A 12-year-old boy was airlifted to Perth with serious injuries after crashing his go-kart on a private property in Northam on Friday night.
The boy was driving the go-kart when he collided with an off-road motorcycle just after 6pm.
The RAC Rescue helicopter took the boy to the Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital, where he was then transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital.
He remained in a serious condition yesterday.
Police are investigating the crash.
AN Albany police officer was punched in the face and spat on after approaching two men drinking on the street in the South-West town on Friday night.
Two officers from Albany Police Station approached two men on Albany Highway, Orana, at about 11pm when one of the men became aggressive and allegedly started throwing punches.
Police say the man hit the officers twice in the head before he was tackled to the ground. It's alleged the man then spat in the officer's face.
A 43 year old man from Camillo has been charged with two counts of Assault Public Officer and will appear in Albany Magistrates Court at a later date.
A 16-year-old boy was charged with a string of traffic offences after a brief pursuit with police on Friday night.
Police allege the boy was driving towards a booze bus in East Victoria Park at about 10pm when he turned down a side street and fled a waiting police car.
Officers engaged in a pursuit but say they called it off a short time later for safety reasons.
They later found the vehicle crashed in Apollo Way, Carlisle, where they took a 16-year-old Maddington boy into custody.
He will face court on December 19, charged with No Authority to Drive, Reckless Driving and Fail to Stop When Called Upon.
The report was designed to help identify the common elements of effective education that lead to better social outcomes. Source: Herald Sun
AN Aussie, a Kiwi and an Irishman walk into a pub ...
According to the latest rankings in the global education index, it might be Australia's turn to be the butt of the joke, after ranking behind New Zealand, Ireland and ten other countries in a global education index.
Published in a report called The Learning Curve by worldwide education firm Pearson, the index compares the cognitive skills and education attainment of 40 countries.
Finland tops the list, followed by South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore.
The UK is ranked at number six and New Zealand, Canada and Ireland also rank above Australia, which languishes at 13 in the list.
But we can take comfort in the fact that the United States falls behind Australia at number 17.
Pearson said the report was designed to help policy makers and educators identify the common elements of effective education that lead to better social and economic outcomes.
Pouring money into schools and increased family incomes do have a positive affect on educational outcomes, the report said.
But the more valuable factor was the cultural importance placed on education, as indicated by the results out of Finland, Canada and South Korea.
"On the surface, money and education seem to create a virtuous circle, with rich countries and individuals buying good educations for their children who, in turn, benefit economically," it said.
"A closer look, though, indicates that both higher income levels and better cognitive test scores are the result of educational strategies adopted, sometimes years earlier, independently of the income levels existing at the time."
There was no substitute for having a good teacher, the report added.
"Having a better one is statistically linked not only to higher income later in life but to a range of social results including lower chances of teenage pregnancy and a greater tendency to save for their own retirement," it said.
But the biggest problem was that there is no "universal recipe" for finding them.
The index was based on research carried out by the Economist Intelligence Unit, and used Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) data.
Jack Slater, 14, jumps in to pull off one of the alleged attackers from a security guard. Picture: CCTV Source: Supplied
A SCHOOLBOY, 14, stepped in to a "frightening" brawl at a shopping centre and helped pull off one of the alleged thugs who attacked security guards.
Jack Slater has been praised and rewarded for his bravery. Wearing his school uniform, he dived in as shocked shoppers looked on as the brawl ensued at The Mall Chequers in Maidstone, Kent, in the UK, KentOnline reported.
Four security guards were punched, kicked, head-butted and bitten after a group of four men were asked to lave the shopping centre for being drunk and causing a nuisance.
The security guards struggle to control the group of four men who punched, kicked, bit and head-butted them. Picture: CCTV Source: Supplied
Jack, who was with a friend, was given $77 (£50) in shopping vouchers during a special presentation at his school Oakwood Park Grammar.
"The security guards were getting flung around a bit and one of them looked like he was getting overcome," he said at the presentation.
"I ran over and grabbed the shoulders of the person he was struggling with and pulled him away.
"I've never done anything like this before and it was only afterwards I thought, 'I could've been hurt there'.
"My friend tried to stop me and said I was stupid for getting involved but it was a spur of the moment thing."
Police have launched an appeal for witnesses to the brawl. Four men have been arrested and charged.
The security guards try to control the group of four men in the shopping centre in Maidstone, Kent. Picture: CCTV Source: Supplied
DEPARTING: Veteran newsreader Greg Pearce is set to leave Nine News. Source: PerthNow
VETERAN newsreader Greg Pearce has read his final bulletin at Channel Nine after it was announced he was leaving the network.
PerthNow learned today that Pearce quit Nine News and it is believed he may be moving to the Ten Network.
The network has confirmed that 4.30pm presenter Matt Tinney will take over the 6pm bulletin from Monday.
Pearce has been presenting Nine News in Perth since 2008, becoming the sole anchor after the departure of Dixie Marshall in May last year.
In a statement, Pearce said: "It has been wonderful to bring Nine News into the homes of our loyal viewers for the past five years and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity.
"I would like to thank the Perth news team for their support during my time at Channel Nine. My colleagues are a talented bunch and I wish them well for the future."
It has been a tumultuous time in Perth television recently - earlier this month former Channel Nine news director Adrian Beattie joined the Ten Network as its news editor.
Long-serving news director Chris Hunt recently left the Ten newsroom and Beattie will take on most of his responsibilities as part of his new role.
Ten newsreader Craig Smart was a casualty of the recent axings at Ten but there is speculation he could be headed to Nine.
Nine's news director David Stacey said Pearce would be missed by the entire news team.
"Greg is a seasoned professional who has the respect of every member of the newsroom," he said.
"His humour and easy-going nature will be missed around here."
Stacey said there would be several new faces at Channel Nine Perth in 2013.
"Weather presenter Sally Ayhan will join us in the New Year, with her Nine News co-presenter to be announced soon," he said.
"We thank our Nine News viewers for their support and we'll continue to deliver the best coverage of news and current affairs in WA."
Bikies ride together to remember Gypsy Joker legend Paul Hugo. PICTURE: Grant Wynne / ABC Perth Source: PerthNow
Bikies ride together to remember Gypsy Joker legend Paul Hugo. PICTURE: Grant Wynne / ABC Perth Source: PerthNow
A massive police presence was on hand as bikies rode together to remember Gypsy Joker legend Paul Hugo. PICTURE: Andrew Nelson / Nine News Perth Source: PerthNow
Bikies ride together to remember Gypsy Joker legend Paul Hugo. PICTURE: Grant Wynne / ABC Source: PerthNow
BIKIE clubs from around Western Australia have ridden together in remembrance of fallen comrade and Gypsy Joker legend Paul "Hoges" Hugo.
Hugo, 53, passed away last Tuesday after a lengthy illness and his death brought to an end a remarkable chapter in his club's history.
One of the original Jokers, Hugo was instrumental in driving out violent New Zealand motorcycle gang the Mongrel Mob as they attempted to establish a presence in WA in 1989.
The Mongrel Mob had a reputation for brutal violence in New Zealand and Hugo's Jokers, as well as the three other big bikie clubs in WA at the time - The Coffin Cheaters, Club Deroes and God's Garbage - weren't happy at rumours that 100 or so of its members were opening a chapter in the west.
A week of bloodshed ensued after the Mongrel Mob established a small chapter in Perth in late 1989 - its vice president Selwyn Wharepapa, who owned a motorcycle repair shop in Midvale, had his business firebombed by Gypsy Joker David Roy Kirby.
It was enough to drive the Kiwis out of town, with Hugo's actions not lost in the tributes that flowed for him this week, with descriptions such as "staunch", "loyal" and "talented" a common theme.
More respect came in the form of the 200-odd tributes from fellow Gypsy Joker members, including overseas chapters across Europe and America, as well other bikie clubs in WA, that poured into the daily newspaper as stories of Hugo's deeds were no doubt re-told in the lead-up to today's funeral.
"A warrior who defended the honour of the club with enormous pride," wrote one.
"Hoges' heart was huge and open to share with all," wrote another.
A big police presence was on hand today to ensure the massive congregation travelled to Hugo's service in Cannington before his final resting place at Fremantle Cemetery.
But Hugo's last ride came a few weekends ago, when the Gypsy Jokers took him on one last road trip before his death last week.
WA Premier Colin Barnett has had few positive things to say about the GST review panel's report. Source: PerthNow
WEST Australian Premier Colin Barnett has had few positive things to say about the GST review panel's report, labelling it a missed opportunity.
The panel said the current "horizontal fiscal equalisation'' system, which aims to ensure states and territories have financial capacity to provide services such as education and health of the same standard, was functioning satisfactorily, internally consistent and well established.
The Liberal leader has long pushed for the GST to be distributed on a per capita basis, saying the resources-rich state was being ripped off.
"WA is penalised for having a successful mining industry, and the royalties earned from that, while the revenue other states earn from activities such as gambling is ignored,'' he said.
"Nevertheless, we are pleased the review panel's final report, like its first interim report, appears to recognise that many aspects of the current GST distribution system are broken.''
Mr Barnett said the WA government strongly opposed any interference with the states' flexibility to collect mining royalties, which would undermine their sovereignty and capacity to achieve the best returns for their communities as owners of the minerals.
Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has repeatedly threatened to penalise states and territories for increasing mining royalties that are creditable under the federal government's controversial mining tax.
The panel said the federal government's design of the mining and petroleum rent taxes had created an opportunity for states to seek to increase their royalty revenue at the expense of the Commonwealth, describing this as "an undesirable and unsustainable situation, which needs to be resolved''.
"The Commonwealth and the states should negotiate an integrated resource charging system, addressing how the revenue is shared between them,'' the panel said.
Opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey said those comments represented a rebuke to the Gillard government.
"Only Labor could introduce a tax that raises no money, yet increases Australia's sovereign risk profile, adds record levels of red-tape for business, and still hangs as a threat over successful mining companies,'' Mr Hockey said.
"This is Labor's new low benchmark in public policy.''
WA's Chamber of Commerce and Industry was also critical of the report, saying it had failed to recommend reforms of the scale that were "clearly needed to fix the system''.
Ricky Ponting holds a press conference to announce his retirement from international cricket at the WACA in Perth. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
HE'S rated as Australia's second-best batsman behind Bradman - but most of WA could miss out on seeing Ricky Ponting's farewell innings at the WACA.
Cricket broadcaster Channel Nine's commercial arrangement with Cricket Australia means the TV network can only beam the action from the WACA Ground into Perth homes between 3pm and 5.30pm.
Nine has sought special permission from Cricket Australia - via the WACA - to broadcast Ponting's final innings live, should it fall outside the current allotted time.
But Nine's acting general manager Reece Hogan revealed the station was yet to receive the green light.
"At this stage, no permission has been granted," he said.
Mr Hogan said in normal circumstances, live action throughout the day could only be shown if the ground was sold out.
"The whole reason behind not going live earlier is if pre-tickets sales determine it's not a sell out then it encourages walk-ups. If there's enough walk ups to make a sell out, we'll then go live.
"We desperately hope the Perth public will get behind Ricky's last Test innings and ensure a WACA sell-out.
"That being the case, we will be live to see a historic innings."
Ponting announced yesterday that the Perth Test against South Africa would be his last.
The former Australian skipper equalled Steve Waugh's national record of 168 Test appearances when he took to the field on day one.
DEATH IN CUSTODY: A police holding cell. File picture Source: The Daily Telegraph
AN ABORIGINAL woman has died in custody at the Broome Police Station.
Detectives from the Internal Affairs Unit have been called in to investigate the death of the 44-year-old woman at the Broome Police Station Lockup early this morning.
A Police Media spokesman said the incident was a "reportable death within the meaning of the Coroners Act'' and the investigation will lead to a report on the circumstances for the State Coroner".
"Police are unable to comment upon the cause of death in advance of the investigation being completed,'' Sgt Gerry Cassidy said.
The name of the deceased will not be released due to cultural reasons.
