Disease warning for Bali travellers

The Aedes Albopictus mosquito which transmits the Chikungunya virus. Source: AFP

WEST Australians have been given yet another reason to be cautious about travel to Bali amid a dramatic increase in cases of a mosquito-borne tropical disease there.

The latest Health Department data shows 51 reports of chikungunya virus have been made in WA since the start of the year - the most on record for the illness, which can leave victims with aching joints and inflammation for months.

A department alert said the spike was "wholly attributable" to an increase in cases from people who had been to Bali.

"The vast majority of cases (92 per cent) reported recent travel to Indonesia, and among these, 94 per cent had been to Bali," the alert said.

"The remaining four chikungunya cases in 2013 acquired their infections in Papua New Guinea, Singapore and an unspecified location in South-East Asia."

Just 31 cases of chikungunya virus were reported by West Australians between 2008 and 2012, an average of six per year.

Australian Medical Association WA vice-president Michael Gannon said it was important West Australians took appropriate precautions when travelling to Indonesia.

"People travelling to Bali do need to think about it differently to how they would travel within their own state and within their own country and they need to really take those extra precautions," he said.

"The attitude of many West Australians when they go to Bali is that it's no different to going to Busselton or Mandurah, but it's a much more dangerous place and one of the things that makes it more dangerous is tropical diseases."

Similar to Ross River virus, symptoms of chikungunya virus during its acute phase, which typically lasts several days, include a fever, rash, headaches, nausea, vomiting and conjunctivitis.

He said West Australians travelling to Bali should ensure their vaccinations were up-to-date and be meticulous about handwashing.

"Use appropriate insect repellents, wear appropriate clothing and think twice before you travel to places where you are at greater risks," he said.

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TC Christine intensifies off WA's north coast

WA'S north is preparing for Tropical Cyclone Christine, after a tropical low intensified to cyclone strength late this evening.

The category one cyclone was named this evening today after wind gusts near the centre of the system intensified as predicted to 100km/h.

The weather system, which for the moment remains well off the WA coast, is expected heavy rain across coastal areas of the Kimberley and Pilbara in coming days.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a cyclone warning for coastal areas from Cape Leveque to Whim Creek, including Broome and Port Hedland.

A cyclone watch is current for coastal areas from Whim Creek to Exmouth, including Karratha and Onslow, and extending inland to Paraburdoo.

At 6pm, the weather system was estimated to be 310km north-north-west of Broome and

570km north-north-east of Port Hedland, and moving 12km/h parallel to the coast.

Gales with gusts to 100 kilometres per hour may develop on the west Kimberley coast between Cape Leveque and Broome during today.

Heavy rainfall is expected today and Sunday in coastal areas of the west Kimberley.

As the system begins to approach the Pilbara coast later on Sunday gales are expected to extend further west to Whim Creek, including Port Hedland.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has issued a blue alert for people in or near the coastal and inland communities of Dampier Peninsula to Onslow.

This includes people in Broome, Port Hedland, South Hedland, Whim Creek, Roebourne, Point Samson, Wickham, Karratha and Dampier and surrounding areas.

DFES has advised that 30 SES and VES volunteers from the Kimberley and Pilbara are on standbyand the Gibb River Road is closed from Lennard River to Wyndham.

Flood warning

The storm has also prompted a flood warning and people in Kimberley and Pilbara communities are being urged to prepare for heavy rainfall.

The Bureau of Meteorology advises that a flood watch for the west Kimberley has been issued and heavy rainfall is possible about the north and west Kimberley over the weekend.

For the next 24 hours, widespread rainfall of 70mm to 80mm with isolated heavier falls are forecast for areas from Broome to Kalumburu.

Rainfall during the past few days and the forecast rainfall for next 24 hours in the West Kimberley may cause significant stream rises with areas of flooding.

The rain is likely to extend into the Pilbara on Monday and Tuesday.

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Gen Demountable at primary school

Demountable classrooms such as these will be in two-thirds of primary schools next year. Source: News Limited

AN extra 114 transportable classrooms will be used to teach primary school students in 2014 - meaning two-thirds of public primary schools are now using them.

More than 400 of the state's 606 public primary schools will use demountable buildings next year, prompting concern WA students are becoming a "demountable generation".

An Education Department report to Parliament, in response to Opposition questions, shows an increase of 114 transportables, up from 1388 this year.

WA Primary Principals Association president Steve Breen described the situation as unacceptable. He pointed out that private school students were not educated in demountable classrooms.

"This is the question that needs to be answered - why do government schools have demountables and non-government schools don't have demountables?" he said.

"I don't think it's acceptable. If we are going to provide a first-class education system, we have to provide a first-class environment for students and teachers and support staff to work.

"Some of the schools in the northern suburbs and the southern belt and out past Ellenbrook, they have got some real problems.

"There needs to be greater co-ordination between government bodies. With these influxes (in student numbers), I think the Government knows where the students are going to go - they should be able to plan for those."

Shadow treasurer Ben Wyatt said the Government had "not done the basics in ensuring schools have the facilities to keep up with the state's booming population".

"Under Colin Barnett, WA kids are becoming a demountable generation," he said.

"Mr Barnett is happy to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on luxuries like Elizabeth Quay, while cutting essentials like school classrooms to pay for it. It will get worse because Mr Barnett has grossly underfunded the cost of moving Year 7 students into high schools."

Education Minister Peter Collier said transportable classrooms, had been used for decades in the public system.

Mr Collier said WA's growing population had "put some strain on the Education Department", but that pressure on primary schools would be eased in 2015 when Year 7s move into high schools.

He said that 29 secondary schools would also be upgraded "to ensure they can meet the demands of a growing school population".

Next year, Meadow Springs Primary School will have 23 transportable classrooms, followed by Makybe Rise Primary School with 22, Bletchley Park Primary School with 20, and Willetton Senior High School with 19.

Within public secondary schools, there will be 335 transportable classrooms in 2014 and 435 in 2015, up from 326 this year.

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Two-day Rotto swim on cards

Competitors hit the water for the 2013 Rottnest Channel Swim. Source: Supplied

PERTH'S Rottnest Channel Swim is set for a major overhaul, after a record number of applicants were turned away from the 2014 event.

The world's largest open water swim will get bigger under a plan to split it over two days or two concurrent races.

Rottnest Channel Swim Association president David Corney said a second starting line, in addition to the traditional Cottesloe Beach starting point, was the most favoured option.

The number of competitors who can take part in the 19.7km HBF Rottnest Channel Swim each year is determined by how many solo swimmers enter the race.

This year 274 are competing.

Each team or swimmer must be accompanied by a support crew boat and there is a cap on the number of boats allowed during the race.

Every solo competitor who registers is guaranteed a spot, while team and duo positions are determined by a ballot.

This year there was a 17 per cent increase in the number of solo entries (from 234 to 274), leaving just 157 duo places and 405 team places.

Organisers also received a record number of duo and team registrations. From the ballot, 27 per cent of applicants had to be declined, he said.

"That's the highest number ever," Mr Corney said.

"It's a good problem to have but it's a problem we are acutely sensitive to because we know the attraction of the event and it disappoints a lot of swimmers."

He said the association was considering a number of options with a decision to be made before April.

Running the event on Saturday and Sunday from 2015 - the event's 25th anniversary holding it on two consecutive Saturdays and twin starting and finishing lines were options being considered.

"Instead of having it all at Cottesloe, we would leave from elsewhere as well as Cottesloe and then have two finish lines," he said.

He said swimmers would be consulted before a final decision was made.

Mr Corney said preparations were "going well" for the February 22 event and he did not expect any negative impacts from the State Government's plan to install drum lines to catch sharks.

"We're always concerned (about sharks) but we don't see that as the highest risk of the event; we see boat safety as a far higher issue," he said

Floreat, City Beach and Leighton Beach were closed yesterday after shark sightings.

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Pollies' offices to cost further $3m

WA Premier Colin Barnett. Source: News Limited

TAXPAYERS are having to shell out an extra $3 million to refurbish offices for Barnett Government ministers, just 18 months after the same building underwent a $56 million facelift.

Dumas House in West Perth will undergo more work to accommodate two more ministers - Ken Baston and Bill Marmion. Other ministers are based there.

A spokeswoman for Premier Colin Barnett said the $3 million was money well spent and would be recouped in three years.

But the Opposition has described the expenditure as "outrageous", so soon after expensive refurbishments.

The $3 million, to be spent in 2014-15, was cited in the Government's recently released midyear financial projections statement.

Mr Barnett's spokeswoman said: "Two leases for offices currently occupied by ministers Baston and Marmion in London House and Allendale Square will expire in 2014, and will not be renewed.

"These two leases currently cost almost $1 million per year.

"The cost of fitout for the relocation of ministers at Dumas House will amount to approximately $3 million, meaning that the cost of this will be recouped in rent savings in just over three years.''

Government ministers previously in offices in St Georges Terrace were transferred to Dumas House in 2012.

Mr Barnett had the option of also moving to Dumas House, but instead built new offices for himself and his staff near Parliament House, at a further cost of $26 million.

Shadow treasurer Ben Wyatt said it was another example of extravagance and wrong priorities when the Government was taking the axe to projects such as light rail to bring debt under control.

"Colin Barnett always prioritises spending on himself and expects West Australians to cop cuts to frontline services to pay for it,'' he said.

Figures released in state parliament earlier this month showed that since November last year, security services for the Premier's offices at Hale House have cost taxpayers $555,023.

When utilities and gardening services are added, the bill rises to $720,660.

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Jobless Kiwis flocking to Australia

New Zealanders denied benefits as Australians in this country dwespite payingn taxes ... New Zealander Reiana Aiomanu with her two children, Billi-Amor McGie (10 months) and Jayla-Jane McGhie (2). Source: News Limited

JOBLESS Kiwis are flocking to Australia in search of work - and demanding the dole.

New Zealand migration to Australia has soared 40 per cent during the global financial crisis, as tens of thousands of South Pacific and Asian migrants use New Zealand as a back door to duck Australia's tough migration controls.

But Australia's welfare crackdown is forcing jobless Kiwi migrants to sardine into share houses with friends and extended family on the fringes of major cities.

Anglicare wants the federal government to lift its ban on unemployment and sickness benefits to recent New Zealand migrants.

Salome Swan, of Anglicare Southern Queensland, said jobless families were surviving on meagre Family Tax Benefit payments.

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Some Kiwi migrant families had 24 people sharing a single house, with just one person working.

"It's getting worse,'' Ms Swan said yesterday.

"There are lots of overcrowded houses with two or three families and lots of kids staying in one house.

"I've seen families just living on the family allowance, and the eldest child at high school is working at McDonalds to support them.''

New Zealand has now lost 12 per cent of its population to Australia, as Kiwis search for work and higher pay across the Tasman.

New Zealanders with a clean criminal record can live indefinitely in Australia on a "444 visa", which is granted automatically when they arrive.

But the 444 visa locks them out of the welfare benefits paid to citizens and "permanent residents'' - even if they have worked and paid taxes in Australia.

New Zealanders who have arrived in Australia since 2001 must wait 10 years to apply for the dole - which is cut off after six months - and their children cannot access the HECS loans scheme to attend university.

But they can receive a Disability Support Pension and Family Tax Benefits.

Ms Swan said it was unfair that New Zealanders had to pay tax while working here, but could not access full welfare benefits if they became sick or lost their job.

"If they find work it's fine, but it's lucky if they find work,'' she said.

"There are a lot more Samoans coming through - lots of Islanders have come from New Zealand and they can have more difficulties because of their poor language skills.''

Ms Swan said New Zealand-born high school students were not going to university because they could not afford the fees.

"The children who were brought up here don't want to go back (to New Zealand) and that means a lot of them end up homeless, or just hanging around and couch-surfing,'' she said.

Demographer Bob Birrell, of Monash University's Centre for Population and Urban Research, yesterday called for more controls on open-ended Kiwi migration.

"To allow this uncontrolled flow of New Zealanders when we've got far too many young people looking for entry level jobs is irresponsible,'' he said.

"The wage levels here are 10 to 20 per cent higher here.''

Immigration data reveals that 648,200 New Zealand citizens are living in Australia - up from 470,000 in 2007, before the start of the global financial crisis.

Nearly 85,000 Kiwi citizens were born outside New Zealand - meaning one in every eight of the migrants gained New Zealand citizenship before switching to Australia.

The statistics show that 10,592 New Zealanders were born in Samoa, 5269 in the Cook Islands and 2754 in Fiji.

Another 14,744 Kiwi citizens were born in Asia, 5842 in Africa and 2116 in the Middle East.

About 64,000 Australian citizens are living in New Zealand.

New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully urged New Zealanders to be aware of their welfare rights before moving to Australia.

"New Zealanders planning to move to Australia need to make sure they are aware of their rights and entitlements and make sure they have back-up if things do not go to plan,'' he said in a statement issued to News Corp Australia.

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Pompous Piers cops it from Lee

CNN talk show host Piers Morgan has faced up to an over from Brett Lee, and the results werent pretty.

Piers Morgan salutes the crowd after facing an over from Brett Lee in the MCG nets. Source: Getty Images

IT wasn't the fields or the beaches on which his beloved Winston Churchill urged the fight, but Piers Morgan can at least say he never surrendered.

Facing "overwhelming odds" - and Brett Lee bowling in excess of 130km/h - the outspoken former Fleet Street editor turned CNN talkshow host put his arm, ribs, back and just about every part of his body where his mouth has been for weeks.

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Piers Morgan salutes the crowd after facing an over from Brett Lee in the MCG nets. Source: Getty Images

Morgan, who told his 3.8 million Twitter followers how soft his beloved English cricket team had become, recently urged the batsmen to "grow a pair" and that he'd "love" to face Aussie speedster Mitchell Johnson.

Never one to back down from a challenge, that escalated into a brief - albeit very painful - net session against Lee at the MCG on Friday, with at least 2000 baying Aussie fans, including Johnson and Peter Siddle, looking on.

Morgan was sat on his rump, bowled and struck three times in one fiery over in which Lee extended himself to "about 85 per cent" capacity.

Piers Morgan tries to sledge Brett Lee during their over in the MCG nets. Image: Channel 9 / WWOS Source: Supplied

Lee said he'd done a "public service" by inflicting a bit of pain.

"He got hurt but he didn't get maimed, so that's a positive step," the former Aussie paceman said.

"You have to give full credit to the guy - he's going to be really sore tomorrow.

"He has a serious, serious bad lump on his wrist, he got a couple (in the) ribs, one on the back - that noise it made was a sickening blow.

"But he kept on going, so you have to take your hat off to the guy.

"The biggest smile around the ground was from Mitchell Johnson I think. I looked over at Mitch and he gave me a wink, he was quite chuffed."

Piers Morgan falls to the ground after a bouncer from Brett Lee. Image: Channel 9 / WWOS Source: Supplied

Lee later tweeted a picture of what appeared to be Morgan's arm complete with a nasty bruise.

Morgan joked he felt "like Brian Close in 1976" after the West Indies left him bruised and battered, but said it hadn't changed his opinion about the English batsmen.

"No. It's made me reassess what you need out here on an Ashes tour and that is courage, fortitude and a Churchillian spirit of never giving in despite overwhelming odds," he said.

"It was quite intimidating - a big crowd and the Aussies all came out to watch a proper Pom with a bit of guts to him and I think they were all quite impressed.

"I think Johnson was pleased he wasn't bowling at me.

"I came to do a job - I knew I wouldn't hit him, particularly, but I thought if I could just survive an over, I'd make a point on behalf of all the England fans who'd paid to be here, which is you just have to show a bit of stiff upper lip."

Brett Lee congratulates Piers Morgan after the Englishman faced an over of his bowling in the MCG nets. Source: Supplied

Morgan said West Indian stars Viv Richards and Chris Gayle had advised him to advance down the pitch to upset Lee's length.

"Unfortunately, despite (Lee's) nice-guy image, he's a very nasty piece of work," Morgan said afterwards having been iced for growing bruises.

"But he saw me coming, he loved the crowd and he speared it straight into my guts, my hands and everything - a deliberate attempt to maim me.

"And that's despite his own mother telling him this morning not to hurt this guy, whoever he is.

"But my central point was not to score big runs, but to survive the over intact and as you may have seen by the way I was beckoning him like Rocky Balboa, the faster he bowled, the harder he hit me, the more I told him to crank it up.

"That's what I call British spirit and that's what I want to see from the England team going forward.

"I hope (England coach) Andy Flower is watching, because I showed more guts in that 10-minute session than his team have shown in four Test matches.

"So I'm ready, ready for the call."

On Twitter, his efforts won some praise from Chris Gayle.

Morgan is a cricket tragic, who is always keen to let his feelings be known on Twitter, especially during Test matches.

It was on the social media site that today's novelty contest was allegedly born, after Morgan unleashed on Alistair Cook when he lost his wicket in Adelaide.

Morgan slammed the England captain's "reckless stupidity" and called him "pathetic". The former village cricketer later claimed he would relish facing Aussie paceman Mitchell Johnson and that England's batsmen needed to "grow a pair".

Professional courtesy led to Lee firing back at Morgan, wondering how he would cope facing the sort of deliveries Johnson was unleashing and offering to let him find out in the MCG nets.

Morgan replied: "Game on".

Chris Rogers and Steve Smith have embarked on a rebuilding mission after Australia lost three early wickets in their first innings at the MCG.

Dave Warner and Shane Watson are both dismissed before lunch, after Mitchell Johnson earlier helped bowl England out for 255 on day two at the MCG.

Unsurprisingly, there was plenty of Twitter trash talk ahead of today's showdown.

Morgan posted footage of himself getting in the ring with boxer Manny Pacquiao as well as a link to Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar hitting Lee for three boundaries in an over in 2008.

Lee replied that it was likely to more resemble footage of him smashing Tendulkar on the helmet with a bouncer.

Other cricketers and sporting stars were quick to join in, including former Formula 1 driver Mark Webber, who received a sharp retort from Morgan.

To add to the showmanship, Morgan even claimed he had to sign a personal indemnity form sent by Channel 9.

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SHARK PLAN: Baited beaches will cost $1m

There has been widespread criticism of the Government's plan to kill sharks that come close to shore.

THE WA Government's controversial new catch and kill shark policy is likely to cost taxpayers around $1 million this summer.

Premier Colin Barnett today revealed the estimated figure as the locations of the 72 baited hooks which will be used to lure sharks was announced today.

From January 10, WA Fisheries will deploy baited drum lines along five locations in the Perth metropolitan area - Ocean Reef/Mullaloo, Trigg/Scarborough, Floreat/City Beach, Cottesloe/North Cottesloe and Port Leighton - and off three beaches in the state's South West - Old Dunsborough, Meelup/Castle Rock and Gracetown - where the most recent fatality occurred.

The announcement comes as the Government put out its tender for professional fisherman to "humanely" destroy sharks caught by the drum lines.

Today Mr Barnett and new WA Fisheries Minister Ken Baston confirmed sharks caught by the drum lines that had not already died would be shot by firearm and discarded at sea.

The WA Government today revealed the metropolitan and South West beaches which will be drum-line baited for large sharks.

They also said anyone who tried to sabotage baited drum lines by either stealing the bait, hooks or interfere with contracted commercial fisherman would face a $20,000 fine.

Commercial fisherman will monitor the drum lines for 12 hours a day, seven days a week. They will then rebait the hooks overnight, it was also revealed today.

The WA Government has copped harsh criticism from conservationists over its controversial new plan, despite similar measures already in operation in New South Wales and Queensland.

A report by Bond University for WA Fisheries in 2005 explicitly recommended against using baited drum lines or shark nets in WA because of the risk to other marine life as well as the cost.

Premier Colin Barnett holding a hook which is part of the baited drum line that will be used to catch and kill large sharks as part of the WA Government's control policy.

When asked by PerthNow if the Department of Fisheries and its scientists supported the new measures, regional manager Tony Cappelluti, replied: "This is a government policy and we support the policy and we are going to play a very big role, we are determined to make sure it works."

Mr Barnett also made it clear the catch and kill policy was a government decision, not WA Fisheries.

"This is a policy decision of government and Fisheries have the responsibility of implementing it," he said.

"I understand that particularly in the research community that people do not support the killing of sharks but we have to face as a government a balance of the issue.

Popular Scarborough Beach will be among a selection of metropolitan beaches which will be drumline baited.

"Seven fatalities in three years says to me and my cabinet colleagues is that we must act. And it's no different than what happens in NSW and QLD. The way this is being done in WA, it has been designed to only catch the large sharks which are likely to be a threat."

And while Mr Barnett could not reveal whether the contracted fisherman would be given a quota, he said the public would be updated on the number and types of sharks caught over the summer.

On Tuesday, the WA government called for professional shark fishermen to apply to patrol the state's waters and kill any shark bigger than three metres spotted in the designated zones.

After the death of surfer Chris Boyd in Gracetown last month, Mr Barnett said the WA government "had to intervene more directly".

The death of Gracetown surfer Chris Boyd has triggered the state Government's shark strategy.

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Authorities probe roof death

Authorities are investigating if electricity played a part in the death of a man in his 70s in the roof of a Ledge Point home this morning. Picture: File image Source: News Limited

AUTHORITIES are investigating if electricity played a part in the death of a man in his 70s in the roof of a Ledge Point home this morning.

EnergySafety and Western Power inspectors are assisting police to investigate the death and have indicated at this stage it is unclear if electricity was involved.

The man was believed to have been in his own roof space when he died.

EnergySafety thoroughly investigates electricity and gas related incidents in WA, with a view to preventing them in the future.

EnergySafety acting executive director Michael Bunko gave his sincere condolences to the man's family.

"Although it is still unclear how this man died, I take the opportunity to remind people of the lethal electrical dangers when working in roof spaces and the importance of turning off the electricity main switch at the main switchboard before venturing up into the roof space," Mr Bunko said.

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Man killed by lightning strike on Fraser Coast

A YOUNG boy survived a freak lightning strike which killed a man on a beach near Fraser Island Friday night.

The pair was on the beach at Inskip Point between Beagle and Sarawak camping grounds, two popular tourists destinations, when the lightning struck the man about 6.15pm.

It's believed they were among a group of people on the Fraser Coast beach when the lightning hit.

The man died on the beach while the young boy was not seriously injured.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said the boy was alert and conscious when he was taken to Gympie hospital as a precaution.

Manager at the Rainbow Beach Holiday Village Annette Cochrane, 50, said thousands of tourists were at Inskip Point when the lightning struck.

"There are about 3000 people out there at the moment, it is absolutely packed. Rainbow Beach is packed these holidays," she said.

The national park area, which is at the northern tip of Rainbow Beach and is where the ferry barge to Fraser Island is located, is a popular destination for camping.

Last night, a quick but powerful storm hit the area.

"We did have a lot of lightning and at one stage the doors were rattling with thunder," Ms Cochrane said.

"The sky was really black, then we got the thunder and lightning and it was very muggy."

"It didn't last long but it must have been pretty bad out there on the beach," she said.

Ms Cochrane has lived in Rainbow Beach for 16 years and never heard of a fatal lightning strike in the area before.

"It is shocking, it's terrible."

Ashleigh Hunter, from the Rainbow Beach Hotel, said locals and tourists were shocked by the news.

"Everyone is really sad and shocked and pretty upset," she said.

"We heard the strike and then the ambulance went past and we heard one of the customers say that there was a man fishing (when he was struck by lightning)..."

Inskip Point is about 250km north of Brisbane.

The storm came as Queensland's southeast was being warned of extreme weather over the weekend.

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