Four hurt as BA plane hits building

A British Airways jet crashed into a building just before takeoff at Johannesburg's main airport, injuring four. Picture: Harriet Tolputt Source: Supplied Source: Supplied

A BRITISH Airways aeroplane carrying 202 people struck an office building at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport with its wing while taxiing for takeoff, slightly injuring four people, aviation authorities say.

The Boeing 747-400 en route for London Heathrow Airport on Sunday night took a runway that was too narrow for the plane, said South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) spokeswoman Phindiwe Gwebu today.

"This resulted in the aircraft's right-hand wing impacting the office building," she told AFP.

The control tower "told them to take one taxiway and they took another one. They took a wrong one," said Gwebu.

Passenger John Hart told the BBC: "We were just taxiing along and then boom!"

He said the captain described it as a "little incident" but everyone on the right-hand side of the plane could see what had happened.

Four people inside the building were lightly injured, but the 185 passengers and 17 crew on board were unharmed during the late-night accident, according to the CAA.

"Four ground-handling employees who were in the building at the time experienced minor injuries," Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) said in a statement.

A photo taken by a passenger from the cabin showed the aircraft's giant wing wedged into a quarter of the length of the small building.

Harriet Tolputt, head of media for international humanitarian organisation Oxfam, posted the pictures to Twitter.

"BA plane crashes into building at J Burg airport. No one injured only the pilot's pride," she posted, complaining that first-class passengers were evacuated before the rest.

The stuck plane had still not been able to take off by Monday morning. All the passengers were taken to a nearby hotel, according to ACSA.

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CCC slams police, releases assault video

CCTV captures Broome Police dragging a man into his cell.

FOOTAGE of a former WA policeman apparently punching and kneeing a prisoner in the head has been released after a lawyer for the constable failed in a court bid to suppress the video.

The footage was first revealed during public hearings held by the state's corruption watchdog examining alleged misconduct by police at the Broome watch-house.

The Corruption and Crime Commission hearings came after two alleged violent assaults this year involving the same policeman, whose name has been suppressed.

His lawyer had lodged a Supreme Court injunction against the public release of the footage.

When that bid failed, an appeal was lodged, which was also dismissed, and the policeman decided on Monday not to pursue the matter in the High Court.

The CCC tabled its report into the matter and the video in parliament on Monday afternoon, as planned, and criticised police for failing to intervene.

CCTV footage showed an 18-year-old man with his head seemingly pulled back by the force of a neck hold.

At one point, both his feet are off the ground and he is seen slumping, although there is insufficient evidence to conclude he lost consciousness.

He is then taken to a padded cell and stripped naked by five police officers.

Three weeks later, the same officer is seen on camera punching and kneeing a 31-year-old man after the detainee hit him in the nose.

The officer is later seen throwing the detainee to the floor, face down while his hands are cuffed behind him.

He is then left face down and unresponsive.

The report concluded the actions of the former constable, who resigned in May, might constitute criminal assault.

The CCC has formed "opinions of misconduct" against him for both incidents and an evidence brief is being prepared.

Nine other officers were also criticised for failing to intervene and report the incidents.

The report also revealed a widespread failure in supervision and failure to render assistance, including medical care.

When the 31-year-old man was released from prison 10 days after the incident, he went to hospital where he learned he had a fractured finger and a haemorrhage to his eye, the CCC said. "The WA police manual expressly warns against leaving a detainee lying face down with hands restrained behind their backs due to the risk of positional asphyxia," the report said.

A series of recommendations for police include highlighting techniques to help officers de-escalate violence in lock-ups, options for ensuring vulnerable detainees receive medical assessments, and additional training for officers with supervisory responsibilities in lock-ups.

The report concludes that failure of supervision may be a systemic issue for WA police.

But WA Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan outright rejected that finding.

Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan. Source: News Limited

"The Corruption and Crime Commission has looked at two incidents, there are thousands of lock up admissions in Western Australia every year," he said.

"If find it difficult how you can draw that sort of conclusion from two incidents alone, so we reject that particular suggestion out of hand."

Mr O'Callaghan said the assaults against the two men were regrettable and disappointing.

He said he had personally apologised to the Aboriginal victim, known as D4 in the report, in May this year.

However, Mr O'Callaghan criticised the commission for the time it had taken to release it's report, hindering any possible police charges.

He said internal investigators notified the CCC of the incidents.

Once the Commission started its own investigation it prevented police from continuing their own.

"The CCC investigation has taken too long, there is clearly an offence and yet the former officer involved has still not bee charged," Mr O'Callaghan said.

Three currently serving officers remain stood down in relation to the incidents.

Two are facing loss of confidence proceedings and the third may also be served with a loss of confidence notice.

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Dad takes son for barefoot ride

A father was charged after he was caught riding a motorcycle with his five-year-old son sitting on the fuel tank. He was caught by the new WA Police unmarked motorcycles. Source: Supplied

A FATHER has been fined for riding his motorcycle with his five-year-old son sitting on his lap and leaning on the fuel tank in Perth yesterday.

The man was caught riding with his son, both in shorts and T-shirts and the son barefoot, on Scarborough Beach Road about lunchtime on December 22 in Innaloo.

He is one of the first people to be charged by officers riding on the new unmarked police motorcycles fitted with helmet cameras to record drivers offending on WA roads.

The man was charged with carrying a passenger on his lap. He was fined $100 and one demerit point.

A police spokesman said police inquiries into further charges, such as riding with a passenger under the age of eight, were continuing.

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Boy, 16, charged over Balga assault

A 16-YEAR-OLD has been charged as teenager fights for his life in Royal Perth Hospital after being found with life-threatening injuries near bushland in Balga yesterday.

A TEENAGER has appeared in the Perth Children's Court charged with grievous bodily harm and remanded in custody over the assault of another teen in Balga overnight.

Sixteen-year-old Quinn De Campe, from Duncraig, is fighting for life in Royal Perth Hospital after he was found on a walking track in a bush reserveear the corner of Maitland Road and Kinley Place.

Police this morning charged another 16-year-old boy, from Balga, with grievous bodily harm.

He has appeared in Perth Children's Court and will reappear on January 6.

Clement Wetnhiak, 19, found the 16 year old yesterday and his friends helped perform CPR. Pictures: Wil Russell

Officers allege the victim and the accused know each other and had arranged to meet at Princess Wallington Reserve on Sunday.

This morning at the scene 19-year-old Clement Wetnhiak said he and his two friends came across Quinn while riding their pushbikes.

Mr Wetnhiak said the teenager appeared to have been badly beaten.

A 16 year old boy was attacked on this walkway in bushland at Balga.

"His face was bashed in, he was bleeding and he couldn't move," Mr Wetnhiak told PerthNow.

"He was just laying there. Then they (my friends) gave him CPR but he was not responsive so we called the ambulance.

"We thought he was dead. His eyes were half shut and he wasn't moving.

Police are coming the area where a 16 year old boy was found with life threatening injuries.

"The ambulance officers gave him CPR for, like, 15 minutes and after that they found a pulse.''

Mr Wetnhiak described the 16-year-old as a white male.

Police were called and the victim was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital with what police have described as "life threatening injuries."

A hospital spokesman said this morning the boy was in a critical condition.

Three other juvenile boys from Warnbro, Westminster and Marangaroo are in custody and are assisting police with their inquiries.

Police are asking for any witnesses who may have been in the area between 1pm and 2pm yesterday.

Anyone with any information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Lazy man's last-minute gift guide

Shoppers are expected to splurge more than $8.7b on gifts and decorations in the week before Christmas.

UH-oh, you've left it to the last minute - again.

But fear not. Time-poor males hustling depleted shopping shelves for gifts can avoid the Christmas Eve madness by following the Herald Sun's Lazy Blokes' Christmas Survival Guide.

A stampede of dishevelled men will be embracing the hallowed final minute gift-buying as shopping centres close in the evening following their marathon overnight operations.

And beware. The relationship fallout with spouses who receive ill-conceived presents can't be rescued by a festive kiss underneath the mistletoe.

>>> MORE: DEFENCE FORCE CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS AT SEA

>>> READ: MEN INVADE SHOPS IN PRESENT PANIC

>>> MORE: BOXING DAY SALES START EARLY

>>> READ: LITTLE MIRACLES HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

Reporter Jonno Nash with his genius last-minute Christmas gifts. Source: News Limited

>>> THINK OF A LAST-MINUTE GIFT IDEA WE'VE MISSED? TELL US IN THE COMMENTS BELOW

Supermarket juggernaut Coles can salvage the most bleak-looking Christmas with colourful summer flower arrangements ranging between $9-$25.

But it's likely the bouquet, which could be nicely coupled with a generous box of chocolates, could tragically be in a limp and lifeless state as the pre-December swarm of organised gift-givers get in first for the most aesthetic floral ensembles.

Nevertheless there's a solution. With tomorrow's temperatures expected to swell to a scorching 31C, blame the heat for the plant's dehydrated appearance.

Another relationship-saving gift could be Tupperware.

Sure it's not high on Santa's wish list but a sixpack of plastic storage containers ranging between 200ml to 2L can secure leftover turkey from lunchtime's feast to be enjoyed during the Boxing Day Test cricket match.

Shop with a plan and always know what you're looking for. Source: News Limited

Smart. And females love the cricket, too.

Be careful when you venture into the cosmetic section.

Olay's anti-ageing cream, valued at $29.99, could complement her cabinet littered with endless supplies of artificial-coloured goo.

But be armed with a list of defensive responses. When your partner rips apart the snowman-printed wrapping paper she's likely to bark: "What? You think I'm looking older?"

Bottle-Os can be a quick fix gift haven.

If you're on a budget, buy a newly-formed boutique-branded brew that can pass as a lavish drop that's been fermenting for decades. This way you look like a generous wine connoisseur.

Make sure your support team is up to the task. Source: News Limited

Chemists stock a wide range of bottled, nose-flaring potions called perfume.

Avoid the popstar-endorsed brands. A spray of Justin Bieber's Someday can allegedly send you into a fatal career free fall in just 12 months.

Purchase products that flippantly use affluent language.

For example, the luxury cleansing sponge, priced at $7.15, can suggest you've splurged on your beloved.

You can also grab a handful of cleansing products at 7/11 and assemble them into a handmade hamper.

Roll on Dove deodorant ($4.99), Impulse Illusions Roses & Sandalwood antiperspirant ($6.79) and a four-pack of soap ($5.99) can cast you in the magnanimous light of Father Christmas.

A YouTube-guided giftwrapping tutorial can give the impression you've taken the time to handwrap your gifts.

>>> THINK OF A LAST-MINUTE GIFT IDEA WE'VE MISSED? TELL US IN THE COMMENTS BELOW

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Public in the dark over light rail trip

Treasurer Troy Buswell announced this week that the $2 billion MAX light rail system had been delayed by three years - shunted until after the next election in 2017. Source: News Limited

TAXPAYERS are still waiting on Troy Buswell to file a report on his fact-finding mission to Europe to ``investigate light rail systems", even though Premier Colin Barnett said it would be delivered two months ago.

And details on the cost of the trip have not been disclosed either, prompting outrage from the Opposition, who say the Treasurer and his staff went on the "jaunt" in August knowing full well the government could not afford to deliver on the election promise.

Mr Buswell announced this week that the $2 billion MAX light rail system had been delayed by three years - shunted until after the next election in 2017.

The August study trip to Switzerland, France and Germany with stopovers in China was actually the Treasurer's second fact-finding trip looking at light rail. In 2011, he visited Germany, Singapore, Sweden and Norway.

Both Mr Buswell and Mr Barnett this week refused requests from The Sunday Times to release details of the August trip, which is believed to have cost taxpayers around $50,000.

Labor leader Mark McGowan said "the secrecy" was outrageous, especially in light of this week's announcement that the Barnett Government was dumping the showpiece election commitment.

"He knew before the election that he didn't have the money to pay for Max Light Rail yet he was happy to spend taxpayer money jaunting around Europe looking at trams." Mr McGowan blasted.

"What has Mr Buswell got to hide? Why won't he come clean and release full details of this latest European trip?

"WA taxpayers have a right to know and they expect their leaders to be accountable.

"The Premier himself promised readers of The Sunday Times that Mr Buswell would submit a report on his overseas travel within two months of the completion of the trip but now four months has passed.

"Where is that report? Has it been released? Why can't Mr Buswell give it to The Sunday Times?"

Mr McGowan added: "We know that Mr Buswell spent $33,560 just two years ago on a business class trip to Europe with one staffer to look at light rail.

"Taxpayers deserve to know how much this trip has cost them.

"If earlier reports are correct that Mr Buswell took at least three other people with him (in August), the travel bill could be twice as much as last time.''

Mr Buswell was joined by his chief of staff Rachael Turnseck and possibly two other staff for the August trip.

At the time, the Premier said ministers are required "to submit an overseas travel report to the director-general, Department of the Premier and Cabinet, within two months of the completion of the trip''.

But a spokeswoman for Mr Barnett said this week: "The Premier has no comment to make regarding Mr Buswell. Details of the cost of the trip will be released in due course.''

The spokeswoman would not say whether Mr Buswell had completed his report.

Mr Buswell failed to answer or even acknowledge questions put to him by The Sunday Times.

.

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Climate fighters cut off

Federal Attorney General George Brandis. Source: News Limited

THE head of WA's only public interest environmental legal centre says a Federal Government funding cut "threatens its very survival".

A $10 million cut in funding to Environmental Defenders Offices (EDO) means the centres will receive no federal funding from July 1.

EDO WA convenor Hannes Schoombee said grassroots groups would struggle to take on government and business.

The EDO was recently involved in the successful court challenge to the approval given for the James Price Point gas hub in the Kimberley.

The cuts were this week announced as part of the Government's midyear budget update.

Federal Attorney-General George Brandis said the Government had prioritised funding of legal financial assistance to frontline services.

In WA, the EDO is losing 75 per cent of its funding - $150,000 this financial year and $400,000 next year.

Dr Schoombee said $300,000 had already been earmarked to set up an office in Broome.

He said the jobs of the EDO's solicitors were also under threat.

"It's a major blow that comes at a crucial time when important laws that guarantee clean air, clean water, a safe climate with proper measures against climate change and to preserve biodiversity are being purposefully dismantled," he said.

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Virtual bitcoin to buy Perth home

This is the Perth hills home whose seller is stating that the house can only be bought for bitcoins. Source: Supplied

Biscotti are one of the local places accepting Bitcoins as payment. Pictured is Alex Morgan with Zoe Ravensberg. Source: News Limited

FOR SALE: A five-bedroom Perth Hills property for $1.4 million that overlooks a lake and has air-conditioning, a pool, timber decking and even a wood-fired pizza oven.

The only catch: the owner must be paid in a digital currency known as bitcoin.

The sale, which would make the property the first in Australia to be sold for bitcoin, is the latest sign WA is embracing digital dollars.

But even bitcoin enthusiasts have been shocked by the offer, as the value of the currency fluctuates wildly.

More WA Real Estate news

The price of a single unit, which can be traded in online exchanges or "mined" through powerful computers that crack complex algorithms, has surged tenfold since the start of the year, hitting a high of more than $1000 last month before falling heavily.

Perth businessman Bret Treasure, 53, chairman of the Australian Web Industry Association and a board member of Bitcoin Australia, believes it's the first bitcoin house sale in Australia.

"The seller obviously believes the value is going to appreciate because to mine that much bitcoin you would need a bloody supercomputer," he said.

Mr Treasure's son, Leo, 28, last year took out a $20,000 loan to buy bitcoins.

He now owns "a bit over 1000" bitcoins, worth about $750,000.

He is also importing Australia's first bitcoin kiosks, which will allow people to exchange cash for bitcoin.

The first of the ATM-like facilities, which credits a user's virtual wallet in their smartphone, will be installed next month at Spacecubed, a shared work space on St Georges Tce.

Others are planned for Frisk Small Bar in Northbrid ge and Fremantle's Treasure Gallery.

Bar Biscotti, on the ground floor of the CBD's Bankwest building, this month became Perth's first traditional business to accept bitcoin.

Customers buy drinks and food by scanning a QR code with an app on their smartphone, with all bitcoin users receiving a 5 per cent discount.

Six businesses in Perth are accepting bitcoin, according to the CoinMap website.

But Associate Professor David Glance, director of UWA's Centre for Software Practice, could see little value in businesses adopting it.

"The currency is so volatile that it's almost useless as an electronic currency at the moment," said Prof Glance, who owns two bitcoins he bought for $10 each in 2011.

"You could buy a cup of coffee and two minutes later the cost of that coffee was three times what you paid for it."

UWA Winthrop Professor of Economics Ken Clements said the bitcoin's long-term viability would be determined by its rate of inflation.

"It's uncertain what their supply is going to be in the future, so it's uncertain what their value is going to be," he said.

WHAT IS BITCOIN?

Bitcoin is a decentralised digital currency launched in 2009 by a programmer who goes under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. It can be exchanged through a peer-to-peer network without the need for a financial institution.

WHO ISSUES BITCOINS?

Bitcoins are not issued from a central bank in the same way as dollars are printed. Instead, the currency is awarded to users of Bitcoin software, known as miners. The miners use computers to perform complex calculations which are needed to confirm Bitcoin transactions.

HOW DO YOU BUY BITCOINS?

Bitcoins can be bought from currency exchanges for those who don't have computer hardware to mine for the currency. These exchanges allow users to buy and sell bitcoins for other real world currencies.

WHAT ARE THEY WORTH?

Fuelled by speculators, the value of Bitcoin fluctuates wildly. In late November the price surged to more than $1000 (AUS) per Bitcoin, more than 10 times its value at the start of the year. As of Friday, a single Bitcoin cost about $750.

WHERE CAN YOU SPEND THEM?

Bitcoin can be used for private transactions between users, but a number of businesses are also adopting the currency. Bar Bescotti, in the CBD, lets customers make purchases by using an app on their smartphone.

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Perth hospital to be understaffed

The interior of the new Fiona Stanley Hospital Intensive Care Unit. Source: Supplied

The new Fiona Stanley Hospital emergency triage for adults. Source: Supplied

The new Fiona Stanley Hospital staff work station. Source: Supplied

WA's new flagship hospital will be short by 115 full-time medical staff when it opens - under the best case scenario.

An internal report obtained by The Sunday Times shows there is a "high risk" Fiona Stanley Hospital will face extensive staff shortages across a number of specialities, including burns, obstetrics and almost all areas of nursing.

The hospital was due to open in April next year, but the Barnett Government has been forced to push that back to staged openings from October.

The document reveals the Government is looking at several ideas to stretch staff at the hospital. These include getting nurses and doctors to work across multiple health sites in the area, increasing the number of foreign and junior doctors and asking employees to broaden their areas of expertise.

Other hospitals in the south metro area face impacts with the Health Department conceding its "once-in-a-generation" shake up of the South Metropolitan Health Service is still mostly unplanned.

State rehabilitation services, currently housed at Shenton Park, and the Royal Perth Hospital burns unit will be among the services to relocate to FSH between October 2014 and April 2015.

Even if all clinical staff working at these and other moving services make the switch with their respective units the new hospital faces a "clinical staff gap" of 115 full-time equivalent staff.

A SMHS spokeswoman refused to confirm the projected shortage to The Sunday Times because she said workforce planning was still in progress.

But she conceded a number of areas had been identified as "of concern". These included burns, obstetrics, ultrasound operators and many areas of nursing such as neonatal, emergency medicine and theatre.

The spokeswoman also confirmed forcing staff to work across multiple sites was being considered.

It is projected the new $2 billion hospital, which reached practical completion this month, will require 3208 full-time health staff when it's fully up and running. These include 727 medical appointments, 646 medical support staff and 1835 nurses and midwives.

Opposition health spokesman Roger Cook said it was "extraordinary" that the Government still didn't have definitive plans on how to staff a big hospital due to be treating emergency patients by early 2015.

"The hospital, which will remain patient-less for the next 12 months, looks like it will also lack the staff it needs to deliver proper health services," he said.

"The failure in workforce planning has been a hallmark of this Government's governance of the health system. "

The Sunday Times has been asking the Health Department for details of its plans for the SMHS reconfiguration since October. Each time the agency replied that details were yet to be finalised.

The Sunday Times this week obtained the latest working document under Freedom of Information laws - a "draft" report written in December 2012.

Australian Medical Association WA vice-president Michael Gannon said doctors were concerned about the "absence of detail" being provided by the Health Department.

"Although it might have appeal to a bureaucrat in East Perth (head office) to have someone where they can, at the push of a pen, redeploy to Rockingham or Fiona Stanley or Bentley (hospitals), that doesn't show respect to people who work in those places," he said.

Health Services Union WA state secretary Dan Hill said the report showed a "lack of appropriate and timely planning" by the Health Department.

"I think it's a real concern for the community," he said.

An extra $75 million has been allocated by the Barnett Government for the commissioning of the FSH and reconfiguration of SMHS, according to the midyear budget review released this week.

But it said the true cost of delivering this reform was unknown.

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Fisherman swept off rocks near Albany

Albany surf and sea rescue crews helped police find a man who was swept off rocks near Albany yesterday evening. Picture: file image Source: News Limited

A 56-YEAR-OLD fisherman has died after being swept off rocks near Albany yesterday evening.

About 7pm a fellow fisherman saw the man fall into rocks and be swept out to sea at Nanarup Beach.

Albany surf and sea rescue crews assisted police in searching for the man who, when found, could not be revived.

The Inglewood man was believed to be holidaying in the region.

Man dies in diving accident off Point Peron

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