We really are a bunch of convicts

A mother who saw her son murdered has thanked the court as his killers were handed jail sentences.

Record number of prisoners in Australia ... Cells 11 and 12 at Goulburn Correctional Centre in NSW. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: News Limited

MORE prisoners are doing time in Australian jails than ever, official data shows.

The number of inmates in Australian jails hit a record 30,775 in 2013, up five per cent from 2012, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data released today shows.

The nation's rate of imprisonment is also up, at 170 prisoners for every 100,000 adults, from 157 for every 100,000 adults in 2003.

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The Northern Territory has the highest imprisonment rate this year, with 821 adults in prison for every 100,000 adults.

Western Australia, with 256 prisoners for every 100,000 adults, is second, followed by NSW, Queensland and South Australia. The ACT has the lowest imprisonment rate.

The Northern Territory has the highest rate of imprisonment ... Goulburn Correctional Centre, know as 'Supermax' prison, in NSW. Source: News Limited

Of the male inmate population, 20 per cent was jailed for acts intended to cause injury, 15 per cent for sexual assault, and another 15 per cent for unlawful entry with intent.

Women, meanwhile, were commonly jailed for drug offences (18 per cent), acts intended to cause injury (17 per cent) and unlawful entry with intent (10 per cent).

Most prisoners were born in Australia (81 per cent), followed by New Zealand at three per cent.

Two per cent of the local prison population was born in Vietnam, with another two per cent born in the UK.

Indigenous Australians comprise 27 per cent of the prisoner population, the ABS data shows.

The average age of Australian male inmates is 40, while for females it is 34.

Fifty-eight per cent of all prisoners are reoffenders.

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Fishing line harms Swan River dolphins

THERE are fears for one of the Swan River's beloved dolphins after he became entangled in discarded fishing gear.

Fingers, who has been swimming up the waterway from Cockburn for the past 20 years, received life threatening injuries when his tail fluke became entangled in the gear.

He has not been seen since July.

The dolphin's fate was raised by Swan River Trust riverpark manager Chris Mather today as Perth's first ever fishing line disposal unit campaign was launched.

Three members of the river's small dolphin population had died as a result of injuries caused by fishing waste in the past five years, Mr Mather said.

"And many, many birds, swans and pelicans have also been tangled in fishing line, which has resulted in them being starved to death - that's unacceptable."

Fishing line left in the environment can take up to 600 years to decompose.

In response Recfishwest chief executive officer Andrew Rowland has urged the recreational fishing community to use 20 new purpose-built units being installed at Perth jetties, fishing platforms, traffic bridges and boat ramps.

These will allow the incineration of fishing line and hooks, and recycling of lead sinkers.

Apart from the disposal, all of the rubbish collected will be recorded, as part of a 12-month trial.

"Fishing line placed in bins can still find its way into the river through other means such as animals scavenging through bins and overflowing bins," Dr Rowland said.

"These specially designed fishing line units will eliminate this from happening."

The Swan River is one of the few waterways in the world where dolphins can be seen swimming right up to the edge of the city.

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Pinder extradited to WA, sent back to prison

Former basketballer Kendal 'Tiny' Pinder, pictured here in the mid-1990s, has been extridited from Sydney back to Perth. Source: News Limited

FORMER Perth Wildcats player Kendal "Tiny" Pinder has been extradited from Sydney back to Perth on a return to prison warrant.

Officers from WA Police travelled to NSW on Tuesday to extradite Pinder for allegedly breaching parole conditions in the mid-1990s, when he was jailed over a series of sex assaults.

A spokeswoman for WA Police confirmed that the 57-year-old arrived in Perth today and is currently in custody.

It's understood he will not face court and will be returned straight to prison.

"A 57-year-old man has been extradited by Regional Operations Group officers for breach of parole dating back to 1995," a spokeswoman said.

"They travelled to Sydney on Tuesday and returned today on a return to prison warrant."

The former National Basketball League player was sentenced in 1992 to 18 months jail for a series of attempted sexual assaults involving a 16-year-old girl in WA.

In 1996, while still on parole, he was convicted of the sexual assault of a 15-year-old schoolgirl in Wollongong.

Pinder faced court again in NSW in 2001, where he was found not-guilty of raping a 19-year-old woman after picking her up off the street.

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Fire crews battle 8m flames

A bushfire continues to burn out of control north of Dongara. Picture: @abcmidwestwa/Twitter Source: Supplied

AT least 70 firefighters continue to battle a bushfire that has burned through more than 900 hectares near Dongara in WA's Mid-West.

People north of Dongara have been warned to leave the area or get ready to actively defend their homes as a bushfire tears through the area.

The blaze was reported just after 8am after it started near Bonniefield Road East and began burning towards the Brand Highway.

Late in the morning, the fire jumped the highway and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services issued a watch-and-act alert.

Tonight the watch-and-act alert remains in place for people 15 km north of Dongara and authorities warn the blaze is not yet under control.

At least 50 firefighters from the Volunteer Bushfire Service and Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service are on the scene to protect assets and conduct backburns.

The bushfire is moving slowly in a south-westerly direction but tonight remains out of control and unpredictable.

"If you are not prepared or you plan to leave, leave now if the way is clear," a DFES spokesman said.

Flames up to eight metres high have been reported and spot fires are starting ahead of the blaze, which was started by lightning.

DFES has upgraded the fire danger rating from very high to severe.

"It is quite dangerous," a DFES spokesman said.

"No structures have been impacted but there is a real threat."

He said the area had many hobby farm blocks and homesteads.

Brand Highway remains closed from the Mount Horner West Road intersection to the Showground Road intersection.

Loaders, grazers and dozers have spent the day constructing containment lines.

Authorities have issued a total fire ban and an extreme fire danger warning for several shires in the regions tomorrow.

Friday's weather forecast for the Mid-West region anticipates isolated showers and thunderstorms in the southeast during the morning and a mostly sunny afternoon.

The Bureau predicts east to northeasterly winds between 20-30km/h, turning north to northwesterly 25-35km/h early in the morning, before an afternoon sea breeze.

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Boat people lived on island for four days

An asylum seeker boat is believed to have run aground at a small beach on Christmas Island.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has stopped granting any new permanent visas for asylum seekers

"They have been living on Dolly Beach since Monday" ... Gordon Thomson, Christmas Island shire president. Picture: Jackson Flindell Source: News Limited

RED-faced authorities will resume searching this morning for 14 asylum seekers missing from a boat believed to have sunk off Christmas Island on Monday, but went undetected until yesterday.

In an embarrassing security blunder, 28 Burmese refugees came ashore and survived on rainwater, coconuts and crabs before eight of them were accidentally discovered by authorities who were clueless they were even on the island.

In a statement at midnight last night, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison confirmed the eight people, including two crew, were being housed in a facility at Phosphate Hill under his department's care.

Mr Morrison said another person was in the Christmas Island Hospital in a stable condition after sustaining minor injuries.

Five people were being escorted by the Australian Federal Police to the Phosphate Hill facility after being found.

But another 14 people had still not been apprehended.

Mr Morrison said five people had been sighted at two locations on the southeastern side of the island while another nine people had still not been found.

"(They) are believed to be in heavy jungle approximately 50 minutes' walk away from the nearest road," Mr Morrison said.

"A search is underway for the individuals, coordinated by the AFP.

"Advice from the AFP indicates it is unlikely those yet to be sighted will be located this evening. However an AFP presence will remain in the search area. Due to the rough conditions the search has been suspended and will resume at first light Friday morning.

"No persons are believed to have been lost at sea."

His comments came after the detection emerged earlier on the island, which is home to Australia's key refugee processing centre.

The incident has left the Federal Government and Mr Morrison open to ridicule over its Operation Sovereign Borders, which was supposed to end the problems with Australia's porous borders.

Christmas Island Shire president Gordon Thomson said the asylum seekers had been living on the secluded Dolly Beach since their boat sank on Monday.

It is not known exactly where their boat sank but Dolly Beach is about 15km from the detention centre and is surrounded by dense bushland, with limited vehicle access.

Mr Thomson said the group were discovered yesterday morning after eight of them had walked from the beach on to a main road, been discovered by local authorities and taken into detention.

Some are believed to have been dehydrated.

Police, he added, had then gone back to the beach to look for the others.

"From what police said their boat sunk but there had been no casualties,'' Mr Thomson told The Daily Telegraph.

He said the area was a popular camping spot that had access to freshwater and food such as crabs and coconuts.

Mr Morrison last night confirmed Border Protection Command had received reports of an incident of an "unconfirmed nature".

"Details of the incident are not clear at this point and persons who were involved in this incident are being questioned by on-island agencies,'' he said.

"On island agencies and Border Protection Command assets are also responding and are on scene. Updates will be provided when further information is able to be confirmed."

More details are expected today from Mr Morrison as part of his weekly update on Operation Sovereign Borders, which the government has been championing for cutting boat arrivals by 80 per cent since the election.

But Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young last night said the government's "Operation Secret Boats" was a sham and called for more transparency.

"The coconut telegraph is running hot with information from Christmas Island, showing just how ridiculous the government's obsession with secrecy is," she said.

"We've heard more from Christmas Island residents today than we have from our own government.

"The fact that this boat arrived and then crashed without anyone realising raises questions about the capacity of search and rescue operations that have been seriously compromised in recent weeks."

Tracks Travern owner Col Dobson said the survival tale had been all the talk for his pub's clientele yesterday.

"There's plenty of crabs and coconuts down there," he said.

"It's crab migration season and many roads are closed to the public and apparently one of the rangers went down there and stumbled across them."

Christmas Island Hardware owner Don Greyson said it was probably one of the island's least frequented beaches.

"It's very isolated," Mr Greyson said, noting the rocky climb from the beach. "It's probably forty minutes walk through the jungle to the road and it's not a great track - you can see it but it's not easy, especially for somebody who hasn't been here.

"Also people generally go there on the weekend but other beaches are frequented more often so they were probably a bit unlucky - or lucky - in that regard."

In April when an asylum seeker boat cruised into the mainland port at Geraldton, Western Australia, Mr Morrison had attacked the Gillard government for allowing it to reach land.

"Every time you think things couldn't get worse under this government, they do," he had said.

While the government does not announce new asylum seeker boat arrivals, locals said the boat was one of four to arrive this week.

The most recent was a boat with 60 people on-board was reportedly taken to Christmas Island on Wednesday night after being intercepted.

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Schoolie hurt in Bali balcony fall

A Perth school leaver celebrating in Bali has suffered serious injuries after falling from a balcony.

A PERTH school leaver is lucky to be alive after falling six metres from a balcony at a resort in Bali.

The 17-year-old suffered serious injuries after falling from the third-floor balcony - about six metres - at the Jayakarta Resort on Legian Beach.

Nine News reports Sunny, a graduate from Seton Catholic College, was partying with friends at the resort when they moved on to the balcony.

Sunny, the Perth school leaver who was badly injured after falling from a balcony at a Bali resort. Picture: Nine News Source: Supplied

He was leaning against a handrail when suddenly it gave way and he plunged to the pavement below.

He was rushed to the BMIC Hospital in Kuta with severe head injuries and broken bones and tonight he remains in hospital in a stable condition.

The boy's parents have flown out to Bali to be with him but it is believed he is too unwell to return to Perth immediately.

He is expected to be well enough to fly by the weekend.

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The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was investigating the incident.

``Consular officials stand ready to provide assistance if requested,'' a DFAT spokeswoman said.

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Abbott in Greens deal over debt

Treasurer Joe Hockey and Greens leader Christine Milne announce they have reached an agreement on removing the debt ceiling, with the Coalition promising more transparency in the budget

"Economic fringe dwellers" no more ... Greens leader Christine Milne and Deputy Adam Bandt hold a doorstop at Parliament House after agreeing on a deal with the Government on lifting the debt ceiling. Source: News Limited

THE Abbott Government has struck a deal with the Greens to abolish the limit on the nation's credit card.

After once deriding the Australian Greens as extreme and "economic fringe dwellers", Treasurer Joe Hockey praised the Greens for being prepared to solve the problem he said had been caused by the previous Labor government.

Without a deal, the nation's existing $300 billion debt limit would have been reached next week.

"Labor created the debt but they do not want us to fix it," Mr Hockey said.

The new deal scraps the limit which Labor introduced in 2008 and set at $75 billion but has since been increased several times.

Mr Hockey said despite removing the limit, the Government would be "prudent and responsible". He said the deal would mean more information provided to the public about debt.

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Greens leader Christine Milne said it had been a phony limit because "no one has the faintest clue what the debt was actually for" and the new deal would require the government to spell out to people what was "good debt and bad debt".

"Everyone knows there is a big difference between a mortgage to buy a home and a credit card to splurge on luxuries," Senator Milne said.

"The public will now be able to see whether the government is incurring good debt to invest in our future, or bad debt to cover up a shortfall in revenue."

Opposition finance spokesman Tony Burke said the Government were hypocrites because they said before the election the answer to debt was not more debt and they would not do deals with the Greens.

Mr Hockey had wanted to increase the limit to $500 billion but Labor would only allow a rise to $400 billion, which Mr Hockey said was not enough to cover the debt legacy he inherited from the former government.

The debt deal came after the release of the national accounts showed the economy grew by 0.6 per cent in the September quarter and was running at an annual rate of 2.3 per cent.

Mr Hockey said this showed the economy he inherited had rising unemployment, below trend growth and a deteriorating Budget.

"The economy is stuck in second gear," Mr Hockey said.

He warned it was not strong enough to create the jobs the economy needs.

As part of the deal secured with the minor party to scrap the national debt ceiling, the government has agreed to report on the impact of climate change policy in future budgets.

Senator Milne said this would highlight the cost of tackling climate change without a market mechanism like an emissions trading scheme (ETS).

"That is a good improvement, too, so people can clearly see what not going to a market mechanism is going to cost in terms of the budget,'' Senator Milne told reporters in Canberra.

The government's direct action plan will directly fund activities that reduce carbon dioxide emissions, whereas an ETS requires businesses to pay for the greenhouse gases they release.

The Greens have fiercely opposed direct action, and vowed to block the repeal of Labor's carbon pricing mechanism in the Senate.

In his letter to Senator Milne, Mr Hockey said a debt statement with details regarding government spending on climate change would be included in future budgets and key economic reports.

The extent to which this expenditure had contributed to debt would also be included.

All future Intergenerational Reports will retain an extra section on the environment, including climate change and the effect of these policies and their impact on the economy and budget.

"I will consult with the Australian Greens on the scope of what could be included within the section,'' Mr Hockey wrote.

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Thomson 'spent $2500 in a night'

Charges against Craig Thomson have been dropped after a magistrate ruled they couldn't be heard in Victoria.

EXPLOSIVE allegations about former MP Craig Thomson's appetite for porn and prostitutes have been aired publicly, including detailsl of a private spa room at brothel Tiffany's.

Prosecutors finally started outlining their fraud case against Mr Thomson yesterday, detailing in court for the first time allegations he used $28,449 of union funds to pay for sexual services, R-Rated movies, cigarettes, and flights across the country.

The Melbourne Magistrates' Court heard Mr Thomson would sometimes use the alias "Jeff Thomson" - not to be confused with the Aussie cricket legend - when hiring escorts.

It was alleged that while Health Services Union boss between 2002 and 2007, Mr Thomson hired escorts ranging in price from $240 an hour to $770 an hour and used union funds to pay them.

Lead prosecutor Lesley Taylor, SC, outlined dozens of the 66 individual incidents in which the Crown alleges Mr Thomson fraudulently used union credit cards.

Ms Taylor said one of the alleged escort dalliances took place in the exclusive "red turbo spa room'' at Sydney brothel Tiffany's Girls, and cost $418 for 90 minutes.

Mr Thomson called himself Jeff when he ordered an escort named "Tracie'' to his Sydney hotel room in 2003, at a cost of $200 to HSU members, it was alleged.

Craig Thomson arrives at Melbourne Magistrates' Court.

The court heard on one occasion in 2005, Mr Thomson charged $2475 to union credit cards for escort services in a Sydney hotel.

On another occasion he allegedly ordered sexual services to the Westin in Sydney, at a cost of $770 an hour for the services of "Alina", the night before his wife joined him in the same hotel.

The court heard Mr Thomson called for sexual services on at least 10 occasions and often withdrew cash from ATMs to pay for them.

On some nights, Thomson is accused of ordering both adult movies and female escorts to his hotel room.

Thomson is also accused of using union funds to pay for a hire car, accommodation and flights from Melbourne to Sydney when he and his former wife were searching for a NSW rental property.

Prosecutor Lesley Taylor said Thomson would later instruct an HSU employee to enter the misused money as legitimate expenses in the union's accounts.

Thomson is accused of beginning the fraud in October 2002, shortly after he became secretary, and continuing his illegal spending until February 2008, several months after he was elected to federal parliament.

It has taken almost 12 months for the case to be fully aired in courts after months of adjournments and legal arguments between prosecutors and Mr Thomson's high-powered legal team led by prominent QC Greg James.

The DPP is planning to appeal a ruling by Magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg to withdraw 79 of 224 charges because he found the court did not have jurisdiction to hear the charges because the alleged offending didn't occur in Victoria.

Mr Rozencwajg said yesterday prosecutors had been given more than enough time to prepare their case against Mr Thomson.

"I don't see the problem with proceeding with what we've got," he said.

"You've had so much time in this case. it's about time you bite the bullet."

An appeal could take 12 months to finalise, the court heard.

shannon.deery@news.com.au

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Mum wants methanol testing in Bali

A teenage girl has returned home from Bali after nearly dying from a cocktail containing methanol she drank while on schoolies

THE mother of a Perth teen believed to have been poisoned by methanol-spiked cocktails in Bali has called on Indonesian authorities to randomly test drinks served in nightclubs and bars.

Tess Mettam, 19, became ill after drinking two cocktails at Kuta's popular Bounty nightclub on Friday night, panicking when she suddenly couldn't see.

She was taken to Sanglah Hospital, where she stayed for two days despite doctors putting her symptoms down to drunkenness.

On her return to Perth, she was checked at Joondalup Health Campus but no signs of methanol poisoning were detected.

The teen's mother Kathy Mettam remains unconvinced.

"Someone needs to step in and take assertive action against these nightclubs to make them accountable," Ms Mettam said.

"There has to be random testing." The night before her daughter's frightening experience, NSW schoolie Jasmine Baker, 18, became ill after drinking what is believed to have been a spiked drink at the Bounty.

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Campbell Brown's knockout blow

The Gold Coast Suns have sacked Campbell Brown following last week's altercation with teammate Steven May outside a Los Angeles nightclub.

The final moments of an altercation between Campbell Brown and Gold Coast Suns teammate Steven May, who was left with a fractured jaw.

Campbell Brown at the press conference to announce his sacking as a Gold Coast player. Source: Getty Images

CAMPBELL Brown has apologised for the drunken punch that ended his 205-game AFL career but has been cleared of king-hitting teammate Steven May and is expected to be paid out 75 per cent of his salary for 2014.

The Suns announced they had reached an agreement with Brown to part ways after he broke May's jaw in a drunken stoush outside West Hollywood nightclub Bootsy Bellows.

Brown expressed genuine remorse at the incident and said he had no complaints about the investigation led by CEO Travis Auld or the recommendation from chairman John Witheriff and director Bob East that his three-year career with the Suns be ended.

"I'm really disappointed, it is not the way any player wants to finish their career," he said.

"But I think the process was thorough and very fair, I have been more than happy with the way the process has happened.

"I am obviously really disappointed with the way it has finished-up but I take full responsibility for my actions on the night.

"Actions have consequences and clearly they have helped finish my career early."

The Suns believe the fight occurred when May tried to re-enter the nightclub to take a photo of pop princess Rihanna and was restrained by Hawthorn premiership player Josh Gibson.

May and Gibson began arguing and Brown intervened.

It is understood May was heavily intoxicated, vomiting and confused about what had happened to him on his return to the hotel. When informed of the events by teammates, he became irate and waited in the lobby for Brown's return.

CAMPBELL BROWN'S CAREER RAP SHEET

It is alleged he attempted to retaliate when Brown returned. Suns CEO Travis Auld refused to divulge any details of the fight or the events before or after but stressed it was not an unprovoked attack by Brown.

"It is important that the investigation did not provide any evidence that there was a king-hit that took place," he said.

"That is very important for both this football club and for Campbell to put on the record."

.

Campbell Brown arrives at Gold Coast headquarters. Source: Getty Images

May will escape an official sanction over his behaviour on the night but is expected to be chastised and given a warning.

"Steven and Campbell have both spoken and apologised to each other for the roles they played in the incident," Auld said.

"There was certainly two people involved.

"We will have a conversation with Steven when he returns to the club about the role he did play in this and how he may avoid those situations in the future."

The pair sat alongside each other on the flight home from the US and were able to patch-up their differences.

Brown described the incident as regrettable.

"Steven and I are friends, I have checked-in with him to see how he is going pre and post-surgery and we will continue to be friends," he said.

"It was a spur of the moment mistake, if I could go back and change it I would but you can't do that in life."

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