Boat journalists 'exhausted, sunburnt'

Two journalists, one Dutch, the other American, have been found on an asylum-seeker boat at Christmas Island. Picture: Colin Murty Source: TheAustralian

THE two journalists who arrived on an asylum seeker boat at Christmas Island were on assignment for The New York Times magazine.

Australian Federal Police and Customs officials confirmed the two journalists arrived at Christmas Island on Monday onboard a boat carrying 57 passengers and two crew that was detected north of the island overnight.

The two men were named on Twitter by a Reuters reporter as writer Luke Mogelson and photographer Joel van Houdt.

Mr van Houdt's girlfriend, journalist Amie Ferris-Rotman, said the pair made the risky three-day voyage from Indonesia on assignment for the magazine.

``Joel emailed me. He said they're both exhausted and badly sunburned, and are laying low for now,'' Ms Ferris-Rotman told AAP.

Mr Mogelson and Mr van Houdt are founding contributors to the website Razistan.org, which was set up to highlight the war in Afghanistan.

``Our core project is a website of unique photo essays that bring into vivid relief not only the conflict and its participants but also the country and its people,'' the website says.

Mr van Houdt, 32, is a Dutch national whose photographs have appeared in The Wall Street Journal.

Mr Mogelson, 30, is a Kabul-based US citizen.

Ms Ferris-Rotman said the journalists knew the dangers of the journey, which has claimed dozens of lives this year alone.

``I was incredibly anxious. He managed to send some texts from a safe house in Jakarta, but then the contact suddenly stopped for a few days,'' Ms Ferris-Rotman said.

``I now realise that's when he was on the boat. I am incredibly relieved they made it without sharks, the ship breaking or the Australian police confiscating his photo cards.''

A spokeswoman for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship said the pair disembarked from a suspected irregular entry vessel on Monday before revealing themselves as journalists.

This latest boat arrival follows a vessel that arrived on Sunday carrying 88 passengers and two crew.

It was the first asylum seeker boat to arrive in Australia since Tony Abbott's election as prime minister on Saturday.

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Keith on cassettes and rock 'n' roll

Country music artist Keith Urban has a new album being released, titled Fuse. Picture: AP Source: AP

ONE of the childhood memories Sunday and Faith Kidman Urban may tease their father about in years to come will be that contraption he used to test out his new songs on them.

It was called a cassette player back in the day.

Just like the other seven studio albums the country superstar has released, the songs for his latest record, Fuse, began as demos on a cassette tape.

Urban, who deeply respects the musical intuition of wife Nicole, often puts that machine on their kitchen bench and plays his works in progress.

But he isn't quite ready to use his five and two-year-old daughters as unbiased arbiters of his future hits, whether it's current No. 1 on the US Country Airplay chart Little Bit Of Everything or the potential smash Somewhere In My Car.

"It might be a good song for the Wiggles (if they love it). I'll be doing Somewhere In My Big Red Car on the next record. It's nice when (Sunday) likes the song, but it's probably not an accurate barometer," he says backstage a few hours before performing at the famed Red Rocks amphitheatre in Colorado.

Keith Urban performs in the US. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

"There are certain ones, if they've got the groove factor, that they like and that's a good sign."

Even after consistently hitting the top spot since But For The Grace Of God delivered his first of 15 No. 1 country chart singles in the US back in 2001, Urban remains grateful each time his fans or supporters at American radio reward him with a chart topper.

His previous two records, Defying Gravity and Get Closer, delivered more of those milestones and Urban's star turn as a coach on the inaugural season of The Voice here in 2012 helped finally deliver a coveted No. 1 on the Australian album charts.

"I think it may mean even more now because you only get so many of them," he says.

"I've been very fortunate on the last record, and now this one, to get some more.

"Certainly Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing didn't have one; I think there were a couple of twos. Being in rehab didn't help. People were a little worried I think."

Urban released Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing in November 2006, days after he entered rehab and just a few months after his wedding to Kidman in Sydney.

His personal crisis was followed by another chart resurgence, but he felt he hit a career crossroads 18 months ago. Urban was recovering from throat surgery, had signed on to do The Voice at Kidman's encouragement and while a greatest hits collection was buying him time to consider his next studio record, the country hero didn't know what he wanted to do.

As those who have witnessed him on The Voice and now American Idol are aware, Urban is a voracious music fan who listens to everything.

Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick Jr. for FOX's "American Idol XIII." Picture: AP Source: AP

And for his eighth studio record, Fuse, he wanted a chance to experiment, to push his sound into new territory.

Listen to some of the tracks from Fuse below:

He had his light bulb moment after recalling a documentary he had seen about the fraught making of U2's Achtung Baby, their fusion of rock'n'roll with the next wave of recording technology.

"I have to think that the voice surgery I had at the end of 2011 was the turning point," he says. "Yeah, I had that 'band at the crossroads' moment because I have made a lot of records and made a particular sound and I am interested in where my sound can go next while still being me.

"Some people will say it's a contemporary country record, others will say there is nothing country about this record. It just depends who you talk to."

Like his current US concerts, which probably won't make it to Australia now until late 2014, most of the songs on Fuse started with a drum machine and a banjo.

But they were finished with an array of international hitmakers you rarely see on the credits of a country record.

Keith Urban's album cover for Fuse. Picture: AP Source: AP

Urban sought out or was matched with an eclectic collection of collaborators for Fuse including Butch Walker (Pink, Fall Out Boy), Mike Elizondo (Eminem, Avenged Sevenfold), Jay Joyce (The Wallflowers) and Stargate (Beyonce, Rihanna).

"What happened was I got halfway through the record and I hit this point where I couldn't jack it up to the next place I wanted to in my head. I needed people," he says.

"I wanted to collaborate because I wanted to know if I work with Jay Joyce if that will affect the way I play guitar.

"Someone else's presence and the way they play changes the way you play. If I sit in with John Mayer, I am liable to play stuff with him that I wouldn't play with Brad Paisley. It's reactionary to the moment."

The banjo and drum machine aesthetic isn't alien to Urban because that's how he learned to play solo in his early pubs days in Australia, setting up in the corner with his instrument and a beat box to play covers at the Normanby Hotel in Brisbane, sometimes to only two people.

Between his Sunday evening sets, he would head to the nearest KFC for some dinner and then sit in his car, listening to music.

Keith Urban performs during the NFL Kickoff in 2013. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

Which explains another of his musical obsessions beside the guitar and the radio - cars.

Fuse has three songs dedicated to this particular passion - the aforementioned Somewhere In My Car, the Bonnie and Clyde narrative Cop Car and the reverential Red Camaro.

"I have always loved the car. I think it's a strong metaphor for so many things. And rock 'n' roll has a lot of the car, too," he says.

"It's youth, it's usually that first piece of independence and freedom that you get. And then it becomes the place where so many things in your life happen."

Like romance. Many of the car songs also reference girls.

He becomes a little coy when asked if he and the missus enjoy the occasional romantic drive.

"Nice segue," he says, chuckling. "Gosh, a specific romantic drive? I don't know, we go on dates all the time, have date night once a week so that's always a romantic drive."

Actor Nicole Kidman, left, and musician Keith Urban arrive at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel this year. Picture: AP Source: News Limited

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Perth man re-arrested in Kuala Lumpur

Dominic Jude Christopher Bird, 32, was arrested in March last year for alleged possession of 167 grams of methamphetamine. AFP PHOTO / NEW STRAITS TIMES / EFFENDY RASHID Source: AFP

A PERTH man acquitted by a court in Malaysia last week on charges that carry the death penalty has been re-arrested while preparing to board a plane to Australia.

Dominic Bird, 33, who was acquitted last Wednesday on drug trafficking charges, was taken into custody at Kuala Lumpur International Airport this morning.

An application will be heard by the Court of Appeal in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday to decide whether or not to grant prosecutors an appeal against last week's decision.

Mr Bird's lawyers say they will vigorously fight the move by prosecutors.

``To re-arrest him, and now for the court to say he should be held pending an appeal ... the concept of rule of law is breached,'' Mr Bird's lawyer, Muhammed Shafee Abdullah, told AAP on Monday.

Mr Bird was set free by the Kuala Lumpur High Court last Wednesday, but was unable to return home immediately because his visa for Malaysia had expired, and was then detained at an immigration office.

However, prosecutors had suggested on Wednesday that organising a new visa for Mr Bird was a formality.

``This is total trickery on their part,'' Mr Abdullah said.

It's understood Mr Bird was escorted to the airport on Monday morning by Australian consular officials, having finally obtained the visa.

But he was then taken back into custody before he could board his flight.

His Australian-born lawyer, Tania Scivetti told AAP the application hearing, and any subsequent appeal, would be ``fiercely'' challenged on the grounds it's ``contrary to our fundamental rights to liberty and rule of law''.

``They informed us he was going back today, and on that basis, the embassy escorted him to the airport,'' Ms Scivetti told AAP.

``He was just about to board a flight to go back to Australia and 10 minutes before he was to board they arrested him.''

Mr Bird was initially arrested at a cafe near his apartment in Kuala Lumpur on March 1 last year and accused of supplying an undercover police officer with 167 grams of methamphetamine.

However, the prosecution's case collapsed following allegations of corruption against Inspector Luther Nurjib - the undercover officer who arrested Mr Bird - who was later accused of ``setting up'' the Australian.

Insp Nurjib was found guilty of contempt of court and fined RM2000 ($A665), after it emerged he had threatened and attempted to bribe a witness in the Bird case.

In delivering the ruling, Kuala Lumpur High Court's Justice Kamardin Hashim found the prosecution failed to prove its case and the defence raised reasonable doubt.

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Six people you won't believe could be elected

The Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party's Victorian Senate Candidate Ricky Muir, is likely to pick up a seat, despite initiatiing a kangaroo poo fight on video.

THE reality of a new government is setting in and it looks like Prime Minister Tony Abbott will have to deal with a range of out-there senators.

Votes are still being counted but candidates from minor parties including the Australian Sports Party, the Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party, Palmer United Party and Family First are likely to pick up senate seats.

The Senate will be finalised in about two weeks but as it stands here are the people who are likely to represent us for the next six years.

The Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party's Victorian Senate Candidate Ricky Muir, who is likely to pick up a seat. Picture: Facebook Source: Supplied

Ricky Muir - Australian Motoring Enthusiasts Party

One week ago Ricky Muir updated his Facebook profile picture to "Vote 1 Senate AMEP" and the first comment was: "Wtf you a politician now".

The AMEP candidate, who is likely to pick up a Senate seat in Victoria, jokes that George Bush ordered the September 11 attacks and likes to post online about Chuck Norris.

Pro-gun Senator-elect David Leyonhjelm, from the Liberal Democratic Party. Picture: Nikki Short

This screenshot from Ricky Muir's Facebook page is being shared on Twitter. Source: Supplied

The unemployed father-of-five also jokes about prostitutes - comparing them with buying a Ford.

A trawl through Mr Muir's public Facebook page reveals that Mr Muir, who his family says is 32, is an unlikely politician.

He defends his weekend four-wheel drive bush-bashing as being good for the environment.

"There is a misconception amongst the community that we modify our four wheel drives to tear up the bush, this is not the truth," he wrote.

"We put in lift kits, larger tyres, diff locks, winches etc. all as traction aids so we can drive challenging sections of track being able to maintain traction.

"Modifications also allow us to access remote parts of our country and return home safely no matter what Mother Nature may throw at us, therefor minimising our impact on the environment."

Mr Muir has failed to answer his phone today and his Australian Motoring Enthusiast party spokesman Keith Littler has also failed to answer his mobile.

One of his favourite YouTube videos is "Show Me Your Genitals" which starts with the lyrics: "Women are stupid and I don't respect them, that's right I just have sex with them."

Mr Muir also posted a video on YouTube of himself having a backyard kangaroo poo fight, Fairfax reports. It has now been removed from his account.

David Leyonhjelm - Liberal Democrats

Self-described "senator for the donkeys" (his name appeared first on the NSW Senate ballot paper) is staunchly pro-gun.

David Leyonhjelm is likely to pick up a NSW senate seat due to a combination of preference deals, donkey votes and the fact voters mistook his Liberal Democrat party for the Liberals.

Mr Leyonhjelm says it is "objective fact" last year's Sandy Hook massacre could have been prevented if teachers had guns, and is advocating for a new approach to Sydney's gun crime problem which involves giving people licences to carry weapons.

"What happens is that criminals don't know who's carrying a gun and they're very wary of using a gun themselves because they don't know who's going to shoot back at them," the ABC reported him as saying.

"In actual fact it's a massive deterrent. You don't make a safer society by taking the guns off the good guys and leaving the bad guys to have the guns."

Mr Leyonhjelm, a former Liberal Party member, resigned from the party because he disagreed with John Howard's gun buyback policy implemented after the Port Arthur massacre.

"I thought it was a disgraceful attack on law abiding people who had committed nothing wrong," he said.

New Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie of the Palmer United Party at Burnie. Source: News Limited

Jacqui Lambie - Palmer United Party

Former soldier Jacqui Lambie began her Senate campaign as an independent before turning to Clive Palmer because she was running out of money.

"To be honest I was running out of money. I don't lie about that with people. I just didn't have the money like the big players did for advertising," she told AAP.

"I said I'm not getting this far and having it all thrown out because I'm too pig-headed to take somebody else's funding."

Ms Lambie would use her Senate spot to advocate for injured veterans. She is also "fiercely anti-Greens" and against same-sex marriage.

Wayne Dropulich from the Australian Sports Party, who is closing in on a Senate seat in WA. Source: News Limited

Wayne Dropulich - Australian Sports Party

The Australian Sports Party was founded on the principle of increasing healthy living through sport and candidate Wayne Dropulich looks set to take a senate seat in Western Australia.

Mr Dropulich, a civil engineer and former Australian gridiron representative player, said he and his friends came up with the idea for the party earlier this year.

"I think it's going to be a long process of trying to understand exactly what's involved with being in politics," he told ABC radio.

"Obviously this is my first time so there's a lot of things I don't know yet, so we'll work through them as we go and do as best we can to help the people through our party."

Mr Dropulich said preference deals helped him succeed.

"I think probably being an engineer helped me understand what I needed to do," he told The Australian.

"It's very complex; there were 27 different parties and you don't know if they're all going to do as they say to you, (it) being politics."

Glenn Lazarus of the Palmer United Party. Picture: Philip Norrish Source: News Limited

Glenn Lazarus - Palmer United Party

FORMER rugby league prop Glenn Lazarus, who once posed naked with only a brick, looks set to hold a Queensland Senate spot.

Mr Lazarus has described the Palmer United policies - including 15 per cent income tax breaks and making north Queensland an independent state - as "common sense".

Mr Lazarus said polls and experts discounted Palmer United's chances but "Queensland has spoken".

"It reminds me of the Melbourne Storm when we started - they never gave us much chance either, but of course within two years we won a grand final, so the Palmer United Party is certainly surprising a few," he told ABC.

During his career, Mr Lazarus made history as the only player to win three grand finals for three different clubs - Canberra, Brisbane and Melbourne. He posed with the brick to promote a brick company.

Bob Day - Family First

Bob Day is a home builder and former National President of the Housing Industry Association.

The Family First party has "Christian heritage" and believes families come first as they are the "fundamental building block of society".

In a live blog with Rockhampton's Morning Bulletin last month Mr Day revealed his opinions on women in the army, climate change and same-sex marriage.

He says his party's top five policies are home ownership, youth employment, strong defence force, government spending (lower taxes) and values-driven political leadership.

Mr Day said Family First opposed same-sex marriage "For the same reason the overwhelming number of parliamentarians (98 to 42) voted against it just a few months ago - same sex relationships are not the same as opposite sex relationships."

On climate change, he says the climate "always changes" and that he has a science background.

"The point is, human emissions of carbon dioxide account for 3 per cent of all emissions, natural emissions (volcanoes etc) account for the other 97 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions. So why is it the 3 per cent that is causing climate change and not the 97 per cent?"

When asked on his position on women in front line combat roles, he replied "Don't like it".

"My army contacts tell me it could unsettle the men. The natural instinct to want to protect them and all that."

Mr Day says the biggest issue is getting families back to the centre of the Australian way of life.

"The main problem as I see it is that most members of parliament these days have never had a real job. They go to university, get a job working for a politician and then become a politician themselves. The results are there for all to see."

The last Family First member to hold a Senate seat was the colourful Steve Fielding, who struggled to spell the word "fiscal", compared same-sex marriage to incest and once turned up to parliament dressed as a giant beer bottle to introduce his party's proposed bottle return scheme.

###

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Man dead after building wall collapse

A man has died after part of a building collapsed in Bayswater.

Rescue teams are at the scene of a building collapse in Bayswater. Picture: Grant Wynne, ABC Source: Twitter

A man has died after a wall collapsed in Bayswater today. Picture: Nine News Perth Source: PerthNow

A MAN has died after part of a building collapsed in Bayswater.

Police said the incident happened just before 4.30pm at a Clune Street waste reduction plant.

It is believed firefighters attempted to free the man, but he died at the scene.

A WorkSafe spokeswoman told PerthNow they were investigating the incident and inspectors were on their way to the scene.

She said it appeared an internal wall had collapsed inside the building.

A man has died after a wall collapsed in Bayswater today. Picture: Nine News Perth Source: PerthNow

Police spokeswoman Sergeant Naomi Smith said further details on the death were not known at this stage, but police would prepare a report for the coroner.

Emergency services are at the scene.

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Barnett wants better deal for WA

WA Premier Colin Barnett, pictured in Cottesloe this morning, says he expects a better deal for WA. Picture: Kerris Berrington Source: PerthNow

WEST Australian Premier Colin Barnett is expecting a better deal for his state and a better reception for himself as the Tony Abbott-led Liberal government is installed into Canberra.

Celebrating with federal deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop in the leafy Perth suburb of Cottesloe, Mr Barnett said Mr Abbott's ascension would also be great news for Australia's international trading partners.

And Mr Barnett also dismissed the argument that dissatisfaction with his government may be why federal Liberal candidates failed to claim any of the Labor seats in the state.

Mr Barnett said he would contact Mr Abbott this week to open a line of communication he hoped would prove fruitful.

"I have got no doubt Tony Abbott will prove to be a very good PM, and for WA it will also be good,'' he told reporters on Sunday.

"There is no doubt it will restore international confidence particularly in the mining industry.

"I think the Labor governments have let this state down badly. There has almost been a patronising attitude to WA.''

As counting stood today, the Liberals were holding their federal seats in WA.

They had a chance of winning O'Connor from the Nationals, as well as three Senate places.

The result diluted talk of a protest vote against his unpopular moves to cut education budgets in recent weeks, Mr Barnett said.

"No one's blaming me, no one has said anything to me at all,'' Mr Barnett said.

"We won a big victory in (the state election in) March, we won a big victory today - I think WA is doing pretty well.''

The coalition win might not help Mr Barnett secure federal funding he had wanted for rail projects, given Mr Abbott favours road over rail funding.

But Mr Barnett praised Mr Abbott's promised removal of the mining and carbon taxes.

"Tony Abbott absolutely has a clear mandate to repeal those taxes,'' Mr Barnett said.

"If people in parliament oppose that they are failing in their responsibility as MPs.''

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Casino boss reveals Crown blueprint

New Crown CEO, Barry Felstead at Melbourne's Crown Casino in one of the VIP private rooms. Picture: Caird David Source: The Sunday Times

CASINO kingpin Barry Felstead has a plan to lure more of the world's richest gamblers to WA.

Mr Felstead was recently promoted to chief executive of Crown Ltd's Australian resorts, putting him in charge of Crown Melbourne as well as Crown Perth. In a wide-ranging interview with The Sunday Times, he said his promotion would hopefully result in Perth luring more high rollers and getting a bigger share of the VIP gambling action.

Mr Felstead  who left school at 16 and started his casino life as a cashier on the Gold Coast before rising to the top of James Packer's Crown empire  also opened up about the future of gambling, the secrets of being a successful manager and what it was like to work for one of Australia's richest people.

THE VIP MARKET

Crown's recent full-year results showed VIPs waged $11.8 billion at Crown Perth.

It sounds like a lot, but it is well short of the $38.9 billion they gambled at Crown Melbourne.

Mr Felstead said there was "definitely scope" to grow the VIP market in Perth, which would have a roll-on effect for the state's tourism industry.

His plan is to use his new role as head of both properties to ensure there is more "cross-property visitation" from VIPs.

"The ideal customer is someone who flies into Australia through Melbourne and leaves via Perth, or vice versa," he said. "They're two different experiences. Melbourne is a very urban experience, whereas Perth is more resort-style."

Mr Felstead said WA's natural beauty, clean air and time zone were big selling points.

"We can take (VIPs) out on a boat to somewhere like Rottnest Island where they might do a bit of fishing or go for a swim  that's a pretty special way to spend the day," he said. "A lot of other properties can't do that. You certainly can't do it in Vegas."

OVERHAULING BURSWOOD

Crown bought the Burswood Entertainment Complex in 2004, but only recently became convinced the property had reached a sufficiently high standard to carry its branding.

"We got a clear message from customers in 2005-06 that the property was very run-down," Mr Felstead said.

"It really was just a place to come and gamble."

He said tackling violence and binge drinking at the site had been an important step to overhauling its image  even at a cost to profits.

"There is a smart way to make money and there is a dumb way to make money," he said. "(Binge drinking) was certainly an issue in the early days and we changed our policies around our service of alcohol quite dramatically.

"We did some self-restrictions in the nightclub. We banned shooters and happy hours  things that were causing grief.

"We were certainly generating a lot more revenue back then than it is now. However, we are comfortable with that."

Mr Felstead said the most significant next step for Crown Perth was providing more accommodation through the development of Crown Towers, which will add 500 hotel rooms to the site by 2016.

The recent demolition of the iconic Burswood Dome is part of the overall plan. The dome makes way for a 1000-bay car park.

THE FUTURE OF CASINOS

Blackjack will always be blackjack, Mr Felstead said, but the future success of casino sites rests on expanding the non-gaming entertainment elements for customers.

The number of food outlets has spiralled since Mr Felstead was made chief operating officer of Crown Perth in 2005.

"We had nine restaurants and bars and now we've got 31," he said. "That was the biggest transformation at the property.

"I don't know of any properties that are just casinos that are thriving."

THE FOOTBALL STADIUM

Mr Felstead said putting a new football stadium next to Crown Perth on the Burswood Peninsula was a "double-edged sword".

"The negative will be that, during peak periods, we will lose a whole bunch of parking," he said.

"The positive will be people coming (to Crown) before and after the game."

Mr Felstead said development of the peninsula was vital for the state.

"It's 3km from the city and that's what people don't realise," he said. "People think it's a long way away. It's the first major thing when you come out of the airport."

GOOD MANAGEMENT

Crown Perth is the biggest single-site employer in WA, with more than 5600 employees.

Mr Felstead said his mantra about running a successful business was "talk to customers".

"You can't manage a property remotely," he said. "You need to actually be on the ground. You need to know what the customers think.

"There's no point building things that people don't want."

Mr Felstead also spends time as a customer at other casinos.

His favourite games are blackjack and Caribbean stud poker.

"I call it market research," he said.

JAMES PACKER

Mr Felstead said Mr Packer  the third-richest man in Australia and estimated to be worth at least $6 billion  was a "very engaging" boss.

"James is a charming individual," he said. "He puts you at ease quickly. He expects results, but he listens and is extremely decent to his staff."

Mr Felstead said if he had one word to describe Mr Packer it would be "unstoppable".

"I have never met someone so committed to excellence and results," he said. "He has personally driven the transformation of Burswood and has great affection for Perth."

GENEROSITY

Mr Felstead is well known for his philanthropic work in the WA community.

He raised the most money for the annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout for three years running until he was pipped this year by Alcock Brown-Neaves boss Dale Alcock.

"I am a big supporter of philanthropy and charitable causes, both on a personal level and as a company," he said.

"Crown in Perth has worked very hard to support the community we work in, through our indigenous employment programs, contributions to charitable causes or staff engagement, and I see the potential to do much more. We have the backing of our chairman James Packer to do even more."

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Sports party set for shock Senate win

The Australian Sports Party's Wayne Dropulich is set to pinch a Senate seat in a shock poll result. Source: The Courier-Mail

LIKE all good sportsmen, potential West Australian senator Wayne Dropulich is refusing to celebrate a win until he hears the final siren.

In a shock outcome, the Australian Sports Party is predicted to win a place in the senate out of WA, despite polling just 0.22 per cent of the initial vote as counting continues.

The micro-party is set to benefit from a slew of preferences to potentially deliver Mr Dropulich into a seat, on the back of a campaign championing a growth of grassroots sport and a push for more active children.

"We are in with a good shot for a first-time party,'' Mr Dropulich said.

"But it is just a case of wait and see for now. We are happy with the position and hopeful it continues.''

Mr Dropulich, a former Australian gridiron representative player who still plays for a seniors team, said he would have a healthy message to take to Canberra if given the chance.

"It is about giving people the opportunity to enjoy and participate in grassroots sport and the positive impact it can have on individuals and communities,'' he said.

And in a diplomatic answer, Mr Dropulich refused to reveal his AFL preferences in the football-mad state.

But he did say he had been delighted to see the Fremantle Dockers prevail against Geelong in the AFL preliminary final on election day.

"I was very pleased to see them win - it is great for the state.''

Status quo in WA, despite some new voices

Status quo was the election headline in Western Australia - but there will still be several new voices on the state's political stage.

Despite Labor's primary vote slumping to a miserable 29 per cent in WA, the party looked set to retain their three WA legislative seats, with former frontbenchers Gary Gray and Melissa Parke hanging on, and Alannah MacTiernan finally getting to Canberra.

But major damage was still done to WA Labor, with the ousted government poised to lose one of their Senate seats and a greater swing away from Labor in the west than in Queensland.

According to deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop and WA Premier Colin Barnett, that shows the apparent contempt in which the Labor party is held in Perth and beyond.

Barnett wants better deal for WA

Only one federal WA seat looked likely to change hands, with Liberal candidate Rick Wilson holding a slight lead in O'Connor against Nationals hopeful Chub Witham.

And Ms MacTiernan, a former high-profile state Labor minister, said the "Greek tragedy'' of the ALP's leadership battle outweighed any policy positives, but a strong Labor voice was still possible.

"I think that we can form a very credible opposition and rebuild for the future,'' Ms MacTiernan said.

Christian Porter, a former state rival of Ms MacTiernan, was elevated to the federal ranks in Pearce, despite a slight awing away from the Liberals in his seat.

And in time he will hope to join the four WA MPs tipped for ministerial positions - Ms Bishop, Stirling MP Michael Keenan and senators David Johnston and Mathias Cormann.

Disappointment for the Nationals echoed across the state, with the party failing to win Durack, and the bid for a Senate seat on a knife edge - even with former AFL star David Wirrpanda in the ranks.

Despite public goodwill, Wirrpanda failed to generate the popularity he enjoyed as a premiership player for West Coast, with the Nationals' Senate vote in WA languishing behind the Palmer United Party late with counting continuing.

And Labor's decision to put former union stalwart Joe Bullock on top of their senate ticket in WA looks to have cost Senator Louise Pratt her job.

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'WA economy to flourish', vows Bishop

Julie Bishop, with supporters and friends including WA Premier Colin Barnett, at a victory celebration breakfast at Cottesloe Beach in Perth. Picture: Kerris Berrington Source: PerthNow

DEPUTY Liberal leader Julie Bishop is looking forward to 'getting down to work straight away' after the Coalition won an 'emphatic' victory in the Federal Election overnight.

At her post-election breakfast in Cottesloe this morning, Ms Bishop said she was looking forward to being foreign minister.

"It's one of the greatest honours I can imagine," she said.

"I've had a number of phone calls overnight from representatives of major trading partners and allies and there's been a great deal of warmth in the conversations that I've had with a number of our friends.

"I would hope to make my first visits to our neighbours in the region - New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Singapore."

WA Liberals rejoice in national power play

Of the 77 per cent of votes counted, the coalition holds 88 seats in Parliament against the Labor party's 53.

In WA, Liberal candidate won all but three of the 15 seats, prompting Ms Bishop to declare it was an 'emphatic victory' in the state.

"In WA the primary vote of Labor is now 29 per cent that is the lowest of any state or territory," she said.

"I don't think Labor would find much joy in the result in WA.

"The Liberal primary vote is about 51 per cent and that's an emphatic win in WA."

Barnett wants better deal for WA

Ms Bishop denied Premier Colin Barnett's recent budget cuts had affected West Australians decisions at the polls.

"I believe that the WA people know that the Barnett Government have had some tough budget decisions to make," she said.

"But they will be relieved to know that federally there is a Government that will support Western Australia.

"We will repeal the carbon tax, mining tax, we will get rid of red tape, we will embrace free trade agreements. We will be the sort of government that will make the West Australian economy flourish.

Ms Bishop will fly to Canberra this afternoon to begin briefings with the Coalition and set a plan in place.

"My Abbott and I have spoken this morning and we will be getting down to work straight away," she said.

"We intend to be a purposeful Government. We intend to bring stability and certainty and competence to the heart of Government."

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Two on cemetery murder charges

Baldivis woman Diana Matthews, whose body was found in a lake at the Rockingham Regional Memorial Park on April 29, 2011. Source: PerthNow

Friends and family hold a memorial for Baldivis woman Diana Matthews whose body was found in a lake at the Rockingham Regional Memorial Park on April 29, 2011 Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: PerthNow

POLICE have charged two people with murder over the death of Baldivis woman Diana Matthews, whose body was found at a Rockingham cemetery in 2011.

Major Crime Detectives made an arrest on Thursday last week following a two-year investigation.

Ms Matthews' body was discovered half-submerged in a man-made lake at Rockingham Regional Memorial Park.

She was last seen alive walking from her Baldivis home to a park on Tamworth Blvd at about 8pm.

Earlier that evening, she was seen at the Caltex service station on Baldivis Rd.

At 11.30pm, less than four hours later, passers-by found the 46-year-old's body at the cemetery.

Detectives have not revealed how Ms Matthews died.

Police have charged a 33-year-old woman with murder.

The accused woman was remanded in custody after appearing in the Perth Magistrates Court yesterday.

She will next appear in the Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on September 25.

This morning, police said a 36-year-old man had also been charged with murder and he will appear in the Perth Magistrates Court tomorrow.

A 32-year-old woman who had been assisting police with their inquiry has been released without charge.

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