A BELGIAN tourist is in a critical condition after falling seven metres down a set of stairs at a Fremantle hostel.
The 26-year-old man suffered serious injuries after falling down the stairs at the High St hostel just before 6am this morning.
He was taken by ambulance to Royal Perth Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.
Police are investigating the circumstances around the incident but believe it was an accidental fall.
A CAR rollover in Two Rocks has left a woman and two children injured.
The accident happened around 1.30pm, leaving the woman with suspected spinal injuries.
Ambulances took the mother and her children to Joondalup Health Campus.
The children have minor injuries.
Derryn Hinch is shocked that few organ donor families receive thank you letters from the donor recipient. Picture: Supplied Source: PerthNow
DERRYN Hinch says he is shocked that most people will say thank you for a bottle of wine this Christmas - but fail to express the same level of gratitude to the families of organ donors who have saved their lives.
Speaking at the opening of the Donor Awareness Fountain in Geraldton today, the outspoken broadcaster said just 10 per cent of the state's donor families received a letter of thanks from transplant recipients.
``That's why I'm amazed when people won't, that donors don't get letters back from recipients saying: `Thank you,'' Mr Hinch told the crowd.
``Come Christmas later this month, you get a bottle of wine, you say: `Thank you'. I can't believe that people who get the gift of life are that ignorant or that rude.
``Some, I'll admit on their behalf, when I talk to them, (they say) they're scared - they don't know what to say. One man said: `I've tried writing four times, I just cry', and he can't do it.''
Mr McDowell said the fountain aimed to promote discussion about organ and tissue donation, offer a place of reflection for families, and honour those who have donated.
Mr Hinch said he travelled to Pittsburg after his life-saving liver transplant last year to personally thank Thomas Starzl, who performed the first human liver transplant fifty years ago.
``He said: `Derryn, it was an honour to meet you','' Mr Hinch recalled. ``And to see in you, in person, the international ripples of my crazy dream that I thought of 50 years ago.''
He said ``that man's dream is now with'' the McDowell family.
Mr Hinch urged West Australians to discuss organ and tissue donation with their families.
``The sad thing is even if you're on the donor list, more than 50 per cent of families will go against your wish,'' he said.
``I believe in the opt-out system, not the opt-in system... if the question was not: `Will you donate your organs?', but: `Will you accept one?', the answer would be about 95 per cent yes.''
Mr McDowell thanked the Combined Universities Centre for Rural Health, the WA Country Builders, the City of Greater Geraldton and Alysha's friend, Emma Fane, who donated their time and support to help raise money and make the fountain a reality.
Visit www.donatelife.gov.au for more information.
A PEDESTRIAN has died after being hit by a bus in Cockburn Central.
The accident occurred around 2.15pm near the North Lake Rd and Beeliar Drive intersection.
The man was taken by ambulance to Royal Perth Hospital where he died from his injuries.
Major Crash officers are investigating the incident.
NO PARKING: The new 60,000-seat stadium will have just 1000 car parking bays, with fans expected to use public transport. Source: PerthNow
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Fans heading to the news Burswood Football stadium need to leave the car at home, with just 1000 bays available. Source: PerthNow
Master plan of the new Perth Stadium to be located at Burswood. Source: PerthNow
SPACES for just 1000 cars will be made available at Perth's new $1 billion stadium, as the state government revealed their vision for how Western Australia's football fans will travel to Australia's newest megastructure.
The transport plan for the replacement for Subiaco Oval on the Burswood Peninsula will feature a new $55 million footbridge sweeping across the iconic Swan River, and a purpose-built $150 million rail link to the new 60,000 seater stadium, which is due to start construction next year and be completed by 2018.
And with Perth's transport bosses insistent that over 80 per cent of a capacity crowd will arrive by foot or by public transport, Premier Colin Barnett insisted he would change Perth's "car culture'' by making it almost impossible to park at the new ground.
"This will be a cultural change for Perth,'' Mr Barnett said.
"This stadium is going to be superb, and will have the best facilities compared to any other stadium in Australia. People are going to come to games early and stay after the games.
"Transport to major stadiums throughout the world is by public transport, so Perth is going to have to make that change and I think people will endorse that.''
Only stadium workers and VIPs are expected to be given access to the stadium's car park.
But the enormity of persuading Perth's football crowds to take the train, bus or walk was laid out in the recent State of the Cities report, which highlighted that almost 80 per cent of people travel to work by car and only 12 per cent by public transport.
Only 2.6 per cent of people in Perth walk to work - the lowest of any capital city in the country.
Mr Barnett and transport bosses also admitted they would be urging the AFL not to schedule more Friday night games at the new stadium - regardless of the success of the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers - because of the logistical problems it could present.
"A game starting here (on Friday) is going to clash with normal commuter traffic,'' he said.
The transport plan for the new stadium has been costed at $298 million, with the aim of 50,000 people to be transported from the stadium precinct by public transport networks within an hour of a final siren.
Perth's Public Transport Authority expects 35,500 people to depart by train, with 28,000 to use a new, six-platform stadium station and 7500 to walk across the existing Windan Bridge to an upgraded East Perth Station.
A further 14,300 people are expected to travel by bus - 8100 from a new stadium bus facility and 6200 from a new shuttle service next to Gloucester Park.
This will be accessible from the new pedestrian bridge linking the stadium precinct to East Perth.
Murder suspect Donald Morey claims Sarah McMahon (pictured) is living in Canada. She was last seen in November 2000. Source: PerthNow
THE West Australian coroner has been urged to find that a man serving 13 years in jail for the attempted murder of a Perth prostitute is the most likely person to have killed Sarah McMahon, who disappeared in 2000.
Ms McMahon was 20 when she went missing in November 2000.
Three police investigations into her disappearance have failed to uncover her whereabouts.
An inquest into the matter wound up late on Friday, with Coroner Alastair Hope saying there was no reason to suggest Ms McMahon died of natural causes, suicide or a drug overdose.
The evidence that she had died of homicide appeared overwhelming, Mr Hope said.
He also said evidence pointed to one of her acquaintances, Donald Morey, 57, who was the last person to have spoken with her, as the prime suspect.
Her car and mobile phone had been abandoned in Midland, where evidence showed she and Morey were around the time she disappeared.
Mr Hope also described as ``sinister'' evidence presented by several witnesses about a bag owned by Morey, containing ropes, knives, gaffer tape and extreme pornography.
Several witnesses also suggested Morey was attracted to Ms McMahon and that she did not return his feelings.
There was also evidence of their relationship changing, with Ms McMahon possibly having broken ``a code of silence'' about drug dealing two days before she went missing.
Morey testified at the inquest on Friday, saying Ms McMahon was alive and living overseas.
Philip Urquhart, counsel assisting the coroner, said the claim that Ms McMahon disappeared voluntarily was "patent nonsense'' as she seemingly had a strong relationship with her family and friends.
Morey had contradicted his claim that she didn't want to be found, by appearing in two TV interviews in 2001 appealing to the public to help locate her.
Mr Urquhart also said the credibility of several witnesses this week was lacking.
In particular, key witness Natasha Tracy-Ann Kendrick recanted a November 2011 statement to police in which she said she had seen Ms McMahon's naked body on Morey's bed, with rope looped around her neck and congealed blood on her face at a Marangaroo house he shared with trucking colleague Gareth Allen and his wife Marta Margaret Allen.
She said in the statement she and Ms Allen helped clean up the grisly aftermath on Mr Allen's request, and saw the body being removed from the house, wrapped in Morey's quilt and placed in Mr Allen's ute.
But on Thursday, Ms Kendrick denied any knowledge or involvement in the matter, saying she was "messed up'' on drugs and alcohol when she made the statement.
"In my submission, she's a thoroughly discreditable witness,'' Mr Urquhart said.
Ms Kendrick's assertion that she didn't say what was contained in the statement was "an obvious lie'', he said, given she had repeated major aspects of it in a conversation with her brother six hours after the police interview.
"It's a somewhat complicated web that they've weaved between them all,'' Mr Hope said.
Whether the coroner will refer the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions and make adverse findings against the witnesses will be revealed when Mr Hope hands down his findings on January 17.
'UNUSUAL MOVE': Premier Colin Barnett announced the termination of all business in the WA Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council for the year. Source: News Limited
WA parliament has been prorogued, bringing an end to parliamentary business almost three months ahead of the state election.
Premier Colin Barnett announced today that Governor Malcolm McCusker had made the proclamation on the advice of Executive Council, terminating all business in the WA Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council for the year.
It means bills not passed by both houses must be reintroduced in the next session.
Mr Barnett said the State Government would probably go into caretaker mode in early February.
The WA election is scheduled for March 9.
Political commentator Peter Kennedy said the move was unusual.
"It's very early to do that. That is very unusual," he told AAP.
"Normally ... the election has been called four or five weeks out, and then parliament is prorogued.
While standing committees appointed by either house still exist, they may not meet and do business. Select committees cease to exist.
Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said the decision had been made "far too early ... especially while some key contentious public issues still need to be fully investigated".
"Investigations into the Peel Health Campus, the real cost of major infrastructure projects and the true state of Western Australia's finances are all matters that need to be completed and put into the public arena," Mr McGowan said.
"This cynical ploy by the premier will prevent proper scrutiny and demonstrates his priorities are not in the best interests of Western Australians."
enex100 is calling on West Australians to give a click this Christmas and help local charities by placing a bid to raise the sale price of four bespoke Christmas Trees created by Perth-based artists.
Although not all bids may be successful, every click is a free gift to local charities this Christmas
The unique installations created by Cale Mason, Megan Isabella Guise, Zac Collopy and ID BY MONO's Zenifa Bunic and Nadia Paulse will be on display at enex100 until the 25th of December.
Bids can be placed here, with the proceeds from the sale of the trees to support the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, the Cat Haven, Parkerville Children and Youth Care and Silver Chain.
WHAT: enex100 Charity Christmas Tree Auction
WHEN: Now until 20 December
WHERE: Christmas Trees on display at enex100, 100 St Georges Terrace, Perth
Auction taking place online here
An expert examines a man's surf ski after he was attacked by a shark.
Martin Kane (right), with Cicerello's general manager Nick Unmack, has given his shark-bitten surf ski to the Fremantle restaurant. Source: PerthNow
Martin Kane (right), with Cicerello's general manager Nick Unmack, has given his shark-bitten surf ski to the Fremantle restaurant. Source: PerthNow
FIVE months after his surf ski was bitten through by a shark off Mullaloo Beach, Martin Kane has given it to Cicerello's restaurant in Fremantle.
Mr Kane miraculously escaped the 3.5m shark's clutches, thanks to quick-thinking friends in his paddling group who brought him to shore.
From today, his ski hangs from the popular restaurant's ceiling above its diners.
"It's fantastic it's found a home," the 62-year-old said.
"We did have it down at Mullaloo Surf Lifesaving Club but it scared the kids a bit from going into the water".
Originally, Mr Kane thought a dolphin was circling him but knew it was a shark when he saw its dorsal fin.
"When it happened, I didn't experience any panic; it was more shock and resigning myself to the fact my life was over."
Mr Kane says as time goes by, he is gradually getting over the trauma of almost being taken by a shark.
Cicerello's has given Mullaloo Surf Lifesaving Club a $1000 donation as a token of its appreciation.
General manager Nick Unmack said the surf ski tied in with the venue's overall ocean theme, joining another ski attacked by a shark in a similar incident 15 years ago.
"Former St Kilda footballer Brian Sierakowski and his friend Barney Hanrahan escaped from a 5m white pointer, which attacked their double surf-ski off Cottesloe Beach," he said.
"The bite marks on Martin's ski are eerily similar and both attacks occurred about the same time of the morning.
"We have about 40,000 people through our doors each month and about 8000 students a year on school tours, so we like to have interesting features with good stories behind them."
Perth mother Nella Panetta racked up a mobile bill of almost $148,000 while overseas and is threatening to take legal action against Telstra over the ordeal. PICTURE: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow
The massive mobile bill of Perth mother Nella Panetta. PICTURE: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow
The massive mobile bill of Perth mother Nella Panetta. PICTURE: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow
A MOTHER who racked up a mobile phone bill of almost $148,000 while on an overseas holiday says she is threatening to take legal action against Telstra over the ordeal.
Mystery still surrounds how the massive bill was accrued given Nella Panetta's insistence she manually switched off her global roaming setting on her handset just a few days into her two-month trip to Italy.
Ms Panetta, 33, said she used her phone for the first four days of holidays to check Facebook and Skype her three children before getting a local SIM card.
"When I got home from my holiday and opened up the first phone bill I thought it was a misprint.
"The first one was for about $75,000, and then it just kept getting bigger and bigger.''
Ms Panetta claims the nightmare has dragged on for over a year and she is still being pursued for an account that has now blown out to $161,000.
"I want this to be gone and for them to apologise,'' Ms Panetta, of the Perth suburb Marangaroo, said.
"It has been a nightmare.''
But Telstra insists it agreed to wipe the massive $147,908 global roaming charge late last year.
A Telstra spokesman said: "We contacted the customer some time ago to say that we would waive the $147,908.67 international roaming charge. We continue to investigate how the charge was accumulated.''
The remainder of the $161,000 bill is believed to be unrelated charges built up over several months in Australia.
Ms Panetta claims she is still being hounded by Telstra's accounts department and that they tried to burden her with the global roaming fee.
News Ltd was inundated with stories of overseas "bill shock'' yesterday after revealing the existence of the $148,000 bill.
But such stories could soon become a thing of the past, with Australia's communications regulator cracking down on telcos who don't properly warn their customers of high roaming charges.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority yesterday released for comment a draft international mobile roaming standard that aims to improve consumer understanding of unexpected high charges incurred when using mobile phones and other devices overseas.
The proposed standard would require telecommunications companies to warn consumers they are roaming and provide country specific information on the costs of calls and data use.
The draft standard also proposes that telcos be required to give their customers a low-cost way to decline the use of mobile services while overseas and tools to monitor and manage usage.
ACMA chairman Chris Chapman said the measures are aimed at reducing "bill shock'', where consumers who use a mobile device overseas can face unexpected high charges upon their return.
"These charges can run into hundreds or thousands of dollars for only a limited period of overseas use, as costs accrue not only for calls and texts but, increasingly, high data usage as `ever on' smartphones become more prevalent,'' he said.
Mr Chapman said ACMA is inviting the public and all interested parties to provide feedback on the draft standard, in particular information on any technical impediments and the likely cost to industry.
An inquest is being held to examine the disappearance of Sarah McMahon, who has been missing for 12 years. Source: PerthNow
A PERTH coroner has lifted a suppression order on the identity of a key witness to a murder 12 years ago after she recanted her story.
Natasha Tracy-Ann Kendrick, whose name had been previously suppressed for legal reasons, said in a November 2011 statement to WA Police that she saw the bloodied and strangled body of Sarah McMahon, who has been missing since November 8, 2000.
Ms Kendrick originally told police she was called to a house in Marangaroo by her friend Gareth Allen, who said his trucking company co-worker and part-time housemate Donald Morey had killed a girl at the property and help was needed cleaning up.
She said in her statement that she and Mr Allen's wife, Marta Margaret Allen, had cleaned up after seeing Ms McMahon's naked body on Morey's bed, with rope looped around her neck and congealed blood on her face, and also saw the body being removed from the house, wrapped in Morey's quilt and placed in Mr Allen's ute.
"I don't remember seeing any body,'' she told Perth's Coroner's Court.
"I didn't see any girl - I would remember.
"I didn't even go there as far as I know.
"I don't know what happened to Sarah McMahon.''
Ms Kendrick, who said she had a terminal disease, told the court her illness and the drugs made her "really mentally confused''.
And while her statement to police bore her signature, the key content was incorrect, she said.
In a recording of a telephone conversation with her brother that was played to the court, Ms Kendrick said she'd done the right thing in making the statement to police.
"Someone's got to do something - this is wrong,'' she said in the recording.
"I admitted my part in it. I feel good about it.
"I'm not going to go to my grave thinking, f***, if only that one statement might have helped and I hadn't done it.''
After her brother asked her who did it and she replied, "Don Morey'', she added, "He's a serial killer. He's done it over east''.
While she said to her brother in the recording, "I've even signed a statement'', she told the court, "this is not my statement''.
"I was rambling a lot and on drugs,'' she said of the conversation with her brother.
"Obviously that's me and I was more messed up than I thought.''
She also told her brother she was concerned about threats to her son.
On the final day of the inquest tomorrow, Morey is scheduled to give evidence.
He is serving 13 years for the attempted murder of a Perth prostitute in 2004.
At the opening of the inquest, coroner Alastair Hope was told that police had long suspected the involvement of 57-year-old Morey in Ms McMahon's disappearance.
Police charged a man over a police pursuit just hours after new legislation took effect, with the laws exercised again today after another chase.
INJURED: A police officer is in hospital after being injured in a high speed chase which ended in Clarkson today. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: PerthNow
INJURED: A police officer is in hospital after being injured in a high speed chase which ended in Clarkson today. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: PerthNow
WA Police have charged a Kununurra man who engaged in a police pursuit just 36 hours after new laws on evading police took effect.
The laws were exercised again today after two men allegedly rammed a police car into a power pole at a busy intersection in Clarkson just before 11am.
Officers had been pursuing the stolen vehicle at speeds of up to 130kmh.
The police car was pushed into the power pole with such force that the pole snapped in half.
A 42-year-old policeman suffered serious head injuries and is being treated at the Joondalup Health Campus.
** See more of the dramatic footage on Channel 9 News **
An eyewitness told 6PR radio today she saw a black Holden Commodore V8 speed past her closely pursued by police.
Jody said the car police were chasing drove at least 140km/h through a red light.
WAPU president George Tilbury said the union had fought to have the new laws introduced.
"It's about time these idiots who fail to stop and continue to drive in a reckless manner, putting the lives of the community at risk, will be sent to jail for six months," he said.
"I'm sure people found guilty of these offences will have plenty of time to think about that during their mandatory 6 month stint in jail.
"Of course it doesn't end there, under the new laws if they seriously injure or kill someone while driving in a reckless manner they will get a 12-month jail sentence."
There have been several high-speed pursuits throughout Perth today, including a 36-minute chase through Baldivis and Rockingham that involved the Police Air Wing.
Two men were arrested, with one charged under the new Evade Police laws.
"We have seen at least three arrests under the evade police laws in less than 36 hours of the legislation taking effect. I believe there will be a drop in the number of offenders trying to escape police once the harsh reality of prison time sinks in."
Chanel has opened a store in Perth's King Street. Picture: Marie Nirme Source: PerthNow
THE newest retailer in Perth's luxury shopping precinct believes King Street is the best in the country.
Chanel Australia and New Zealand managing director David Blakely was in Perth today for the opening of the French luxury brand's Perth store - meeting a crowd of people waiting to get inside.
Mr Blakeley said the company spent seven years searching for the right location and believed that "cute" King Street now had the perfect mix of high-end retailers for Perth.
"I think you've got a tremendous mix in King Street now - I think we're the last ones really to get here," he said.
The managing director said the recent closures of several King Street names, including Perth designer Ruth Tarvydas, didn't worry the international brand but wouldn't comment on how rent in Perth compared to other Australian capital cities.
"We've looked around and we believe that it is the best looking luxury street in Australia," he said.
"The buildings are great; the architecture is great, it was a matter of getting the right store in the right street – so that's what's taken so long to get here."
It's welcome news to the luxury precinct, which has lost a host of iconic retailer including Wasteland, Subway DC and Periscope recently.
Mr Blakely said the company's brand had a long-term future in Western Australia despite what some are claiming to be tough times in retail.
"I think retail is a dynamic industry," he said.
"Retail is booming everywhere or retail is doing it tough everywhere – it depends on who the retailer is and what product you're selling and how you actually retail.
"It's not about micro-economy - it's about having a range, having a brand that we're bringing to this city that we believe there will be a market for today, tomorrow and a long time in the future.
Within the first two hours of the store opening nearly 200 keen shoppers had experienced the new boutique, with some lining up for hours to get in.
The new luxury store – with high ceilings and spacious floor space - includes all the pickings of a Chanel store in Paris, London or New York with each designed by New York based architect Peter Marino.
"We're always using the original themes of Coco Chanel," Mr Blakely said, "the beige, the tweed, the gold etcetera, the black architecture.
"It just gets used in a little bit of a different way."
The managing director said the organisation went out of its way in training its 12 new Perth-based staff and design to ensure everybody – no matter the economic background - felt welcome.
"We have something for everybody and its constantly changing," he said.
The price of unleaded petrol is set to jump sharply from tomorrow. Source: AFP
THE price of petrol is tipped to rise by 13 cents per litre at many sites tomorrow, led by BP where unleaded fuel will sell for as much as 147.9c, according to FuelWatch.
Meanwhile, most Caltex, Caltex Woolworths and Coles Express petrol stations will lift the ULP price to 145.9c/L, with Gull and Peak stations expected to increase their prices to 144.9c/L.
The average metropolitan price for ULP tomorrow will be 144.1c/L.
FuelWatch advises motorists fill up today and pay no more than 135.7c/L as Thursday and Fridays are the most expensive days to buy fuel.
Wednesday's cheapest ULP is available for:
- 133.4 cpl at United Roleystone in the East;
- 132.8 cpl at Caltex Woolworths Warnbro Fair and Caltex Woolworths Canning Vale in the South; and
- 132.8 cpl at Caltex Woolworths Greenwood and Caltex Woolworths Clarkson in the North.
Tomorrow's metropolitan average price for LPG will be 81.6cpl, however, there will be over 30 sites selling for less than 79.0cpl.
Thursday's cheapest LPG will be available for 77.4cpl at BP Connect East Perth, Coles Express Perth and Caltex Woolworths Mirrabooka.
Property experts believe Perth is set to lead the nation in property price growth. Source: PerthNow
AUSTRALIAN house prices are set to rise in 2013 as increased affordability and interest rate cuts entice buyers into the market.
The latest snapshot of the national property sector shows prices dipped in the three months to the end of September, but they were unchanged over the year.
The Bendigo Bank/Real Estate Institute of Australia real estate market report found the weighted average median house price for capital cities fell 0.6 per cent in the September quarter, compared to the June quarter.
However the average price for other dwellings, including apartments, rose 1.2 per cent.
While Sydney remained top of the list for the most expensive median house properties, prices fell 0.4 per cent to $641,890 from the previous quarter.
Darwin was the next expensive city at $568,300, followed by Melbourne at $530,000.
The cheapest median capital city price was in Hobart at $340,000.
REIA president Peter Bushby said prices were expected to improve in 2013.
"We expect to see increased growth in the market based on improving affordability, coupled with recent interest rate reductions,'' he said.
"The rate cuts were a step in the right direction, and should encourage investors to start looking at investment properties.''
A strong demand for rental properties would be encouraging for would-be investors, while buying a home would also become more attractive thanks to increased affordability, Mr Bushby said.
The Reserve Bank of Australia cut the cash rate by 0.25 per cent to three per cent at its December 4 meeting, following earlier cuts in May, June and October.
Australian Property Monitors agreed that next year should be a good one for the market, with median house prices expected to rise by three to five per cent.
APM's State of the Market report, also released today, forecast median house prices were set to rise by three to five per cent in 2013.
Perth and Darwin would experience the largest growth, of between five and seven per cent respectively, while prices in Hobart and Adelaide would be flat.
"Overall markets have stepped forward modestly into recovery in 2012 with the prospect of this trend continuing in most capital cities,'' APM senior economist Andrew Wilson said.
"2013 should continue to build on the modest gains of the past year, however the forthcoming federal election and the likelihood of a protracted campaign may result in some uncertainty amongst homebuyers and sellers, with confidence already low.''
FORECASTS FOR MEDIAN HOUSE PRICES IN 2013
- National average house prices are forecast to rise 3-5%
- Sydney prices up 3-5%
- Melbourne up 0-3%
- Brisbane up 3-5%
- Adelaide flat
- Perth up 5-7%
- Hobart flat
- Darwin up 5-7%
- Canberra up 0-3%
Source: Australian Property Monitors
The surf breaks at Margaret River are a major attraction. Picture: Theo Fakos Source: PerthNow
West Australian surfer Taj Burrow competes in the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro. Picture: Supplied. Source: PerthNow
MARGARET River's quality restaurants and wineries combined with its world renowned surfing make it the best town in Australia.
The tourist town in WA's South West received the Best Town award for the second consecutive year at the Australian Traveller Readers' Choice Awards tonight.
The award ceremony, which was held in Sydney, also saw the Kimberley dubbed Australia's Dream Destination and Best Adventure Holiday Destination in Australia.
Sydney was voted Australia's favourite city, knocking Melbourne, last year's winner, off the perch by a single vote.
The Readers' Choice Awards are the only consumer awards for tourism in Australia.
More than 1000 Australian Traveller magazine readers nominated their favourite travel destinations and experiences throughout the country in a survey conducted by the magazine.
"Being voted by travellers themselves, the survey results are an accurate mark of what Australians recognise as the best adventures and destinations, and which leisure operators are excelling in their field," she said.
MISSING: Sarah Anne McMahon Source: PerthNow
A WOMAN has told an inquest into a young Perth woman's disappearance 12 years ago that she regretted relinquishing a bag containing knives, rope, gaffer tape and extreme pornography that belonged to a person of interest.
Sarah Anne McMahon has not been seen since she went missing after leaving her workplace in Claremont in November 2000, aged 20.
Three widespread police investigations since then have failed to discover her whereabouts.
WA coroner Alastair Hope was yesterday told that police had long suspected 57-year-old Donald Morey, an acquaintance, was involved in her disappearance.
Marta Margaret Allen, whose husband Gareth became friends with Morey in prison, told the inquest today she was shocked and concerned when she saw the contents of a bag belonging to Morey that he had left at their family home.
Morey, a former abattoir worker who is currently serving 13 years in prison for the attempted murder of a Perth prostitute in 2004, was staying part-time in the Marangaroo house after being employed by Mr Allen's trucking company.
Ms Allen described the pornographic magazines inside the bag as "horrific'', depicting bound, gagged and heavily lipsticked women who appeared to be dead.
It also contained dirty lengths of rope and two knives.
"Gareth was in shock - he had to leave the room - he was pretty disgusted,'' Ms Allen said.
Mr Allen had been looking for work documents sought by his employer when he found the bag while Morey was in hospital with heart problems.
Ms Allen said she immediately called police to tell them about the bag, but they took four days to respond.
In the meantime, she had given the bag to Lyn Bishop, Morey's partner at the time.
"I just wanted that bag out of my house,'' Ms Allen said.
"It's the one thing I regret - handing that bag over.''
She said she had an argument with Ms Bishop, asking her how she could be with someone like that.
She said Ms Bishop replied: "Don's done nothing and even if he has, you can't prove it.''
Giving evidence later, Ms Bishop said she could not recall the argument.
She did recall looking inside the bag and while she quickly closed the magazines after a peek, saying she "didn't like'' their contents, she didn't think there was anything unusual about the rope and gaffer tape.
"It didn't really compute with me,'' she said.
She said gaffer tape and rope were "everywhere'' around her Chidlow property, which Morey had helped her renovate and landscape.
Ms Bishop said she then gave the bag to Morey's friend Steven Taylor at the request of her then-boyfriend.
Ms Allen also told the hearing a statement by a friend, whose name has been suppressed, was incorrect and had been "fabricated'' by police.
In the statement taken only last week, a woman claimed she had seen Ms McMahon's naked body on Morey's bed with rope looped around her neck, and that Ms Allen had helped clean up after the murder.
"That statement is false,'' Ms Allen said.
The inquest continues.
Amrit Pal Singh leaves court back in February. Source: PerthNow
A TAXI driver who raped a drunken hen's night passenger has failed to have his conviction quashed.
Amrit Pal Singh, 32, was found guilty by a District Court jury in February of one count of sexual penetration without consent.
He maintained the sex he had with the 25-year-old woman in his cab a year earlier was consensual but was convicted and sentenced to six years jail.
Singh attempted to have the conviction quashed on the grounds Judge Gillian Braddock erred in her directions to the jury.
But in a unanimous decision today, his appeal was thrown out by the WA Court of Appeal.
The jury in Singh's trial heard his passenger had been very drunk after attending a hen's party in the afternoon and was refused entry to a nightclub in Leederville.
She got into his taxi to go home but he left the freeway and took her to a car park near bushland where he had sex with her.Singh then drove the woman home, where her husband helped her inside and paid the $60 fare.
The woman complained to police the next day after waking up and recalling part of what had happened.
In sentencing Singh, Judge Braddock said his actions were opportunistic and for his own sexual gratification. She said he had not worn a condom, meaning the woman had to be screened for sexual diseases.
"Your conduct may cause some women to fear taking a taxi home when they need to,'' she said.
The judge also said Singh's crime could tarnish the reputations of all honest taxi drivers in Western Australia.
She said Singh, who arrived in Australia from India in 2006, had failed to show remorse or understand the enormity of his crime.
Convicted child sex offender Bradley Pendragon. Picture: ABC News Source: PerthNow
NOTORIOUS pedophile Bradley Pen Dragon has claimed he was on the run from vigilantes intent on killing him when he assaulted a terrified mother at knifepoint in Perth earlier this year.
Pen Dragon was sentenced to five years in jail, without a chance of parole, for the knife attack on the mother and her 11-month old baby in Mt Lawley in August.
The victim, who wishes only to be known as Shannon, described her terror as Pen Dragon attacked her from behind with a butcher's knife as she sat in her car with her baby outside a suburban hospital.
She suffered significant cuts to her hands as she fought off the 52 year-old, who fled without stealing any money or property, and was arrested at a nearby train station.
As he pleaded guilty and was sentenced by Justice Lindy Jenkins in the Supreme Court of Western Australia today, Pen Dragon's lawyer Simon Watson said he had been acting out of desperation because he was virtually "on the run'' from vigilantes.
"He was told his throat would be cut ... he was threatened that bikies would find him and have him killed,'' Mr Watson said.
In a victim impact statement tendered to the court, the 38-year-old victim said her life had been turned upside down by the attack.
She said her family had sold the car she was attacked in, sold its house and moved to a different area in order to feel safe.
Speaking outside court, she said she was happy Pen Dragon was behind bars, but was still feeling the impact of the attack.
"In five years time my little girl is still going to be very young, and it would have been nice to see him released when she was all grown up,'' Shannon said.
"It was a like a scene out of a movie, and I still don't believe I could be so unlucky as to run into a character like that.
"He has a very, very long history, and he is a very frightening man. The community needs to be kept safe.''
Pen Dragon's conviction of assault with attempt to rob was the latest in a criminal past that began when he was 14.
He was released from Bangkok's Klong Prem prison in 2006 after serving 10 years of a 15-year sentence for the violent child sex offences, which dated back to 1993.
He moved from NSW to Western Australia after he was deported back to Australia, and then in 2008 and 2009 was convicted of several counts of possessing child pornography.
It was just 10 weeks after his release from prison on the latest child porn charge that he committed the assault for which he received the five-year jail term.
Melbourne Stars captain Shane Warne was all smiles ahead of their match against the Scorchers on Thursday. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: PerthNow
KEEP your eyes peeled if you're dining in Subiaco tonight - chances are one of the world's most famous couples could be at the table next to you.
Champion leg-spinner Shane Warne and British bombshell Liz Hurley have hit WA for a whirlwind visit ahead of Warne's appearance in the T20 Big Bash League tomorrow night.
The couple flew into Perth this morning, with Warne training at the WACA Ground this afternoon and Hurley given a tour of the venue.
"Just had a look around the Waca! What a beautiful ground…" Hurley posted on Twitter this afternoon.
After a net session and a media conference, Warne also took to Twitter to ponder dinner choices for tonight.
"Where should I take @ElizabethHurley to dinner in Perth tonight? Where's the best place that's romantic and quiet?" he posted.
GUTTED: Mt Lawley Primary School was destroyed by fire on July 7. Source: PerthNow
TWO teenage boys have pleaded not guilty to starting a fire which gutted Mt Lawley Primary School.
The pair, aged 15 and 16, told the Perth Children's Court today they were not guilty of a charge of criminal damage by fire.
Police claim the boys set fire to chairs on a veranda at the school on July 7.
Fire spread out of control, destroying most of the school and causing $9 million in damage.
The boys must reappear on January 21.
A truck carrying 45,000 litres of milk has rolled on Albany Hwy, spilling its cargo. Source: Supplied
A TRUCK has rolled near Mt Barker and spilled thousands of litres of milk onto Albany Hwy.
The accident happened 20km north of the town in WA's Great Southern at about 1.40pm today, after the driver lost control of the two tankers carrying 45,000 litres of milk.
Diesel also poured onto the road after the accident ruptured the truck's fuel tank.
Albany Hwy, near Gough Rd north of Mount Barker, is down to one lane and will be closed for several hours.
The truck driver has a suspected broken wrist and lacerations, and St John Ambulance is attending.
A replacement truck has left Harvey and will siphon the remaining milk from the overturned tankers.
A Department of Fire and Emergency Services crew is at the clean up and police are investigating the accident.
Convicter armed robber Jason Robert Herbert has fled from supervision while on parole in NSW and is feared to be on his way to Western Australia to harm two police officers.
Source: PerthNow
A DANGEROUS armed robber who has fled from supervision while on parole is feared to be on his way to Western Australia to harm two police officers.
Jason Robert Herbert reportedly escaped from his lodgings near Newcastle, in NSW, on Saturday after being released from prison two weeks ago.
He was wearing an electronic monitoring device on his leg and is understood to have simply cut it off.
Media reports say Herbert is seeking revenge for his brother, Troy Matthew Herbert, who was killed on his motorbike in 2009 as he tried to outrun the police officers in Perth.
The officers are now being offered protection.
"We're aware of the situation and have taken all the necessary actions to ensure the safety and security of all WA police officers,'' a WA police spokesman said.
Herbert escaped authorities in July, but was captured and imprisoned for four months, so this is the second time he's been on the run.
The chase was part of a 2010 inquest into deaths during or shortly after police pursuits, which found the police car reached 198 km/h in a 60 km/h zone, but aborted the chase before the crash.
An inmate was injured after a cell fire at Hakea Prison. Source: PerthNow
AN inmate has been taken to hospital suffering from burns after a fire broke out in a cell at Hakea Prison.
A Fire and Emergency Services Authority spokesman says four other people were treated for smoke inhalation after the fire started in a cell of the jail which acts as a remand centre as well as housing a maximum security section.
Five firetrucks attended the blaze, which broke out about 4.40pm and was extinguished 30 minutes later.
The FESA spokesman said the cause of the blaze was still being determined.
POLICE have charged two men over a home invasion in West Busselton yesterday during which two people were allegedly assaulted and a loaded firearm was pointed at a police officer.
Police will allege the incident started shortly after 4.30am on Saturday morning when two officers were called to an address in Moore Street where a man and a woman were found with head injuries.
The victims directed the officers to the rear of the house where two men were allegedly attempting to flee the scene.
It is alleged that the men used an axe to force entry into the property before assaulting the pair with the makeshift weapon.
As police pursued the men on foot, one of them allegedly raised a loaded firearm at one of the officers who immediately deployed his taser and arrested the man.
It will be further alleged that the second man confronted the other officer with a club-style weapon.
That officer also deployed his taser and was able to secure the offender.
Neither the officers nor the alleged offenders were injured during the incident.
The man and the woman from the home were taken to Busselton Hospital where their injuries are not considered life threatening.
Police have since charged two men, a 30-year-old Busselton man and a 19-year-old Broadwater man over the incident.
The 30-year-old man is facing seven charges including aggravated burglary, aggravated armed robbery and point a firearm at another person.
The 19-year-old man is facing four charges including aggravated assault occasioning bodily harm and being armed in a way that may cause fear.
Both men will appear in the Bunbury Magistrates Court tomorrow.
POLICE were forced to shut down an out of control party in Perth's southern suburbs last night after it was advertised on Facebook.
Officers were called to the party at a house on Briggs Court in Beaconsfield just before 9pm amid reports there were about 100 youths at the party creating a disturbance.
Police closed down the party and dispersed the crowd without incident.
Five juveniles were detained and returned to the care of responsible adults and two liquor infringements were issued.
Police say the party had been advertised on Facebook.
OPERATION UNITE: A 23-year-old man is issued with a move on notice for street drinking. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: PerthNow
OPERATION UNITE: A 23-year-old man is issued with a move-on notice for street drinking. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: PerthNow
POLICE dished out more than 250 move-on notices and 62 liquor infringements across WA last night in a nationwide crackdown operation targeting alcohol-fuelled violence.
Officers were out in force last night across WA as part of Operation Unite, a nationwide operation aimed at tackling drunken violence and anti-social behaviour.
Between 6pm last night and 6am this morning a total of 289 people were charged with 336 offences.
Police figures from the operation released this morning show there were seven assault charges laid, three charges of assault a public officer and 75 counts of disorderly behaviour.
Nineteen people were charged with driving in excess of 0.05 and 44 people were charged with driving in excess 0.08.
A surfer has died and another is missing after they were caught in a strong rip near Margaret River in WA.
POLICE have named the man who died near Margaret River yesterday after he was caught in rough surf as 29-year-old American Ian Bradley Vincent.
"He is from the United States and his relevant family overseas have been notified," a police spokeswoman said this afternoon.
A 22-year-old man who was also in the water yesterday is still missing and has not been found.
Authorities launched a massive search yesterday afternoon after reports several people had been swept out to sea in a rip at Redgate Beach just before 1.30pm.
Police pulled Mr Vincent out of the water but CPR attempts made by St John Ambulance officers were unsuccessful.
A marine and air search commenced at first light today with a helicopter, three Volunteer Marine Rescue vessels and two jet skis looking for the other man.
A number of State Emergency Services personnel were also deployed on the beach today.
Police have said Mr Vincent was surfing yesterday afternoon on a boogie board when conditions became treacherous.
Surf Life Saving WA posted a photo on Twitter about 4.30pm to alert swimmers to the dangerous conditions at the popular South-West beach.
The Royal Life Saving Society of WA released a report this week which found about 20 people drowned in WA each year and a further 100 were hospitalised after "near-drowning incidents."
The number of near drowning incidents has doubled in the last five years, the report said.
Men continue to drown at significantly higher rates than women, accounting for 76 per cent of deaths.
