approaches the coast.

There is a high risk that Rusty will cross the coast as a severe tropical cyclone. However, the slow motion of the tropical cyclone means that the crossing time and location is uncertain.
 
Rusty is a large tropical cyclone and its slow movement is likely to result in rainfall that is heavier than that associated with a typical tropical cyclone.

Very heavy rainfall is expected in near coastal parts of the eastern Pilbara and western Kimberley over the next few days.
 
During Tuesday and Wednesday widespread very heavy rainfall is likely to lead to major flooding in the De Grey catchment. Significant flooding is also likely in the Fortescue catchment and in Pilbara coastal streams.
 
Rusty's intensity, size and slow movement is also likely to lead to a very dangerous storm tide as the cyclone centre nears the coast.
 
Tides are likely to rise significantly above the normal high tide mark with damaging waves and very dangerous coastal inundation.

Channel 9's Sally Ayhan on what Perth can expect from Cyclone Rusty

Widespread heavy rainfall is likely to lead to major flooding in the nearby De Grey catchment area.

Significant flooding is also predicted in the Fortescue catchment and in Pilbara coastal streams.

More than 830mm of rain has been dumped on the Cocos Islands in the past three days - eclipsing the amount that fell in metropolitan Perth in 2012 by more than 200mm.

Bureau senior forecaster Neil Bennett said Rusty's intensity, size and slow movement was also likely to lead to a dangerous storm tide, including damaging waves.

Port Hedland port evacuated, closed

Mining giant Rio Tinto said it had prepared for the storm by closing the Port Walcott port at Cape Lambert and was finishing up ship-loading at its Dampier ports.

The Port Headland Port Authority said it had evacuated the port on Sunday night and would stay closed.

Virgin cancelled flights from Perth to Broome today, and local businesses reported people were dashing to buy water and tinned food as the storm approached.

Cocos Island deluge - 830mm in three days

The massive tropical cyclone has also dumped huge rainfall on parts of the Kimberley and Cocos Island, which has received more than 800mm of rain in three days -- including 416mm in the past 24 hours.

Cocos Islands has received 830mm of rain in three days, thanks to the combination of Cyclone Rusty and a monsoonal trough.

"The monsoon trough lies in the vicinity of the Cocos Islands with a tropical low about 170km to the southeast.
Strong to gale force winds are are likely through the outlook period. The low may develop into a tropical cyclone on Monday or Tuesday, by which time the system centre will be moving away from the Cocos Islands,'' the Bureau says.

"The weather associated with the low and combined with the monsoon trough has led to heavy rainfall on the islands.

"The heavy rainfall and thunderstorm activity is expected to continue on Monday.

At 11.45am today Cyclone Rusty was 305km north of Port Hedland and 410km north-northeast of Karratha and was virtually stationary, gathering strength over the warm Kimberley ocean.

The Bureau of Meteorology warns: "Tropical Cyclone Rusty is moving slowly towards the coast. Overnight it moved
very slowly to the east southeast but it is likely to resume a more southward track by this evening.

"Gales are expected to develop on the coast between Wallal and Whim Creek during the early afternoon, possibly extending north towards Broome this evening. On Tuesday gales could extend as far west as Mardie and inland towards Marble Bar and Millstream.

"Further intensification is likely as the cyclone approaches the coast on Monday and Tuesday and there is a high risk that Rusty will cross the coast a severe tropical cyclone.

However, the slow motion of the cyclone means that the crossing time and location is uncertain.

"Rusty is a large tropical cyclone and its slow movement is likely to result in higher than usual rainfall in the Pilbara and western Kimberley. Very heavy rainfall is expected in near coastal parts of the eastern Pilbara and western Kimberley on Monday.

"During Tuesday and Wednesday widespread very heavy rainfall is likely to lead to major flooding in the De Grey catchment.

"Significant flooding in the Fortescue catchment and in Pilbara coastal streams is also likely.

"Rusty's intensity, size and slow movement is also likely to lead to a very dangerous storm tide as the cyclone centre nears the coast. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the normal high tide mark with damaging waves and very danbgerous coastal inundation.

Cyclone Rusty has already brought massive rainfalls to parts of the Kimberley, with Country Downs station receiving 358mm in the past 48 hours, Kimbolton 242mm, Kilton Station and Cygnet Bay 209mm and Derby 181mm.

In the 24 hours to 9am today Lombadina, north-east of Broome has had 73mm and Broome recorded 47mm.

Flood warnings are in place for the De Grey River catchment and West Kimberley, including Cape Leveque.

DFES community alerts:

YELLOW ALERT: for people in or near the coastal communities of Cape Leveque to Wallal, and Whim Creek to Mardie, and extending to adjacent inland communities. This includes people in Broome, Bidyadanga, Karratha, Marble Bar and Millstream.

BLUE ALERT for people in or near the coastal communities of Cape Leveque to Wallal, and Whim Creek to Mardie, and extending to adjacent inland communities. This includes people in Broome, Bidyadanga, Karratha, Marble Bar and Millstream.

School closures:

The Department of Education advises the following public schools are closed until further notice:
• Hedland Senior High School
• Port Hedland Primary School
• Port Hedland School of the Air
• Cassia Primary School
• Cassia Education Support Centre
• Baler Primary School
• South Hedland Primary School
• Pilbara Behaviour Centre.
 
Three other schools have also been closed until further notice due to the risk of flooding. These schools are:
• Yandeyarra Remote Community School (in the Shire of Port Hedland)
• Marble Bar Primary School (in the Shire of East Pilbara)
• Nullagine Primary School (in the Shire of East Pilbara).
 

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Aussies on the ropes in First Test

Check out these the extended highlights from day four of the first Test between India and Australia in Chennai.

MS Dhoni becomes the first India wicketkeeper to score a double century, and made it look easy.

He may have been overshadowed by his captain, but Virat Kholi's day three century was pretty special.

Australia finally dismissed MS Dhoni for 224 early on day four and the Indians are all out for 572.

A FIGHTING half-century from debutant Moises Henriques has saved Australia from an embarrassing innings defeat and given the tourists a stay of execution in the first Test against India.

The tourists appeared headed for a heavy defeat when a top-order collapse on day four had Australia floundering at 8-161, still 31 runs shy of making India bat again with two wickets in hand.

But the impressive Henriques (75 not out) and No.11 Nathan Lyon (8 not out) stood tall under fire, with the rookie allrounder providing fierce resistance to move within 25 runs of a maiden Test ton.

At stumps on day four, Australia were 9-232, now a lead of 40 runs, ensuring India must at least take to the crease again on the final day to draw first blood in the four-Test series.

Full first Test scoreboard at the FoxSports match centre

Test youngblood Henriques was superb under fire, crunching six fours and two sixes to pilot Australia to a surplus, which could balloon beyond 100 if he blazes away and Lyon hangs tough.

While the tourists are still at long odds to avert defeat, the plucky Henriques is refusing to concede, mindful that many a Test nation has capitulated under the tricky pressure of chasing a low total.

"We haven't lost this Test yet," he said.

"There's certainly a lot of hope and from my point of view you just don't know what can happen. The odds are stacked against us at the moment but we go into (today) being the underdog and whether it's rain, whatever it is, you just never know.

"At first we were just hoping to make them bat again and get ourselves a lead ... then once we got the lead, keep building away."

The match appeared headed for an early finish when Mitchell Starc's dismissal left Australia 9-175, still 17 runs shy of making India bat again.

But Henriques and Lyon (8) bravely dug in, with the allrounder on course today to celebrate a maiden Test ton.

"Whatever we get will have to be enough," Henriques said.

"If Nathan can keep batting like he did tonight, and hopefully I can squeeze a few more out ... (maybe Australia can lead by) 100, 150, 200.

"We don't want to be setting targets. We'll just be batting as well as we can."

Indian off-spinner Ravi Ashwin (5-90) claimed another five-wicket haul to go with 7-103 in the first innings as Australia's top-order were suffocated by the home side's walls of spin.

After MS Dhoni thumped 224 to lift India to a mammoth 572, Shane Watson (17), Ed Cowan (32), Phil Hughes (0), David Warner (23) and Matt Wade (8) all departed in quick succession to have Australia reeling at 5-121.

Once again, Michael Clarke (31) was charged with saving his country, but not even the skipper's Bradman-like form can mask the issues confronting the selection panel on which he sits.

The Australians head to Hyderabad on Wednesday for the second Test and unless something changes drastically, the Border-Gavaskar trophy will be swapping hands well before the fourth Test finale.

The composition of the bowling attack was thought to be Australia's primary headache. But after the top-order's worrying capitulation yesterday, the selectors' heads are pounding on dual fronts.

There are some options. Mitchell Johnson may come into the equation after Mitchell Starc went wicketless in this Test. Glenn Maxwell and Xavier Doherty are spin considerations, while Usman Khawaja could answer an SOS to stiffen the batting order.

Either way, the national panel has some big decisions to make.

If there is a singular example of the problems engulfing the tourists, it is Watson.

The time is now for Watson to prove his bona fides as a specialist batsman after his latest failure yesterday extended his Test century drought to 35 innings.

On the eve of the first Test against India, Watson drew a line in the sand. He had heard the whispers. That some, possibly even men of influence in the corridors of Cricket Australia, did not rate him among the country's top-six batsmen.

But on the evidence tabled at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Watson has only poured fuel on the inferno of debate.

The vice-skipper had his golden chance yesterday on day four. With Australia trailing by 192 runs on the first-innings after MS Dhoni (224) went berserk, Watson was pitchforked into his familiar opening role when David Warner was laid low by a stomach bug.

But after falling for 17, on the back of his first-innings 28, Watson was left to rue the reality he has not scored a Test ton since his last tour of India in October 2010.

Watson's second-innings dismissal precipitated another top-order collapse. With Warner watching on, Watson and Ed Cowan guided Australia comfortably to 0-34, only for the allrounder to lunge at a Ravi Ashwin delivery that lobbed to Virender Sehwag first slip.

Before you could blink, the tourists were on the ropes. Cowan was trapped lbw by Ashwin, then Hughes edged Ravindra Jadeja to Sehwag for a third-ball duck, leaving Australia in tatters at 3-65.

As he trudged back to the pavilion yesterday, Watson's average had slipped to 36.60 from 39 Tests.

Since the tour of Sri Lanka in August 2011, Watson has made 573 runs at 26.04. Of his past 22 innings, 15 have featured scores of 30 or less.

Where Watson, and Australia, go from here is anyone's guess.

PHOTO DISPUTE

We are unable to publish photographs from the Test series in India due to a dispute between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and international news organisations.The BCCI has refused access to Test venues to established picture agencies including our supplier Getty Images. News Limited considers the BCCI action to be a strike against freedom of the press. News Limited, along with international photo and news agencies, is not providing live imagery from the tour in protest.

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Nurses accept 14pc pay rise

NURSES have accepted an in-principle offer of a 14 per cent pay increase over three years from the West Australian government, putting an end to bed closures and further strike action.

But under the agreement, there will be no changes to their work conditions.

The Australian Nurses Federation had been threatening to go on strike for 24 hours if the state government did not offer them a 20 per cent pay increase over three years by Monday.

But union state secretary Mark Olson said the ANF had only increased that demand from 12.75 per cent out of frustration at the lack of response from the state government.

The ANF had voted on Friday to keep one in five beds closed at hospitals over the weekend and to wait until Monday to decide if it should take industrial action.

This was despite the Industrial Relations Commission ordering that they cease their work bans or risk patient safety.

Premier Colin Barnett said today he had finally struck an in-principle agreement with the ANF to cease bed closures, not to strike on Monday and accept the conditional offer.

The proposed 14 per cent increase involves a five per cent increase from July 1 this year followed by a four per cent increase in 2014 and another five per cent increase in 2015.

But no official agreement can be signed until after the March 9 election because the government is still in caretaker mode.

Earlier, Labor leader Mark McGowan said he had sent the premier a letter explaining that any agreement made with the nurses would be supported by the opposition and implemented if they won the election.

Mr Barnett said he had not seen the letter but had been advised by the chief medical officer and heads of emergency departments that industrial action would place lives at risk, which was why he had to push for an in-principle agreement.

The premier denied he had caved in to pressure from the union because the election was less than two weeks away and said it should not encourage other unions to carry out similar action close to an election.

Mr Olson said he was relieved to finally have the matter agreed on but was disappointed that it had taken so long to reach this point when the deal could have been struck a week ago when the first bed was closed.

"I think it's due to the determination, courage and solidarity of the nurses that we have reached this point," he said.

"The public has always supported us from day one and the premier knew that."

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Pistorius's brother on death charge

Aimee, Carl and Henke Pistorius have taken the same seats each day during the dramatic and emotional bail hearing for Oscar Pistorius, charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. AFP Source: AFP

THE brother of accused murderer Oscar Pistorius is himself facing a charge of culpable homicide, it has been revealed on a day in which reports also said that police found a herbal sexual stimulant in the star athlete's home.

Carl Pistorius was charged over the death of a woman who died when her motorbike collided with his car outside Johannesburg in 2008, his lawyer Kenny Oldwage said.

Oscar Pistorius, who has been charged with the Valentine's Day shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, was granted bail on Friday.

Mr Oldwage said in a statement that Carl had been involved in a car accident "in which a woman motorcyclist sadly lost her life". He said that "there is no doubt that Carl is innocent and the charge will be challenged in court".

The elder brother of athlete Oscar Pistorius was supposed to have gone on trial for culpable homicide on Thursday - the day before the Olympian got bail, according to South African media reports.

Carl Pistorius and lawyer Kenny Oldwage pictured outside Brooklyn police station, where Oscar Pistorius was being held, last week.

Mr Oldwage said that "Carl deeply regrets the accident" and that a blood test showed he was not drunk at the time. "It was a tragic road accident after the deceased collided with Carl's car."

He said the charges had initially been dropped, only to be reinstated later.

Oscar Pistorius and his brother Carl were seen driving into the home of their uncle Arnold today in Waterkloof, a wealthy suburb of Pretoria, the nation's capital, where Oscar is now staying.

'Sex stimulant, not steroids, found in home'

Meanwhile, a South African newspaper reported that a substance found in Oscar Pistorius's home during a search by police investigating the killing of his girlfriend is a herbal sexual stimulant, a South African newspaper reported.

The prosecution said during Pistorius' bail hearing last week that police had found two boxes of "testosterone" and needles in his Pretoria home, but the defence countered that it was a legal herbal remedy known as testocompasutium coenzyme.

The City Press newspaper said the remedy was a combination of vitamins and herbal cures partly derived from animal organs.

Sports physician Jon Patricios told the paper the product is used to boost sexual energy, but that athletes are not advised to use it since it may increase their testosterone levels.

"This is not an anabolic steroid and it is unlikely it will lead to irrational anger," he said.

The National Prosecuting Authority has said it was awaiting the results of forensic tests to determine what the product is.

Charges against Carl compound problems

The problems surrounding his older brother Carl, 28, are the latest twist in a case that has transfixed South Africa and much of the world. The revelation of the culpable homicide charge immediately created a stir.

"It's also doubly sad because it's involved with Oscar and his brother and all the family - so they have double sort of trouble. So, not good," said Johannesburg resident Jim Plester.

Carl Pistorius's trial was pushed back a month, but the specific date is not known. The Pistorius family has yet to react to the accusations that Carl is facing.

The latest developments comes just days after Hilton Botha, the lead detective investigating the Oscar Pistorius murder case, was dropped after it emerged he was facing seven attempted murder charges over a shooting incident in 2011.

Along with his sister Aimee and father Henke, Carl Pistorius has been a strong source of comfort and support to his Paralympian brother, attending last week's bail hearings.

Carl Pistorius's Twitter account was taken down this weekend after a hacker sent a tweet thanking everyone for supporting the families of Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp.

"Carl did not tweet this afternoon, out of respect to Oscar and Reeva," family spokesman Janine Hills said in a statement. "We are busy cancelling all the social media sites for both Oscar's brother and his sister."

Questions raised over Oscar Pistorius's character

The character of Oscar Pistorius also continued to take centre stage. For many, it mirrors his public appearances as an articulate, well-spoken advocate for Paralympic athletes facing hardship. Witness statements backing up Oscar Pistorius as a down-to-earth guy were presented at the hearing.

Others have described him as a reckless risk taker who has been in trouble before, such as a boat accident in 2009 which put him into the hospital.

Today, a South African man who said Steenkamp had stayed at his home since September, described Pistorius as moody and impatient. Cecil Myers, whose daughter was a close friend of Steenkamp's, said in an interview published in the City Press, that Pistorius will have the killing of Steenkamp on his conscience. "I hope he gets a long sentence. Gets what he deserves," said Mr Myers.

"Very nice and charming to us when they started dating," said Mr Myers. Mr Myers said Pistorius initially used to come into the house but later just dropped Steenkamp off and picked her up when they began to date steadily, and he described the change as a lack of respect.

Mr Myers recalled their first date and told the newspaper: "After that he wouldn't leave her alone. He kept pestering her, phoning and phoning and phoning her."

According to Mr Myers, Steenkamp "told me he pushed her a bit into a corner. She felt caged in."

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Strike nurses face the sack

Department of Health director-general Kim Snowball. Source: PerthNow

THOUSANDS of public nurses and midwives have been threatened with losing their jobs over planned strikes for better pay.

The threat of deregistration, which nurses labelled "industrial relations Colin Barnett style",  was contained in an email sent statewide on behalf of Health director-general Kim Snowball at 5.31pm yesterday.

Mr Snowball said "each nurse will have to make their own decision" about whether they complied "personally" with an order made on Friday by the WA Industrial Relations Commission that nurses cease industrial action, which this week had involved nurses closing one in five hospital beds.

"Nurses who put patients at risk do so contrary to the order of the commission and put their own professional registration at risk," Mr Snowball said in the email, which focused heavily on the bed closures.

His email also said nurses could lose their "indemnity insurance" if they "ignore the (commission's) orders".

Australian Nursing Federation state secretary Mark Olson said: "It is an absolute disgrace that the Barnett Government would threaten the 10,000 nurses and midwives involved in action in this city with losing their jobs, because that's what deregistration would result in.

"And especially since we have always ensured patients were not at risk.

"Over the last 15 years nurses have closed beds during industrial campaigns in other states, most recently in Victoria , which used the same guidelines as we are using in WA, which protects patient safety, by exempting critical areas such as intensive care, oncology and coronary care.

"No nurse or midwife was sacked, suspended or deregistered there, even though the Victorian Government took the matter all the way to the Federal Court.

"Here, instead of trying to sort out this pay claim and make nurses a decent offer, they only want to bully harass, threaten and intimidate. Is that how you do industrial relations Colin Barnett style?"

Mr Olson has vowed to proceed with 24 hour's worth of instant "flash-mob'' stop work actions at Perth hospitals tomorrow, which would be directed by orders issued on text messages, and involve about 6000 ANF members.

He warned the actions could be "sustained for months," and plans had already made about extending the action "for the next two weeks".

The strategy, designed to keep the Health Department guessing where the next action will occur, would see participants taken by bus or taxi to wherever the Premier was speaking or attending an event.

"We stress we have already put in place safety provisions, so there will be no patients put at risk," Mr Olson said.

"If a nurse or a midwife receives a flash-mob signal by text or email, but is in the middle of a procedure, then they would complete the procedure and not be part of that event.

"But the action will still be effective because at least 5000-6000 nurses and midwives will be involved each day, so those who miss one can pick up the next one, and the Health Department won't know what hit them."

Mr Olson said this morning that one in five beds would remain closed. But he said some beds were being opened for emergencies and cases such as where elderly people were affected, because "we're reasonable here at the ANF, and that would have happened anyway" (regardless of Mr Snowball's threats).

But he said because the Government had refused to make a formal offer, nurses were no longer willing to negotiate over a 15 per cent pay rise over three years, from July, and had reverted to a previous demand of 20 per cent.

Mr Snowball also said in his email that there was evidence that delays to access to beds led to increased deaths among patients and that "ceasing elective surgery" would not "resolve the bed capacity problem".

GOVERNMENT REACTION

Premier Colin Barnett had said there was little he could do while the government was in caretaker mode before the March 9 state election.

But Opposition Leader Mark McGowan told reporters today that under the guidelines of the caretaker convention, an agreement could be reached between the government and the ANF if the opposition was also involved in the discussions.

Mr McGowan wrote a letter to the Premier in which he said the dispute was "getting beyond normal election politicking''.

He said while he would not enter into a bidding war with the government, any agreement they made with the nurses would be supported by the opposition and implemented if they won the election.

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Sex education essential to combat STD spike

Youth Affairs Council of WA executive officer Craig Comrie says sex education should be compulsory in high schools. Source: PerthNow

SEX education should be mandatory in every WA high school to combat rising rates of sexually transmitted infections, the state's peak body for young people says.

The Youth Affairs Council of WA says sexual health must be made a priority for all political parties and has called for a commitment before the March 9 poll for compulsory sex ed, even in private and religious schools.

It comes as the latest statistics reveal WA has among the highest rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea in the country, second only to the Northern Territory.

YAC executive officer Craig Comrie said there was currently a national curriculum for sex education but WA schools were not obligated to implement it.

"There is a real dearth of investment around supporting our young people aged between 12-18 and that's very concerning because they are a very important part of our community and it's also an important part in

their development,'' he said.

"I can attribute it to the fact that those young people unfortunately can't vote.

"Sexual health should be as important to people in the community as mental health. The reality is the statistics show one in five young people experience mental health concerns. One in five young people in WA have chlamydia.''

Mr Comrie said that religious schools should not be exempt from sex education.

"Young people who go to religious schools are just the same as their counterparts in public schools and they need the information as well,'' he said.

YACWA is also calling on political leaders to invest in providing youth-specific sexual health services across the metropolitan region, especially in the northern suburbs.

"The reason why they need to be youth-specific is this is a sensitive issue and we know that young people prefer to go to youth specific services where they feel comfortable and not judged,'' Mr Comrie said.

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Pilbara battens down for Cyclone Rusty

RESIDENTS have been warned to prepare for dangerous weather as a cyclone intensifies off Western Australia's north coast.

Tropical Cyclone Rusty is expected to bring gales late on Sunday or early on Monday as it tracks towards the coast, followed by very heavy rain on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A blue alert for dangerous weather has been issued for coastal communities from Broome to Whim Creek, including areas around Port Hedland, Wallal and Broome.

At 2pm today, the category one cyclone was estimated to be 350km north of Port Hedland and 435km west of Broome, moving south at 8km/h, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

It will continue to intensify tomorrow and there is a high risk that it will cross the coast as a severe tropical cyclone on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Tropical Cyclone Rusty is large and expected to move more slowly than usual, resulting in higher than normal rainfall, the bureau says.

Widespread very heavy rainfall is expected on Tuesday and Wednesday and is likely to lead to major flooding in the De Grey catchment and in the Fortescue.

Residents have been warned to review their family cyclone plan and organise an emergency kit which should contain a portable battery-operated radio, torch, spare batteries and first aid kit.

Port Hedland Port Authority spokesman Steed Farrell said the port was already experiencing gusts in excess of gale force and evacuations were well underway.

"We expect the port to be officially closed early tomorrow morning when the last vessel clears port limits,'' he said.

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