Battle of giants — shark chases whale

A large shark has forced the closure of several Perth beaches, just a day after the controversial drumlines were removed.

The great white shark cruising off the Perth coast, which appears to be following a whale north. Last seen between Scarborough and Trigg at 12.47pm. Picture: Surf Life Saving WA Source: Supplied

AN ambitious shark has been chasing a big whale along the Perth coast today — just a day after the controversial drum lines were removed.

Surf Life Saving WA said a four metre great white shark was spotted 100 metres off the Floreat Groyne at City Beach just before 11am this morning.

The shark is believed to have been attracted by a six metre whale that was spotted 25 metres off City Beach, 500 metres south of the groyne, earlier this morning.

The whale which is being followed by a shark. First sighted off Swanbourne and last seen off Waterman. Picture: Surf Life Saving WA Source: Supplied

The shark was reportedly seen swimming near the whale, with both animals tracked by SLSWA's helicopter as they headed north.

Several Perth beaches, including City Beach, Scarborough, Brighton and Trigg, were closed today but have now been reopened as the animals moved away.

• 'NEVER AGAIN': Drumline removal should be 'permanent end'

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The call that brought Buswell down

POLICE have released the audio of a seven minute phone call to the police assistance line on February 23, reporting the erratic driving of former Treasurer Troy Buswell. Courtesy WA Police

POLICE have released the audio of a seven minute phone call to the police assistance line on February 23, reporting the erratic driving of former Treasurer Troy Buswell.

Mr Buswell hit four parked cars and a telephone pole in Subiaco as he drove home from a Kings Park wedding in the early hours of that morning.

Police have released the audio recording from a man who witnessed Troy Buswell driving erratically the night he crashed his ministerial car in Perth.

● Premier slams Mark McGowan's Troy Buswell 'bikie' slur

The Vasse MP resigned from the Barnett Cabinet after the crash was made public and this week pleaded guilty to 11 driving charges. He was fined $3100 and disqualified from driving for 12 months.

The damaged front of Troy Buswell's ministerial car, which was towed away for police examination. Picture: Nine News

FULL CALL TRANSCRIPT

Operator: "Assistance, how can we help you?"

Caller: "Yeah, I'm just ringing up. I'm just driving down Roberts Road and I've just had this car pull out in front of me. He's reversed out and he's backed up the whole front end of his car and he's swerving all over Roberts Road."

Operator: "Has he stopped or is he still driving?"

Caller: "He's actually gone into a premises on Roberts Road. We actually pulled right up because he was all over the place. We kept an eye on him. And he's got out of the vehicle and he's struggling to stand up, he was struggling to stand up a fair bit."

Operator: "So he got out of the car, has he?"

Caller: "Yep, to open up his gate, and he's got like a gate out the front of his premises, by the look of it he's got back in again, and after fumbling with the gate key, and then drove into his gate and then drove inside and gave us a weird-ass look. He's smashed up all of his front end, and we've been down Roberts Road because we thought he might have hit a couple of cars on the way up but we couldn't find anything but we thought we'd let you know anyway. We've got a rego."

Operator: "Yeah, do you know where the house is?"

Caller: "Yeah, it's . . .(caller supplies address)

Operator: "Do you know what the plate number is?"

Caller: "And the plate number . . (caller supplies registration)

Operator: "What sort of car is it?"

Caller: "It's a white Commodore, it's um, like a Statesman or something like that. A Caprice, I think it was. But it's white in colour. The bloke was dolled up to the nines and clearly couldn't stand on his own two feet."

Operator: "So he was driving erratically on what road? On Roberts Road?"

Caller: "He wasn't driving erratically, he was driving all over the place, on Roberts Road."

Operator: "Swerving all over the road?"

Caller: "Yeah. He was taking up two lanes and nearly hitting everything on the side as well. And when we pulled up behind him out the front of his premises his whole front bumper was hanging off. The whole front end looked like it had been pretty smashed up. We just went up — after we watched him go into his premises, after a little while — we just went down Roberts Road to have a look at a couple of the cars that were parked up … but there seemed to be no damage there. I thought he might have done a hit and run."

Operator: "So the front end has been all damaged. I'll just write down you're not sure if he's been involved in an accident with another vehicle."

Caller: "Yeah, not too sure what it's been involved in."

Operator: "Has the driver … has the driver arrived, or parked up on his property … possibly inebriated, and seems very intoxicated, and could barely stand, is that right?"

Caller: "Yes, he could barely stand, we actually watched him give it about three or four goes trying to get his gate open with the number pad. Then he's actually walked out of his gate, jumped in his car, reversed up in front of my vehicle — and by that stage I was blocking one lane, I was a bit unsure of him — and then he's gone forward, rammed his grate on the left hand side of his vehicle, sat there with his foot on the accelerator, and then finally realised, after a probably good minute and a half, and then reversed back up again and went and parked his car inside."

Operator: "So he rammed into the gate, did he?

Caller: "Yeah, he rammed into the gate in front of us. There's two of us in the vehicle here."

Operator: "..Rammed into the gate. And realised that he's driving a car or realised where he was, is that right?"

Caller: "Yeah, so he was … he had his foot on the accelerator, he basically rammed into the gate, and he's just sitting there with his foot on the accelerator, the back wheels were spinning. And then he's realised that he wasn't going anywhere and he's reversed up, turned to the right, and then driven through the gate and then parked up inside of the property. Yeah he wasn't getting up his stairs very quickly."

Operator: "Can you describe him?"

Caller: "Yeah, he's probably about five foot 10 to about six foot? He's probably late 40s early 50s, grey hair, thinnish, very thin. He was wearing glasses. Very chubby in the face and also probably really … yeah, we actually joked between ourselves and we thought it looked like Troy Buswell."

Operator: "OK. And what about, what was he wearing?"

Caller: "He was wearing a pair of black suit slacks and there was a tux suit shirt underneath, a white tux shirt, and a bow-tie. So he'd been somewhere flash."

(tape edited to cut out caller's identifying details.

Operator: "This was in the last five minutes?"

Caller: "Probably about 10-15 now. It's probably not worth sending anybody out to have a look."

Operator: "I'll speak to my supervisor anyway. Leave it with me. Thanks for your call [name removed], if we need to task police to respond I'll organise it from here … we'll call you if we need a statement.

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‘We can’t have a do-nothing Budget’

Alan Kohler sits down with the Commission of Audit chairman Tony Shepherd to chat about the recommendations to fix the budget.

Treasurer Joe Hockey gets fired up about talk of the broken promise of no tax increases.

AN EXTRA fee of $15 to see the doctor, raising the pension age to 70 and measures to axe the jobs of 15,000 public servants are among recommendations to the Abbott Government to fix the budget.

ANALYSIS: Age pension firmly in COA's sights

The Commission of Audit's much-anticipated final report has been released, laying out 86 recommendations, offering savings of about $70 billion a year within a decade.

They include slowing minimum wage growth, a slower roll out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and abolishing whole government agencies.

Document ... the Commission of Audit's much-anticipated final report has been released Source: News Corp Australia

The lengthy report warns if the government continues a "business as usual" approach, Australia would face 16 years of consecutive deficits with net debt rising to $440 billion by 2023-24, up from $190 billion today.

SLASHED: SA could end up with lowest minimum wage on mainland

Following the release of the report, Treasurer Joe Hockey got fired up about reports the government might break its promise not to bring in new taxes by introducing its deficit levy.

"Frankly, can I say to you something - I mean, all this talk about broken promises and so on, of course we are endeavouring to keep our promises and we will," Mr Hockey told reporters in Parliament House.

Promises ... Treasurer Joe Hockey got fired up after the release of the Commission of Audit report. Source: News Corp Australia

"But the bottom line is the Labor Party promised the Budget would get back to surplus and it never will. It never will," he said.

"So please this idea, somehow, that everything we have ever said is going to be held against what has moved on us because the previous Government basically misled the Australian people about the state of the budget, is kind of ridiculous."

"However, we are keeping our promises, we are keeping our solemn promises."

Political editor Malcolm Farr says that many of the painful spending cuts the Commission of Audit report recommends are unlikely to appear in the upcoming federal budget.

Mr Hockey insisted that would mean that some of the initiatives it wants to roll out will have to be introduced after the next election, "so we can get a new mandate".

"But we can't have a do-nothing Budget and we will not have a do-nothing Budget."

Change needed ... the Commission of Audit report warns if the government continues a "business as usual" approach, Australia will face 16 years of consecutive deficits with net debt. Source: News Corp Australia

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten attacked the report, saying it showed how "twisted" Tony Abbott's priorites were for Australia.

Mr Shorten said hard-working Australian familes were today realising that "Tony Abbott's Budget will cost you more".

He labelled the report a "blueprint for Tony Abbott's broken promises" and a "plan to make sure that families get less while millionaires get more".

"This is an attack on health care, make no mistake about it," the Opposition Leader told reporters in Sydney.

"It is the argument for a new GP tax, a new hospital tax and more expensive medicines which Australians desperately needs."

He criticised the proposal to cut the pension and include the family home in a new means test, as well as the recommendation to put a "hand-brake" on the NDIS.

Anger ... Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says the report shows how "twisted" Tony Abbott's priorites are. Source: News Corp Australia

"I understand that in Budgets, tough choices do have to be made, but Tony Abbott is making is wrong choices for our future."

Greens Leader Christine Milne attacked the proposals, which she argued would hit every Australian family.

"This is a report that Tony Abbott wanted," she told reporters in Melbourne.

Senator Richard Di Natale, who had been chairing a committee into the audit, singled out the Commission's chair Tony Shepherd who he will be calling to demand answers.

"I'll be calling him in to a special hearing of the Commission of Audit inquiry to explain why he's prepared to give a kick in the guts to families right around the country and let the big end of town off scot-free."

"It's not good enough."

Not good .. Greens leader Christine Milne says the changes will hit every Australian family. Source: News Corp Australia

He claimed the process was "rigged", as the Commissioners were "handpicked" by the Abbott Government.

Mr Hockey refused to comment directly on the measures proposed in the report.

"We're not in the business of ruling in or ruling out today and why? Because we've got a process that we're going through in relation to this report and the first answer will be on Budget night."

The Government has already said some of the Commission's recommendations will be able to be implemented, others will be looked at and some will be ignored completely.

There won't be an immediate response to each recommendation, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said.

Instead more will be revealed on Budget night in less than a fortnight.

Waiting game ... Finance Minister Mathias Cormann says there won't be an immediate response to each recommendation from the Commission of Audit. Source: News Limited

Here's a snapshot of where and how the Commission of Audit believes the Abbott Government can save its pennies:

WORK UNTIL 70

The pension age should be lifted to 70 by 2053, up on the current scheduled increase of 67.

The current assets test should be scrapped it argues, and replaced with a means test for new recipients from 2027-28.

The family home should be included in the new test for those above $500,000 for a single pensioner in today's terms and $750,000 for couples, according to the report.

It also suggest the rate be wound back over time, in line with average weekly earnings.

EXTRA FEE FOR BULK-BILL SERVICES

Patients should be hit with a $15 co-payment for services currently covered by bulk billing, with the extra fee then halved to $7.50 after 15 visits a year.

Concession card holders would pay $5.

It would not only cover seeing a GP, but also services like blood tests.

Amid fears it would encourage people to turn up to emergency wards, it recommends State Governments consider bringing in a similar co-payment.

MINIUMUM WAGE REDUCED

The minimum wage should be scaled back, slowing growth in line with 44 per cent of national average weekly earnings.

It argues each state should also have its own, to avoid its workers being disadvantaged.

WELFARE SHAKE-UP

The Commission recommends Family Tax Benefit B be scrapped and recipients be rolled into Family Tax Benefit A, with the eligibility cap reduced.

Changes should be made so the Disability Support Pension is given to those in genuine need.

New assessment criteria should be implemented it, with the current income and assets test axed.

It should be replaced with a means test, like the age pension, which would include the family home for singles above $500,000 and $750,000 for couples.

Young people aged between 22 and 30, without children, who have been pocketing benefits for a year should lose their benefits if they don't move to high employment areas, the Commission also recommends.

PUBLIC SERVICE CUT

The Commission argues 15,000 fewer public servants would be needed if its recommendations, including cutting agencies and handing over some responsibilities to the states, were adopted.

That would represent five per cent of the current public service.

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SCRAPPED

Seven government agencies, should be abolished, another 35 merged with others, 22 consolidated and nine potentially privatised.

It also recommends the Immigration Department and Customs be rolled into a mega agency.

POWER BACK TO THE STATES

The Commission proposes states be given "all policy and funding responsibility" for government and non-government schools.

It also argues more the States could pick up more responsibility in funding public hospitals.

PAID PARENTAL LEAVE WOUND BACK

The Government is being encouraged to lower the wage replacement cap to average weekly earnings, currently $57,460 a year, instead of Tony Abbott's plan which is based on the current salary.

Money saved should go towards childcare, the Commission recommends.

SLOWER NDIS

The Commission believes the current roll-out of the National Disability Scheme is "highly ambitious" and should be slowed down.

The recommendation would require the states to go back to the drawing board on agreements already struck.

HELP LOANS CHANGES

Students should have to start paying back their HELP loans when they earn the minimum wage, currently $32,354 instead of the current threshold of more than $51,000, the Commission recommends.

CAR INDUSTRY

Holden is leaving anyway, so industry assistance to them should stop now, the report recommends.

Abolishing the Automotive Transformation Scheme and a $215 million grant to Holden could be on the cards.

"Rather than relying on industry assistance, commercial discipline drives firms to reduce costs and improve quality to better meet customer demands," the report says.

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Barlow, Hurn back for derby

Fremantle's Michael Barlow returns from injury after a month out with a knee injury Source: News Corp Australia

FREMANTLE has named star midfielder Michael Barlow to return in Sunday's Western Derby, but left Anthony Morabito to have another WAFL hit-out.

Barlow has been named on an extended bench and is set to play for the first time since he suffered a knee injury in Round 2 — as long as he completes training tomorrow.

Morabito was eligible to play this weekend after beating a WAFL rough conduct charge earlier in the week, but he will continue to gain match fitness with Peel.

• FULL TEAMS: All the ins and outs for Round 7

Who's your tip for Western Derby XXXIX?

Leadership group member Matt de Boer has been dropped by the Dockers.

Hayden Ballantyne will make an immediate return following his one-game suspension and defender Alex Silvagni and ruckman Jack Hannath are also in the squad of 25.

West Coast has named defender Shannon Hurn on an extended bench and he is in line to play his first game in a month.

The Eagles have dropped teenager Dom Sheed, while skipper Darren Glass will return from suspension and Sam Butler and Simon Tunbridge were named on an extended bench.

Mark LeCras will have to wait at least another week for his comeback from a broken arm and West Coast may yet elect to keep him in cotton wool until after its Round 9 bye.

The teams will trim their squads tomorrow afternoon.

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Charges over violent CBD bar brawl

Two men have been charged over an assault outside a Perth nightclub that left one man in a coma and another with a broken nose and eye socket. Picture: File image Source: News Limited

TWO men have been charged over a weekend assault in front of a Perth nightclub that left one man in a coma and another with a broken nose and eye socket.

In the early hours of April 27, a brawl broke out in front of the Lost Society club in Hay Street.

It will be alleged a 23-year-old Maddington man punched a 21-year-old man, causing the younger man to fall and hit his head on the pavement.

The punch then allegedly caused the victim's 21-year-old friend to get into an altercation with the attacker and his friends.

Police say this resulted in a 21-year-old Morley man receiving a broken nose and fractured eye socket.

The 21-year-old who was hit to the pavement was taken to Royal Perth Hospital and put in an induced coma. He remains in hospital in a critical, but stable condition.

The 23-year-old Maddington man has been charged with grievous bodily harm and acts or

omissions with intent to harm cause bodily harm and will appear before the Perth

Magistrates Court on May 15.

A 22-year-old Duncraig man has been charged with acts or omissions, with intent to harm cause bodily harm. He is due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on May 9.

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South Australia mums MKR darlings

There could only be one team winning ... Bree and Jessica with Chloe and Kelly. Picture: Channel 7 Source: Supplied

Bree May and Jessica Liebich have been crowned My Kitchen Rules champions after defeating villains Chloe James and Kelly Ramsay tonight.

BREE May and Jessica Liebich have been crowned My Kitchen Rules champions after defeating villians Chloe James and Kelly Ramsay.

The South Australian mums won $250,000 in prize money after scoring 54 out of 60 for their five-course menu — two points ahead of their younger MKR rivals from Western Australia.

Worthy winners ... Bree May and Jessica Liebich celebrate with their families winning My Kitchen Rules. Picture Channel 7 Source: Channel 7

Bree and Jessica scored straight nines from judges Pete Evans, Manu Feildel, Colin Fassnidge, Guy Grossi, Liz Egan and Karen Martini in the gruelling contest.

FURIOUS: MKR fans threaten to boycott Grand Final

HELENA TELLS: Chloe and Kelly only made it for the ratings

Was MKR rigged for Bree and Jessica to win?

Chloe and Kelly were hobbled with eight from Fassnidge and Egan with nine from the other judges.

"Our families are going to be so proud," Bree cried after the result was announced. "I can't believe that we did it.

"We came here because we wanted to create a better life for our children and husbands.

"Our whole world has opened up for us now and we're so happy to start a new stage of our lives."

Jessica had a mini-meltdown during one of the courses and finished with her left hand covered in blue bandages.

"This is the most amazing thing to ever happen to us in our whole lives," Jessica said, before adding: "Sorry, I mean apart from having kids and getting married and all that."

MY KITCHEN rules: The TV show's top 10 secrets

MOST TALKED ABOUT MOMENTS: MKR's best tweets and boilovers

Happy mums ... Bree May and Jessica Liebich celebrate their win in MKR at Channel 7 in Hindmarsh. Picture: Tom Huntley Source: News Corp Australia

Teams were challenged with serving up a whopping 100 dishes each — to the judges and a restaurant full of this year's eliminated contestants.

Bree and Jessica chose to put a modern twist on traditional dishes for their Sage menu.

They plated up a first course of beetroot carpaccio with cured salmon. The only criticism came from Feildel and Fassnidge who said there wasn't enough horseradish sauce.

Chloe and Kelly were full of confidence with their Nouveau menu. Their plan was to create dishes from all around the world.

The pair won points from the judges after deciding to make their own mozzarella for their Caprese salad first course.

"It was a wonderful display of confident cooking," Evans said.

Bree and Jessica's second course — open scallop lasagne with fennel puree — was another winner, with Martini saying "this is a very fragile, perfect dish".

Chloe and Kelly hit a hurdle with confit ocean trout with broad bean pesto when Grossi and Evans found bones in their fish.

The pair bounced back in the third course — veal sweetbreads with morel mushroom sauce and pea foam.

Emotional overload ... Bree May and Jessica Liebich realise they have won My Kitchen Rules. Picture: Channel 7 Source: Channel 7

"This is the best sauce I have ever had on five seasons of My Kitchen Rules," Feildel enthused.

Bree and Jessica served spiced squab with heirloom carrots and pomegranate jus. All of the judges praised the pinkness of the squab but Grossi said the carrots were a touch undercooked.

The first hint that Bree and Jessica could snatch victory came during the fourth course when Martini criticised Chloe and Kelly's pig's trotter crepinette with crispy pig's ears for repeating some of the flavours of the previous dish.

Fassnidge had no such reservations. "This is my style of cookery — it's a standout dish again," he said.

Bree and Jessica won universal praise for their Ouzo and tomato with braised lamb with wild greens, potatoes and consommé.

"The consommé is unbelievable," Feildel said.

Celebrations ... South Australian mums Bree May and Jessica Liebich have won My Kitchen Rules. Picture: Channel 7 Source: Channel 7

Chloe and Kelly's miss-step came with their dessert of rose chocolate with spiced figs and pistachio ice cream. Chloe's decision to add a sugar shard was panned by the judges.

Bree and Jessica prevailed with deconstructed chocolate and rhubarb tart.

"All the flavours are sensational — it took me to a little English garden," Grossi said.

COMMENT BELOW: Did Bree and Jessica deserve to win MKR?

Chloe and Kelly were gracious in defeat.

"We were happy that we were against the best (team) in the grand final and you proved that tonight," Chloe told Bree and Jessica.

TV viewers had to be impressed with the quality of the dishes from these home cooks. Each one was a knockout.

"Your five courses could be in any of the best restaurants in the world," Evans told teams after the cook-off.

Crowning moment ... Bree May and Jessica Liebich realise they have won My Kitchen Rules over Chloe James and Kelly Ramsay. Picture: Channel 7 Source: Channel 7

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Buswell apologises after fine, ban

Former WA Treasurer Troy Buswell has pleaded guilty to 11 traffic charges relating to a late night drive from a Kings Park wedding to his Subiaco home. Source: News Corp Australia

DISGRACED former WA Treasurer Troy Buswell has apologised for his actions after he was fined and banned from driving over a series of driving charges.

Buswell was fined a total of $3100 and banned from driving for 12 months. He did not appear in Perth Magistrates Court today, instead endorsing pleas of guilty to all 11 charges.

The Vasse MP crashed into four cars and a telephone pole in Subiaco as he drove home from the wedding in the early hours of February 23.

After the court case, Buswell released a brief media statement that read: "In relation to events of the morning of Sunday 23 February 2014, I offer no excuses for my actions, apologise to those upon whom I have impacted and accept fully the consequences as determined by the Magistrates Court today."

The damaged front of Troy Buswell's ministerial car, which was towed away by police from his Subiaco home. Picture: Nine News

Earlier in court, Buswell was fined $800 on four charges of careless driving and $800 on four charges of failing to report an accident.

He was fined $1500 on three charges of failing to stop after an accident.

The court was told on the night, Buswell was driving his white ministerial Holden through Subiaco when he mounted a kerb, damaging the front bumper of his vehicle, then knocked into a telephone pole.

Prosecutor Patrick Cavagin then told the court Buswell crashed into a series of cars, leaving a damage bill in excess of $12,000.

He first swiped a Barina parked on the road, causing $3200 damange to the vehicle.

Buswell then rear-ended a Suzuki Vitara parked on Olive Street, causing it to shunt into the back of a Mitsubishi.

The Suzuki sustained $7337.97 damage and the Mitsubishi $1336.

Further along Olive Street, Buswell then hit a parked Holden Commodore, causing $500 damage.

Chief Magistrate Steven Heath gave Buswell a 25 per cent discount for the early plea of guilty and said he also had no prior record.

However, he also noted no explanation was given for the driving.

Chief Magistrate Heath, in reference to the failing to stop charges, said: "It is an obvious concern because it prevents the owner of the property to be advised of the damage.

"It also prevents the proper investigation of the matters.''

Buswell reportedly told his local newspaper, the Busselton Dunsborough Times, that he had no plans to return to the Barnett ministry.

"I'm looking forward to having more time to re-engage with the local community," he said.

"Life as a minister was very busy and the demand on my time across the state was substantial."

Buswell was charged six weeks after a report of erratic driving was made to police by a member of the public on the night of the wedding.

Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said last month Buswell was unlikely to face drink-driving charges because he was never tested for an alcohol reading.

Buswell took personal leave from February 24. He resigned as treasurer and transport minister on March 9 after details of the incident became public.

He sought treatment in Perth and Sydney for a mental health breakdown, and has yet to return to Parliament.

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WA’s ’other drugs’ problem

A government report said Australia's illicit drugs trade, led by cannabis and crystal meth, is at an all-time high with nearly 20 tonnes of narcotics seized last year and a record number of arrests. Source: AFP

Evidence pictures from the seizure by state and federal authorities in Brooklyn of 200kg of methamphetamine hidden in the tyres of a truck being shipped to Melbourne. Source: Supplied

WA has an amphetamine problem — but it also has a growing problem in illegal use of prescription and other drugs.

Prescription drugs are lumped with other unclassified substances in an "other drugs" category of the Australian Crime Commission's Illicit Drug Data Report, released today.

The report shows that in 2012-2013, 21 per cent of all drug-related arrests were for these "other drugs" — the highest proportion of any state.

"Other drugs" only made up 10 per cent of drug seizures in WA, but it made up 46 per cent of all drugs seized as measured by weight.

Only the Northern Territory had a higher proportion of other drugs as measured by weight, because of the kava trade.

● AUSTRALIA'S ICE PROBLEM ALMOST PANDEMIC

In contrast, about 25 per cent of all drug seizures in WA were related to amphetamines, but in total weight amphetamines only made up 38 per cent of all drugs seized.

The number of arrests for amphetamines increased by 23 per cent in one year, with 2870 people charged with amphetamine-related offences in WA in one year.

But WA also had the least pure amphetamine, with purity as low as 0.3 per cent compared to 73.5 per cent in the Australian Capital Territory.

The report said that the number of clan labs in WA has decreased since the peak of 171 in 2010-2011 but still the second highest in Australia, behind Queensland.

However it said WA clan labs are more likely to use the dangerous Nazi/Birch method, which is more volatile and likely to explode.

Cannabis accounted for almost 60 per cent of drug seizures in WA, but just 15 per cent of drugs seized when measured by weight. That was the lowest proportion of cannabis in any state and far behind states like South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory, where cannabis made up 90 per cent of the total weight of drugs seized.

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Mid-air scare: Fire forces emergency landing

A plane carrying FIFO mine workers was forced to make an emergency landing at Perth Airport after one of its engines caught fire this morning.

A plane has made an emergency landing at Perth's domestic airport after an engine reportedly caught fire.

The Cobham Aviation plane coming into Perth Airport with one engine on fire. Picture: Community Newspaper Group Source: Supplied

A PLANE carrying FIFO mine workers was forced to make an emergency landing at Perth Airport after one of its engines caught fire this morning.

PerthNow understands the plane took off from Perth Domestic Airport this morning and was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after a fire was detected.

The flight, packed with FIFO workers, was headed to Barrow Island, in the North West of the state.

A video posted on Facebook by passenger Brad Mccoy of the frightening incident shows sparks and flames shooting past his window.

6PR reported that passengers watched sparks flying from the engine shortly after take-off.

The passengers alerted flight attendants to the fire and it then took five minutes to get back on to the ground.

Matt Pilat captured these images of the plane while it was flying over Perth's eastern suburbs.

The 28-year-old from Sinagra, in Perth's far north, said he was on Miles Road, Kewdale when he saw the plane with flames coming from the middle of the aircraft.

"As the plane flew overhead we saw the left engine on fire and it progressively got bigger as it flew overhead," he said.

"Another witness saw a big white cloud extinguish the flames and the plane make a sharp turn.

Passengers told 6PR that they were not overly worried by the incident, and trusted the crew to get them back down.

It was the second plane they had boarded this morning – the first being unable to fly due to issues with its computer system.

Witness Robert Bulman told PerthNow he saw "big flames" shooting out the left hand side engine of the plane.

Mr Bulman, who watched from his work at Forrestfield, on the other side of Perth Airport to the domestic terminal, said it took less than 10 minutes for the plane to land.

Fire authorities were called to the airport after the drama was first reported.

A spokeswoman from Perth Airport said the plane was operated by Cobham Aviation, a regional service which operates flights within WA. The plane has now been taxied to a hangar.

Luggage was returned to passengers late this morning.

Witnesses have posted photos of the incident on social media.

They said the plane circled the airport for a few minutes before coming into land.

Paul Williams said the flames went for the whole length of the plane, making it look like Hayley's Comet.

A spokeswoman from Perth Airport said the plane had landed safely and the fire was out.

Cobham Aviation Services said the engine fire occurred soon after take-off and that the four-engine BAE 146 jet was bound for Barrow Island.

A spokesman said the pilot and crew safely returned the jet to Perth Airport at 10.53am.

"The aircraft was climbing after take-off when the fire occurred in engine No.2, which is on the inner port side of the aircraft," he said.

"When the fire was detected, the engine was shut down and the fire extinguished.

"There were no injuries among the 92 passengers or two pilots and three cabin crew."

The incident is being investigated and regulatory authorities have been informed, the spokesman said.

● To share the Facebook video click here

With AAP.

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‘Killer Moore’ – brother most feared

Abuse victim Raphael 'Ray' Ellul outside the Royal Commission after giving evidence into the allegations of child sex abuse regarding the Christian Brothers in WA. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: News Corp Australia

THEY called him "Killer Moore", the Christian brother whose "liberal" use of a leather strap sparked fear in almost every child at Bindoon Farm School.

Such was his reputation that Clifford Walsh "feared him" more than any other brother at the institution even though he was also brutally raped by a number of the others.

Mr Walsh was just nine when he received his first beating by Brother Moore, his second day at Bindoon.

He learnt very quickly the ferocity of his wrath. And his supposed crime? Being unable to carry a heavy crow bar for three miles.

Mr Walsh is the fifth person to give evidence at the first public hearing of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses into Child Sex Abuse in Perth.

The commission is investigating how the Christian Brothers and successive WA governments responded to allegations of abuse at four homes at Bindoon, Contarf, Tardun and Castledare.

"I feared Brother Moore than any other," Mr Walsh told the hearing. "I thought he was liberal with the strap. The other boys and I used to call him Killer Moore.

"On my second day at Bindoon, when I was nine years old, we were told to we were going to build a fence.

"A lot of the children were given tools to take to the site. Me and another boy were handed a crow bar and told to take it three miles on foot.

"After a few hundred yards the bar became very heavy ... we were late arriving at the site.

Brother Moore proceeded to punch both the other child and myself mercilessly.

John Holoway with other protesters seeking justice outside the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Perth yesterday. Picture: Ross Swanborough

"He punched me mainly to my face but also my chest. I was sobbing uncontrollably. Brother Moore then sat us on his knee and tried to console us. This only made me cry more."

Mr Walsh said he thought the treatment was normal.

"They beat children in the middle of meals," he said.

Mr Walsh, an orphan from England who was sent to Bindoon when he was 10, said one brother, Christopher Angus, raped him not long after he arrived at the school.

Another brother, Bruno Doyle, beat him so frequently, Mr Walsh said he believed the man got a kick out of it.

"I knew no other life and so I had no life ... I could compare with," Mr Walsh said.

Left so traumatised by his experiences at the school, he now has trouble being affectionate with his only son.

"He hugs me and I hate it," he said. "When he hugs me I push him away."

Mr Walsh said he received no education at Bindoon and was forced into hard labour.

Justice to him, he said, would be the Christian Brothers admitting the wrong they had done.

John Hennessey gave horrific evidence yesterday to the Royal Commission about the abuse he suffered at the Christian Brothers run home in Bindoon in the 1940s. Picture: Ross Swanborough

"And doing something about it," he said.

Mr Walsh was not the only person to give evidence at today's hearing about Brother Moore vicious nature.

Another former resident, VV, whose name is suppressed, also told of how Brother Moore deliberately sewed half pennies into his leather strap for extra weight.

He spoke of one particular incident where he received such a "belting" that he thought he was going to die.

"Brother Moore had worked himself into such a frenzy," he told the hearing. "He grabbed me and threw me against a door. I hit my head. I was covered in blood."

VV explained he developed hearing problems later in life that he attributes to the particular beating by Brother Moore.

Both men also spoke of the brutal rapes they endured by Brothers Parker and Angus, the constant sexual assaults by Brothers Quillgan, Dick and Tuppin.

They told how they were tricked into helping the brothers with various tasks, then ended up being forced to perform various sexual acts on the older men. In some instances they were raped.

VV said he became Brother Parker's "pet". He was "rewarded" with kinder treatment, but this only lasted as long as he complied.

At the end of his evidence, VV said he was assaulted by more than a dozen perpetrators while he was at Bindoon.

He said nine brothers and a priest, plus five others which included other boys.

The sexual abuse against Mr Walsh ceased after he ran away, but he endured constant beatings while he remained at Bindoon.

To this day both men remain shattered by their experiences.

They are angry they have not received adequate compensation and believe the Christian Brothers should be held accountable.

'MAKE YOURSELF LESS ATTRACTIVE'

A 10-year-old boy was told by a priest to make himself less attractive so as not to be a target for sexual abuse, the commission has also heard today.

It was also told that Christian Brothers pimped boys out to a visiting photographer at St Joseph's Farm and Trade School, Bindoon, in the late 1950s.

A witness known as VV told the commission in Perth today that a Christian brother who raped him suddenly announced he needed to confess his sins.

"Then Brother Parker came back and said I needed to see Father Gerard. Father Gerard sat me down and told me what we were doing was very wrong, and that I should make myself less attractive," VV said.

"I should stop leading Brother Parker on, because it was a sin. He told me it was my fault, all the while he sat there sucking a cigar, blaming a child for being assaulted."

He said boys were also sent out on picnics with a local photographer, who was known to abuse boys.

Boys were also promised parcels of land by brothers who used the inducement to groom them.

When VV – an orphan in care since the age of four in England – arrived at Bindoon aged nine, he was the youngest there and below the 10-year age requirement for the school.

Soon after arriving, he was raped by Brother Christopher Angus. After the attack, VV was dumped in a 44-gallon drum of water.

"He said words to the effect of 'clean yourself up'," VV said. He was also savagely beaten numerous times, and has lost hearing in his left ear.

Meanwhile, VV's mother tried repeatedly to find him in England. "She was told I was put into a good home in Australia, that I was cared for and loved and that I would receive an education," he said.

"She never gave permission for me to go to Australia." VV never saw his mother again.

Years after he left Bindoon he was offered $20,000 compensation by the Catholic Church's professional standards office, which later upped it to $40,000 when VV said he found it insulting.

"This meeting was very intimidating," VV said.

"The brothers were not approachable or welcoming and I felt intimidated.

"I felt like a child again, trying to defend myself."

NO EDUCATION, JUST HARD LABOUR

At another school, St Mary's Agricultural School in Tardun, boys were told they were not there to be educated and were needed for hard labour.

A resident at the school, known as VG, told the commission while working in the heat, boys were often tied just out of reach of a water tap and forced to stay there for hours.

"They beat us with leather straps that were about an inch thick, three inches wide ... and had a buckle thicker than a belt," he said.

When an older boy retaliated against the abuse, three brothers held him down and beat him.

"I thought the brothers were going to kill him," VG said.

When another brother, known as Simon, tried to rape him, VG hit him in the stomach with a chair.

"I tried to run away but he grabbed my shirt and threw me on the ground," he said.

"I then felt the buckle on the back of my head. I don't remember anything after that." He later tried to commit suicide, he said.

Yesterday, the first witness, John Hennessey, gave harrowing evidence about the physical, sexual and emotional abuse he suffered at the Bindoon home in the 1940s. He said he would go to his grave a tormented man.

Over the next two weeks the commission will hear evidence on how the Christian Brothers responded to allegations of abuse.

It will also hear evidence from representatives of the WA government and the acting director of public prosecutions about the department's response to complaints.

The hearing continues.

● Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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