Mitcham: 'I was on crystal meth'

Olympic gold medalist diver Matthew Mitcham's new book is about to be released. Source: News Limited

AUSTRALIAN 10-metre platform diver Matt Mitcham says he battled a methamphetamine addiction in 2011 that almost derailed his career and his life, but the 2008 Beijing gold medallist will be free to compete on future Australian Olympic teams.

In a book to be released on Monday, ``Twists and Turns,'' Mitcham reveals his battle with low self-esteem, anxiety and depression, panic attacks and repeated self-harm as a teenager, which helped begin his dependence on crystal meth.
 
After winning the 10-meter gold medal at the Beijing Olympics, Mitcham failed to make the final 12 at the London Games this year.
 
Mitcham said that even after his Beijing gold medal win, he was still ranked No. 2 - ``I had still failed to achieve my childhood dream of becoming the best in the world at something,'' so he turned to drugs.
 
He said he knew the dangers of crystal meth, but ``taking it was something I did . to take my mind off things that were upsetting me, to make me feel better about myself.''

 
Mitcham, who is openly gay, said in the book, excerpts of which were published in Fairfax Media on Saturday, that he has recovered from last year's drug problems with the help of Narcotics Anonymous, hypnotherapy and his family and friends.
 
He said he is back in training for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
 
The Australian Olympic Committee said it had no idea that Mitcham had any drug issues ahead of the London Games.
 
``We had no idea that he had a problem, he was his usual friendly, outgoing self in London,'' AOC spokesman Mike Tancred told The Associated Press on Saturday. ``He went out and supported all his teammates, was happy and chatty, the usual Matty.
 
``We did know that before the games he had a horrendous run with injuries, but we were not aware of any issues with drugs. But we think that it is sad that such a talented athlete has been caught up with such a hideous drug, and we are glad to hear that he is on top of it.''
 
The AOC on Friday adopted a resolution that will require all future Australian Olympians to declare any past use of performance-enhancing drugs. Tancred said Mitcham's use of recreational drugs, even serious ones such as crystal meth, would not be in that category.
 
``It would fall under recreational drug use,'' said Tancred. ``This drug is a performance ruiner, not enhancer.''

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Naomi: I'm definitely wearing a wig

Naomi Watts as Princess Diana (l) and back in her regular garb (r). Pictures: Supplied Source: Supplied

Naomi Watts filming a scene as Princess Diana. Picture: Splash Source: Supplied

WHAT do wigs and Naomi Watts have in common?

Quite a lot, actually.

In Australia for Pantene's Beautiful Lengths campaign, which encourages women to donate their hair to be made into wigs for cancer sufferers, the actress also spilled the beans on her Princess of Wales hairdo in the highly anticipated film Diana.

"I'm definitely wearing a wig" she told news.com.au yesterday

"I actually had four different wigs, and even though the film only covers the last two years of her life she did change her colour quite a bit and even the length and style.

"Real hair wigs are very expensive, it takes a lot to get all the under work right and then you have to set the hair in such a way so that your head is as small as possible."

Real hair wigs actually cost thousands of dollars and are very difficult to come by, which is why Naomi agreed to sign on for the Beautiful Lengths campaign.

"It just instantly sounded like such a good thing to be part of" she said

"Women obviously place so much identity on their hair and how it looks so if you've been diagnosed with a terminally ill disease, and to be told that you have to lose your hair, it's just a horrible reminder.

"I was in a room of people today who were receiving some of these wigs and it was just so wonderful seeing how their spirits were lifted just by having that reminder about what they used to look like."

A brave volunteer gets the chop for the Pantene Beautiful Lengths campaign. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Watts has been hard at working filming scenes for the Diana picture which is due out next year. The film centres around the two-year, secretive relationship the princess had with heart surgeon Hasnat Khan as well as the increasingly relentless attention she received from the public and media.

"I've had glimpses of the invasion into your life, but nothing to the extent of what she went through," says Watts.

"At the time no one had ever been through that to that degree, and that was the time when the media started really blowing up. Diana was forced into isolation at times and it was obviously a very difficult way to live.

"Nothing compares to what she went through, I don't think she ever was left alone and that would have created a lot of torment."

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Washinton charms Perth hearts

Megan Washington performed in Perth. Picture: Supplied Source: PerthNow

SINGER-songwriter Megan Washington sung to a sold-out audience under the stars last night, charming her way into their hearts along the way.

The charismatic and chatty musician, who was last in Perth just a few short months ago supporting her idol Rufus Wainwright, won the crowd over with a string of cheesy jokes and a series of funny back stories to her songs throughout the evening.

Surrounded by a sea of red roses and hanging lights, it was with breathtaking vocal range that Washington paced her way through numbers including Fighting The Good Fight, new song Sorry For Everything, Swallows, The Hardest Part, 80 Miles, The Belly Of The Whale, Mirror In The Mirror, How To Tame Lions and a cover of Rowland S Howard's song Shivers.

For much of the evening, it was just Washington, with a flower crown atop her head, and her keyboard on stage but at times Ben Witt of The Chemist joined her on guitar as well as a string section that added an extra element of magic.

 

Following an intermission halfway through her set, a shoeless Washington returned to the stage with a bizarre love song about a human and a gorilla called Ballad of Bokito and Petronella and covers including Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, Tom Waits' Picture In A Frame and Rufus Wainwright's Want.

"You guys are a really well-behaved audience – your mothers would be proud," she joked before picking up a guitar.

Though she awkwardly fumbled her way through a couple of songs, including Welcome Stranger, on the instrument, the audience didn't seem to mind as they giggled along with the endearing singer.

It was almost possible to hear a pin drop as the night ended with a stunning instrument-free rendition of Meet Me In The Middle Of The Air.

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IKEA admits using forced labour

Swedish furniture giant Ikea has expressed regret that it benefited from the use of forced prison labour.

SWEDISH furniture giant IKEA has admitted that it benefited from the use of forced prison labor by some of its suppliers in communist East Germany more than two decades ago.

The company released an independent report showing that East German prisoners, among them many political dissidents, were involved in the manufacture of goods supplied to IKEA between 25 and 30 years ago.

The report concluded that IKEA managers were aware of the possibility that prisoners would be used in the manufacture of its products and took some measures to prevent this, but they were insufficient.

"We deeply regret that this could happen,'' Jeanette Skjelmose, an IKEA manager, said in a statement. ``The use of political prisoners for manufacturing was at no point accepted by IKEA.''

But she added that "at the time we didn't have the well-developed control system that we have today and we clearly did too little to prevent such production methods.''

IKEA asked auditors Ernst & Young in June to look into allegations aired earlier this year by a Swedish television documentary, but first raised by a human rights group in 1982.

Rainer Wagner, chairman of the victims' group UOKG, said IKEA was just one of many companies that benefited from the use of forced prison labor in East Germany from the 1960s to 1980s.

"IKEA is only the tip of the iceberg,'' he told The Associated Press in an interview earlier this week.

Wagner said he hoped that IKEA and others would consider compensating former prisoners, many of whom carry psychological and physical scars from arduous labor they were forced to do.

Decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall, experts are still trying to understand the full extent of the regime's exploitation of its people.
 

"IKEA has taken the lead on this, for which we are very grateful,'' he told a news conference in Berlin, where the findings of the report were presented.

According to historians, forced labor was a widespread phenomenon in East Germany, which desperately needed hard Western currency to support its planned economy. The prison labor is estimated to have cost a tenth of what it would have cost in the west.

Some 23 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, experts are still trying to understand the full extent of the regime's exploitation of its people.

Alexander Arnold, who was imprisoned in Naumburg in the early 1980s, said prisoners who failed to meet a quota were punished.

"If one delivered less than 80 percent of the expected standard, one was accused of sabotage,'' he said.
Anita Gossler, a campaigner and former prisoner, said inmates of East Germany's notorious Hoheneck prison for women were forced to sew bedclothes destined for foreign companies.

"There were three shifts each day,'' she said. "You couldn't refuse. If you did you were locked in a dark cell with bread and soup for at least three days.'' Until 1980 prisoners also risked being sent to the 'water room,' where they had to stand knee-deep in cold water for hours.

Gossler said one inmate once managed to hide a note in a bed cover that was later discovered by an IKEA customer in the west - a rare piece of evidence of forced labour at the time.

Peter Betzel, the head of IKEA Germany, said the company would continue to support efforts to investigate the use of prisoners in East Germany.

Today, he said, "we can exclude with almost 100 percent certainty that such things as happened in East Germany happen elsewhere.''

IKEA has over 300 stores worldwide, racking up sales of 26 billion euros ($33.14 billion) last year, according to its website.

The company has been embroiled in controversy in the past. A book published last year claimed IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad joined the Swedish Nazi party in 1943 when he was 17 and remained in contact with Nazi sympathizers until at least 1950.

The allegations by respected Swedish author and journalist Elisabeth Asbrink went beyond what Kamprad had previously acknowledged in a 1988 book about his life. At the time, he asked for forgiveness for his youthful "stupidity.''
 

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School overturns controversial hugging ban

Amber Rome, right, had to endure a detention for hugging at Adams Road Primary School. Source: Supplied

A PRIMARY school that made national headlines for punishing its students for hugging has overturned its controversial rule.

Adam Road Primary School acting principal Gemma Preston said the school had overturned the ban on hugging, after concerns raised by parents.
 
At the school's board meeting this week, changes were made to the Bunbury school's code of conduct to reflect a "commonsense approach".
 
"The board agreed that students would be asked to respect each other's personal space and avoid inappropriate or excessive physical contact," she said.
 
"The changes recognise that physical contact, such as hugging between students, is entirely appropriate in some situations and teachers will be able to make this judgement.
 
"Obviously, physical contact, such as squeezing and hurting another child, is not acceptable.

 
"I believe we have reached a commonsense solution to this issue and look forward to continued support from students and the school community."

PerthNow readers expressed their disbelief last month when Heidi Rome's daughter Amber, 12, was punished for giving her friend a hug goodbye by the acting principal of the school.

Then earlier this month another mother came forward to say her six-year-old daughter had also been punished for hugging at a South Australian school.

The harsh stance of the Bunbury school drew even sharper rebuke from readers, with more than 1000 readers commenting about the crackdown.

Ms Preston told PerthNow last month the blanket policy was introduced last year to ensure the students' safety.

"Parents complained about their children being hurt by excessive hugging," she said.

"For example, some children received bruised ribs from an over-enthusiastic hug."

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Invasion imminent as tanks gather near Palestinian border

Israel releases video showing the strike that killed Hamas Military Chief Ahmed Al-Jabbari. Deborah Gembara reports.

ISRAELI aircraft pummelled the rocket arsenals of Gaza militants on Friday and signaled a ground invasion might be growing near as troops, tanks and armored personnel carriers massed near Israel's southern border with the Palestinian territory.

Fighting between the two sides escalated sharply with a first-ever militant attack on the Tel Aviv area, menacing Israel's heartland.

No casualties were reported, but three people died in the country's rocket-scarred south when a projectile slammed into an apartment building.

The death toll in the densely populated Palestinian territory climbed to 19, including five children according to Palestinian health officials, as waves of Israeli fighter planes and drones sent missiles hurtling down on suspected weapons stores and rocket-launching sites.

Three Israelis have been killed after rockets were fired into southern Israel from Gaza.

Israel and Hamas had largely observed an informal truce since Israel's devastating incursion into Gaza four years ago, but rocket fire and Israeli airstrikes on militant operations didn't halt entirely.

Troops massing on the border

At least 12 trucks were seen transporting tanks and armored personnel carriers toward Gaza late Thursday, and buses carrying soldiers headed toward the border area.

Israeli TV stations said a Gaza operation was expected on Friday, though military officials said no decision had been made.

"We will continue the attacks and we will increase the attacks, and I believe we will obtain our objectives," said Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, Israel's military chief.

An Israeli ground offensive could be costly to both sides. In the last Gaza war, Israel devastated large areas of the territory, setting back Hamas' fighting capabilities but also paying the price of increasing diplomatic isolation because of a civilian death toll numbering in the hundreds.

The Iron Dome defence system fires to intercept incoming missiles from Gaza in the port town of Ashdod on Thursday. Picture: Tsafrir Abayov

Peace offering

Israel has agreed to halt a massive aerial campaign on the Gaza Strip during a visit Friday by Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Qandil provided militants also hold their fire, an Israeli official said.

"Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu has agreed to an Egyptian request to cease fire during the visit to Gaza this morning by the Egyptian prime minister, a visit that is supposed to last some three hours," the senior official told AFP.

"In our response forwarded to the Egyptians, Israel has said that the IDF (Israeli military) will cease fire on the condition that during that period there won't be hostile fire from Gaza into Israel."

Israeli war planes carried out multiple new air strikes on the Gaza Strip, including several hits on Gaza City, early Friday, the third day of an intensive operation against Gaza militants, AFP reporters and Hamas security sources said.

Israel under fire

The Israeli Defence Force said more than 300 rockets had been fired at Israel in the past few days, with one rocket hitting the central city Rishon Lezion, about 60 km from the Gaza Strip.

The IDF said three people were killed when a rocket landed on their home.

The trail of an Israeli missile launched from the Iron Dome defence missile system is seen along the Gaza border in response to a rocket launched from the nearby Palestinian Gaza Strip on November 15, 2012. Israel will take "whatever action is necessary" to defend its citizens from Palestinian rocket attacks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said as the military pressed a massive operation in Gaza. AFP / Jack Guez

Palestinian deaths from relentless air strikes rose to 19 overnight Thursday.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard joined  a growing chorus of world leaders condemning the rocket attacks and urging both sides to show restraint.

"The Government condemns the repeated rocket and mortar attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip and calls on Hamas to cease these immediately,'' she said.

"Australia supports Israel's right to defend itself against these indiscriminate attacks. Such attacks on Israel's civilian population are utterly unacceptable."

The United States called on Egypt, Turkey and European powers to press Hamas to end the bloodshed, putting the onus on the Islamist movement to end rocket attacks on Israel.

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak gave the go-ahead for 30,000 reservists to be called up, with the army saying it was "in the process of expanding the campaign''.

Among 11 Palestinians killed on Thursday were five militants, two children and a teacher at a United Nations-run school, medics and a UN official said.

Smoke rises following an Israeli attack on Gaza City, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012. The assault killed at least 11 Palestinians. AP /Hatem Moussa

Two brothers were among the other three dead but it was not immediately clear if they were militants or civilians.

In a surprise move, Egypt announced that Prime Minister Hisham Qandil would visit Gaza on Friday, as Washington urged Cairo to use its influence to try to halt the violence.

But Gaza's ruling Hamas movement remained defiant, ruling out talk of a truce even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned he was ready to "significantly expand'' the campaign, codenamed Operation Pillar of Defence.

"In the past 24 hours, Israel has made it clear that it will not tolerate rocket and missile attacks on its civilians. I hope that Hamas and the other terror organisations in Gaza got the message,'' he said after three Israelis were killed and 19 wounded as rockets pounded the south of the country.

"If not, Israel is prepared to take whatever action is necessary to defend our people.''

Shortly afterwards, a rocket hit the sea just south of Tel Aviv, the farthest distance ever attained by fire from Gaza.

The attack was claimed by the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, which said it had launched an Iranian-made Fajr 5 rocket at the sprawling coastal city.

The skies over southern Tel Aviv lit up like daylight after the sounding of an air raid siren.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at a press conference in Tel Aviv, said Israel is ready to "expand" its operation in Gaza. Picture: Jack Guez

A thump could be heard just after 7pm local time as the long range rocket hit water off the town of Jaffa.

The Israeli air defence system, the Iron Dome, kicked into gear, sending missiles into the skies to intercept any more intrusions.

Israeli missile hits car and kills three Palestinians as violence escalates. Deborah Lutterbeck reports.

Three volleys were sent into the air, flashing like fireworks as they exploded to the south of the city.

Gaza conflict escalates

In a televised press conference shortly after the sirens sounded, the military's official spokesman said that no rocket had "hit the ground."

"Despite the sirens, nothing hit the ground. The direction (of the rocket) was apparently towards the southern part of Gush Dan," Yoav Mordechai said in a televised press conference, referring to the region in and around greater Tel Aviv.

Israeli news networks said it was the first time rockets had been fired at Tel Aviv since the 1991 Gulf War, when the city was hit by Iraqi Scud missiles.

Israeli children run to a large concrete pipe used as a bomb shelter during a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on November 15, 2012 in Kiryat Malachi, Israel. Getty

"The firing towards Gush Dan and the extent of the general (rocket) fire toward Israel is an escalation,'' Barak said in a statement.

"This escalation will have a price that the other side will have to pay,'' he warned after approving a military request for the call-up of 30,000 reservists."

Senior cabinet minister Moshe Yaalon warned on his official Twitter account that Israel was considering all options, "including the possibility that forces will be ready to enter Gaza in the event that the firing doesn't stop''.

"Whoever continues attacking us, his blood will be on his own head.''Images shown on Israel's Channel 1 television showed people lying on the ground outside the defence ministry in central Tel Aviv, their hands over their heads as the sirens wailed.

The Herald Sun saw what appeared to be four anti-rocket missiles launched from within Tel Aviv to intercept the terror rockets.

"From the 7th floor balcony of the Renassaince Hotel, I saw what appeared to be one of the anti-rocket missiles intercept a rocket, resulting in an orange flash," the Herald Sun's Damon Johnston said.

Israeli defence forces are thought to have fired the volleys of anti-missiles in response.

For the first time in decades, Tel Aviv missile warning sirens rang out about 7pm local time.

A Palestinian demonstrator runs through a cloud of tear gas during clashes against Israel's operations in Gaza Strip, outside Ofer, an Israeli military prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012. AP /Majdi Mohammed

Locals said a crump was heard afterwards.

In a defiant gesture, Israelis continue to drive around the city, heading to the beach, appearing unbowed by the terror strike.

Shortly after Thursday's attack, the armed wing of the radical Islamic Jihad claimed it had fired an Iranian-made Fajr 5 rocket at the sprawling coastal city in central Israel.

"The Quds Brigades hit the occupied city of Tel Rabea (Tel Aviv) with a Fajr 5 rocket causing a large explosion to shake the city," a statement from the group said.

Tel Aviv-Jaffa lies some 60 kilometres  north of the Gaza Strip. Fajr 5 rockets have a range of up to 75 kilometres

Shortly after the sirens sounded and the rocket landed in the sea, mobile phone networks across the city appeared to briefly go down, AFP correspondents said.

The incident came as Israel pressed a major air offensive against Gaza militants, running more than 150 air sorties across the territory, killing 15 people and injuring more than 150.

In response, militants have fired more than 200 rockets at Israel, killing three and injuring 19 people, three of them soldiers, police and medics said.

Pallywood: Israel accuses enemies of fake casualties

A pro-Israeli website, "HonestReporting.com" has accused BBC News of broadcasting footage of an apparently wounded Palestinian civilian being carried to safety for treatment. But shortly after the man is pictured walking around, presumably uninjured.

"HonestReporting" claims the footage is a classic case of "Pallywood," which it describes as faked or exaggerated disaster scenes used to garner public sympathy.

US wants pressure put on Hamas to stop attacks

The United States has called on Egypt, Turkey and European powers to press Hamas to end bloodshed in Gaza, putting the onus on the Islamist movement to end rocket attacks on Israel.

The White House on Thursday said it was in close contact with Israel about its military campaign into the Hamas-controlled territory, in a conflict that officials said has killed 16 Palestinians and three Israelis.

"We've also urged those who have a degree of influence with Hamas such as Turkey and Egypt and some of our European partners to use that influence to urge Hamas to de-escalate,'' deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said.

"Our concern is, obviously, that Israel must be secure from these types of attacks and that, also, as this situation continues to unfold, it's only going to pose a greater threat to civilians and risk continued conflict in the region.''

The United States, Israel's closest ally, has backed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's calls for Hamas to put an end to rocket attacks into Israel in response to the military campaign.

Israelis prepare to spend the night in a bomb shelter in the southern Israeli town of Netivot. Picture: AFP

"We strongly condemn the barrage of rocket fire from Gaza into Israel, and we regret the death and injury of innocent Israeli and Palestinian civilians caused by the ensuing violence,'' White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

"There's no justification for the violence that Hamas and other terrorist organisations are employing against the people of Israel,'' he added, saying it ``does nothing to help the Palestinians''.

He called on Hamas leaders to stop ``these cowardly acts immediately to allow the situation to de-escalate''.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner said separately of Hamas: "This is a situation that they've created by firing rockets on innocent Israeli civilians.

"You know, we obviously mourn civilian deaths on both sides. But the onus is on Hamas to stop its rocket attacks.''

Obama spoke on Wednesday by telephone to Netanyahu and urged him to ``make every effort to avoid civilian casualties'' while stressing Israel's right to defend itself from Hamas' attacks, the White House said.

Netanyahu: We will take whatever action is necessary

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced at a televised press conference Israel will take "whatever action is necessary" to defend its citizens from Palestinian rocket attacks, adding that the army was prepared to "significantly expand the action" in Gaza.

An Israeli woman sits inside a bomb shelter in Netivot, Israel. Israel Defense Forces launched aerial attacks on targets in Gaza that killed the top military commander of Hamas. Picture: AP

The Israeli air force had "caused significant damage to the Fajr rockets aimed at Tel Aviv, the (surrounding) Dan region and north of that," he said, referring to Iranian-built missiles which have a range of up to 75 kilometres.

Earlier on Thursday, Defence Minister Ehud Barak, on a visit to an Iron Dome anti-missile battery near Beersheva, said the operation had "nearly completely paralysed" Hamas's arsenal of Fajr 5 rockets.

Hamas militants said they had fired several Fajr 5 rockets at Tel Aviv, but the Israeli military dismissed the claim and there were no reports of any attacks in the area.

Carr pleads for restraint, settlement

Egypt meanwhile contacted US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her Australian visit to ask the United States to intervene in the Gaza bloodbath.

Warning that the violence could "escalate out of control," Foreign Minister Mohammed Kamel Amr spoke with Ms Clinton during her stay in Adelaide and asked for "immediate US intervention to stop the Israeli aggression".

The call came after Egypt recalled its ambassador to Israel to protest the offensive against Hamas militants.

Israel barraged the Gaza Strip with airstrikes and shelling Wednesday and killed the Hamas military chief in a targeted strike, launching a campaign aimed at stopping rocket attacks from Islamic militants. The assault killed 10 other Palestinians, including two children and seven militants.

People look at a wreckage of the car in which was killed Ahmed Jabari, head of the Hamas military wing in Gaza City. Picture: AP

Mr Amr asked Mrs Clinton that the US "use what contacts it has with Israel" to stop the bloodshed

Assassination of Hamas leader sparks barrage of fire

Earlier:  Israeli aircraft, tanks and naval gunboats pounded the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip and rocket salvoes thudded into southern Israel today as terrified residents on both sides of the frontier holed up at their homes in anticipation of heavy fighting on the second day of Israel's offensive.

The operation, launched in response to several days of rocket fire from the coastal territory, was Israel's most intense attack on Gaza since its full-scale war there four years ago.

It started with the assassination on Wednesday of Hamas' top military commander, deepening the instability gripping the Mideast.

Israel's already strained relations with Egypt's new Islamist government frayed even further as Cairo recalled its ambassador in response to the Israeli military operation.

Just days earlier, Israel was drawn into Syria's civil war for the first time, firing missiles into its northern neighbour for the first time in four decades after stray mortar fire landed in Israeli-occupied Syrian territory.

The assassination of Hamas mastermind Ahmed Jabari was followed by a wave of Israeli airs trikes on more than 100 militant targets.

Smoke rises following an Israeli air strike on a house in Gaza City. Picture: AFP

The air attacks continued steadily into early today, targeting the armed group's training facilities and rocket launchers.

Ten Palestinians, including two young children and seven militants, were killed on Wednesday and more than 93 were wounded.

Early today, Israel targeted a motorcycle carrying a rocket squad, killing one militant and wounding two, a Palestinian health official said.

The Israeli military had no immediate confirmation of the report.

Tank shells and naval gunfire backed up the air onslaught.

Few in the territory's largest urban area, Gaza City, came out following the call for dawn prayers, and the only vehicles plying the streets were ambulances and media cars.

One of the air strikes on Wednesday destroyed a two-storey house, sending rubble flying within a radius of about 500 meters.

It shattered windows on nearby buildings, collapsed walls, knocked down a tree and cut electricity wires and telephone cables

The Israeli military says it is considering ground operations in Gaza as tanks and troops deploy along the border. Sunita Rappai reports.

Wajdi Ali, a 52-year-old teacher who lives a couple of buildings down the street, said the explosion was so powerful it threw him across his living room.

"By killing Jabari, Israel has cocked the trigger and fired at itself," he said.

"No one knows when this dark chapter is going to end. I am sure that dark days await us, and them as well."

Gaza schools were ordered closed until the operation ends, and most of the territory's 1.6 million people were expected to hunker down close to home, venturing out only to buy food, fuel and other basic supplies.

Hamas announced a state of emergency in Gaza, evacuating all its security buildings and deploying its troops away from their locations.

Israeli aircraft dropped leaflets on several locations in Gaza early today, warning Gazans to stay away from Hamas, other militants and their facilities.

The Israeli military said that the Hamas fighters and other militant factions, undeterred by the air attacks, bombarded southern Israel with more than 70 rockets after the operation began.

Israel's newly deployed Iron Dome missile defense system, developed as a response to the short-range rockets from Gaza, intercepted two dozen of them, military spokeswoman Lt. Col. Avital Leibovich said.

Image from aerial footage made available by the Israeli Defense Force Wednesday shows the car of Hamas military chief, Ahmad Jabari, circled, moments before an airstrike hit. Picture: AP

Israel declared a state of emergency in the country's south, where more than one million Israelis live within rocket range, instructing people to remain close to fortified areas.

School was cancelled in communities within a 40km radius of Gaza.

People living in areas along the frontier were ordered to stay home from work, save for essential services, and shopping centers were shut down.

Israeli police stepped up patrols around the country, fearing Hamas could retaliate with bombing attacks far from the reaches of Gaza.

Batya Katar, a resident of Sderot, a community that has been a frequent target of rocket fire, said streets were empty there.

"People won't be outside. The minute they assassinated the Hamas military chief we knew an offensive had begun. We were waiting for it, and it's about time they did it. We have the right to live like other countries in the world."

Israel said Wednesday's air strikes were the beginning of a broader operation against the Islamic militants and that a ground invasion was a strong possibility in the coming days if Hamas didn't rein in the rocket fire.

The military said it destroyed dozens of the militants' most potent rockets - the Iranian-made Fajr, which is capable of striking Israel's Tel Aviv heartland - as well as shorter-range rockets.

In all, the military estimated Hamas had 10,000 rockets and mortars in its arsenal before the military operation began.

In a nationwide address, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel could no longer stand repeated attacks on its southern towns.

Days of rocket fire have heavily disrupted life for some one million people in the region, cancelling school and forcing residents to remain indoors.

"If there is a need, the military is prepared to expand the operation. We will continue to do everything to protect our citizens," Netanyahu declared late on Wednesday.

Situation deteriorated rapidly

For the past four years, Israel and Hamas have largely observed an informal truce. But in recent weeks, the calm has unraveled in a bout of rocket attacks from Gaza and retaliatory Israeli air strikes.

From Israel's perspective, Hamas escalated the situation with two specific attacks in recent days: an explosion in a tunnel along the Israeli border and a missile attack on an Israeli military jeep that seriously wounded four soldiers.

Earlier this week, Israeli defence officials warned they were considering resuming their controversial practice of assassinating senior militants.

Wednesday's killing of Jabari was an indication they were serious. Israel has refrained from such attacks, which have drawn international condemnations, since its January 2009 offensive in Gaza.

Hamas officials had brushed off the Israeli threats, and Jabari, contrary to form, was driving in broad daylight when his vehicle was hit.

The Hamas military chief had long topped Israel's most-wanted list, blamed for masterminding a string of deadly attacks that including a bold, cross-border kidnapping of an Israeli soldier in 2006.

He also was believed to be a key player in Hamas' takeover of Gaza in 2007 from a rival Palestinian faction, the Western-backed Fatah movement.

The Israeli military released a black-and-white video of the Jabari air strike, showing a sedan moving slowly along a road before going up in flames in an explosion so powerful that a large chunk of the vehicle flew high into the air.

Crowds of people and security personnel rushed to the scene of the strike, trying to put out the fire that had engulfed the car and left it a charred shell.

Plumes of black smoke wafted into Gaza City's skies following other air strikes. Ambulance sirens blared as people ran in panic in the streets and militants fired angrily into the air.

Outside the hospital where Jabari's body was taken, thousands of Gazans chanted "Retaliation!" and "We want you to hit Tel Aviv tonight!"

"I was sitting on my bed with my grandson when suddenly the wall collapsed on both of our heads," said Mahmoud Bana, a 62-year-old man who was slightly wounded along with his 11-year-old grandson.

"We don't know what happened but we know it is going to be a few hard days ahead."

In a statement, Hamas' Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh eulogised Jabari and vowed revenge.

"We mourn our late leader who walked the path of jihad while he knew the end, either victory or martyrdom," Haniyeh said.

"There is no fear among our people and our resistance, and we will face this vicious attack."

Advocates say targeted killings are an effective deterrent without the complications associated with a ground operation such as civilian and Israeli troop casualties, and that they also prevent future attacks by removing the masterminds.

Critics say they amount to extrajudicial killings and invite retaliation by militants and encourage them to try to assassinate Israeli leaders.

During a wave of suicide bombings against Israel a decade ago, the country employed the tactic to eliminate the upper echelon of Hamas leadership.

Hamas accused Netanyahu of launching Wednesday's operation to win votes in the January. 22 parliamentary election. But major Israeli parties, including the dovish opposition, all lined up behind Netanyahu.

Still, the region has changed greatly since the Gaza offensive four years ago. Neighboring Egypt is now governed by Hamas' ideological counterpart, the Muslim Brotherhood.

Israel and Egypt signed a peace accord in 1979. Relations, never warm, deteriorated after longtime Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was ousted in a popular uprising last year.

The Jabari assassination threatened to further damage those fraying ties.

On its official Facebook page, Egypt's Freedom and Justice Party, which is the Muslim Brotherhood's political arm, called Jabari's assassination a "crime that requires a quick Arab and international response to stem these massacres against the besieged Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip."

It accused Israel of trying to "drag the region toward instability."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for calm and urged both sides to respect international humanitarian law.

On Wednesday night, the UN Security Council met behind closed doors to consider an Egyptian request for an emergency meeting on Israel's military action in Gaza.

The Palestinians asked the council to act to stop the operation.

Hamas killing has opened 'gates of hell'

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Witnesses describe mayhem after scuffle

Dylan Winter, 20, accused of one-punch attack on Swans footballer Luke Adams. Piicture: Kerris Berrington Source: PerthNow

A GIRL screamed "what have you done?" moments after footballer Luke Adams was allegedly hit, the District Court was told today.

Nathan Zurzolo, 21, was giving evidence at the trial of Dylan Gerald Wayne Winter who is charged with causing grevious bodily harm to the Swan Districts player on May 1 last year.

Mr Winter has pleaded not gulity.

During the hearing, Mr Zurzolo, a plumber and former classmate of Mr Adams, said he and his friends Alex Dalle Nogare and Tin Van Nguyen, who were both sober, were walking along Lake Street to their cars when they became aware of a commotion.

Mr Zurzolo said he and Mr Dalle Nogare were just behind Mr Nguyen when his mate yelled out "someone just got knocked out".

He said at that point he saw a man falling to the ground.

He also said he heard a noise but he was not sure if that noise was the actual punch or if it was Mr Adam's head hitting the floor.

After the punch Mr Zurzolo said he heard a girl yell "what have you done" as a taxi pulled up and then saw a man "run away from the scene" towards Metro City.

"I think they then said 'let's get out of here'," he added.

Moments after, Mr Zurzolo said he and his friends went to check on the victim and it was at this point that Mr Zurzolo and Mr Dalle Nogare, who had been standing next to him at the time of the incident, recognised Mr Adams.

"There was blood on his nose and when they rolled him over there was blood on the back of his head," he said.

His other friend Mr Nguyen told the court today that he had been standing in the middle of the road a bit further up when the incident occurred.

He said it was as he walked further up Lake Street to meet his sister and her boyfriend he saw the altercation.

As he got closer he said he heard a girl scream "get into the taxi" and saw a guy lying on the ground.

"I never saw how he got to the ground," he said.

He told the court he then saw another man standing over him "in shock".

"He was just looking at him," he said. "He looked like he was in shock. He then started slowly walking back and just looking at the guy on the ground."

Linda Keerasawat, 22, who had been out with the trio as well, also gave evidence.

She told the court she was a few metres behind Mr Nguyen when she heard "noises" up the street.

She said she kept walking and as she looked up she saw a fist hit the face of a man.

However she did not see who landed the punch because it was dark.

She also said she heard when the man fell.

Earlier, the court heard from former world number six Muay Thai boxer Jay Harper who trained Mr Winter at his gym in Rockingham.

He told the hearing the accused had been learning the martial art for about four months when the alleged assault took place.

He said Mr Winter was a novice who only trained twice a week but confirmed to the jury he knew how to punch, kick and grapple with opponents.

He also said Mr Winter had inquired about taking part in amateur tournaments.

The trial continues.

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Man steals jet ski in brazen robbery

POLICE have released CCTV images in a bid to catch a man who stole a a jet ski from a Mandurah apartment block.

Police said the man, who was dressed in black, entered the car park of the Dolphin Quays Apartments on Dolphin Drive shortly after midnight on October 24.

He removed the keys from the glove box of the Seadoo Bombardier jet ski, registration number DA725, which was on a silver Polmac trailer, registration number 1TKC067.

The man returnd later that night with a Toyota Dina truck, registration number 7MH324, which had been stolen earlier from Erskine.

He was disturbed by a resident and drove away, but returned a short time later, hitched the trailer to the truck, and drove off.

The truck was found abandoned in Buffer Lane, Cockburn Central, on November 1.

Any members of the public who can assist with the investigation are asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

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Teen on GBH charge after police party riot

Maurice Chigumbu had his car's rear and side windows smashed as a party riot broke out near his Piara Waters home. PICTURE: Kerris Berrington Source: PerthNow

The warehouse where an out-of-control party was held in Piara Waters. PICTURE: Kerris Berrington Source: PerthNow

The aftermath of an out-of-control party in Piara Waters where 500 drunken youths went on a rampage. PICTURE: Kerris Berrington Source: PerthNow

POLICE have charged a teenage boy with grievous bodily harm after an 18-year-old man was stabbed at an out-of-control party in Piara Waters in September.

The party, which was held in a warehouse off Warton Road on September 15, was described by police at the time as the worst they had attended in recent years.

More than 500 partygoers pelted attending officers with bricks, rocks, bottles and poles.

See the pictures from the party here

In the aftermath, a team of police investigators was formed to scour through CCTV, news and mobile phone footage and identify offenders.

Armadale Detectives arrested a 16-year-old Wannanup boy in Mandurah yesterday and charged him with grievous bodily harm.

He is alleged to have stabbed the 18-year-old with a knife in the abdomen as the party guests were being dispersed.

The victim was taken to Royal Perth hospital with serious internal injuries and underwent emergency surgery.

He was in hospital for a week.

The Wannanup teenager will appear in the Armadale Children's Court on November 26.
 

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CCC slammed for inaction on tasered man

Kevin Spratt, tasered by police at least 12 times in a Perth watchhouse. Charges have now been recommended against two officers. Picture: Colin Murty Source: The Australian

The states corruption watchdog has recommended charges be laid against officers who tasered Kevin Spratt.

Watch the shocking footage of Aboriginal man Kevin Spratt being stunned multiple times with a taser at the Perth Watch House in 2008.

WA's Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) has been lambasted by a parliamentary committee for being slow to launch its investigation into police who tasered a man at least 12 times.

Kevin Spratt was tasered repeatedly by Senior Constables Troy Tomlin and Aaron Strahan after he refused a strip search in August 2008, and CCTV footage of the incident has caused public outrage.

Police and prosecutors are yet to decide whether criminal charges will be laid, though the two officers were subject to internal police disciplinary action and fines of up to $1200.

The CCC had earlier recommended that the Director of Public Prosecutions consider laying charges against the two senior constables.

A committee launched to investigate how the CCC handles allegations of police misconduct concluded that the corruption watchdog made a serious blunder by not investigating the incident sooner.

``The committee formed the view that the September 2008 decision by the CCC to leave this matter to the WA Police for internal investigation was a serious error of judgment,'' committee chairman Nick Goiran said.

``The committee believes that there is clearly an expectation that matters of the nature of the Perth Watch House incident would be independently investigated by the CCC in the first instance.''

Mr Goiran said in future all similar allegations of police misconduct would have to be subject to an immediate independent investigation.

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Accused's friend saw footballer punched

Dylan Winter (left) who is accused of throwing the punch that left Luke Adams (right) with life-threatening injuries. Picture: Nine News Source: PerthNow

THE man accused of punching footballer Luke Adams had just taken up Muay Thai boxing a couple of months before the alleged attack, the District Court was told today.

Dylan Gerald Wayne Winter, 20, has pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Adams over the incident on May 1 last year which left the Swan Districts player in an induced coma for several weeks.

During the hearing today, the court heard from Neil Martin William Turner, 20, a childhood friend of Mr Winter's who was with him on the night of the incident.

When asked by prosecutor Amanda Forrester whether his friend had ever discussed his martial arts interest, Mr Turner told the jury they had.

"I knew he had just started," Mr Turner said. "We would talk about how training was going."

Mr Turner also told the court he saw his friend punch Mr Adams that night.

He said the group were heading down Lake Street in search of a taxi after they had received move-on notices following the brawl that erupted outside the Library nightclub.

Mr Turner said Mr Winter and a couple of others were a few metres ahead of him when the alleged incident took place.

"I got to the street after James Street I think, probably half way round the corner and heard a lot of noise," he said.

"Then I seen Dylan (Mr Winter) on the floor and Luke over the top of him."

Mr Turner said he then saw his friend punch the footballer and saw Mr Adams "drop to the floor".

When asked by the prosecution if he knew who Mr Adams was before that night Mr Turner replied no, explaining later he recognised him because he was a "big boy".

When pressed further on what he saw, Mr Turner said Mr Adams was "leaning over" his friend, who was on the ground, in an "aggressive manner".

He said he then saw Mr Winter take a "general swing, just a straight punch" at Mr Adams.

"It didn't seem that hard, just a general swing," he said. "I have seen worse. He didn't seem to put his whole body weight into it. It connected - it must have been a lucky shot. It didn't seem like a tough punch."

Mr Turner said he then saw Mr Adams take a step backward before falling to the ground.

He also said he never saw anyone engage in any physical contact before the alleged punch.

Earlier today, the jury heard from nightclub DJ Benjamin Thomas Smith who testified that he saw Mr Adams get punched following a scuffle.

He said he saw two men aggressively yelling and pushing and shoving and effectively "egging" each other on moments before the footballer was hit.

He also said he saw a group of between seven to nine men push and shove each other before Mr Adams was punched.

The trial continues.

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Does a bear hit in the woods?

A pair of grizzlies had an extraordinary stand-up fight after one pinched the other's lunch. Picture: Asao/Photoshot/Solent Source: Supplied

A grizzly bear gave onlooking photographers the fright of their lives when he charged them

Watch as these two bear cubs play fight on a road in Yosemite National Park. WARNING hilarious voice-over.

A curious grizzly bear thought he would climb into a ute for a better look

A pair of grizzlies had an extraordinary stand-up fight after one pinched the other's lunch. The beasts' ferocious roars echoed through a forest during the tussle, sparked by one male trying to steal salmon a rival had caught from the river. Picture: Asao/Photoshot/Solent Source: Supplied

• Grizzly bears go claw to claw.
• Fight broke out after one stole the other's lunch.
• Photographer captures fight from just metres away.

IT'S a fight that would even make Daniel Geale and Anthony Mundine take a backward step.

A photographer has captured the moment two 2.4m tall grizzly or brown bears went claw to claw after one tried to steal a salmon the other had caught for his lunch.

Shogo Asao, 60, who found the bears brawling in Katmai National Park in Alaska, felt like a "dead man walking" as the enormous creatures roared and fought three metres away from him.

"Suddenly, I saw two bears watching each other and roaring," he told the Daily Mail newspaper.

"They quickly began fighting wildly, without noticing that I was very near to them. One ran away until it was just three metres in front of me, and the other chased it at full speed.

"They were roaring, beating, clawing and chasing each other."

The professional photographer from Tokyo, Japan, captured the showdown.

"This is the first time I had seen such an exciting scene," he said. "I was so close to the violent animals that I felt like a dead man walking."

A pair of grizzlies had an extraordinary stand-up fight after one pinched the other's lunch. Picture: Asao/Photoshot/Solent Source: Supplied

The two grizzlies, thought to be around six years old, exchanged blows for a few minutes before moving into the trees and continuing to fight, then disappearing from view.

"Female bears usually hunt salmon at isolated places away from the waterfall," the photographer said.

"They have to take care of their babies and want to avoid fighting.

"After seeing this, I understand why."

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Violent sex offender jailed for 11 years

JAILED: A violent sex offender who targeted mostly young women has been jailed for nearly 12 years. Source: PerthNow

A VIOLENT sex offender who attacked five women and children has been deemed a danger to society and sentenced to nearly 12 years in prison.

Jason Bradley Pool, a father of two who lived in Western Australia's South-West, pleaded guilty to 15 charges involving victims ranging in age from seven to 37 - mostly young teenagers.

The attacks between 2005 and 2011 included offences of indecent dealings with children, indecent assault, attempted indecent recordings, burglary and aggravated sexual penetration.

Sentencing Pool in the Perth District Court yesterday to 11 years and nine months in jail, Judge Bruce Goetze said the 42-year-old's attacks had escalated in violence over the years.

``You have no respect for the invasion of someone's personal rights and sexual integrity, and you have no respect for the invasion of someone's dwelling in which they're staying,'' he said.

``Put simply, you're a danger to society.''

Details of Pool's crimes recounted in court included cutting a girl's clothes off her body and filming himself molesting her, filming a girl naked in the shower, and taking advantage of children he was babysitting.

``They were in your care for the evening, and one can expect you to have taken care of them and not to have offended in this way,'' Judge Goetze said.

However, he said Pool had shown genuine remorse by pleading guilty.

In a letter, Pool wrote: ``No one deserves to be treated that way. I shocked myself and did not offend again. Four months later I was arrested.''

Noting the victim impact statements, Judge Goetze said some of the victims had severe issues with trust, were still living in fear, felt they were being watched, and needed counselling.

He said one victim even thought she was going to die during Pool's attack on her and another victim no longer felt comfortable in her own home.

Judge Goetze said Pool had shown a ``significant diversity of sexual offending'' and was a high risk of re-offending.

He will be eligible to be considered for parole after serving nine years and nine months in prison. His sentence was backdated to January 31.

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Luke Adams trial: one-punch accused in fight with bouncers

Dylan Winter, 20, accused of one-punch attack on Swans footballer Luke Adams. Piicture: Kerris Berrington Source: PerthNow

Swans footballer Luke Adams arrives at District Court. Picture: Kerris Berrington Source: PerthNow

TWO bouncers have claimed they were both hit during a brawl by the man accused of a one-punch attack on footballer Luke Adams.

Matthew Ryan Lindsay, 20, and Adrian Courtois, 23, were both working at the Library nightclub when a fight broke out between Dylan Gerald Wayne Winter, his friends and security staff from the venue that night.

CCTV footage was played to the District Court today that showed the group being evicted from the club then being caught up in a brawl that broke out minutes later.

Mr Winter has pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm over the incident on May 1 last year which left Mr Adams in an induced coma for several weeks.

Mr Courtois told the hearing today he was standing at the exit door when he saw one of the evicted men spit into his colleague's face.

The bouncer then pushed the male and a brawl ensued.

Mr Courtois said he then went over to help his colleagues, but slipped over and fell.

It was when he was on the ground that he claimed someone attacked him.

"He was hitting me on the right side on my head," Mr Courtois told the court.

Mr Courtois said he also remembered being kicked and punched in the ribs but later under cross-examination acknowledged parts of his recollection were wrong. He did however insist he remembered being hit at least three times.

During his evidence the court was shown footage of the brawl, which showed Mr Courtois hit Mr Winter during the scuffle.

The 23-year-old later accepted under cross examination that he hit Mr Winter during the brawl.

Earlier Mr Lindsay told the court that he entered the melee at the point he saw Mr Courtois being attacked.

He told the hearing he saw a man punch Mr Courtois in the back of his head with his fist.

When he arrived he said he tried to pull Mr Winter out of the way and restrain him using a bear hug. The pair then collided with a nearby car, a struggle followed and Mr Lindsay claimed Mr Winter then lightly struck him on the left side of his jaw.

Mr Courtois then pulled the accused off Mr Lindsay and the trio dispersed, he added.

Under cross examination, Mr Winter's lawyer Craig Eberhardt suggested to Mr Lindsay that his client did not hit Mr Courtois but tried to fling him away. But Mr Lindsay said his recollection was that Mr Winter had punched his colleague.

A police officer who was nearby at the time of the incident, Constable Megan Want, also later testified that she saw Mr Winter attack a bouncer.

She told the court she was standing outside the Elephant and the Wheelbarrow pub when she saw the melee break out.

She said she saw a male with a grey shirt with rolled up sleeves "forcibly" pull a bouncer to the ground. This man was later identified as Mr Winter.

The trial continues.

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Toyota recall over dangerous steering

The Toyota Prius has been hit by another recall, this time over a dangerous steering fault. Picture: David Zalubowski Source: The Daily Telegraph

IN another humiliating setback for the world's biggest carmaker, Toyota has recalled 2.77 million of its most popular cars due to a fault that could result in the loss of steering.

The recall applies to 12,710 Prius models imported to Australia between 2003 and 2009.

Toyota Australia spokesman Mike Breen said continued driving "may cause the shaft to wear out, resulting in loss of control".

He said there had been three reports of related cases in Australia so far, but none had resulted in incidents.

The Prius is affected by an additional recall for a defective water pump.

Last month, Toyota was forced to recall more than 7.4 million vehicles worldwide to fix faulty power window switches.

The auto giant had barely recovered from a record 10 million vehicle pull back in 2009.

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Barnett defends Abbott's Aboriginal quote

Ken Wyatt, Member for Hasluck and first indigenous MP elected to the federal House of Representatives, giving his maiden speech. Picture: Ray Strange Source: The Australian

PREMIER Colin Barnett has defended comments by Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott in which he described WA Liberal MP Ken Wyatt as an "urban Aboriginal''.

Mr Abbott today said it would be terrific to have an "authentic'' Indigenous representative of central Australia in Canberra, in response to a question about the possibility of Northern Territory minister Alison Anderson switching to Federal politics.

That comment angered some, with accusations Mr Abbott was suggesting Mr Wyatt was somehow not authentic.

Mr Barnett said today he did not think that in praising Ms Anderson, Mr Abbott was in any way diminishing Mr Wyatt's worth.

"I'm not quite sure that Tony Abbott was properly interpreted,'' Mr Barnett said.

"I didn't hear exactly what he said, but can I just say Ken Wyatt is an outstanding person.''

Mr Barnett praised Mr Wyatt for being the first Aboriginal elected to the Federal Lower House.

"I've known Ken for over 20 years. He's a terrific guy, a great leader of Aboriginal people, a great representative of his community,'' the Premier said.

"So I don't think Tony Abbott intended any discounting or diminishing of the stature of Ken Wyatt.''

Mr Wyatt told Fairfax Radio on Wednesday that Mr Abbott's comments were not helpful, but he wanted to move on and get on with his job.

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Mother killed in freak Mt Lawley accident

Family members console each other at the scene of an accident where a car collided with a pedestrian. PICTURE: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

A WOMAN has been killed after she was hit by a car in Mt Lawley this afternoon.

The crash happened just after 3.30pm at the intersection of Walcott St and Learoyd St.

It's believed the woman was hit moments after her vehicle collided with another car and she stopped to inspect the damage.

A young boy, thought to be the woman's son, witnessed the crash.

Earlier reports indicated he was also injured but police have since said he was unharmed and taken away from the scene by ambulance.

Walcott St and Learoyd St have been closed and motorists are being asked to avoid the area.

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INXS confirm Perth show was their last

INXS are reportedly breaking up. Picture: Sean Middleton Source: PerthNow

FOOTAGE has emerged of INXS drummer Jon Farriss' speech at the band's concert at Perth Arena on Sunday night, announcing that it was their final performance.

A Mix 94.5 listener known as Mike sent the footage of the announcement, first revealed here on PerthNow, to the radio station.

SEE THE VIDEO ON MIX 94.5 HERE

"Tonight is very likely to probably be the last show we ever do," Farriss said.

"Seriously we kind of kept it under wraps but we wanted to leave it till tonight to let you guys know and Perth is really important to us because we feel very connected to this wonderful city. I'm getting all teared up."

The band also released an official statement confirming the news on Tuesday.

"We understand that this must come as a blow to everybody, but all things must eventually come to an end. We have been performing as a band for 35 years, it's time to step away from the touring arena."

"Our music will of course live on and we will always be a part of that."

"We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the friends and family that have supported us throughout our extensive career. Our lives have been enriched by having you all as a part of the journey"

The band, which formed in Sydney in 1977, played at Perth Arena on Sunday night as a support act for American rockers Matchbox Twenty.

INXS has strong roots in Perth after being formed by Farris and his brothers Andrew and Tim, who spent part of their teenage years in WA, and late frontman Michael Hutchence.

The band has performed with several frontmen since the death of Hutchence in 1997, including Jon Stevens and Terence Trent D'Arby. Irishman Ciaran Gribbin has held the role since September 2011. The band's search for a permanent singer was documented in the 2004 reality TV series, Rock Star: INXS which was won by Canadian J.D Fortune.

Fortune tweeted on Monday: "They are my friends and I feel very sad for them. It was an honour to have been a part of the band's history. Love and Mayhem."

The tour was the final leg of their run supporting Matchbox Twenty, leading some to speculate if the band were referring to the end of a tour, not the end of their career and were misquoted.

It is believed the band had scheduled a two year break after the tour, which marked 25 years since their international breakthough Kick was released but decided they would no longer play live before the Matchbox Twenty gigs started.

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Ultramarathon victims grateful for payment

Burns victim Turia Pitt (and inset, before the race) will receive $450,000 as an 'act of grace' from the state government. Source: Supplied

A $450,000 Act of Grace payment by the State Government will "go a long way" in helping Kimberley Ultramarathon burns victim Turia Pitt with her medical treatment, her lawyer says.

Ms Pitt and Kate Sanderson, who suffered life-threatening burns during last year's ill-fated ultramarathon, will both reveive the payments announced by Tourism Minister Kim Hames in Parliament today.
 
Both woman suffered burns to more than 60 per cent of their bodies when they were trapped in a gorge by a bushfire as they were running in the 100km race in September.
 
Lawyer Greg Walsh, who is representing Ms Pitt and two other men injured in the race, said Ms Pitt was "very appreciative" of the money.
 
"She's a wonderful young woman and she's very appreciative of what the government's done. They didn't have to pay any money so she's positive about it," Mr Walsh told PerthNow.

 
"She's pleased that the government's prepared to pay what she believes is a significant sum of money to help her and it will go a long to helping her in the short-term with her treatment."
 
Mr Walsh said he was still in discussions with the organiser of the event, Racing The Planet, and hoped to come to an out-of-court settlement with the company before Christmas.
 
He said Ms Pitt's ongoing medical costs for her horrific injuries would exceed $3 million.
 
"I'm very hopeful that Racing The Planet will now sit down and try to resolve these matters. It's in their interest to do so and this is the time to do it," he said.
 
"Turia doesn't want to go through all the stress and anxiety of litigation - it would just be horrendous for her."
Tourism Minister Kim Hames today tabled the government's response to an inquiry into the event, which recommended the state consider making ex-gratia payments to the injured competitors.

In handing down the government's response, Dr Hames said the payments would be made to "assist in alleviating their financial stress while they explore other options."

"The terrible tragedy that occurred on September 2, 2011, is something with which we can all empathise, but no one can truly appreciate the pain, suffering and disfigurement that Miss Pitt and Miss Sanderson have endured, and will continue to experience for the remainder of their lives," Dr Hames told Parliament.
"With this in mind, the Western Australian Government will make an act of grace payment of $450,000 each to Miss Pitt and Miss Sanderson under Section 80 of the Financial Management Act 2006.

"The Western Australian Government believes that having regard to the Committee recommendation, the gravity and extent of the injuries suffered by Miss Pitt and Miss Sanderson, and the uncertainty of any other act of legal redress available to them, an act of grace payment is appropriate."

Dr Hames said the Act of Grace payment was not an acceptance of any "legal, causal or moral responsibility" to compensate the athletes.

Michael Hull and Martin Van Der Merwe also received serious burns and required skin grafts, but will not receive compensation as their circumstances were not as "extraordinary", Dr Hames said.

Mr Walsh said his two other clients were not concerned about missing out on the Act of Grace payments.
 
"They were just concerned about whether Turia or Kate got compensation. They're really nice people and they were more concerned about them," he said.
 
Opposition tourism spokeswoman Michelle Roberts said the payment was not enough and she expected the woman to be offered $1 million or more.
"The Government is being very mean-spirited here. Clearly $450,000 won't be adequate," she said.

"I've spoken to a lot of people in the community about this issue. Just about all of them have said to me 'we don't mind our taxpayers' money being used to help these girls get on with their lives."

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Heated exchange before alleged one-punch attack on footballer

Swans footballer Luke Adams arrives at District Court. Picture: Kerris Berrington Source: PerthNow

Dylan Winter, 20, accused of one-punch attack on Swans footballer Luke Adams. Piicture: Kerris Berrington Source: PerthNow

BLOOD began pooling around Luke Adams' head moments after it "cracked" against the ground in an alleged one-punch attack, the District Court was told today.

Friend and fellow Swan Districts team mate Travis Gray, 20, told jurors at the trial of Dylan Gerald Wayne Winter that seconds after Mr Adams became caught up in a verbal argument with passers-by, he saw him falling backwards and heard his head hit the ground.

"He was motionless," Mr Gray told the hearing.

"He did not move after he hit the ground. I rushed to his aid to try and protect him. He was already out cold."

Mr Winter, 20, of Port Kennedy, is accused of causing Mr Adams grievous bodily harm over the incident on May 1.

The alleged attack left the promising footballer in an induced coma for several weeks. Mr Winter denies the charge.

The court heard Mr Gray had been out drinking with Mr Adams and a few other friends in Northbridge that night when the incident occurred.

They had been at The Deen nightclub, where they remained until about 1am then left to get pizza and had planned to go to the Capitol nightclub afterwards.

It was as they travelled to the club that Mr Gray said he remembered a verbal argument take place between Mr Adams and a group along Lake Street in Northbridge.

After words were exchanged Mr Gray then said Mr Adams said to him in a "firm" tone: "C'mon Travy, let's go smash these c****."

When asked by Mr Winter's defence lawyer Craig Eberhardt if Mr Adams caused the argument, Mr Gray said he could not remember.

However the 20-year-old did admit under cross examination that he deliberately withheld this information when he gave his first police statement because he did not want people to think Mr Adams started the fight.

When re-examined by prosecutor Amanda Forrester if he thought Mr Adams had started the argument, Mr Gray replied: "I am not sure who started it."

Mr Gray also told the hearing that when the comments were made he was about two metres in front of Mr Adams and was positive no-one else could have heard.

He also said he could not see anyone near Mr Adams when the comments were made nor did he see him being punched.

He only saw him "falling backwards" and went to his aid immediately.

"He was falling backwards with his arms up in the air," Mr Gray told the court. "I heard his head cracking on the ground."

Mr Gray said that when he rushed over to Mr Adams he was also punched in the back of the head however it wasn't hard enough to hurt him.

When he got to Mr Adams he said blood started "pooling" around his head and he went into shock.

A crowd gathered and an ambulance was called.

Mr Gray told the court Mr Adams never regained consciousness.

Earlier the court was shown CCTV footage showing Mr Winter and his friends being kicked out of the Library nightclub then becoming caught up in a scuffle with bouncers.

The footage also showed the group being issued with move-on notices by police just after 2am – about half an hour before the alleged incident with Mr Adams.

Other footage showing Mr Adams leaving The Deen nightclub and staggering down Lake Street was also shown to the jury.

No CCTV captured the alleged incident.

The court was also told Mr Winter, who fled from the scene, texted a friend later that day and told her that Mr Adams was "mouthing off so he got what he deserved".

The trial continues.

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A little Variety and Coby is raring to go

The Antonio family, from left, Kade, 15, dad Glenn, Coby, mum Sonia and Blace, 13. Source: PerthNow

COBY Antonio can barely walk, because he has a rare syndrome that has prevented his joints from forming properly.

But next month the Mindarie 10-year-old will be one of thousands taking part in the third annual Santa Fun Run for Variety WA. Participants will be decked out in Father Christmas costumes, and Coby will race on a reindeer-decorated scooter.

Sonia Antonio said her little boy was three years old when he was diagnosed with the rare Morquio Syndrome.

"He's missing an enzyme that breaks down sugar, and through that all his joints are grossly malformed," Mrs Antonio said. "It affects all his joints his ankles, his hips, his wrists, his fingers."

Coby's biggest dream is to be able to run, and he is undergoing multiple operations to straighten his legs.

"The main thing at the moment is helping him walk and run," Mrs Antonio said. "All he wants to be able to do is run fast."

Variety WA gave the Antonios a grant to help them buy Coby's scooter. "We use it when we go for walks and he hooks the dog up to it," Mrs Antonio said. "But it means he's all set for high school, which takes the biggest load off our minds."

The 4km Santa Fun Run in Fremantle will take place on November 25. A Santa suit is provided when you register. Last year, the run raised $40,000.

www.varietysantafunrun.com.au

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Keeping kids safe from abuse

Senior Constable Andrea Musulin from Carnarvon, finalist in WA Police Officer of the Year 2012. Source: PerthNow

CHILDREN as young as five should be taught how to protect themselves from abuse, according to a finalist in this year's Police Officer of the Year Awards.

Carnarvon's Andrea Musulin, a 44-year-old mother of six, volunteers hours of her spare time to run a 10-week program she has developed for local schools.

Sen-Constable Musulin teaches children from kindergarten to Year 12 "protective behaviours", including how to be assertive, ways to say no, being persistent in having their concerns heard, and to have a network of people they trust to talk to.

"Violence against children is not OK," she said.

"They don't have the knowledge and they're definitely not empowered enough to stop (abuse) happening.

"It's about intervening in the cycle of abuse and breaking it for them so they don't have to be abused for long periods at a time.

"It includes, first of all, their right to feel safe, that it's not OK if someone makes you feel unsafe, and we go into early warning signs of abuse.

"I am, in essence, working against the perpetrator."

Sen-Constable Musulin said her main message was for kids to be brave, speak up and stand strong.

As a young police officer working at Fremantle 1Police Station, Sen-Constable Musulin regularly dealt with domestic violence and child sex abuse. "Responding in the early days to it created a desire in me to do more in this field," she said.

Her dedication has seen Sen-Constable Musulin continue to volunteer even while caring for her disabled son, who was diagnosed with a severe case of Tourette's syndrome a couple of years ago.

She took leave without pay to care for him but continued her volunteering.

Sen-Constable Musulin returned to work part time early this year to be available for her son as well as for her teaching.

She is also volunteer chairwoman of the Carnarvon Family Support Service and the Child Sexual Abuse Response Service.

She recently developed the first on-air child protection program for isolated youth across WA with the Carnarvon School of the Air.

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Spring cleaning lands Freo retirees $1.4m

LUCKY FIND: A Fremantle couple found an old Lotto ticket that turned out to be worth $1.4 million. Source: PerthNow

A RETIRED Fremantle couple have discovered they are millionaires after finding an old Lotto ticket worth $1.4 million.

The woman said she was a weekly Saturday Lotto player, but only checked her tickets when she remembered to bring them to a Lotterywest retailer.

She found a ticket for the July 7 draw during a recent bout of spring cleaning, but kept it in her wallet for another few weeks before she got around to checking it.

"To be honest, I'd forgotten that I even had the ticket but I was waiting ot meet someone at the shops this morning and saw it in my wallet," she said.

"When they said I would have to come to head office, I thought I'd won about $1400 so it was a bit of a shock to hear that it was over a million dollars."

The couple will celebrate with a family dinner tonight and plan to treat themselves to a cruise to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

The ticket was bought at Hilton Plaza Newsagency, where there had been talk of an unclaimed 'million dollar ticket'.

www.perthnow.com.au/news/special-features/lotterywestcommunityspirit

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Wedding party nightmare after gang attack

SEVERAL wedding guests were seriously injured, with one having to undergo plastic surgery, after they were set upon by a group of people at a car park at Crown Casino on the weekend.

For bride Danika, her dream wedding turned into a nightmare when she, her new husband, and a group of guests arrived at the venue to continue celebrating.

Police said a verbal altercation broke out between the group of wedding patrons getting off a bus in the southern car park of the Crown Promenade Entertainment Complex and a group of young Aboriginals on Saturday between 12.30am and 1am.

During the altercation, a 30-year-old woman was struck and three men from the wedding party went to her assistance.

A brawl ensued between the groups, resulting in three guests being taken to Royal Perth Hospital with serious injuries.

A 40-year-old Thornlie man received a fractured nose and eye socket and concussion.

A 34-year-old Thornlie man was hit on the head with a beer bottle, which shattered, and then hit again on the back of the head with the smashed bottle.

A 37-year-old Bentley man was punched by an offender, causing him to fall backwards and hit his head on the pavement, resulting in contusions to his head and a concussion.

Danika, 28, said security guards were metres away from the group but did not help them.

"It was something you'd see in a movie, you wouldn't expect it to happen to you getting off a bus," she told Channel 10.

"I don't have any happy memories of Burswood anymore and I won't be keen to go back there."

Danika's brother-in-law, who was king hit, required plastic surgery for his injuries.

"I honestly thought he was possibly going to die," she said.

Her father, Phil, described the attack to Channel 10 as "relentless".

"They were just pursuing us to fight," he said.

Police are investigating the incident and would like to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time or who has any information. Contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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CIA boss resigns over affair

CIA Director David Petraeus has resigned from his post, citing an extramarital affair.

CIA Director David Petraeus has resigned after admitting an extramarital affair. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Source: AP

THE head of the CIA has resigned over an extramarital affair, bringing an abrupt end to a brilliant career that saw him serve as military commander in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

CIA director David Petraeus resigned in a letter to US President Barack Obama dated Friday (local US time) and was accepted by the White House, NBC reported. 

In the letter, Petraeus noted that he had been married for 37 years and had exercised "extremely poor judgment' in conducting an extramarital affair.

Petraues took over as head of the CIA in September of 2011 following his tour as head of allied forces in Afghanistan.

General David Petraeus, the new head of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, assumes command during a ceremony in Kabul yesterday. Source: AFP

The revelation shocked Washington just three days after the re-election of US President Barack Obama and shortly before Petraeus had been due to testify on the CIA's alleged failure to properly protect a US consulate in Libya.

"After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair,'' Petraeus said on Friday in a message to CIA staff, released to the media.

"Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organisation such as ours.''

It was unclear why Petraeus felt he had to step down over the affair, and whether his liaison presented a purely personal problem or raised security issues that could affect his work at the spy agency.

NBC television and other US media reported that the FBI was investigating Paula Broadwell, who is co-author of a detailed biography of Petraeus, "All In,'' for improper access to classified information.

The resignation comes amid criticism in some quarters of Petraeus over his response to a deadly attack in September on a US consulate in Benghazi, which killed the US ambassador to Libya and three other Americans.

Petraeus was due to face a tough grilling in a series of closed-door classified meetings in Congress next week, with some MPs questioning the former general's handling of the incident.

Michael Morell, Petraeus' deputy at the country's lead spy agency, will serve as acting director and Obama expressed his "utmost confidence'' in Morell's leadership.

The most celebrated military officer of his generation, Petraeus, 60, took over at the CIA just over a year ago after retiring as a four-star general.

Obama accepted the CIA chief's resignation after meeting with him on Thursday, hailing his ``extraordinary service''.

"By any measure, he was one of the outstanding general officers of his generation, helping our military adapt to new challenges, and leading our men and women in uniform through a remarkable period of service in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he helped our nation put those wars on a path to a responsible end,'' he said.

Senator John McCain, a loyal supporter who championed the general's surge strategy in Iraq, heaped praised on Petraeus for his tenure as commander there.

"General David Petraeus will stand in the ranks of America's greatest military heroes,'' he said.

"His inspirational leadership and his genius were directly responsible - after years of failure - for the success of the surge in Iraq.''

Intensely competitive, he graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point in 1974, where he met his wife, Holly, the daughter of West Point's superintendent.

Petraeus' resignation letter:

HEADQUARTERS Central Intelligence Agency

9 November 2012

Yesterday afternoon, I went to the White House and asked the President to be allowed, for personal reasons, to resign from my position as D/CIA. After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair. Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours. This afternoon, the President graciously accepted my resignation.

As I depart Langley, I want you to know that it has been the greatest of privileges to have served with you, the officers of our Nation's Silent Service, a work force that is truly exceptional in every regard. Indeed, you did extraordinary work on a host of critical missions during my time as director, and I am deeply grateful to you for that.

Teddy Roosevelt once observed that life's greatest gift is the opportunity to work hard at work worth doing. I will always treasure my opportunity to have done that with you and I will always regret the circumstances that brought that work with you to an end.

Thank you for your extraordinary service to our country, and best wishes for continued success in the important endeavors that lie ahead for our country and our Agency.

With admiration and appreciation,
David H. Petraeus

Holly Knowlton Petraeus holding the family bible as her husband David Petraeus is sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden as CIA Director, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. Petraeus has resigned as director of the CIA after admitting he had an extramarital affair. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Source: AP

 

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Register to help violence victims delayed

A register to help victims of domestic violence will be delayed. Picture: Thinkstock Source: Supplied

A NATIONAL register to help victims of domestic violence flee abusive partners will be more than a year late.

Key aspects of the register have yet to be devised despite promises from former federal attorney-general Robert McClelland that it would be in place last year.

Two years ago the attorneys-general from each state and territory agreed on a national scheme that spared victims the trauma of applying for a new Violence Restraining Order when they moved interstate.

The register was also supposed to make identifying repeat offenders for police more efficient and give them greater powers to arrest perpetrators from other states.

A spokeswoman from the Attorney-General's Department said the commonwealth remained committed to the register but the initiative could not proceed until "all states agree to the details of the reform".

She said Victoria was the only state which had committed to the scheme "in its current form" and was developing an options paper on "information sharing".

Details of the paper will be considered at the next Standing Council on Law and Justice meeting in April.

 WA Attorney-General Michael Mischin told The Sunday Times the Barnett Government was committed to a "simple, efficient system".

He said his office was still working with the other states and territories on finalising the details.

"The framework and information/data sharing mechanism to support the national recognition of domestic violence orders is still being developed but information on repeat offenders will be a consideration," Mr Mischin said.

WA Police received more than 800 reports of domestic violence a week last financial year.

Anne Moore, chairwoman of the Women's Council for Domestic and Family Violence, said the scheme would give more protection to victims.

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INXS call it quits after 35 years

INXS are reportedly breaking up. Picture: Sean Middleton Source: PerthNow

INXS announced that Sunday night's concert at Perth Arena was their last ever performance.

The iconic Australian band, who formed in Sydney in 1977, played at the new venue as a support act for American rockers Matchbox Twenty.

Drummer Jon Farriss announced the emotional news that they are disbanding and admitted  "I'm getting teary," before they launched into one of their biggest hits, Need You Tonight.

INXS has strong roots in Perth after being formed by Farris and his brothers Andrew and Tim Farriss, who spent part of their teenage years in WA, and late frontman Michael Hutchence.

The band has performed with several frontmen since the 1997 death of Hutchence. Irishman Ciaran Gribbin has held the role since September 2011. The band's search for a permanent singer was documented in the 2004 reality TV series, Rock Star: INXS which was won by Canadian J.D Fortune.

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Bullying filth on school Facebook pages

An investigation of more than 4800 Australian primary and high schools has revealed more than 10 per cent have a Facebook page on which students are taunting each other and teachers with abusive language and offensive pictures. Source: The Sunday Telegraph

STUDENTS at almost 500 schools are running Facebook sites dedicated to humiliating their peers as more and more children are forced to carry the incessant burden of cyber-bullying outside the school gates.

A News Ltd investigation of more than 4800 Australian primary and high schools has revealed more than 10 per cent have a Facebook page on which students are taunting each other and teachers with abusive language and offensive pictures.

Many of the posts are too offensive to reprint, but include graphic sexual discussion of students and teachers, shocking gore photos of suicide and accident victims, underage girls labelled ``sluts'', male teachers named as paedophiles and references to Nazism.

The majority of pages - many which carry the school's full name and logo - contain homophobic, racist and misogynist jokes and drug references.

Some of the most insidious pages, typically called ``burn books'' or ``goss pages'', name and tag students in vicious rumours, which are then ``liked'' and shared around other students' social networks.

Of 285 schools surveyed in WA, 38 had Facebook ``burn'' pages or similar. One Facebook page for Ballajura Community College school featured a photograph of a male teacher and female students overlaid with the logo of a pornography website, accompanied by snide comments joking that he was a paedophile.

The page, which accrued more than 600 fans since its launch in mid September, also featured photographs of students fighting, jokes about female Year 7s being "sluts'' and arguments between students using extremely offensive language, all underneath the school's official logo.

That page has since been deleted, however two others using the school's name still exist.

Acting principal Cheryl Townsend said in an emailed statement the postings on the website were absolutely unacceptable.

"We became aware of this page recently and have been actively involved in trying to remove anything from Facebook that we deem unacceptable and offensive in relation to the College, its students and staff.

"When we identify students who have had input into the sites we work with them, and their parents, to have the postings removed and to issue consequences, including suspension, based on their level of involvement."

Ms Townsend said parents had a key role to play in tackling cyber bullying as most online activity took place at home.

We have run a parent forum on cyber bullying and sent pamphlets home with our newsletter which included social media tips on privacy settings and staying safe online. We will continue working closely with parents and students in our efforts to stamp out this behaviour, she wrote.

Cyber-bullying expert Dr Barbara Spears, from the University of South Australia, said ``liking'' nasty Facebook posts was the new face of schoolyard bullying.

"Clearly, `liking' such pages contributes to the ongoing humiliation of others, and bystanders - those who contribute to bullying by not doing anything about it - are actively supporting it,'' she said.

Studies suggest 15 to 30 per cent of children are bullied at school, and around 10 per cent have been cyber bullied.

Dr Spears said bullying was not shifting from the schoolyard to the screen, but ``expanding'' there.

Constant access to technology meant "there is no escape'', she said.

Child psychologist and National Centre Against Bullying founder Michael Carr-Gregg said traditional playground bullies were taking their warfare online.

``What we're finding now is that a lot of these kids are using the technology to literally make other people's lives hell and the burn books are a really good example of this because so many people see it,'' he said.

Dr Carr-Gregg said vulnerable children could not brush off that kind of humiliation.

``For them, they've already got depression or they've already got anxiety so the gun is already loaded and the cyberbullying, the burn book, simply pulls the trigger,'' he said.

The most serious forms of cyber bullying can attract stalking, harrassment or defamation charges.

And it is illegal to use a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence under federal law, but a Federal Police spokeswoman said no minor had ever been charged.

She said parents should try to deal with cyber-bullying through schools and only go to police as a last resort.

Dr Carr-Gregg said too few people were charged over their heinous online behaviour.

``Some of these burn books can result in young people harming themselves so I don't think the law is up to scratch,'' he said.

"I think we need a social norm that says this type of behaviour is unacceptable and it needs to be enforced."

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