Govt 'aware' of overcrowded trains

Perth trains are overcrowding to breaking point. Picture: Theo Fakos Source: PerthNow

TRANSPORT Minister Troy Buswell has defended the government's investment in public transport despite as a new survey finds commuters are becoming more frustrated by crowded trains.

Mr Buswell said the survey by the RAC, revealed today in The Sunday Times, told everyone what they already knew.

"At peak periods the trains are particularly busy, that's why we've got another 66 carriages on order," he said.

"The first of those sets arrive in Perth in the next six months."

The Minister stood by the Liberal Government's investment in public transport, saying it would cater with demand until the end of 2016.

Mr Buswell also today launched a new Green CAT bus service today that will run between Leederville and Perth.

Train passengers sick of overcrowding

The survey showed overcrowding on Perth trains was one of the biggest public transport problems, with four in five West Australians citing it as their No.1 headache.

The Joondalup and Mandurah rail lines are the worst, with up to 90 per cent of passengers rating overcrowding as the biggest failing of Perth trains.

Armadale and Thornlie have been deemed the most dangerous routes, with two-thirds of passengers fearing for their personal safety.

Overall, one in three bus, train and ferry users rate public transport as "poor" or "very poor", a landmark survey by the RAC shows.

Only one in five rate Perth's public transport as "excellent" or "very good"  a massive slide from 50 per cent who said it was excellent or very good five years ago.

The RAC did its last Public Transport Report in 2009 and the results, based on online surveys of more than 1400 public transport users  will be released today.

It found 84 per cent of respondents thought Perth's public transport had not improved in 18 months, while more than 80 per cent said overcrowding on trains was their No.1 public transport concern  a jump of almost 50 per cent on the last RAC survey.

Bus passengers rated the frequency of services and poor bus-train connections as their biggest public transport headache, while almost two-thirds of ferry passengers said services were too infrequent.

Train pain for Perth commuters

RAC head of advocacy Matt Brown said public transport users were angry and it was time the State Government listened. "Clearly more people are choosing public transport, which is putting a significant strain on existing infrastructure," he said.

Perth trains moved more than 63 million passengers last year, an 11 per cent increase since 2009. PTA figures show annual public transport patronage is on track to top 150 million journeys  equal to an extra 15,000 bus, train and ferry journeys every day compared with 12 months ago.

Mr Brown said WA needed more train carriages, a bus priority plan, more bus lanes and a smartphone app so commuters could track buses in real-time using existing on-board GPS data.

Transport Minister Troy Buswell said the RAC's opt-in survey produced "skewed results because it attracts predominantly respondents who want to air a concern" and, while it "highlighted some important matters", the State Government was already working to address them.

He said the WA Government was spending $243 million on 66 new rail cars, $241 million on extending the Joondalup line to Butler, and putting in new stations, extra parking bays, light rail and more buses.

Mr Buswell said the PTA's owning polling  based on face-to-face interviews with about 4500 regular public transport users  showed "the great majority of respondents were happy with public transport in Perth".

FULL SURVEY RESULTS

Overall rating of public transport:

	2009	2013
Excellent	9%	3%
Very good	40%	17%
Good	32%	44%
Poor	12%	26%
Very poor	5%	10%

Public transport now compared to 18 months ago:

	2009	2013
Better	29%	9%
The same	46%	53%
Worse	14%	31%

Main train headaches:

Overcrowding	82% (55% in 2009)
Personal safety	43% (39% in 2009)
Service not frequent enough	39% (23% in 2009)
Poor train-bus connection	39% (28% in 2009)

Main bus headaches:

Service not frequent enough	74% (66% in 2009)
Poor train-bus connection	53% (47% in 2009)
Service not reliable	35% (20% in 2009)
Overcrowding	34% (25% in 2009)

Main ferry headaches:

Service not frequent enough	69%
Poor connection with train-bus routes	47%

 with Amy Wilson-Chapman

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Heroic gran tells of stabbing chaos

Peggy Kew acted bravely when two women were attacked in a hair salon. Picture: Ross Swanborough Source: PerthNow

FOR Peggy Kew it was meant to be just another Monday morning trip to the local hair salon. But within minutes the grandmother of 10 became an unlikely hero in the middle of chaos.

The Sunday Times can today reveal that Ms Kew was the 67-year-old grandmother at Plush Hair salon in Como on Monday who, in her own words, "tried desperately" to help Angela Ferullo and her daughter, Selina Bello.

Police will allege a man entered the salon that morning intending to kill Ms Ferullo and her daughter.

Armed with a knife, the man allegedly attacked Ms Bello first before turning on her mother.

Customers sat frozen in fear, until Ms Kew stood up, threw a chair at the man and demanded he leave.

"All I could think of was picking up the chair and hitting him on the head - and that's what I did," Ms Kew told The Sunday Times.

Police will allege the man then turned the knife on Ms Kew and stabbed her in the chest and shoulder.

Ms Ferullo, a 43-year-old mother of four, died in hospital later that day from her injuries, while Ms Bello, who is five months pregnant with a baby boy, suffered serious injuries and has spent the week in hospital.

In an emotional interview this week, Ms Kew said she didn't see herself as a hero.

"A lady has died and I've got my friend Selina in hospital," she said. "I was trying desperately to save both of them."

She said Ms Ferullo was in a back room of the salon, but quickly emerged into the main parlour when the man came in.

Ms Kew said "all I could think of" was trying to help.

"But I don't feel like a hero at all," she said. "If you were to ask me who is the real hero, it's Angela, Selina's mother."

Ms Kew's stab wounds were treated at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. She was discharged on Tuesday afternoon. "I didn't even know I had been injured," she said. "It's still very raw and it's such a terrible thing what has happened.

"I am trying to put it in the back of my mind."

Ms Kew revealed also that she had spoken to Ms Bello in hospital on Thursday night and had a "good chat" with the expectant mother. She described the 22-year-old as a "beautiful girl".

Ms Kew's son, Mark, praised the emergency service personnel and hospital staff who helped his mother.

"They have all been exceptional and really good to her," he said.

Ms Ferullo's former husband, James Bill Payet, 48, has been charged.

He faces one count each of murder, attempted murder and aggravated wounding.

He faced a bedside court hearing this week and will appear in court again on July 31.

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Legal row 'sparked Nigella strangling'

Nigella Lawson has been pictured near her rented Mayfair flat without her wedding ring. Picture: Andrew Styczynski/The Sun Source: Supplied

CHARLES Saatchi and Nigella Lawson are said to be in a bitter dispute over two former personal assistants accused of misappropriating $282,000.

The case has caused tensions in Mr Saatchi and Ms Lawson's marriage and friends say it was a factor behind their row at celebrity restaurant Scott's earlier this month, when the art collector was pictured 'strangling' his wife, Britain's Mail on Sunday has revealed.

Saatchi, 70, is taking the women to the High Court after they allegedly spent tens of thousands on designer goods, taxi journeys and a flight to New York.

Friends say he last week asked Ms Lawson, 53, to move her belongings out of their Chelsea mansion after making it clear he would not apologise for grabbing her by the throat.

The Mail on Sunday reports that after Saatchi accepted a police caution for the strangling incident Nigella told the police he had never hit her before.

Italian sisters, Francesca, 34, and Elisabetta 'Lisa' Grillo, 32, are claimed to have "misappropriated" the money to splurge on luxuries such as a $6000 Virgin Atlantic flight to New York and designer goods from Prada, Miu Miu and Chanel.

They were first employed by Ms Lawson when she was married to her first husband John Diamond, who died of cancer aged 47 in 2001.

The legal case involving Nigella Lawson's former personal assistants led to tension between the TV chef and her husband, Charles Saatchi, the Mail on Sunday reports. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

When she married Saatchi in September 2003, both took roles working for Ms Lawson and her new husband. Francesca Grillo was paid $47,000 a year while Elisabetta was paid $44,000. Their jobs ranged from looking after Nigella's children from her first marriage - Bruno, now 17, and daughter Cosima, now 19 - and Saatchi's daughter Phoebe, 18, by second wife Kay Hartenstein. They also carried out activities directly related to Saatchi's business activities.

They were sacked last year over the allegations and Saatchi started High Court proceedings against them. They also face criminal charges and are due to appear at Isleworth Crown Court later this year.

Nigella treated them as trusted confidantes, paying tribute to their work in her 2011 cookery book Recipes From The Heart Of The Home by writing: "I give heartfelt thanks to ... my kitchen confidantes: Lisa and Francesca Grillo."

As a result, the impending cases, according to a source, have created a deep rift between the celebrity chef and her husband.

"The Grillo girls had been very close to Nigella for a long time,' the source says.

"She brought them into the marriage and she has naturally been very defensive about all this. I don't think she particularly wanted them to be sued. That's one of the things they were rowing about over the now infamous lunch.

"Charles was criticising her for allowing the assistants free rein and things clearly got a bit heated. One of them was allegedly spending money on Chanel handbags and other designer stuff. He thinks Nigella has been too easy on them."

Nigella Lawson has moved out of her marital home and is said to very upset about the legal dispute with her former employees. Source: AP

According to court documents lodged at the High Court of Justice, the sisters' responsibilities included acquiring goods and services for Saatchi, Nigella and their children.

They were given access to two credit cards but only for business purposes. They were also permitted to use a taxi fare account with ComCab, but only "for journeys undertaken in the course of carrying out their duties".

But in July 2012, Rahul Gajjar, finance director of the Saatchi Gallery group, claimed that unauthorised purchases may have been made using the credit cards, including a $6000 Virgin Atlantic flight to New York. Francesca is accused in the High Court document of "misappropriating" some $280,000 and Elisabetta $9000.

The pair, were said to be "in flagrant breach of their contractual and/or fiduciary duties as employees".

The writ says Saatchi is expecting to recover more than $45,000.

Another source connected to Saatchi says: "The sisters were often asked to fly to, say Munich, to collect a picture and Saatchi issued the pair a credit card to cover expenses.

"The pair are devout Catholics with previous good conduct with not a blemish on their record.

"It was Lisa who first started working for Nigella as a personal assistant. The story, as I understand it, is that she actually worked for Nigella when her first husband John Diamond was alive - so for longer than ten years."

Nigella is said to have been very upset about the way things ended with the sisters, who have strongly denied the allegations. When approached last week, a visibly upset Lisa said: "I don't want to talk about it."

Meanwhile, Lawson is still living in a Mayfair bolthole after being forced to remove her belongings from the family home. Saatchi is said to be convinced that Nigella's friends have been briefing against him and worried that "lots of dirty linen", could be aired in public in the criminal case against the sisters.

But friends say Lawson is - despite everything - still in love with her husband and after he accepted a police caution for the strangling incident she told the police he had never hit her before.

She is said to be distraught that Saatchi has made no attempt to get in contact with her and friends are worried about her mental state.

"She's been desperate to repair the relationship and desperate to talk to Charles," says one confidante.

"Her plans for the future are to throw herself into her career and America. But she would still consider rebuilding if he would make a gesture.

"She is doing anything she can to get some sort of reaction from him. It is Charles, by his lack of action, who is ending the marriage.

"He is still controlling Nigella, who now feels that she will be dumped without even a sorry or conversation. He has effectively dumped her by stonewalling her and asked her to move her stuff out of the family house."

Another friend says: "Nigella has been devastated by Charles's complete radio silence and the fact that he has just ignored her.

"She has desperately been waiting for a sign or even a sorry and an indication that they can work this out. But he hasn't. Instead he privately blames her for ruining his life and feels that if they reconcile that he will forever be seen as the wife beater.

"He is very worried about his legacy and so has been quietly licking his wounds."

Yesterday, Richard Cannon of Janes Solicitors, who is acting for the Grillo sisters, issued the following statement. "'Our clients will continue to vigorously defend themselves both in the civil proceedings before the High Court and the criminal proceedings before the Crown Court."

22.16 | 0 komentar | Read More

Basic fix-it skills lost

Robert Shaw shows how to hang a picture. Picture: Matthew Poon Source: PerthNow

A GENERATION that is time poor and more likely to own an X-Box than a tool box means basic "dad skills'' like fixing a tap or hanging a picture are being lost.

Owner of Perth handyman service Men Behaving Handy, Caroline Devenish-Meares, said young people were more likely to call a professional when something goes wrong in the house than roll up their sleeves and attempt to fix it themselves.

She said her company has been called out for the most basic of tasks, like assembling flat packs and even taking rubbish to the tip.

``People are a lot more time deprived now,'' she said. ``They don't want to spend time figuring out how to do things.

``And the younger generation are not going out and buying the basic screwdrivers, hammers or drills their parents or grandparents would have had.

``They'd rather get a company like us to do it.''

Master Builders Association state president Robert Shaw blamed technology for people losing the skills to do basic tasks around the house.

And, he said it wasn't just Gen Y that didn't know how to unclog a drain or fix a leaky tap.

``Even people my age are busy doing things on technology and its taking away from time we would have spent with our sons and nephews messing around in a shed,'' he said.

However, Mr Shaw said technology wasn't all bad news - it could be a great help for DIY information.

``In the past you either had to be that way inclined or your father, grandfather or a relation would show you,'' he said. ``But these days you can use technology to your advantage.

``You can actually have that advice you want on hand  straight away.''

Social research Mark McCrindle said because young people were more likely to rent than own their home they were happier to outsource repairs - or simply buy something new.

``Traditionally, skills were handed down from father to son, but in this You-Tube era, young people get their training directly and on a `just-in-time' basis,'' he said. ``They are more likely to have skills in the areas that are directly relevant to them than skills that are there just-in-case.''

MBA WA president Robert Shaw's guide for five "dad skills''

Robert Shaw showing how to fix / install 5 common house hold problems. How to fix a leaky tap. Picture: Matthew Poon Source: PerthNow

Changing a washer in a machine tap

1.            Turn the water off at the metre
2.            Drain the water in the tap by turning it on and leave this on while changing the washer.
3.            Remove the handle and body of the tap, and then remove the spindle with a wrench.
4.            Replace the old washer with a new one and put back into the body of the tap.
5.            Replace the other parts and tighten. 
*Note: there are different size washers. Take a photo of your tap and washer before you go to the hardware store so you can be sure you buy the right one. If in doubt of how to put it back together , take photos when initially removing parts step-by-step.

Robert Shaw showing how to fix / install 5 common house hold problems. How to clean a blocked drain pipe. Picture: Matthew Poon Source: PerthNow

Unclogging a drain

1.            Make sure you have a bucket ready to go.
2.            Unscrew the bolts around the S-trap and place in the bucket.
3.            You will notice sludge inside, remove this from the piping into the bucket.
4.            Take your bucket and the S-trap outside and wash out with a hose.
5.            Then simply reassemble back into place.
*Note: There are several different causes of blockages. The majority can be cleared with a plunger or a worm which you feed by twisting it down the drain pipe to clear the blockage. The most common type of blockage is in girls bathrooms where hair and makeup builds up in the S-trap. The S-trap is the piping directly underneath a basin.

Robert Shaw showing how to fix / install 5 common house hold problems. Robert takes a photo of his toilet problem on his iPhone, so he can take it to a hardware store to see if they can give him the right part. Picture: Matthew Poon Source: PerthNow

Leaking Toilet

1.            First establish the problem by taking a photo and heading to the hardware store.
2.            You can buy cheap kits that can help you to fix the leak.
3.            Come back and remove the cistern lid (there is generally no screws to hold these in place) then simply remove the parts that need replacing and put back into place.

Robert Shaw showing how to fix / install 5 common house hold problems. Robert hanging a picture. Picture: Matthew Poon Source: PerthNow

Hanging a picture

1.            You need to get your tools ready -a vacuum, hammer drill, wall plug or a knock-in nail.
2.            Measure the height of your frame and then divide into two this is your central point. Measure the central point of the frame to the hanging cord.
3.            Think about the height you want things on the wall. Robert uses 1650mm as it is a good centre height for people walking into the room. Add together your preferred wall height to the height between the centre of the frame and the hanging cord. This is where you want to place your screw.
4.            Grab your drill and vacuum cleaner and begin drilling your hole.
5.            Then hammer in your knock-in nail and hang picture.

Robert Shaw showing how to fix / install 5 common house hold problems. Robert taking off a door as part of 'how to fix a tight door', pulling out one of the two door pins. Picture: Matthew Poon Source: PerthNow

Fixing a sticking door

1.            Make sure you have a punch or a hammer.
2.            Remove your door by knocking out the pin in your hinges and lift off.
3.            Measure how much you need to remove from the door. Usually you allow 2.5mm margin.
4.            Mark it off and start to plane your door.
5.            After sand it off and finish it with paint.

22.16 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man dead after boat capsize in Kalbarri

A man has died and another was injured after a wave capsized their boat near Kalbarri. Source: PerthNow

ONE person is dead and another is injured after a boat was capsized by a freak wave near rocks at Kalbarri on the West Australian Mid-West coast.

Emergency services were called just before 11am this morning after the vessel was rolled by the wave on Chinaman's Beach.

It is understood the vessel became stuck upside down on rocks at the mouth of the Murchison River, about 590km north of Perth.

The two people were found in the water by emergency services.

Police confirmed that one person was dead and another was being treated for injuries.

Police believe conditions on the water were rough and dangerous when the incident occurred.

It's believed only two people were on board when the boat capsized.

View Larger Map

22.16 | 0 komentar | Read More

Basic fix-it skills lost

Robert Shaw shows how to hang a picture. Picture: Matthew Poon Source: PerthNow

A GENERATION that is time poor and more likely to own an X-Box than a tool box means basic "dad skills'' like fixing a tap or hanging a picture are being lost.

Owner of Perth handyman service Men Behaving Handy, Caroline Devenish-Meares, said young people were more likely to call a professional when something goes wrong in the house than roll up their sleeves and attempt to fix it themselves.

She said her company has been called out for the most basic of tasks, like assembling flat packs and even taking rubbish to the tip.

``People are a lot more time deprived now,'' she said. ``They don't want to spend time figuring out how to do things.

``And the younger generation are not going out and buying the basic screwdrivers, hammers or drills their parents or grandparents would have had.

``They'd rather get a company like us to do it.''

Master Builders Association state president Robert Shaw blamed technology for people losing the skills to do basic tasks around the house.

And, he said it wasn't just Gen Y that didn't know how to unclog a drain or fix a leaky tap.

``Even people my age are busy doing things on technology and its taking away from time we would have spent with our sons and nephews messing around in a shed,'' he said.

However, Mr Shaw said technology wasn't all bad news - it could be a great help for DIY information.

``In the past you either had to be that way inclined or your father, grandfather or a relation would show you,'' he said. ``But these days you can use technology to your advantage.

``You can actually have that advice you want on hand  straight away.''

Social research Mark McCrindle said because young people were more likely to rent than own their home they were happier to outsource repairs - or simply buy something new.

``Traditionally, skills were handed down from father to son, but in this You-Tube era, young people get their training directly and on a `just-in-time' basis,'' he said. ``They are more likely to have skills in the areas that are directly relevant to them than skills that are there just-in-case.''

MBA WA president Robert Shaw's guide for five "dad skills''

Robert Shaw showing how to fix / install 5 common house hold problems. How to fix a leaky tap. Picture: Matthew Poon Source: PerthNow

Changing a washer in a machine tap

1.            Turn the water off at the metre
2.            Drain the water in the tap by turning it on and leave this on while changing the washer.
3.            Remove the handle and body of the tap, and then remove the spindle with a wrench.
4.            Replace the old washer with a new one and put back into the body of the tap.
5.            Replace the other parts and tighten. 
*Note: there are different size washers. Take a photo of your tap and washer before you go to the hardware store so you can be sure you buy the right one. If in doubt of how to put it back together , take photos when initially removing parts step-by-step.

Robert Shaw showing how to fix / install 5 common house hold problems. How to clean a blocked drain pipe. Picture: Matthew Poon Source: PerthNow

Unclogging a drain

1.            Make sure you have a bucket ready to go.
2.            Unscrew the bolts around the S-trap and place in the bucket.
3.            You will notice sludge inside, remove this from the piping into the bucket.
4.            Take your bucket and the S-trap outside and wash out with a hose.
5.            Then simply reassemble back into place.
*Note: There are several different causes of blockages. The majority can be cleared with a plunger or a worm which you feed by twisting it down the drain pipe to clear the blockage. The most common type of blockage is in girls bathrooms where hair and makeup builds up in the S-trap. The S-trap is the piping directly underneath a basin.

Robert Shaw showing how to fix / install 5 common house hold problems. Robert takes a photo of his toilet problem on his iPhone, so he can take it to a hardware store to see if they can give him the right part. Picture: Matthew Poon Source: PerthNow

Leaking Toilet

1.            First establish the problem by taking a photo and heading to the hardware store.
2.            You can buy cheap kits that can help you to fix the leak.
3.            Come back and remove the cistern lid (there is generally no screws to hold these in place) then simply remove the parts that need replacing and put back into place.

Robert Shaw showing how to fix / install 5 common house hold problems. Robert hanging a picture. Picture: Matthew Poon Source: PerthNow

Hanging a picture

1.            You need to get your tools ready -a vacuum, hammer drill, wall plug or a knock-in nail.
2.            Measure the height of your frame and then divide into two this is your central point. Measure the central point of the frame to the hanging cord.
3.            Think about the height you want things on the wall. Robert uses 1650mm as it is a good centre height for people walking into the room. Add together your preferred wall height to the height between the centre of the frame and the hanging cord. This is where you want to place your screw.
4.            Grab your drill and vacuum cleaner and begin drilling your hole.
5.            Then hammer in your knock-in nail and hang picture.

Robert Shaw showing how to fix / install 5 common house hold problems. Robert taking off a door as part of 'how to fix a tight door', pulling out one of the two door pins. Picture: Matthew Poon Source: PerthNow

Fixing a sticking door

1.            Make sure you have a punch or a hammer.
2.            Remove your door by knocking out the pin in your hinges and lift off.
3.            Measure how much you need to remove from the door. Usually you allow 2.5mm margin.
4.            Mark it off and start to plane your door.
5.            After sand it off and finish it with paint.

22.16 | 0 komentar | Read More

Heroic gran tells of stabbing chaos

Peggy Kew acted bravely when two women were attacked in a hair salon. Picture: Ross Swanborough Source: PerthNow

FOR Peggy Kew it was meant to be just another Monday morning trip to the local hair salon. But within minutes the grandmother of 10 became an unlikely hero in the middle of chaos.

The Sunday Times can today reveal that Ms Kew was the 67-year-old grandmother at Plush Hair salon in Como on Monday who, in her own words, "tried desperately" to help Angela Ferullo and her daughter, Selina Bello.

Police will allege a man entered the salon that morning intending to kill Ms Ferullo and her daughter.

Armed with a knife, the man allegedly attacked Ms Bello first before turning on her mother.

Customers sat frozen in fear, until Ms Kew stood up, threw a chair at the man and demanded he leave.

"All I could think of was picking up the chair and hitting him on the head - and that's what I did," Ms Kew told The Sunday Times.

Police will allege the man then turned the knife on Ms Kew and stabbed her in the chest and shoulder.

Ms Ferullo, a 43-year-old mother of four, died in hospital later that day from her injuries, while Ms Bello, who is five months pregnant with a baby boy, suffered serious injuries and has spent the week in hospital.

In an emotional interview this week, Ms Kew said she didn't see herself as a hero.

"A lady has died and I've got my friend Selina in hospital," she said. "I was trying desperately to save both of them."

She said Ms Ferullo was in a back room of the salon, but quickly emerged into the main parlour when the man came in.

Ms Kew said "all I could think of" was trying to help.

"But I don't feel like a hero at all," she said. "If you were to ask me who is the real hero, it's Angela, Selina's mother."

Ms Kew's stab wounds were treated at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. She was discharged on Tuesday afternoon. "I didn't even know I had been injured," she said. "It's still very raw and it's such a terrible thing what has happened.

"I am trying to put it in the back of my mind."

Ms Kew revealed also that she had spoken to Ms Bello in hospital on Thursday night and had a "good chat" with the expectant mother. She described the 22-year-old as a "beautiful girl".

Ms Kew's son, Mark, praised the emergency service personnel and hospital staff who helped his mother.

"They have all been exceptional and really good to her," he said.

Ms Ferullo's former husband, James Bill Payet, 48, has been charged.

He faces one count each of murder, attempted murder and aggravated wounding.

He faced a bedside court hearing this week and will appear in court again on July 31.

22.16 | 0 komentar | Read More

Plan for booze on Good Friday

Alcohol bans on Good Friday and other public holidays may be scrapped. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

THE scrapping of booze bans on Good Friday, Christmas Day and Anzac Day is being considered as part of a major overhaul of WA's alcohol licensing laws.

The Tourism Council of WA said outdated laws that prevented bottle shops and nightclubs from opening on religious holidays, and force pubs to close early on public holidays, were costing the state money.

Under a plan put to a Government committee reviewing WA's liquor laws, the council also called for Sunday trading restrictions  such as forcing pubs to close at 10pm instead of midnight  to be scrapped.

Tourism Council WA chief executive Evan Hall told The Sunday Times that he met members of the committee this week to convince them of the merits of the plan.

Mr Hall said food and alcohol experiences were the single most popular activities among visitors to WA  well ahead of shopping, the beach and nature-based activities.

Removing holiday liquor restrictions would be a "huge step forward" for the state as a tourism destination, he said.

Under WA's existing laws, liquor stores are prevented from opening on Christmas Day and Good Friday and can open only between noon and 10pm on Anzac Day.

Nightclubs are also forced to close on Christmas Day and Good Friday, while pubs and small bars can serve liquor from noon to 10pm with a meal.

Mr Hall said he understood why some people might object to selling alcohol on these days, but it was up to the Government, not individuals, to decide if it should be allowed.

 "Other states like Victoria manage to do this perfectly well," he said. "Europe manages to do this perfectly well.

"I just don't understand why somehow we're different."

But Australian Christian Lobby state director Rhys Vallance said public holidays and Sundays were important family times and should not be exploited for money.

"As Christians we still see Christmas Day and Good Friday as sacred," Mr Vallance said. "They're also great opportunities, even if you're not a practising Christian, to have time together as a family."

Mr Hall said he did not believe the interests of tourism and hospitality businesses outweighed those of public health, but said licences were too often refused without a proper risk assessment being carried out.

The review committee will report to Racing, Gaming and Liquor Minister Terry Waldron later this year.
 

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Sex offender trackers don't work

GPS monitoring devices drop out in big buildings. Picture: Supplied Source: Herald Sun

GPS devices that are supposed to track our worst child-sex predators lose their signal inside big buildings - including shopping centres.

The State Government has admitted the devices, which were recently fitted to 18 offenders, have "building mass limitations".

"They work like mobile phones so there may be black spots," a Corrective Services spokesman said.

 "Some shopping centres may be affected."

This is despite a shopping centre being the scene of one of the state's most shocking child-sex crimes  when Sofia Rodriguez-Urrutia-Shu, 8, was raped and killed inside a centre toilet in Canning Vale.

The Sunday Times can reveal the technology is so limited that one of the 18 offenders fitted with them contacted the newspaper this week to say he constantly "goes off the grid".

The dangerous sex offender claimed he was phoned several times last week because authorities could not pick up his location.

He said the device had blacked out in underground carparks, shopping centres, regional areas and even in his own home.

He sent a picture showing his signal had been lost inside a shopping centre.

The offender said he was speaking out because he believed the devices were ineffective and no deterrent.

"I've cleaned up my act and I've done enough jail time to know I don't want to go back," he said. "But they're lying to the general public when they say these things work. It's a joke." A Corrective Services spokesman said the department carried out tests on the devices before they were rolled out and found "some places had better coverage than others".

"It's another tool in our arsenal for monitoring dangerous sex offenders," he said.

The Barnett Government has previously said the GPS tracking devices would be a vital tool to monitor sex offenders.

But in April, The Sunday Times revealed the company awarded the $750,000 contract to provide the ankle bracelets had been dumped in California for producing devices "inundated with defects".

The Corrective Services spokesman said they were working to "address issues" with the new bracelets.

"When an alert is received that there is no GPS signal an automated message is sent to the offender to go outside to enable the system to re-establish GPS connection," he said.

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Train passengers sick of overcrowding

Perth trains are overcrowding to breaking point. Picture: Theo Fakos Source: PerthNow

FOUR in five West Australians say overcrowding on Perth trains is their No.1 public transport headache.

The Joondalup and Mandurah rail lines are the worst, with up to 90 per cent of passengers rating overcrowding as the biggest failing of Perth trains.

Armadale and Thornlie have been deemed the most dangerous routes, with two-thirds of passengers fearing for their personal safety.

Overall, one in three bus, train and ferry users rate public transport as "poor" or "very poor", a landmark survey by the RAC shows.

Only one in five rate Perth's public transport as "excellent" or "very good"  a massive slide from 50 per cent who said it was excellent or very good five years ago.

The RAC did its last Public Transport Report in 2009 and the results  based on online surveys of more than 1400 public transport users  will be released today.

It found 84 per cent of respondents thought Perth's public transport had not improved in 18 months, while more than 80 per cent said overcrowding on trains was their No.1 public transport concern  a jump of almost 50 per cent on the last RAC survey.

Bus passengers rated the frequency of services and poor bus-train connections as their biggest public transport headache, while almost two-thirds of ferry passengers said services were too infrequent.

RAC head of advocacy Matt Brown said public transport users were angry and it was time the State Government listened. "Clearly more people are choosing public transport, which is putting a significant strain on existing infrastructure," he said.

Perth trains moved more than 63 million passengers last year, an 11 per cent increase since 2009. PTA figures show annual public transport patronage is on track to top 150 million journeys  equal to an extra 15,000 bus, train and ferry journeys every day compared with 12 months ago.

Mr Brown said WA needed more train carriages, a bus priority plan, more bus lanes and a smartphone app so commuters could track buses in real-time using existing on-board GPS data.

Transport Minister Troy Buswell said the RAC's opt-in survey produced "skewed results because it attracts predominantly respondents who want to air a concern" and, while it "highlighted some important matters", the State Government was already working to address them. He said the WA Government was spending $243 million on 66 new rail cars, $241 million on extending the Joondalup line to Butler, and putting in new stations, extra parking bays, light rail and more buses.

Mr Buswell said the PTA's owning polling  based on face-to-face interviews with about 4500 regular public transport users  showed "the great majority of respondents were happy with public transport in Perth".

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