Indonesia: People smuggling help over

Indonesia's ambassador will immediately return to Jakarta following spying claims on President Yudhoyono.

INDONESIA has cancelled all military ties with Australia and suspended people smuggling cooperation as it dramatically ramped up its response to the phone tapping conflict.

A furious Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has demanded an official explanation from Australia about revelations that defence spies tapped his mobile phone in 2009.

He will also request an apology from Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

"I am still waiting,'' Dr Yudhoyono said today.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, right, is refusing to apologise to Indonesian President Suslio Bambang Yudhyono. Picture: Ray Strange

The president said he would send a letter of demand to the Australian government, requesting an official apology and an explanation from Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Indonesia will also suspend all military cooperation with Australia, the president said.

Australia Defence Minister David Johnston's office said there was no official confirmation yet that Indonesia had halted defence cooperation activities.

"But it is certainly on the record that it has stopped,'' a spokesman said.

"We are just waiting on the details of how this is going to play out.''

At a press conference at his presidential palace in Jakarta, Dr Yudhoyono likened the spying claims to cold war tactics.

It's difficult for me to understand why the (wire-tapping) was conducted,'' Dr Yudhoyono said.

"Now is not the era of the cold war.''

Dr Yudhoyono said "coordinated military cooperation'' including naval patrols would cease immediately.

"I have asked for that to be halted until everything is clear,'' he said.

Suspending cooperation on people smuggling will deal a big blow to Mr Abbott's asylum seeker policies.

"You are well aware that we are facing a joint problem of people smuggling that has been a problem for both Australia and Indonesia,'' Dr Yudhoyono said.

"Indonesia and Australia is not in the position of confronting each other or in enmity.''

The president said he could not understand why Australia had chosen to spy on a ``friend and not the enemy'', adding that he viewed the conduct of the Australian government as an illegal action.

Dr Yudhoyono said he wanted a personal explanation, insisting comments directed at "Australia's domestic community'' would not suffice.

``If Australia wants to maintain a good relationship with Indonesia in the future, there must be an official explanation,'' he said.

Dr Yudhoyono said cooperation in the area of intelligence gathering and the sharing of information would also be halted.

"I have also asked to stop for a while joint training between Indonesian soldiers and Australians, whether army, navy or air force,'' he said.

Dr Yudhoyono said he wanted to make it clear that cooperation on combating people smuggling would not go ahead until he received an explanation from Mr Abbott.

"It's impossible for us to continue when we're not sure that there's no tapping of Indonesian soldiers who are performing a duty for both countries,'' he said.

Mr Abbott earlier told Parliament he will not "overreact" to the spying controversy.

His comments came as Indonesia officially "downgraded" its relationship with Australia in the wake of the spying allegations.

"The downgrading in the level of the Indonesian-Australian relationship has been done," Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said today.

"We have taken measured steps in accordance with their response and attitude."

In a clear reference to admissions from Indonesia it targeted Australian MPs phones during the 1999 East Timor crisis, Mr Abbott said people did not overreact then.

He acknowledged Australia's targeting of the phones of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, his wife and senior officials weeks after terrorist bombings in Jakarta killed three Australians was "personally hurtful" to the country's leader.

"I do note there have been allegations and admissions in the past on this subject, people didn't overreact then, I certainly don't propose to overreact now," he said.

"My intention, not withstanding the difficulty of these days is ... To build strong relationships with Indonesia, which is so important for both our countries."

When a former Indonesian spying chief admitted to targeting the phones of Australian MPs, then prime minister John Howard refused to comment.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa commented on the "downgrading'' on his way into the Indonesian foreign ministry in Jakarta for a meeting with the country's ambassador to Australia Nadjib Kesoema.

"We have already adjusted various forms of co-operation,'' he said.

"We are turning off the tap by degrees.''

RAMIFICATIONS: CORBY'S PAROLE AT RISK

Dr Natelagawa also slammed Prime Minister Tony Abbott's refusal to apologise for Australian spies who in 2009 tapped the phone of President Yudhoyono, his wife and senior ministers.

Mr Abbott expressed regret for any embarrassment caused to the President.

"I don't get it. Why would the President of Indonesia be embarrassed?'' Mr Natalegawa said.

Indonesia and Australia have developed close law enforcement links to fight terrorism and people smuggling, but the reality is that Australia is more important to Indonesia than vice-versa.

We provide $580 million in foreign aid funds and two-way trade was valued at almost $15 billion last year.

That includes $2.3 billion worth of agricultural exports and $2.5 billion in petroleum sales from Australia.

It comes as a former Indonesian spymaster openly boasted about spying on Australian politicians and officials and said that Australia would be "silly" if it didn't do the same thing.

As the diplomatic fallout widened over Australian phone intercepts of the Indonesian president, his family and staff, security experts and former spies accused Jakarta of hypocrisy and confected outrage.

When he retired in 2004 Indonesian spymaster General Abdullah Mahmud Hendropriyono revealed his agency had not only tapped Australian civil and military communications and politicians' phone calls during the 1999 East Timor crisis, but had also unsuccessfully attempted to recruit Australian officials as double agents.

Then Prime Minister John Howard offered a muted diplomatic response to the explosive allegations and maintained Australia's relationship with Indonesia remained "very strong".

"I am not going to talk about any aspect (of) something like that,'' Mr Howard said at the time.

"I neither confirm nor deny stories about those sorts of security things.''

In stark contrast to this, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has taken to Twitter to voice his anger and to tell his people that his government had "protested loudly" to Australia over the claims and sought an explanation.

"We will also revisit our of bilateral co-operation agenda," he told his four million Twitter followers and he threatened "painful consequences" for Australia.

"I also regret the statement of Australian Prime Minister that belittled this tapping matter on Indonesia, without any remorse."

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has refused to apologise for the 2009 intercepts of Indonesia, revealed this week by whistleblower Edward Snowden, saying all governments "gathered information and knew that others did the same".

"Australia should not be expected to apologise for the steps we take to protect our country now or the past, anymore than other governments should be expected to apologise for the similar steps that they have taken," Mr Abbott told parliament.

Mr Abbott expressed his regret about any embarrassment to the president caused by the public airing of the spying issue.

"Australia has deep respect for Indonesia, for its government and for its people," he said.

Indonesia's Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa yesterday responded to Mr Abbott's comments saying that Australia not Indonesia should be embarrassed following the disclosure.

"I don't get it. Why would the President of Indonesia be embarrassed?" Marty said in an exclusive interview with Channel News Asia.

"I believe the embarrassment should belong to the government of Australia. They are the ones … the intelligence community in Australia … who have committed this unacceptable practice," Marty added.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott won't say whether he will offer Indonesia an apology over spying allegations.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten said US President Barack Obama's apology to German Chancellor Angela Merkel over spying allegations was a better model.

But senior Labor MPs today backed away from their leader's suggestion.

Labor frontbencher Richard Marles denied Mr Shorten was asking the government to take a more conciliatory stance.

"We are going to support and back the government in doing what they need to do to repair this relationship," he told Sky News today.

Colleague Tony Burke was reluctant to add to Mr Shorten's comments.

"I'm not going to add to the words Bill Shorten put forward," he told reporters, adding it was in Australia's interest for the row to be resolved as quickly as possible.

The most important thing was that Mr Abbott not allow the issue to become "a running sore".

The Australian Greens are not nearly as supportive of the way Mr Abbott is handling the issue, accusing the PM of appeasing red-neck voters at home by refusing to make an apology.

"It's time to take a step back and stop the chest-beating," deputy leader Adam Bandt told reporters.

Government minister Jamie Briggs dismissed Mr Bandt's comments as being as "irrelevant as the person who made them".

"The Prime Minister is walking deftly through it," he told Sky News of the diplomatic row, adding the issue was a "speed hump" in the Australian-Indonesian relationship.

Experts warned that President Yudhoyono had been cornered by the revelations that played directly into the hands of his many enemies and that he would be bound to retaliate.

As Indonesia's ambassador to Australia, Nadjib Kesoema, departed briskly for Jakarta on Tuesday, the pages of the country's newspapers were dominated by calls for an even tougher response to the latest claims.

Former agent with the overseas spy agency the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) and Indonesia expert Warren Reed said any government would be duty bound to "flap its wings" such as Indonesia was doing.

Australian National University academic Peter McCawley said President Yudhoyono was stung and cornered and that he would retaliate.

"Australia is misreading the situation and there is a long period of uncertainty ahead before and after the 2014 Indonesian elections," Dr McCawley said.

ASIO chief David Irvine hinted to a Senate Estimates hearing that Australian agencies were confident there would be no more surprises from National Security Agency leaks by US whistleblower Edward Snowden.

"I can't talk for the counterpart agencies in the United States, but I am satisfied that the standards that we adhere to and other agencies within the Australian Government seek to adhere to, certainly do aspire to be very high," he said.

When contacted yesterday an Indonesian embassy spokesman in Canberra said there would be no comment.

A spokesman for the Indonesian president late today insisting that Australia's response to the allegations to date had been inadequate.

"Of course this is regrettable, the president regretted the Australian prime minister's response,'' presidential spokesman Julian Pasha told reporters.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa later warned Australia should not underestimate the effect the controversy had caused.

"Australia still needs to develop their attitude and response, because this is something that can't trivialised or underestimated (in terms of) its impact,'' Dr Natalegawa said at the presidential palace.

"We will evaluate day by day its development. It's not us who brought this problem, it's Australia. And so Australia is the one who must find the best solution for this.''

Indonesia spy scandal to hit trade: Katter

Federal MP Bob Katter says the Indonesian spying scandal will be a huge blow to bilateral trade.

The crossbencher says relations were already fragile because of asylum seekers and after Australia "cut off their food supply" when it halted live cattle exports in 2011.

He said reports that Australia's electronic spy agency tapped the phones of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his wife will be a huge blow to bilateral trade.

"They've said all bilateral agreements are off," he told ABC radio today.

"I can't interpret that as anything else except we're in a lot of trouble here."

Mr Katter called for Prime Minister Tony Abbott to immediately apologise to President Yudhoyono.

"Tony, geez, if your country, your government, the government of Australia has done something wrong, the onus is upon you to apologise," he said.

"Think if the Indonesians were tapping the telephones of our prime minister and his wife ... this is not acceptable behaviour.

"I mean spying on each other, yeah every country does that all the time, but not on the head of state and his wife."

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Big Read: She's got game

Watch a clip from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Woody Harrelson.

NO ONE would expect Jennifer Lawrence, at the top of her game as Hollywood's brightest and most likeable star, to have any career concerns but the 23-year old Oscar-winner from Kentucky is worried she's becoming overexposed.

"I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I'm afraid I'm going to start becoming annoying to everyone," she says. "I know people can be very fickle, and I get it. I would probably annoy me, too. So, I've been trying to make a conscious effort to be a little more calm, mature and cool when I do interviews so nobody gets sick of me, but it seems that I can't do it."

Given her fears, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and X-Men: Days of Future Past star wasn't enthused about the media blitz that erupted over her recent pixie-cut hairstyle.

She sighs. "I didn't read any of that stuff. Just hearing about people making a big deal about it is just so ridiculous. Seriously, I can't handle that much stupid in one day.

Jennifer Lawrence caused a sensation when she revealed her new pixie haircut but says she didn't mean to make a "national statement with it".

"I just had a haircut. It was at an awkward length so I cut it. I didn't mean to make a national statement with it," she says.

Lawrence - pictured in a scene from the latest Hunger Games instalment - admits she is more of a worrier than warrior. Source: Supplied

Today, at the Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills, Lawrence is the epitome of sophistication in a black jacket and leather trousers by YSL, a light grey sheath blouse by Helmut Lang, and heels by Nicholas Kirkwood. Clearly, this is not her usual daywear but Lawrence is on the promotional trail for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and after all, one must look like a movie star.

"I don't want to piss anyone off, but getting dressed up is the same for me as it is for any woman," she says. "There are parts that you love but then your feet start hurting and you want to put on some sweatpants. But I enjoy it as much as the next girl." She jokes: "Those Dior fittings can be so tiring."

Unlike her Twilight counterpart, Kristen Stewart, Lawrence is highly relatable and alarmingly normal. Even when she famously tripped over her Dior gown to accept this year's Oscar for Best Actress for Silver Linings, it only heightened the public's adoration.

Unsurprisingly, the self-confessed klutz had some wardrobe mishaps on the set of Catching Fire. "Well, we've all seen what it's like when I try to walk in a dress, let's put it that way. And given the film's action sequences, there was one time that I hit myself in the face so badly with my bow that I flew myself backwards," she recalls.

Catching Fire is the second instalment in the trilogy, based on the young adult series written by Suzanne Collins. Lawrence confesses that unlike the fearless revolutionary, Katniss Everdeen, she's more worrier than she is warrior.

Jennifer Lawrence famously tripped at the Oscars after receiving the Academy Award for best actress. Source: Getty Images

"Oh, I would never call myself a rebel because I have too much anxiety," Lawrence says. "I mean, I rebel against rude people. I can't stand that, like bad drivers, I don't like them But I worry too much about getting into trouble to be a revolutionary."

She adds: "I'm also scared of everything; elevators, snakes, ghosts, but also, shooting in Hawaii I was constantly scared of spiders and insects."

Lawrence makes fun of her cachet as a newly minted A-list movie star.

Jennifer Lawrence is Hollywood's second highest paid actress after Angelina Jolie. Source: AFP

"When I got back to the Catching Fire set the day after the Academy Awards there were some new rules. No one was allowed to make eye contact with me and they were to refer to me as Ms Lawrence," she jokes. "No, everybody kind of made fun of me, actually. If anything, it just made me more of a target."

The Hunger Games grossed about $700 million worldwide and the sequel is expected to eclipse its predecessor's box office success. (the third and fourth movies, Mockingjay Part 1 and Part 2 are scheduled for release November 2014 and 2015, respectively).

Forbes magazine ranks Lawrence as Hollywood's second highest paid actor, netting $27.6 million last year (following Angelina Jolie who took home $35 million).

Lawrence's payday for Catching Fire was a hefty $10.6 million, an impressive hike from the first film in the franchise for which she was paid $531,000 plus box office bonuses.

"My career has definitely benefited from the Academy Award and I am so grateful for it, but I am pleased to say that nothing in my personal life has changed at all," she says.

"I mean, I don't go to Beverly Hills and not expect to create a stampede. Certain things changed, but I wouldn't say my day-to-day life has changed."

Lawrence will be reunited with her Silver Linings Playbook co-star Bradley Cooper in her new film American Hustle. Source: AP

But being a role model to many young girls must make somewhat of an impact?

"Well, becoming a role model isn't something you choose, it's something you inherit and it happens without your consent.

"So yes, I have to be aware of it and be careful about the example I'm setting for young girls. I remember being that age and how much I would pay attention to what people in the spotlight would say, what they'd wear, how they'd carry themselves.

"I don't want to do anything to upset anyone."

She pauses.

"Or if I am doing something, I try to make sure no one's parent finds out about it," she laughs. "It's definitely a responsibility that I try to adhere by."

But it seems her mild off-screen behaviour in which she eschews the nightclub life in favour of sitting on her couch watching reality television won't lend itself to any headline grabbing shenanigans.

"No, I've never found going out to nightclubs or any of the Hollywood parties very enticing" she says.

Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson at the Hunger Games: Catching Fire premiere in Berlin. Source: AFP

In her romantic life, she has been in an on-again-off-again relationship with British actor Nicholas Hoult (Warm Bodies), who she met on the set of X-Men: First Class in 2011. The pair worked together again recently on the upcoming X-Men: Days of Future Past. Lawrence remains polite but tight-lipped on this subject.

"I'd rather not discuss that part of my life. I'm not a relationship-leader, just a straight-up actor," she says.

She will next star in American Hustle, in which she reteams with director David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook), and appears with Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper and Amy Adams.

"I was really excited to work with David again; I think he's some kind of actor whisperer. And it's set in the '70s, not really the height of fashion so it led to some funny moments."

But for now, Hunger Games is this season's most eagerly awaited movie and there is talk of a Hunger Games theme park in the works. Perhaps she'd like to be involved professionally?

"I can't really picture it, other than it would have some steep roller-coasters, which I love, but I'm not sure about being involved." She smiles.

"Perhaps I'd like to be involved in the royalties."

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire opens today.

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Cop's swearing video goes viral

Police believe an officer caught on camera swearing at a member of the public could have handled the situation "more appropriately"

POLICE say an officer caught on camera swearing at a member of the public could have handled the situation "more appropriately" and will launch an investigation into the incident.

The footage was posted on Facebook last night and shows the traffic officer confronting a man, who swore at him after being handed an infringement for not wearing a helmet.

The post has since received more than 20,000 likes and 6000 shares on Facebook.

John Martin, 24, posted the video and today he told Nine News he was considering pressing charges against the officer.

"It's unacceptable, police shouldn't be allowed to treat the public like that," he said.

"You shouldn't threaten anyone with rape, especially if you're a police officer."

PerthNow readers were divided on the subject.

Tom commented: 'I can't see a problem with what he said, told him to pull his head in."

But Jennifer sided with the cyclist: "Police officers are trained & that officer needed to require more of himself..he only thought his comments were ok because he didn't realize he was being filmed."

A WA Police officer responds to a man's swearing by swearing back and threatening to lock him up for the night.

The incident occured on Fyfe St, Forrestfield at about 2.30pm yesterday afternoon.

After being handed the fine, Mr Martin yelled at the officer to "stop some f….. criminals."

Fed up with the man's language, the officer confronts him and threatens to arrest him for disorderly conduct.

``If you swear one more f…. time I will put you in the lock up for disorderly, just like last time'' the first class constable said.

``I will deny your bail and some big fella is going to play with your a...... during the night.

``If that's what you want, say one more f…. swear word."

Cyclist John Martin, who filmed a confrontation with a police officer who swore and threatened him. Picture: Nine News Source: Supplied

Police Inspector Dominic Wood said the officer had admitted he acted inappropriately, but that the snippet of footage does not show the whole event.

"We have thousands of interactions every day with police officers talking to members of the public. This is rare," Insp Wood said.

"It's a tough job and that officer has come across somebody that's obviously pushed his buttons and tried to get a reaction.

"The officer wouldn't have known he was being recorded under those circumstances."

Police union president George Tilbury said officers dealt with the public 24 hours a day and were often involved in "frustrating and stressful situations."

"As the full video has not been uploaded and the entirety of the circumstances are unknown, it is very difficult to comment on the actions of the officer," Mr Tilbury said.

"However, police officers should always do their utmost to portray a professional image, which can be difficult given that they are under more scrutiny than any other profession.

"Our Members need to be aware that in this modern age of technology their actions and interactions with the public will be filmed, often without their knowledge or permission."

Police Minister Liza Harvey indicated to reporters today that using foul language was inappropriate but she would leave the matter to police to investigate internally.

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Man dies after campsite attack

A man remains critically ill in hospital after being bashed in a park near the Swan River in Middle Swan. Source: News Limited

A MAN has died in hospital two days after being bashed, allegedly by two itinerant men camping by the Swan River.

Police said the 48-year-old victim, from Bullsbrook, was at Middle Swan Reserve in West Swan early on Sunday morning when he was confronted and assaulted by two men.

Police allege they used various weapons, including a metal pole. Today it was confirmed that the victim had died from his injuries.

Two men of no fixed address, aged 41 and 35, were charged with grievous bodily harm and appeared before Midland Magistrates Court earlier this week.

A police spokeswoman said the charges might be upgraded pending a post-mortem examination.

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King-hit Aussie surfer flying to WA

An Australian man who was reportedly king-hit outside a Bali nightclub will be flown in an induced coma to Perth.

THE family of an Australian man who was reportedly king-hit outside a Bali nightclub say they are "overwhelmed with the love, support and concern from everyone".

Australian surf school instructor Matt Scarff, from Melbourne, was punched by a stranger when he went to the aid of a woman outside a Bali nightclub on Friday night, suffering a head injury.

His family released a statement on Wednesday evening, saying: "The doctors and medical staff at Sanglah Bali have been amazing and we cannot thank them enough.

"We ask that the media respect our family's privacy and do not approach us for further comment as we need to concentrate on Matt.

"We are looking forward to getting him back to Australia and will provide more information through our fundraising site.

Friends of an Australian man king hit in Bali are raising money for him to be medically evacuated to Darwin.

"Thank you again for all your kind wishes and support."

Mr Scarff is being flown in an induced coma to Perth by a CareFlight medical team.

"Matt has had an operation to remove a clot and release the pressure pressure on his brain," his cousin Tony Maguire wrote on an online fundraiser page on Tuesday.

"He has immediate family and close friends by his hospital bedside in Bali but is doing it tough."

Injured Aussie surf instructor Matt Scarff is being flown to Perth in an induced coma after being king-hit in Bali last Friday night.

Mr Maguire wrote that his cousin was uninsured and the family was bearing the $45,000 cost of the flight back to Australia.

He asked friends to help, and more than $48,000 has already been raised, with additional funds to go towards Mr Scarff's rehabilitation.

A doctor and nurse team will fly on the medi-jet based in Darwin for CareFlight International Air Ambulance.

CareFlight makes a trip to Bali to collect injured Australians at least once a month, says director Ian Badham.

Australian Matt Scarff, who was king-hit in Bali last Friday, played for the Bali Geckos.

"It's often fractures, head injuries, spinal injuries, or it's older people who have been on a cruise and had a cardiac problem and been offloaded - it depends on the age group," he told AAP. "This guy was very unlucky, he went to the aid of a lady and got bashed for his trouble."

Mr Scarff's sister Anna said he's been very well looked after at Sanglah Hospital in Bali, Mr Badham said.

"They do a good job, but he is in an induced coma and our doctor and nurse will be continuing his treatment on the flight down to Perth."
Mr Scarff was expected to land in Perth at 7pm tonight (WST).

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Mortgage fraudster banned for life

Mortgage fraudster Catherine Anne Thompson, jailed, and now banned from the industry for life. Picture Theo Fakos Source: News Limited

A WOMAN once touted as one of Australia's top mortgage brokers has been permanently banned from providing financial services after being jailed for defrauding 24 investors of more than $4 million.

Catherine Anne Thompson, 53, was earlier this year convicted of multiple counts of stealing and sentenced to five years and one month in jail.

Thompson, formerly of Canning Vale, had convinced dozens of clients of Mortgage Miracles - including friends - to part with up to $400,000 each for an investment scheme between 2007 and 2008. She had used her position as a senior member of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints to persuade them to back Mormonville, a spiritual home for elderly parishioners south of Perth.

Instead, the funds were used for Thompson's own multi-million dollar property portfolio and to pay the promised 17.5 per cent returns, with the Ponzi-style scheme eventually collapsing in 2008.

WA's District Court heard during the trial that her victims had been left penniless, and in some cases homeless.

Her defence lawyer said she suffered from a narcissistic personality disorder and had believed she was a "financial rock star" who could do no wrong.

He said she still claimed all the money would be paid back through a scheme involving the Hong Kong government.

But Thompson also wrote a letter of apology to the victims, which was read out in court.

Today, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission said Thompson had been banned for life from engaging in any credit activities and providing financial services.

ASIC deputy chairman Peter Kell said Thompson fell well short of the standards required of credit industry workers, showing a persistent pattern of lying to people who trusted and relied on her.

Thompson, who founded Mortgage Miracles in 2004, can appeal ASIC's decision to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

She'll be eligible for parole after serving three years and one month in jail, and must also pay compensation to her victims.

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Sacked Sattler fires up on Facebook

NEW DIRECTION: Howard Sattler, pictured after being dismissed from 6PR for comments made to former prime minister Julia Gillard, is writing a book about his media career. Source: News Limited

SACKED shock jock Howard Sattler has resurfaced on social media, five months after he was fired for asking Julia Gillard live on air if her partner was gay.

Mr Sattler has been in broadcasting exile since Fairfax Radio fired him for quizzing the then prime minister over Tim Mathieson.

The interview on Perth's 6PR made international headlines.

Mr Sattler, who is battling a type of Parkinson's disease, dismissed the notion of running in September's federal election against former Labor minister Stephen Smith, and the 68-year-old is now on Facebook promising to provide updates on a legal battle with his former employer, as well as other commentary.

``Unsurprisingly, I attracted my critics, among them several particularly nasty individuals who I am sure have rejoiced in the apparent end of my public broadcasting career. A few have even made it clear that they are waiting for my death notice,'' Mr Sattler wrote.

``I have news for them and they won't like it.''

Mr Sattler also revealed he is writing a book about his media career.

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Third WA teacher in child sex sting

OPERATION THUNDERER: An officer collects evidence in the ongoing global child abuse operation. Source: Supplied

ANOTHER Perth teacher has been charged with child pornography offences as part of the ongoing police operation Thunderer.

The international investigation involves Toronto police, the Australian Federal Police and state police across the country. Last week it was revealed six WA men were charged in the operation, four by WA Police and two by the AFP.

Five local children were also caught up in the international child abuse ring.

This morning WA Police said they had charged a 62-year-old teacher with one count of possessing child exploitation material.

On Friday, November 15, the Child Abuse Squad charged the man following a search of his Gooseberry Hill home.

Police seized laptops, hard drives, DVDs and CDs from the former Tafe teacher's home.

It will be alleged on the items police found more than 1500 images and 167 videos of child exploitation material of varying categories.

The man is due to appear in Midland Magistrates Court on December 10.

Operation Thunderer is ongoing. Anyone with information relating to child abuse or exploitation is urged to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Cabinet seats assured as Grylls walks

THE Nationals in Western Australia will still have three seats in cabinet after the resignation of Brendon Grylls as head of the party

STANDING DOWN: Brendan Grylls explains his decision to stand down as leader of the WA Nationals. Picture: Jordan Shields. Source: News Limited

THE Nationals in Western Australia will still have three seats in cabinet after the resignation of Brendon Grylls as head of the party, Premier Colin Barnett says.

Mr Grylls, 40, announced his decision to step down as party leader and also as regional development minister - as revealed in The Sunday Times - but will remain MP for the Pilbara region.

The decision comes just eight months after Mr Grylls won the biggest gamble of his career by successfully switching from a safe wheatbelt seat to the resources-rich north, where he plans to move.

While he didn't seek assurances from the premier that his cabinet successor would be a National, Mr Barnett said the party would retain all three of its seats.

Mr Grylls earned the title of Kingmaker in the 2008 elections when the Nationals held the balance of power but that leverage disappeared this year when the Liberals won a second term with a greater margin.

"We've got a very clear agreement, an alliance arrangement with the National Party and under that, and under the current numbers in the parliament, the National Party is entitled to three ministers,'' Mr Barnett said.

He said it was yet to be determined whether the new leader - widely expected to be agriculture minister Terry Redman - would retain the regional development portfolio.

Mr Barnett said he was surprised when Mr Grylls advised him about a fortnight ago of his plans. But the job was stressful and demanding in all respects, so he understood how he felt.

"I'm obviously disappointed to lose Brendon Grylls as a member of state cabinet, however I understand and respect his decision,'' he said.

``He has made a great contribution to the state and I am sure he will make a further contribution in years to come.''

While Mr Grylls said he wouldn't miss the stresses of Cabinet, Mr Barnett said he told him to "treat this as a gap year - have a bit of time out ... and I hope you come back to cabinet in the future''.

Mr Grylls said there was no single factor behind his decision, but mentioned several times that he wanted to be more available for his young family.

Late night parliament sittings and having every half-hour block in his diary spoken for a year in advance was onerous, he said.peHe also said the time was right to clear the way for a successor, given he had three years as leader before the pivotal 2008 election and the party's $1 billion a year Royalties for Regions scheme became a reality.

``I don't think sitting in the leadership and staying there is an option,'' Mr Grylls said.

While he said he'd been thinking for some time about stepping down from cabinet at the end of the year, he denied misleading voters who assumed he'd serve a full term.

Mr Grylls said he had wanted to ensure Royalties for Regions, his crowning glory, ``survived the election process''.

And with the scheme's big budgetary decisions already made, the time was right to let someone else lead, he said.

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Policeman not guilty of dangerous driving

A police officer has been acquitted of dangerous driving charges laid after the death of Perth mother Sharon D'Ercole.

POLICE officer Gareth Hopley has been found not guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of Dianella mother Sharon D'Ercole. Source: News Limited

A WEST Australian policeman whose car struck another vehicle and killed the female driver has been found not guilty of dangerous driving causing her death.

Constable Gareth Hopley, 29, has been on trial in the Perth District Court for the past two weeks, charged over the death of Sharon Ann D'Ercole in April last year.

Ms D'Ercole, 50, died from multiple injuries, while her 16-year-old daughter, who was a passenger, has no memory of the accident.

A jury took an afternoon of deliberating before deciding to acquit the officer this evening.

During the trial, Mr Hopley denied having "tunnel vision'' while chasing a stolen car before crashing into Ms D'Ercole's vehicle, and testified that he believed she was slowing down for him when he hit her.

The officer's lights and sirens were activated at the time, the court heard.

Some evidence also indicated Ms D'Ercole was driving at about 25km/h in a 60km/h zone, while the police vehicle was travelling at up to 75km/h.

Sharon D'Ercole, who died in the crash last year. Source: News Limited

Const Hopley was emotional while giving evidence as he recounted seeing the injured woman at the crash scene.

He also told the court that his passenger was like a brother to him and he would do anything to keep him and the public safe.

"I never would have gone through that intersection if I didn't deem it safe to do so,'' Const Hopley said.

Ms D'Ercole's husband Ron said he was disappointed with the verdict.

"I'm all in favour of the justice system - democratic process and the jury system as it is,'' he told reporters outside court.

"I respect that, on the premise that he's innocent until proven guilty and beyond reasonable doubt, the decision - the way it went - went against us.''

He said his wife had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

WA Police Union president George Tilbury called on Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan to ensure Const Hopley was returned to duty.

"He's been acquitted of the charge and there should be no barrier to him returning,'' Mr Tilbury said.

Const Hopley was being sought for comment.

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