'Thank WA' for Gonski deal

WA Education Minister Peter Collier. Source: News Limited

THE rest of Australia should thank Western Australia for standing up to the former Labor government over the Gonski education funding scheme, according to the state's education minister Peter Collier.

Today, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced a new in-principle agreement with the Northern Territory, Queensland and WA, after those three jurisdictions refused not sign up to Labor's plan before the election.

Mr Abbott's about-face came after days of political wrangling, with the federal government now agreeing to provide $2.8 billion over four years to all the states and territories.

For WA, that will mean a quantum equivalent of $590 million over six years, the final offer put before them by former PM Julia Gillard.

But Mr Collier said every state would now be better off in part because of WA's stance against the previous conditions placed on the funding, which he said would have meant handing over governance of schools to Canberra.

"We stood our ground, we did not go weak at the knees, we stood for what was right in terms of education for the rest of the nation - and the concerns we have articulated have been resolved," Mr Collier said.

"We had our detractors when we decided not to sign up, but our reasons were quite profoundly legitimate. We have (been proven right) and it is a really good day for WA.

"The rest of the nation can look at us and hopefully give us a big vote of thanks, because we have ensured that those requirements that governance and reporting requirements of schools to the federal government are going to be removed."

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Fatal crash constable quits during investigation

Mother Sharon D'Ercole died from multiple injuries when the former officer's car struck her vehicle as he drove through a red light in pursuit of a stolen Audi. Source: News Limited

A CONSTABLE acquitted over a fatal crash that killed Perth mother Sharon D'Ercole during a pursuit has quit the force before the completion of an internal investigation.

Gareth Hopley, 29, was found not guilty by a jury last month of dangerous driving causing the death of Sharon Ann D'Ercole in April last year.

Mrs D'Ercole, 50, died from multiple injuries when the former officer's car struck her vehicle as he drove through a red light in pursuit of a stolen Audi.

A spokeswoman for Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said he accepted Mr Hopley's letter of resignation last week.

DEVASTATED: Sharon D'Ercole's husband, Ron D'Ercole, with his lawyer Terry Dobson (centre) and forensic crash consultant Bob Davey at the site at the intersection of Morley Drive and Alexander Drive where Sharon was killed in a police pursuit.

"At the time of his resignation, Mr Hopley remained stood down from operational duty pending the outcome of an internal investigation into his conduct,'' she said.

"That investigation has now ceased.''

Mr Hopley previously expressed his condolences to the D'Ercole family in a statement after his acquittal.

NOT GUILTY: Constable Gareth Hopley pictured after being charged by Major Crash and Internal Affairs investigators after the fatal accident.

"This tragic accident will inevitably remain in the hearts and minds of everyone involved forever, myself included,'' he said.

"Not a day goes by that I am not reminded of that fateful day in some form or another.''

In the trial, Mr Hopley denied having ``tunnel vision'' during the chase and testified that he believed Ms D'Ercole was slowing down for him when he hit her.

His lights and sirens were activated at the time, the court heard.

Mr Hopley was emotional while giving evidence as he recounted seeing the injured woman.

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

It was not the first time Mr Hopley was involved in a fatal police pursuit.

He was a passenger in a 2008 chase involving unlicensed motorcyclist Matthew Miller, who sped away from police, crashed and died from his injuries.

Mr Hopley was not charged over that incident.

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Firefighters battle Samson blaze

FIRE THREAT: The Department of Fire and Emergency Services have issued a bushfire advice for the fire that was reported at 4.30pm Source: News Limited

RESIDENTS in the City of Fremantle are being warned to stay alert after a fire erupted in Sir Frederick Samson Memorial Reserve.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services have issued a bushfire advice for the fire that was reported at 4.30pm.

People in an area bounded by South Street, North Lake Road, Winterfold Road and Stock Road in Samson are being told to watch for signs of a bushfire, close doors and windows and turn off evaporative airconditioning.

At 6.40pm, the fire was burning in Sir Frederick Samson Memorial Reserve between Sellenger Avenue and McCombe Avenue.

Some roads may be closed as fire crews are on the scene.

Aircraft have been sent to assist ground crews.

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'Untidy' hair causes race stir

WA school was forced to apologise over a racial discrimination complaint lodged by a family whose child was told their hair was "untidy". File image. Source: Supplied

A WA school was forced to apologise over a racial discrimination complaint lodged by a family whose child was told their hair was "untidy".

The child's mother argued that "because of her child's mixed cultural heritage, the child had naturally curly hair".

She pulled the student out of the school before lodging the complaint with the Equal Opportunity Commission.

The school apologised over the incident and agreed to change its hair policy "to recognise that while students do need to retain high standards of grooming, students do have different cultural and ethnic characteristics".

The incident was among a growing number of complaints lodged by young West Australians aged under 19 years with the commission.

In the past year, 43 complaints have been made by that age group, with impairment, age and sex discrimination making up the majority of incidents. That total was up from just 22 complaints three years ago.

Acting Commissioner Allanah Lucas said many educational institutions and organisations were developing cultural awareness, but many needed to work more with parents, teachers and students.

"It doesn't give you all the answers but if you don't know anything about the changing demographic around you then, yes, you're going to make assumptions - and then, of course, there are these continued stereotypes in our community," she said.

"That's the one thing that has hit me - when people are themselves ignorant they will act in an ignorant way. It's actually ignorance we need to deal with and somehow give people the information, the opportunity to get some sort of understanding."

Ms Lucas said she was concerned that pregnancy discrimination was emerging as an issue for young women in the workplace.

"There is that unconscious bias there, which is very sad to hear in 2013," she said.

Ms Lucas said the greatest challenge was proving complaints, urging young West Australians to document possible discrimination and keep any paperwork or text messages.

Among the other complaints included a grandmother who claimed that her grandmother was not allowed to attend a school camp because of her impairment. That issue was resolved after discussions were held.

Another young student received a $1000 ex-gratia payment from her employer and a written apology after saying she was subjected to unwanted sexual comments while working as a waitress and over text message.

yasmine.phillips@news.com.au

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Hayley mum shocked by rape connection

Hayley Dodd's mother Margaret pictured in Mandurah. PICTURE: Daniel Wilkins Source: News Limited

THE mother of missing teenager Hayley Dodd says she had no idea the Badgingarra property being searched for her daughter's body was once owned by a convicted rapist.

Margaret Dodd said the first she heard about the connection was through the media on Friday.

It is the latest twist in the Mandurah mother's 14 year fight for answers over her daughter's disappearance.

Yesterday, on what should have been Hayley's 32nd birthday, Ms Dodd issued a new plea for anyone involved in her daughter's disappearance to come forward.

She thanked police for carrying out a fresh search of the Badgingarra property, 220km north of Perth.

The property in less than 1km from where 17-year-old Hayley vanished in 1999.

"I don't know who police think is responsible, but they have got significant information that has made that place of interest," Mrs Dodd told The Sunday Times.

"If it is someone who used to live at that property, I would say, 'C'mon, it's been long enough now. Tell us where Hayley is. We just want her home. It would mean absolutely everything to the whole family'."

WA Police returned to Badgingarra on Wednesday to search a rural property once owned by 57-year-old Francis John Wark.

Wark is serving a 12-year jail term for the abduction and rape of a 32-year-old woman in North Queensland in 2007.

Court documents reveal Wark offered the woman a lift after seeing her walking along a north Queensland highway.

He then took her to his house, where he hit her over the head twice with a piece of wood before sexually assaulting her for several hours.

The ordeal only stopped when the woman managed to break free from a rope restraint and reach a neighbour's house for help.

Wark sold the Badgingarra property shortly after Hayley's disappearance. It has been reported he told neighbours he was suffering from lung cancer and wanted to be near family in Queensland.

WA police are remaining tight-lipped as to whether or not Wark is a suspect in Hayley's disappearance.

Ms Dodd said she believed the developments in the case were the most significant to date.

"At least police are investigating it and they're doing it thoroughly and I thank them for that," she said.

"I've only ever wanted them to do the job."

Ms Dodd said she was trying not to get her hopes up.

"If there's nothing in it (then) I'm going to come down with a real big bang," she said.

"People say time heals. No it doesn't. You just learn to live with the hurt.

"If we find Hayley we know where she is, and we know what's definitely happened to her.

"But she's not here. It's never going to end because she's never going to be back here're with us. She's not going to come down and take her nieces and nephews out. She's never going to come and have a cup of coffee."

WA police Commander Scott Higgins said the search at the Badgingarra house was based on "new facts", which had led to several people being interviewed also.

"We can't legally conduct this kind of search without facts - and we have some significant information,'' Commander Higgins said on Thursday.

Police have so far been reluctant to give details of the people being questioned, only to say there is more than one and some of them had been interviewed before.

They also confirmed they had visited the property before, but had not searched it in detail.

Yesterday, Hayley's sister Toni Dodd said she was feeling "mixed emotions".

"It's been really hard because you don't know if it's another false hope," she said.

"We want her to be found so we can lay her to rest.

"I'm just hoping they find something and they find something soon because every day that goes past is just longer and longer that we're waiting for answers."

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Register for 'high risk' e-drivers

Mitchell Walsh-McDonald leaves Perth Magistrates Court in August. The review into the EDL system was sparked after The Sunday Times revealed the Dot didn't oppose an e-licence application from him last year. Source: News Limited

A NEW register will be set up to vet "high risk" drivers applying for extraordinary licences to curb the number of dangerous motorists getting back on our roads.

The high risk applications would be referred to the State Solicitors Office so the state's top lawyers could argue against their case.

The tough new approach comes after The Sunday Times revealed the Department of Transport did not do enough to stop a notorious driver, whose reckless actions behind the wheel killed a young girl, from successfully applying for an E-Licence.

Transport Minister Troy Buswell ordered a review after these revelations.

A DoT memo obtained by The Sunday Times shows the review found a litany of problems with how E-Licences were granted, including:

- Important documents, like character references from doctors and employers, are not made available to Dot prosecutors until moments before court proceedings.

- There are "major inconsistencies" with regards to how long offenders must wait before applying for an EDL were also identified. For example, a person convicted of dangerous driving causing death can apply within 21 days yet a person charged with drink driving must wait one month.

- Regional courts are not routinely updating the DoT on the success of applications.

The review made several recommendations, including the new high risk register and for DoT prosecutors be mentored and coached by more experienced lawyers.

It comes as latest figures show 71 per cent of all E-Licence applications lodged in WA this year have been approved - a slight increase from the 69 per cent approved in 2012.

The Sunday Times revealed in August that the DoT didn't oppose an E-Licence application by serial drink-driver Mitchell Walsh-McDonald last year.

Walsh-McDonald was granted the licence despite a history that included knocking down and killing schoolgirl Jess Meehan 10 years ago. He was acquitted of a charge of dangerous driving causing Jess Meehan's death but admitted driving under the influence and driving without a licence.

The department initially claimed it opposed his application last year. But an investigation by The Sunday Times found the department gave the court reasons why it should be granted.

As a result Walsh-McDonald was able to get back behind the wheel until he was caught drink-driving again, his seventh offence. Four months ago he pleaded guilty to drink-driving, talking on his mobile phone while driving and breaching two conditions of his licence.

A DoT spokeswoman said this week: "The purpose of DoT's internal vetting process is to identify applications that could be deemed high risk to the public, based on consideration of the applicant's driving record and the circumstances of the case."

The spokeswoman said the DoT would refer applications to the SSO as necessary, but the "majority" of applications would still be processed "as routine business".

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Doctor qualifications can't be verified

Report says there are "systemic" problems with the credentialling protocols across the public health system. File image. Source: News Limited

A SECRET report reveals there is a high risk that WA doctors are treating patients without proper skills because there is no statewide database to track their qualifications.

The report says there are "systemic" problems with the credentialling protocols across the public health system, including a shortage of staff to monitor doctor qualifications and lack of oversight for foreign doctors.

It warns the process is so bad there is also a "high" risk the Health Department is breaching the State Records Act.

The report, obtained by The Sunday Times through Freedom of Information laws, said an audit was "unable to sight" evidence verifying the skills of four doctors working at regional hospitals.

Another 18 doctors in the WA Country Health Service were given jobs before the credentialling process had started.

The audit said the state of the 22 doctors should be investigated "urgently".

Fears about the qualifications of four doctors at Royal Perth Hospital were also raised.

"Senior management may be unaware of any clinicians operating within the health system without the appropriate credentials," the report said.

The audit said administration support for the credentialling committee was poor.

At King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women there is no dedicated support person for the committee. There is also no formal training provided to credentialling staff.

The report has been kept secret since it was given to Health Department executives in April 2012.

"While there are varied methods of recording medical practitioner credentialling data, there is no system-wide data base," it said.

"The absence of a system-wide credentialling data base is seen by (the) Audit as the most pressing matter."

Opposition health spokesman Roger Cook said the findings were "explosive".

"West Australians should be able to go to their local hospitals confident that the doctor they see is qualified to treat them," Mr Cook said.

A Health Department spokesman said work on a database had progressed since the report.

"Following a competitive tender process, a company has been selected to supply a Credentialling and Scope of Clinical Practice data system to WA Health," he said.

"The launch of the new system will be staged, with the South Metropolitan Health Service expected to use the system in early 2014."

The spokesman said other than those identified in the report, no other medical practitioners had been found to be working without proper credentials since the report.

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Show and tell cops under fire

Western Australian State Coroner Alastair Hope says cases where coronial information was misused by WA police officers had caused "irretrievable damage to public confidence in the coronial process". Picture: Theo Fakos Source: News Limited

RETIRING State Coroner Alastair Hope is calling for new laws to punish cops who share confidential information about investigations into fatalities.

Mr Hope says cases where coronial information was misused by WA police officers had caused "irretrievable damage to public confidence in the coronial process".

His comments were made public in the same week a Victorian homicide detective came under fire for using a crime scene photo of a semi-naked Jill Meagher during a charity talk about violence against women.

Mr Hope outlined two WA incidents to argue in his last annual report as State Coroner for new laws to lock down "substantial" penalties for cops who breach confidentiality.

"In one (incident) photographs of deceased persons was emailed to a large number of officers with no legitimate interest in the case and in the other photographs were shown at a Christmas party," Mr Hope said in his report.

"Misuse of this information can cause great distress to involved families and irretrievable damage to public confidence in the coronial process.

"Recent cases have highlighted a need for an offence provision with substantial penalty in cases where private and confidential coronial information has been misused."

Attorney-General Michael Mischin yesterday said he had asked his department "to look into the issue''.

And, Opposition leader Mark McGowan said Mr Hope had raised "legitimate concerns" and said the Barnett Government should "seriously consider his request for tough legislation to prevent misuse of confidential coronial information".

"It is even more important today because the internet means that once an image is uploaded, all control is lost and it can be seen or used by anyone," he said.

But, Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said cops were already adequately punished for their misdemeanours.

Through a spokeswoman, he told The Sunday Times: "The misuse of coronial, or indeed, any information is already well covered by WA Police policy and the code of conduct.

"Officers who misuse information may be subject to disciplinary action which may include loss of confidence and removal from the Western Australia Police.

"Some levels of computer misuse may also be in breach of the Criminal Code. The creation of additional law to deal with the situation simply adds more layers of red tape."

Mr O'Callaghan's spokeswoman said one officer had received an Assistant Commissioner's warning notice, and another had resigned from the police force following an incident in December 2011 involving the Broome Police Social Club.

"The event was attended by police personnel and their partners and a number of other guests. A police officer had prepared a 'slide show' to depict policing events in Broome during the year," she said.

"The images included crime scenes, crash scenes, victims of crime and general images of people around Broome. The show included images where deaths had occurred.''

Another incident had involved the distribution of offensive material at the Newman Police Station.

"Following the deaths of two persons, whose vehicle had broken down on the Talawana Track, near the Canning Stock Route in April 2005 an email with electronic photographic attachments was submitted by Newman Police," Mr O'Callaghan's spokeswoman said.

"It was found that an officer from the Newman Police Station forwarded the email and attachments to four other WA police officers.

"The initial four recipients of the email forwarded the message on and it ultimately went to a large number of people, within and external to WA Police.

"The investigation of this matter was comprehensive and all personnel who received the email were dealt with under the then managerial discipline model.

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WA woman free, Corby faces spy issue

Australian Sandra Sheed escorted by immigration officer after her release from Kerobokan jail. Source: Supplied

Some Indonesian politicians say Schapelle Corby's bid for parole should be rejected. Source: News Limited

AS one Australian woman was freed from Bali's Kerobokan Jail today, opposition continues to grow within the Indonesian parliament against Schapelle Corby's parole.

Former Perth woman, Sandra Cindy Sheed, was freed from jail after serving an eight-month sentence for theft from her boyfriend.

But former Queenslander Corby's release faces new obstacles on the back of the diplomatic row over revelations Australia spied on the Indonesian president's mobile phone in 2009.

Authorities in Bali have given the parole the green light but the application is now in Jakarta, waiting for departmental and ministerial approval.

And lawmakers from within Indonesia's House of Representatives continue to oppose her parole, saying that the current tension between Australia and Indonesia should be taken into account.

Commission III of the House of Representatives, which oversees legal affairs, is planning to call the Justice Minister before it to discuss the issue of Corby's parole.

Syarifuddin Suding, leader of the Hanura party faction at the House of Representatives and a member of the commission, told News Ltd that most members of the powerful committee agreed that the Minister should reject Corby's parole application.

"I have told the Law and Human Rights Minister not to give parole for Corby. If government gives parole to Corby, it will be a bad precedent for Indonesia's attempt against international drug rings. It will not give deterrent effect for them," Mr Suding said.

"Most of commission III members have agreed to recommend the Law and Human Right Minister to reject Corby's parole application. She should not be released," he said.

Mr Suding said the current tensions over the spy allegations should be taken into account when considering the parole bid and the President's decision last year to grant Corby clemency.

"As a sovereign nation, Indonesia must show that we are not easily underestimated, or even abused by other nations," Mr Suding said.

"The tension between Indonesia and Australia should be used as consideration."

Mr Suding said the President should revoke his decision, last year, to grant Corby a five-year sentence cut in response to her plea for clemency.

On her release today, a smiling Sheed, 42, was picked up from the jail by two officers from the Immigration Department. Outside the jail she said that she was feeling good and wasn't planning on returning to jail.

Sheed will now be deported back to Australia.

Kerobokan Jail Governor Farid Junaedi said he had met Sheed before her release and given her suggestions for coping with life on the outside.

"I met her this morning. And she looked good, she always say yes for what I suggested to her," Farid said. He said that Sheed had behaved well in jail.

Sheed, a long-term Bali resident, was convicted earlier this year of stealing a raft of household items from her former boyfriend, Stephen Blackwell.

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Shark hunters could be used - Barnett

Professional shark fishermen, such as this Augusta operator, could be used to take out large sharks threatening people on the WA coast. Source: News Limited

PROFESSIONAL shark hunters could be hired to patrol West Australian waters as the government considers tougher action on the risk the ocean predators pose to the public.

The death of surfer father-of-two Chris Boyd, 35, who was attacked by a shark at Gracetown on Saturday, sparked renewed debate about whether the time had come for a cull of larger sharks close to the WA shore.

With beaches in the state's South West still shut after more sightings of large sharks, Premier Colin Barnett says he is listening to the growing fears - and is ready to take a tougher line on assessing whether a shark is a threat.

That could include hiring professional shark hunters.

''(They) are an option, absolutely. If there are repeated sightings of a large shark in an area where people swim or surf, to me that is an imminent threat,'' Mr Barnett said.

``And I think we take a tougher line of what is an imminent threat, and if that means destroying the shark so be it.

A 2.5m bronze whaler shark was spotted 50m from Meelup Beach, closing the beach before a planned Leavers gathering. It has since been re-opened.

``But a cull would be a random destruction of sharks, and we are not going to do that.''

Meanwhile thousands of West Australians have taken to social media voicing their opposition to a cull of great white sharks.

Another beach in WA's southwest was closed today after a shark sighting just hours before a school leavers' event was due to be held on the sand.

The sighting of a 2.5-metre bronze whaler at Meelup Beach near Dunsborough immediately prompted the closure.

The beach was due to host the annual ``Don't Drink and Drown'', but just before 9am. Surf Lifesaving WA tweeted that the beach had been shut after the shark was spotted swimming 50 metres off shore.

The Department of Fisheries and WA Police were due to hold a press conference at the beach outlining their increased efforts to monitor the beaches in the area over the rest of the week.

Meelup Beach reopened just over an hour later, with the schoolies' event still scheduled to go ahead.

Lisa Clack, manager of the Department of Fisheries' Shark Response Unit, said they would continue to have extra support with additional patrols by sea and air, including extra helicopter patrols.

A fisheries officer will be in the chopper helping to identify shark species and size.

The helicopter and fisheries vessels will be on call from 7am to 5pm patrolling the coastline.

Police Superintendent Peter Hatch urged schoolies to take the advice of police and other local authorities.

The support will remain for the Kelloggs Ironman event, which is being held at Smith's Beach this weekend, and then the Busselton Ironman event the following weekend.

Beaches in Gracetown will also remain closed until this afternoon after an unconfirmed shark sighting of a 5m great white at Gracetown Beach yesterday afternoon.

This morning, authorities also announced extra safety measures across South West beaches to protect school leavers.

Superintendent South West District, Peter Hatch said many school leavers would be gathering for the annual Meelup Beach Day today and he was urging them to take the advice of police and other local authorities.

"Leavers are reminded to make use of the transport service to travel to the event and leave their cars behind," he said.

"Extra water safety measures are in place, with additional resources and support by air and sea, and sirens would be sounded if beaches needed to be cleared."

"The helicopter is on call from 7am to 5pm and Fisheries' vessels the Geographe and Hamlin will be patrolling the coastline," Ms Clack said.

"If water users in the south west hear a siren from the helicopter they should leave the water immediately. People should exercise caution when entering the water at south west beaches and we encourage them to use patrolled beaches at all times.

Beaches in Gracetown remain closed until this afternoon after an unconfirmed shark sighting of what was thought to be a 5m great white at Gracetown Beach yesterday.

Anyone wanting to receive alerts about shark sightings in the South West can follow @SLSWA on Twitter or refer to the Surf Life Saving WA Facebook page.

Any shark sightings should be reported to Water Police on 9442 8600.

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