Sword-fighting and magic at Medieval Fayre

Medieval Fayre enthusiasts Kim Edwards, with her children Arian, Ryker and Tane, Rob Braun, Steve Osborne, Peter Osborne, and Dianne Magnay. Picture: Will Russell Source: PerthNow

PUT down that smartphone and grab a sword for some olden days fun at the Perth Medieval Fayre on March 16.

A huge range of Medieval-type activities will be on show at the Supreme Court Gardens from 10am, with the day's festivities leading into a night of entertainment from 5.30pm to 9.30pm.

Crowds can watch sword fighting and fencing displays as well as demonstrations involving birds of prey, sword swallowers and jesters or jugglers and circus acts.

People can also participate in crafts, artisan workshops, camel and pony rides along with many  other activities for adults and children.

Organiser Stephen Osborne said the fayre was for all ages.

"We invite one and all to join with us at Perth's only Medieval Fayre as we travel back to a time when knights, lords and ladies graced the cities of the world," Mr Osborne said.

"The diverse entertainment on stage and around the grounds will delight your senses. You can cheer your champion as they battle through the tourney or marvel at the skills of the artisans displaying medieval arts and crafts.

"For children, there's a lot to see and do including Punch and Judy puppet shows, pony rides and have your face painted. Don't forget to learn sword fighting with a sword fighting master or create a sand picture.

"The spectacular and unique interactive night entertainment and fire show will include a gas-lit fighting arena and colourful magic acts."

Entry fees at the gate are: Children under 13 years accompanied with an adult are free, $5 concession (all cards), student card and adults dressed in costume, $10 adult with a maximum charge of $25 for large families.

For more information, go to www.wama.asn.au
 

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Teen, 17, 'critical' after fall from vehicle

RESCUE DASH: The RAC rescue helicopter has been sent to Guilderton to airlift an injured motorist. Source: PerthNow

A 17-YEAR-old youth is in a critical condition in Royal Perth Hospital with head injuries after falling from a moving vehicle in Guilderton, 94km north of Perth.

It is believed the injured teenager had been drinking before the incident on Moore River Road near the intersection of Stephens Crescent and has suffered a seizure after the fall.

He was airlifted to Royal Perth by the RAC Rescue helicopter where he remains in a critical condition tonight.

A St Johns Ambulance spokesperson said the youth had been drifting in and out of consciousness at the scene.
 
The RAC helicopter was sent to the scene and landed at RPH just after 5pm..

Girl, 10, knocked down outside polling booth

A 10-year-old girl has been hit by a car in Maida Vale out the front of a polling booth.
 
The accident happened at the intersection of Kalamunda Road and Priory Road about 2.40pm.

 
St John Ambulance has taken the girl to Princess Margaret Hospital where she is in a stable condition.  

 

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LANDSLIDE: Conqueror Colin Barnett takes four more years

JOYOUS: A beaming Premier Colin Barnett claims victory and thanks the WA voters and promises four more years of good government. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

VICTORIOUS WA Premier Colin Barnett has congratulated his successful MPs and promised "good government for another four years.''

Mr Barnett congratulated his coalition MPs who retained all the seats won at the last election.

``We've also won a further seven seats with a few still up for grabs,'' he told supporters.

He said the coalition deserved re-election as it had been a ``good government'', which was strong on the economy, ethical, principled and had introduced ``fantastic reforms in education and health.''

``This is the moment to enjoy,'' he said.

``And I promise you a good government for another four years.''

Mr Barnett congratulated Mr McGowan on his energetic campaign which he said gave the people of Western Australia a real choice.

GRACIOUS: Labor Leader Mark McGowan concedes defeat. Picture: Stewart Allen Source: PerthNow

Earlier, before 9pm -- less than three hours after polls closed -- Labor leader Mark McGowan conceded defeat after a crushing victory by the Liberal-National coalition, led by Mr Barnett.

At 8.50pm, Mr McGowan, who comfortably won his seat but saw his party decimated, said he had rung the Premier and congratulated him on his victory.

Mr McGowan said he was proud of the values that were reflected in his party's policies, which aimed to support West Australians in the regions as well as in the suburbs.

``I think we did a good job,'' he said.

``We went out there and we were bold in what we stood for.

``I know that we need to provide those basic core services, those basic facilities where people live in an expanding, growing state like Western Australia, and that was the vision we took to the election.

``That was what we wanted to make sure people understood that we stood for and that we strived to achieve in the course of this campaign.

``All of those ideas are ideas that we will pursue into the future.''

News Mark McGowan and wife Sarah voting at the Rockingham High School9.3.2013 Source: PerthNow

Labor had been courageous in putting out its ideas, he said, adding he was proud of the Metronet plan.

WA Labor's election campaign revolved around the Metronet train project but it was seen as an ambitious proposal and competed with the Liberal party's more piecemeal transport plans.

Federal Labor's sinking popularity and ailing image has dragged down the party's WA leader Mark McGowan, who was heading for a massive defeat in one of the state's most swiftly called elections.

Moments after counting began, ABC commentators said the polls that had pointed to a crushing victory to premier Colin Barnett and his the Liberal/Nationals coalition were proving correct and called the result about an hour into the tallying.

A brutally frank defence minister Stephen Smith said federal Labor had not helped Mr McGowan, who, despite a strong campaign, could not achieve an extremely rare defeat of a first term government.

Mr Smith said Saturday's result in the west proved the Labor party had many issues to work on before the federal election on September 14.

``We've had a tough time federally - you don't need to be a rocket scientist to work that out - and there's no doubt we have been a drag on Mark and there's no doubt that we haven't been helpful,'' Mr Smith said.

``We have a range of tough political issues to work through between now and September.

``It will go down to the wire.''

With 56.7 per cent of the vote counted, the coalition had 58 per cent of the vote on a two party preferred basis, with Labor taking 42 per cent, accounting for a swing of 6.6 per cent to the government.

Deputy federal opposition leader Julie Bishop said the WA election results - which very early in counting pointed to a Liberal/National coalition securing an overwhelming majority in the WA parliament - reflected poorly on Labor's brand.

Independent Liz Constable, who is retiring from the seat of Churchlands, said: ``I don't think anyone anticipated such a landslide''.

And WA Labor must have known it, with a very small contingent turning out for the party's gathering in Mr McGowan's home of Rockingham, where the atmosphere was decidedly sombre.

'WHAT A BLOODBATH' - LABOR MP

``It looks terrible. What a bloodbath,'' one Labor supporter lamented at the function.

Deputy leader of the Opposition Roger Cook admitted there had been some damage to the Labor brand from the federal government.

``To what extent it had a role to play in the state election is very difficult to say,'' he said.

WA Treasurer Troy Buswell, who had been attacked by the Labor party in the last week of the campaign, said the tactic had backfired.

``It's pretty un-Australian to play the man - I don't think West Australians have taken too kindly to that,'' Mr Buswell said.

HANNAH BEAZLEY MISSES OUT

Hannah Beazley, the daughter of former federal Labor leader Kim Beazley, looks highly unlikely to unseat sitting member for Riverton, Liberal member Mike Nahan.

The Swan Hills area, the focus of some of the key campaign issues including the Ellenbrook rail line and Perth-to-Darwin Highway, seems certain to remain firmly in the grip of Liberal Frank Alban.

Veteran Midland Labor MP Michelle Roberts and former Labor Transport Minister Alannah MacTiernan conceded early that the election was lost for Mark McGowan.

LIBERALS CELEBRATE EARLY

Pizzas by the hundreds were ordered, the balloons were standing proudly to attention, and the mood at the Sea View Golf Club in Colin Barnett's heartland of Cottesloe was a combination of New Year's Eve and a raucous 70th birthday party.

With the polls predicting a landslide, and the analysts saying similar within minutes after the polling booths closed, any Liberal nerves that may have existed on the morning of March 9 had dissipated long before the sun had set over the Indian Ocean.

The blue waves lapping against the nearby Cottesloe beach were being mirrored on the tally boards, as the seat of Churchlands fell first and many more followed.

Mr Barnett's advisers, who had spent the first weeks of the campaign playing catch-up to Mark McGowan's Metronet express, had the tired, relieved looks of those that would still have a job on Monday morning.

And when the numbers came through that there was an eight per cent swing toward Liberal enfant terrible Troy Buswell, who had become the target of Labor's bile in the final days of the campaign, the party really got started.

Mr Barnett had begun the day casting his vote next to a fellow constituent wearing his budgie smugglers.

As WA goes to vote, Premier Colin Barnett says he's confident he will be reelected and continue on as the state's leader.

And such was the astonishing tide of votes flowing the way of the Liberals, that the sight of a few of the more elderly supporters donning similar apparel running across the 18th green would not have been out of the question.

Balcatta, Kimberley, and then the seat of the Midland - parliamentary home of former Labor Police Minister Michelle Roberts - all swung violently, and the gasps of astonishment from the staunchest of Liberal supporters told the story.

Not only was Colin Barnett going to win, he was going to annihilate Labor, and secure himself a mandate to power ahead with his big vision for WA, while also sending a significant message to Prime Minister Julia Gillard, and a major boost to her September opponent Tony Abbott.

Take a graphical look at the entire state's seat-by-seat vote count so far, here.

SOMBRE MOOD AT LABOR HQ

By Angie Raphael
It was such a sombre mood among the WA Labor camp on election night that one of the only cheers from the crowd came when an image of the party's leader appeared on the television.

Less than 100 people gathered in Mark McGowan's electorate of Rockingham on Saturday night.

Heading into the state election, it looked like Labor was going to lose.

But no one expected political experts to begin calling the result before 7.30pm (WST).

``It looks terrible. What a bloodbath,'' one Labor supporter lamented.

Deputy leader of the Opposition Roger Cook was the only Labor politician to front the venue early in the evening and admitted to reporters that it was looking like a tough night ahead for his party.

``We need to just wait and see how the night develops,'' he said.

Mr Cook said there was still a sense of anticipation because it was early in the count.

He said there was a sense of pride in how the election campaign had been run by Labor.

``We believe we've run a very competitive campaign for a party that obviously doesn't have the resources to draw upon that the Liberal party does,'' he said.

``We've brought forward bold policies, bold visions for Western Australia.''
Mr Cook also admitted there had been some damage to the Labor brand from the federal government.

``To what extent it had a role to play in the state election is very difficult to say,'' he said.

They may be headed for a whitewash in the election, but at least there is plenty of good food to eat while Labor supporters drown their sorrows.

Mr Barnett maintained that at least a dozen seats hung in the balance, and that the Liberals would form another coalition with the Nationals even if the conservatives won the election outright.

Labor leader Mark McGowan, who holds the seat of the working-class suburb of Rockingham, said he'd run the best campaign he could have.

``You can't get down, you can't get distracted - you have to focus on what matters to the people in the community and not be deterred by whatever comes along,'' Mr McGowan said.

LEADERS CAMPAIGN TO LAST MINUTE

Both leaders spent the day visiting polling booths around the city in a bid to drum up last-minute support.

The WA Electoral Commission (WAEC) said voters surged to the polls early in the day, but a new computerised voter checking system at many centres kept waiting times to a minimum.

In the regions, WAEC staff in the Pilbara town of Karratha were stretched to their limit with the early turnout.

``We were hammered,'' local returning officer Jill Johnson said.

``And in all my time working on elections I have never seen so many party officials and volunteers working so hard to canvass people's votes.''

On top of the strong morning turnout, there was a 30 per cent increase in early voting, with 140,000 votes ready for tallying as soon as booths closed.

There were some light moments, including a raft of fancy-dressed superhero and fantasy fans who attended the Oz Comic-Con convention casting their votes in the Perth city polling place.

And a complete bridal party arrived at the Riverton district's Shelley Primary School centre before kicking on for festivities.

Deputy federal opposition leader Julie Bishop was full of praise for Mr Barnett, saying he would continue to stand up for the state's interests.

Ms Bishop said Mr McGowan had tried to distance himself from federal Labor, but that was futile because there was a deep distrust of the Gillard government that the state party couldn't shake.

Sportsbet called the election winner on Friday, almost 24 hours before polls opened.

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McGowan weighed down by federal Labor

GRACIOUS: Labor Leader Mark McGowan condeded defeat before 9pm as seats toppled like dominoes. Picture: Ross Swanborough Source: PerthNow

AILING IMAGE: Mark McGowan's bid to become Premier of WA was weighed down by the stigma of federal Labor. Source: The Australian

FEDERAL Labor's sinking popularity and ailing image has dragged down the party's WA leader Mark McGowan, who is heading for a massive defeat in one of the state's most swiftly called elections.

Moments after counting began, ABC commentators said the polls that had pointed to a crushing victory to premier Colin Barnett and his the Liberal/Nationals coalition were proving correct and called the result about an hour into the tallying.

A brutally frank defence minister Stephen Smith said federal Labor had not helped Mr McGowan, who, despite a strong campaign, could not achieve an extremely rare defeat of a first term government.

Mr Smith said Saturday's result in the west proved the Labor party had many issues to work on before the federal election on September 14.

``We've had a tough time federally - you don't need to be a rocket scientist to work that out - and there's no doubt we have been a drag on Mark and there's no doubt that we haven't been helpful,'' Mr Smith said.

``We have a range of tough political issues to work through between now and September.

``It will go down to the wire.''

With 56.7 per cent of the vote counted, the coalition had 58 per cent of the vote on a two party preferred basis, with Labor taking 42 per cent, accounting for a swing of 6.6 per cent to the government.

Deputy federal opposition leader Julie Bishop said the WA election results - which very early in counting pointed to a Liberal/National coalition securing an overwhelming majority in the WA parliament - reflected poorly on Labor's brand.

Independent Liz Constable, who is retiring from the seat of Churchlands, said: ``I don't think anyone anticipated such a landslide''.

And WA Labor must have known it, with a very small contingent turning out for the party's gathering in Mr McGowan's home of Rockingham, where the atmosphere was decidedly sombre.

``It looks terrible. What a bloodbath,'' one Labor supporter lamented at the function.

Deputy leader of the Opposition Roger Cook admitted there had been some damage to the Labor brand from the federal government.

``To what extent it had a role to play in the state election is very difficult to say,'' he said.

WA Treasurer Troy Buswell, who had been attacked by the Labor party in the last week of the campaign, said the tactic had backfired.

``It's pretty un-Australian to play the man - I don't think West Australians have taken too kindly to that,'' Mr Buswell said.
 

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Stadium by 2017 - AFL stars back Libs' Burswood plan

CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Colin Barnett at the site of the proposed Burswood stadium, flanked by Fremantle and West Coast mascots, and AFL stars Aaron Sandilands and Glen Jakovich. Picture: Colin Murty Source: PerthNow

PROMISE: Colin Barnett says the Liberals can deliver a new Burswood football stadium by 2017 - and has won support from AFL stars from both WA teams. Source: PerthNow

HANDBALL: Colin Barnett at Burswood today. Source: PerthNow

THE Liberals can deliver a new AFL stadium in Perth three years earlier than the opposition, Premier Colin Barnett says.

Mr Barnett last month said a stadium at his preferred site, next to James Packer's Crown Casino at Burswood, could be delivered by 2018.

But on election eve, he said the party was ``very confident'' it could deliver the new football venue in time for the finals in September 2017.

He's been consistent on how long he thinks Labor's Subiaco proposal will take, however, saying it won't get up before 2020.

On a bus tour of Perth with journalists today, Mr Barnett was joined at Burswood by West Coast Eagles player Andrew Embley and Aaron Sandilands from the Dockers, who backed the Liberal plan over Labor's proposal for Subiaco's Kitchener Park.

Former Eagle Glen Jakovich and ex-Fremantle player Peter Bell were also there, saying they also supported the Burswood concept.

The most heavyweight endorsement for the Liberal option, however, came last month from Eagles coach John Worsfold.

Perth's favourite footballing son said the stadium needed the capacity for expansion that was available at Burswood, whereas it appeared there were many space restrictions at Subiaco.

Mr Barnett said the Burswood site had enough room to expand to up to 80,000 seats, from an initial 60,000 seats.
In identifying savings to fund its ambitious Metronet rail project, Labor said its stadium plan was $300 million cheaper.

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Big Day Out death ruled 'accidental'

Gemma Thoms (right) with her mother Peta. Gemma died after taking ecstasy tablets at the 2009 Big Day Out in Perth. Pic. Supplied Source: PerthNow

INADEQUATE medical facilities at the 2009 Big Day Out festival in Perth contributed to the death of a teenager who took three ecstasy tablets after panicking that she would be caught with them, a coroner has ruled.

Gemma Thoms was just 17 when she collapsed at the festival, having earlier told paramedics that she had only taken "dexi'' - a slang term for dexedrine - and lied to paramedics that she was 18.

After being allowed to return to the festival, Ms Thoms had to be rushed to hospital soon after, but coroner Dominic Mulligan said her organs had effectively been "cooked'' before she got there.

"Ms Thoms did not know that after she swallowed the third tablet she had just consumed a fatal quantity of ecstasy, which in the context of a very hot day, would inexorably lead to her death unless she was extremely lucky,'' Mr Mulligan said.

Ruling Ms Thoms' death as accidental, Mr Mulligan said although medical services were within guidelines at the time of the 2009 festival, they were "inadequate'' to deal with a major medical emergency.

Guidelines and facilities have been upgraded since, with the coroner visiting this year's festival and saying the medical facilities were now in excess of what was required.

Mr Mulligan said the WA Health Department should revise guidelines to make sure similar events had the same level of medical resources as this year's Big Day Out.

Peta Davies, Ms Thoms' mother, said she was proud that improvements had been made to the festival's medical infrastructure after her daughter's death.

"I'm really proud of her (Gemma). I love her. She made a terrible mistake but I couldn't ask for anything better to come out of this situation,'' Mrs Davies said.

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Top office rivals tweet up a storm

SOCIAL media has become a major battleground for the WA election, with Labor describing Premier Colin Barnett's bus trip as a perfect metaphor for his reign - "all ego, spin and stolen ideas".

Opposition transport spokesman Ken Travers has been tweeting up a storm, taking a swipe at the Liberal leader on Friday about his bus tour of marginal suburban seats, taking him to working class suburbs such as Midland on election eve.

"If Barnett thinks Mirrabooka and Scarborough are the suburbs, it's no wonder Ellenbrook busway and Yanchep rail are now ghost trains," Mr Travers wrote.

"Will they take the Barnett bus on a tour of the Ellenbrook busway? Not in this decade!"

He also crowed about Labor's transport achievements seen aboard Opposition Leader Mark McGowan's bus.

"McGowan bus passes train at Whitford turn back. Line built by WA Labor and train purchase by WA Labor."

Mr Travers also admitted he was one of those who said Mr Barnett was "tired", sparking speculation this week that the Premier would not serve a full second term if re-elected.

"I said he was looking tired in answer to a question. Tired as in ideas and not enjoying job."

While polls and bookies say the Liberal party is set for a landslide win on Saturday, Labor has won the social media war if sheer volume is anything to go by.

Mr Travers is not the only politician to tweet a few barbs for opponents, with Liberal federal director Brian Loughnane writing: "Labor's a mess. Don't let them mess with WA. Secure WA's future. Vote Liberals WA".

Another Liberals WA tweet read: "Exciting news! Julia Gillard is finally coming to WA! Three weeks after the election", referring to her absence from Mr McGowan's side during the campaign.

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Sally Ayhan's latest weather update

GET the latest on what the weather's been doing today, plus the forecast for the next 24 hours and week ahead, with Channel 9's weather presenter Sally Ayhan.

Channel Nine's new weather presenter Sally Ayhan gives PerthNow readers a unique insight into what's been happening with the local weather and a sneak peek into what temperatures to expect over the next 24 hours.
 
For Sally's full weather report, including the 7-day forecast, make sure you tune in to Nine News at 6pm tonight.
 

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Sally Ayhan's latest weather update

GET the latest on what the weather's been doing today, plus the forecast for the next 24 hours and week ahead, with Channel 9's weather presenter Sally Ayhan.

Channel Nine's new weather presenter Sally Ayhan gives PerthNow readers a unique insight into what's been happening with the local weather and a sneak peek into what temperatures to expect over the next 24 hours.
 
For Sally's full weather report, including the 7-day forecast, make sure you tune in to Nine News at 6pm tonight.
 

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Mercanti's brother saw Xmas Day injury

THE brother of Finks bikie Troy Mercanti has told a District Court jury how he found his former sister-in-law holding her bloody mouth on Christmas Day, 2006.

Troy Mercanti, 45, is facing five charges, including grievous bodily harm and assault against Tammy Kingdon, his partner of 15 years and mother of his two sons.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Michael James Mercanti was today called by the prosecution to give evidence about what he saw at the family Christmas gathering at their parents' house in 2006.

Ms Kingdon alleges that Mr Mercanti hit her in the mouth, knocking out one of her teeth.

Mercanti's counsel Colin Lovitt QC has argued that she fell down the stairs to the garage – a story which was told to Royal Perth Hospital emergency staff at the time.

Michael Mercanti said he had been at the party for about an hour and was at the back of the house when he heard a commotion.

He said he rushed to the front of the house, worried that his mother might have fallen on the tiles.

When he came into the hallway, he saw Ms Kingdon with a bleeding face.

"I saw my mother pushing my brother away in the chest," Mr Mercanti said.

"And Tammy was holding her mouth."

He said Ms Kingdon's face sons had come from watching television with their cousins and started "punching and kicking" their father Troy Mercanti to distract him from their mother.

Michael Mercanti said Ms Kingdon was yelling "he's knocked my teeth out" and he ushered the children away.

When he returned to the room, Ms Kingdon had already left for the hospital with his brother Jason Mercanti and he started to clean up by rolling up the blood-stained floor rug.

Under cross examination, Mr Mercanti admitted there was some pressure to make a statement when he was approached by police because he did not want to talk about the day, but police said they would approach his wife if he did not speak to them.

He told Mr Lovitt it "was a terrible day for my family" but he had never assumed his brother had hit Ms Kingdon and conceded she could have fallen down the stairs because he only saw the aftermath.

Doctors from Royal Perth Hospital gave evidence today, including the plastic surgeon who repaired Ms Kingdon's eye socket when it was fractured in 1997.

The accused's mother is expected to be called as a prosecution witness tomorrow along with police officers.

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Meat cleaver, axe used in city brawl

Police believe this man can help them with the investigation into the brawl. Source: PerthNow

A 15-YEAR-old girl is among four people who have been charged over a wild brawl in the heart of the city last night which resulted in a man being attacked with a meat cleaver and an axe.

Police will allege about 10.20pm, the 46-year-old victim was involved in an altercation with several people outside a fast-food outlet on William Street during which he was struck with a meat cleaver and an axe.

He received numerous cuts and abrasions to his body.

A 45-year-old man and a 15-year-old girl, both from Innaloo, have been charged with being armed in public and acts or omissions causing bodily harm.

A 40-year-old woman also of Innaloo and a 23-year-old Wanneroo woman have also been charged with acts or omissions causing bodily harm.

They will appear in the Perth Magistrates Court and the Perth Children's Court tomorrow respectively .

Police would also like to speak to the man in this photo, who they believe can assist them with their inquiries into the incident.

Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Miners' underground dance harmless, says lawyer

WA miners performing the Harlem Shake. Picture: YouTube Source: Supplied

A group of work mates have lost their jobs doing the Harlem Shake while on duty. Courtesy Today Network Nine

THE lawyer for one of the sacked "Harlem Shake'' miners who broke into a dance craze in a WA underground mine says the 30-second dance that cost 15 employees their lucrative jobs did no harm.

West Australian mining contractor Barminco made worldwide headlines earlier this week when it sacked more than a dozen workers from the Agnew gold mine after their YouTube version of the internet's latest dance craze went viral.

Citing safety issues, Barminco sparked a national debate as to whether they were heavy handed in sacking the employees, posting on its company Facebook page that ``safety takes unconditional priority at all times ... and we will not make any exception to this''.

Barminco said rigid safety rules were needed in the inherently hazardous underground environment.

It has been revealed one of the sacked miners, Stephen Dixon, had referred his case to Fair Work Australia.

His lawyer John Hammond has told Fairfax Radio his case will focus on whether the men breached safety regulations.

Those taking part had considered safety before making the video, and had performed it during a meal break, Mr Hammond said.

"Around town, opinion seems to be very, very split as to whether or not these miners should have been sacked,'' he said.

"In making these comments I am talking about what people think politically. Everywhere you go people are discussing whether it was right or wrong for the company to have sacked those who engaged in what was a 31-second dance.

"Mr Dixon did consider safety. They left their steel capped boots on, they left their headlamps on and left the self-rescuers on before they engaged in the Harlem Shake.

"Doing a dance on the spot, jumping up and down gyrating, to me personally, was not a harmful act.''

Mr Hammond said 14 or 15 men had been sacked over the dance, eight who actually danced and six or seven who watched.

He said no one would disagree with Barminco that safety was paramount in mining, but it was yet to be seen whether the men contravened any safety requirements.

Mr Dixon said he was a dedicated worker, not a clown, and the workers had been anxious about their job security when they performed the dance to "let off steam''.

More than 10,000 Harlem Shake videos - based on the track by electronic musician Baauer - had been posted online by the middle of last month. The internet "meme'' was originated by five teenagers from Queensland, registered on YouTube as TheSunnyCoastSkate.

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Hunt for violent sex attackers

MANHUNT: Police are hunting for at least two men over two brutal sex attacks in Perth's south-east in the past week. The men were driving a car similar to this one in the Lathlain attack. Source: PerthNow

Police are seeking two young men who sexually assaulted a woman in Lathlain on Friday 1st March

MANHUNT: Police want to talk to this man in relation to a sex attack in Lathlain on Friday night. Source: PerthNow

MANHUNT: Police want to talk to this man in relation to a sex attack in Lathlain on Friday night. Source: PerthNow

POLICE are asking for the public's help to catch several men involved in two violent sex assaults in the past week.

The first assault happened in the early hours of Friday morning, when a 16-year-old girl accepted a lift from two men in the city.

The men picked the girl up at the corner of Wellington and Barrack Streets about 1am and drove her to Rayment Park in Lathlain, where they sexually assaulted her.

One of the men then dragged her from the car before driving away.

The vehicle was described as a white four-door sedan, possibly a Toyota Aurion.

One offender is described between 17 and 19 years of age, with a dark skin, 165cm tall, with a slim build.

The second offender is described as being 19 to 21 years of age, with a fair complexion, 183cm tall, with a medium build.

 

Kewdale attack

Sex Assault Squad Detectives are also looking for help to catch a man who sexually assaulted a 23-year-old woman in Kewdale on Tuesday.

The woman was walking along Knutsford Avenue just after 7pm when a man grabbed her, threw her to the ground and sexually assaulted her.

The man fled the scene on a bicycle and the woman phoned for help.

He is described as being about 19 years of age, approximately 170 to 175cm tall, of slim build with short brown hair.

Anyone with information about either crime is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

ashlee.mullany@news.com.au

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Armed robbers target liquor stores, taverns

WANTED: Police are hunting for two men who have robbed a series of northern suburbs liquor stores and taverns. Source: PerthNow

WANTED: Police are hunting for two men who have robbed a series of northern suburbs liquor stores and taverns. Source: PerthNow

WANTED: Police are hunting for two men who have robbed a series of northern suburbs liquor stores and taverns. Source: PerthNow

WANTED: Police are hunting for two men who have robbed a series of northern suburbs liquor stores and taverns. Source: PerthNow

WANTED: Police are hunting for two men who have robbed a series of northern suburbs liquor stores and taverns. Source: PerthNow

WANTED: Police are hunting for two men who have robbed a series of northern suburbs liquor stores and taverns. Source: PerthNow

WANTED: Police are hunting for two men who have robbed a series of northern suburbs liquor stores and taverns. Source: PerthNow

POLICE are hunting a pair of knife-wielding bandits they believe responsible for seven armed robberies in Perth's northern suburbs since November last year.

Detectives from the Regional Investigations Unit are calling for public assistance in their investigation into the robberies -- all committed on liquor stores or taverns.

A total of seven offences, all believed to be linked, occurred at various licensed premises between November 2012 and February this year.

About 7.40pm on Tuesday November 13, a man armed with a knife entered the Craigie Tavern and threatened staff for cash. He further threatened staff members, forcing them to lie on the floor before he fled on foot with money.

About 7.35pm on Wednesday November 21 a man armed with a knife entered the Edgewater Liquor Store and threatened staff for cash. He further threatened staff members, forcing them to lie on the floor before fleeing on foot with a quantity of money.

About 8.10pm on Monday December 24, a man armed with a knife entered the EdgewaterLiquor Store and threatened staff for cash. He further threatened staff members, forcing them to lie on the floor before he fled on foot with a quantity of money.

About 9.35pm on Friday December 28, two offenders armed with knives entered the BWS Liquor Store at the Greenwood Tavern and threatened staff for cash. They further threatened patrons at the tavern demanding they hand over various personal belongings. They fled the scene in a dark coloured sedan.

About 8.10pm on Saturday, February 2, a man armed with a knife entered the BWS Liquor Store in Kallaroo and threatened staff for cash. He further threatened staff members, forcing them to lie on the floor before fleeing in a small red vehicle with a quantity of money.

About 8.15pm on Saturday February 16, a man armed with a knife entered the BWS Liquor Store in Hocking and threatened staff for cash. He further threatened staff members, forcing them to lie on the floor before he fled on foot
with a quantity of money.

About 7.55pm on Tuesday February 26 a man armed with a knife entered Liquor Barons in Ocean Reef and threatened staff for cash. He further threatened a staff member, forcing them to lie on the floor before he fled on foot with a quantity of money.

In each instance, the offender/s identity was concealed with either a beanie or shirt material. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Three doctors suspended from Northam

Three doctors have been been suspended from Northam Regional Hospital following an investigation into the deaths of patients who died after being discharged. Picture: Kerris Berrington Source: PerthNow

THREE doctors have been suspended from a regional West Australian hospital over the deaths of five patients who died after being discharged.

WA's Department of Health revealed today that the three doctors from the Northam Hospital would be referred to the Medical Board of Australia following an investigation by the state's chief medical officer Gary Geelhoed.

They were also suspended from practice at Northam's emergency department.

A damning report pinpointed a lack of medical leadership in the emergency department, poor communication and uncertain roles in and between medical disciplines as major issues at the hospital.

"After reviewing the cases, I felt that some of the medical practitioners had questions to answer regarding their practice in specific cases,'' Professor Geelhoed said.

The hospital first came under scrutiny after the death in 2010 of 16-year-old Andrew Allan, who was sent home with Panadol after the hospital failed to diagnose swine flu.

That led to a scathing coroner's report on his treatment.

Earlier this year more worrying cases came to light, including the death of 53-year-old woman Eva Dimer. She was sent home with headache tablets after collapsing in July 2011 but collapsed again within 30 hours and died in Perth two days later.

The report said: "Inadequate history taking, poor communication between disciplines and lack of appropriate medical examination resulted in (Mrs Dimer) being denied appropriate medical care''.

Tamika Ullrich, a 23-year-old nurse, died after being sent home from Northam Hospital on December 29 last year with painkillers for a severe headache.

The report said inadequate medical history taking, the absence of physical examination and almost no medical documentation ``did not give the best chance to detect a potentially treatable condition''.

The review found the management of Ms Ullrich "was not consistent with best medical practice''.

Lachlan Hughes, a 12-day-old baby, died in 2010 of heart failure after the hospital sent him home twice.

Janice Saulys, 69, visited the hospital last June with a broken arm and returned after vomiting and was found to have the onset of renal failure.

She was treated but sent home, only to return a week later, fall into a coma and die two weeks later.

All of those cases are being investigated by the WA coroner.

The report said some of the problems had arisen from the hospital growing quickly from a `country practice' to a busy regional centre in recent years - but the issues should have been addressed.

"The problems encountered in the Northam emergency department could have been anticipated and avoided by medical leadership with appropriate authority and experience,'' it concluded.

Prof Geelhoed also recommended the employment of an emergency medical specialist to provide medical leadership and the establishment of a formal link with a metropolitan emergency department, with the possibility of sharing staff and shifts.

WA's Director General of Health Kim Snowball said work was under way to carry out the recommendations as quickly as possible.

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Lawyer clashes with bikie's ex

THE lawyer representing high profile Perth bikie Troy Mercanti in a domestic violence trial has had several heated exchanges in court with the alleged victim.

Mercanti, a Finks bikie who used to be with the Coffin Cheaters, is facing five assault charges from his 15-year relationship with Tammy Kingdon. He has denied all charges over the assaults, which are alleged to have taken place between 1997 and 2012 and to have caused injuries to 36-year-old Ms Kingdon including a fractured eye socket and two sets of broken ribs.

His lawyer, Colin Lovitt QC, told Ms Kingdon to be quiet and let him finish his questions when she was giving evidence via video link on the fifth day of the trial.

But she claimed the connection was breaking up and his questions were skewed in such a way that she had to clarify them before answering.

In the heated exchange, Mr Lovitt said if he gave Ms Kingdon the opportunity she would launch into a spiel that would further "twist the knife'' for his client.

He said that in her own court case over another matter, Ms Kingdon had tried to blame Mercanti for her conviction and had enlisted Mercanti's elderly mother to try to help her case.

"I didn't get a chance to blame him,'' Ms Kingdon replied. "I wish I had.''
As the confrontation escalated, Mr Lovitt snapped, ``Will you be quiet for a minute?''

He claimed that while Mercanti was in prison for another offence, she turned to prostitution and that as soon as he was released she was "back in the sack'' with him.

Ms Kingdon denied the claims of prostitution and any suggestion that she was interested in swingers' clubs.

Mercanti's face remained expressionless during the proceedings.

Ms Kingdon testified that on one occasion Mercanti told her to get on a bed and bark like a dog.

"I was scared out of my wits,'' she said.

Ms Kingdon said on another occasion they were having dinner at a restaurant when Mercanti spat his food at her.

When she tried to insist the incident happened, Mr Lovitt said perhaps if she kept yelling it people might believe her.

Mr Lovitt has argued that Ms Kingdon, the mother of Mercanti's two sons, loved their at-times kinky relationship and had rained blows on him on several occasions.

Today, Mr Lovitt tried to suggest that while Ms Kingdon was in Albany she had a phone conversation with Mercanti that was "lovey dovey'', but she chuckled and said while they did have a chat, they weren't exactly calling each other "darling''.

The trial continues.

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Driver trapped in two-truck collision

RESCUE authorities are working to free a truckdriver trapped in a crash between two trucks in Beckenham early this afternoon.

The RAC Rescue helicopter has been sent to traffic crash in Beckenham on William Street near Brixton Street.
 
Career Fire and Rescue Service firefighters are at the scene and are working to free a person who is trapped.
 

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Sally Ayhan's latest weather update

GET the latest on what the weather's been doing today, plus the forecast for the next 24 hours and week ahead, with Channel 9's weather presenter Sally Ayhan.

Channel Nine's new weather presenter Sally Ayhan gives PerthNow readers a unique insight into what's been happening with the local weather and a sneak peek into what temperatures to expect over the next 24 hours.
 
For Sally's full weather report, including the 7-day forecast, make sure you tune in to Nine News at 6pm tonight.
 

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Aussie annihilation forces Clarke's hand

Source: The Sunday Telegraph

THIS is not the crisis Australian cricket was meant to have. Not with the Ashes 16 weeks away.

Searching for answers, defiant captain Michael Clarke will move up the batting order in a desperate bid to stop the rot after Australia crashed to an embarrassing innings loss against India in the second Test.

In a dark day for Australian cricket, the Hyderabad horror show was over by lunch on day four as India completed a ruthless hatchet job to consign the tourists (131) to an innings and 135-run defeat.

Rajiv Gandhi Stadium resembled a cricketing abattoir yesterday as a slew of Australian batsmen batted like meandering Brown's cows before meeting a swift 237-minute execution.

Only Ed Cowan (44 from 150 balls) showed a scintilla of resolve yesterday as the tourists lost 8-56 to be rolled for 131, slumping to a 2-0 deficit that will almost certainly cost them the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

And now the ugly post-mortem begins.

For Clarke, there is no longer any option. He has been content to bat at No.5 but after watching this appalling collapse, the third consecutive implosion on this tour, the Australian skipper declared he must go up the order.

"I have no choice," said Clarke, who backed up his 130 and 31 in Chennai with 91 and 16 in this Test.

"Again, it hasn't been about me, it's about trying to do what's best for the team, and I think now, especially in these conditions, I have to bat higher."

Australia's batting order capitulates again, losing five wickets early on day four of the second Test in Hyderabad.

Clarke is unsure if he will bat three or four in the third Test at Mohali starting March 14, but when asked about Australia's insipid display, he was unequivocal.

"It's obviously unacceptable," he fired. "It's probably more polite of me by not putting it into words.

"Very disappointing. I certainly don't want to take any credit away from India, I thought they played very well yesterday, they showed us once again how to bat in these conditions, they showed us once you get in how to go on and cash in and make a big score.

"At the end of the day our performances in these two Test matches have been unacceptable, certainly nowhere near the standard we are trying to set as an Australian cricket team.

"There's plenty of people that not only watch us on TV but fly around the world to support us and watch us and we know we've let them down."

A drawn campaign would see Australia retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy but on the evidence of the first two Tests they will be lucky to avert a 4-0 whitewash.

Now pressure is on the selectors to finally pull the right rein to save a tour on the brink of implosion.

In the wake of the first-Test defeat, the panel axed bowlers Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc in the hope a re-jigged attack could square the series.

Australia are 192 runs behind India despite a stirring fightback by their much-maligned spinners on day three of the second Test in Hyderabad.

India's mammoth 503 in the second Test does not absolve the bowlers of blame, but the batsmen are sure to enter the firing line after consecutive innings of mediocrity.

Phil Hughes (19 and 0) and Shane Watson (23 and 9) both suffered twin failures and there will be pressure to elevate left-hander Usman Khawaja, the shadow batsman in the 16-man touring party.

Seeing blood in the water, Clarke will now promote himself for the third Test to bolster a top-order looking as unreliable as a politician's promise.

It took just 18 balls to start the rot, with Watson departing in the third over of the morning after edging behind an Ishant Sharma delivery that was sailing down the leg side.

Once again, Clarke arrived to the wicket facing a rescue mission, but even this was a bridge too far, the skipper lasting just 31 balls before being clean bowled by Jadeja to leave Australia 4-108.

With the skipper back in the pavilion, the tourists fell apart.

Cowan, who had batted with great heart and patience, departed just three runs later, edging Jadeja to Virender Sehwag at first slip to end his gusty 150-ball innings.

And when rookie Henriques was run out four balls later after Matt Wade took off for a quick single to leave Australia 6-111, it typified their Fawlty Towers performance in this Test.

Smelling blood, India went for the jugular. Debutant Glenn Maxwell was the seventh victim, trapped lbw by Ashwin for eight to add to his first-innings failure of 13.

Peter Siddle (4) then edged Jadeja to Virat Kohli and Wade (10) departed the very next ball, Ashwin catching an edge which sailed to Sehwag to leave Australia 9-130.

Ashwin delivered the last rites, trapping James Pattinson (0) lbw to claim another five-wicket haul and leave the tourists in disarray.

Alarm bells are ringing everywhere. If the bowlers are inept, the batsmen, excluding Clarke, are impotent.

It is one thing to go down fighting in largely foreign conditions. It is another to fall in pea-hearted fashion - and Clarke's patience is wearing thin.

"The first two Test matches we've let each other down," he said. "At the moment our shot selection has been horrible.

"That's the most disappointing thing for me ... as a team we're letting each other down.

"We have to look at both areas (batting and bowling) that's for sure.

"Both have been unacceptable, both aren't good enough.

"We have to try and find ways to improve and if that means making changes that's what we have to do."

Where Australia go from here is anyone's guess.

FULL SCOREBOARD AT THE FOX SPORTS MATCH CENTRE

***

PHOTO DISPUTE

We are unable to publish photographs from the Test series in India due to a dispute between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and international news organisations.

The BCCI has refused access to Test venues to established picture agencies including our supplier Getty Images.

News Limited considers the BCCI action to be a strike against freedom of the press.

News Limited, along with international photo and news agencies, is not providing live imagery from the tour in protest.

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We're being conned on hospital beds: AMA

AMA WA branch president Richard Choong says the hospital bed crisis in WA will get worse. Source: PerthNow

LEAKED WA Government figures reveal there will only be 218 extra hospital beds by 2015 in a key metropolitan region - despite Perth's rapidly increasing population.

Health Department documents show 2389 beds are planned for the South Metropolitan Health Service area in 2014-15, which includes the Fiona Stanley, Royal Perth, Fremantle and Rockingham hospitals.

This compares with 2171 currently. And the 2389 figure is based on a scenario that includes all of Fiona Stanley's proposed 783 beds while other hospitals lose hundreds of beds.

This is despite a lack of clarity from the WA Government about when Fiona Stanley's beds will all be available, with the official line now being "it has always been the plan to bring services online gradually''.

Doctors and health workers have asked how the public system in an area as prominent as SMHS could cope with such a small rise in beds, when up to 1500 people arrived in WA weekly.

Some of the more dramatic drops in bed numbers will be at Fremantle and RPH, which will lose 252 and 212 beds respectively.

Carolyn Smith, assistant secretary of the health support workers' union, United Voice, said the Barnett Government was spending $2 billion-plus on Fiona Stanley Hospital yet was "slashing'' more than 500 beds at other major metro hospitals.

"The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates WA's population increased by 24 per cent in the past 10 years (the) biggest growth out of all the states and territories. On average over 1,000 people a week arrive in WA,'' she said.

"We have not seen the same growth at our hospitals; no wonder our hospitals are under so much pressure.

"For example, the plan to cut beds at Fremantle hospital will have a devastating impact on the local community.

"By 2014, Fremantle Hospital won't even have an emergency department."

Australian Medical Association WA president Richard Choong said while billions of dollars had been spent on health in recent years on a massive spending and building program, "very little capacity has been added''.

"Things are tight now and they will still be tight after Fiona Stanley opens,'' Dr Choong said.

"The WA community will still be short of hospital beds and this will only continue to worsen as our population both grows and ages.

"We have been consistently told that everything will be okay once FSH is operating. We know it won't be and we will not allow the people of WA to be conned with this line''.

Dr Choong said because Fiona Stanley Hospital would be coming on stream "two years later than originally planned, we will still be short of beds when it finally does open and all (its) beds are available''.

"The AMA is extremely concerned that clinical reforms have reached their limit and system capacity remains static, against escalating demand likely to increase due to the 1500 people arriving in WA every week,'' he said.

Health Minister Kim Hames said the number of beds in the whole metropolitan region, which included SMHS, was due to increase by more than 500 by 2014-15.

"The Clinical Services Framework takes into account population growth, and more critically, models of care and service delivery to ensure healthcare matches the requirements of the community,'' he said.

"As a result, it is not appropriate to look at one area of healthcare to the exclusion of others.''

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Search for car-jacking good samaratans

POLICE are looking for two good samaritans who helped car-jacking victims in Wilson.

Kensington Detectives are investigating a report that about 2pm on January 31, a 23-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman were threatened by a man, who was known to the woman and was armed with a trimmer knife.

The man allegedly forced them to drive him from a unit in Preston Street, Como.

The 23-year-old man was driving a grey Toyota Corolla while the offender sat in the back and threatened the female victim, who was in the front passenger seat.

At about 2.30pm, the car stopped at traffic lights on Manning Road near Leach Highway, Wilson, and the woman called out for help.
 
Two men from two vehicles, a white Toyota Hilux and a white Toyota Landcruiser, came to their assistance.

The offender was pulled from the back seat and the two victims were able to drive off.
One of the victims later reported the incident to police.

The two men who helped the victims or anyone who has information about the incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
 

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Qantas plane in 'emergency landing'

Reports a Qantas plane has made an emergency landing at Sydney Airport. Picture: Nine News/Twitter Source: Supplied

A QANTAS plane has been forced to make an emergency landing at Sydney Airport after the undercarriage overheated.

QantasLink QF2260, which was travelling from Sydney to Lord Howe Island, was forced to return to Sydney "due to a technical issue with the air-conditioning system", a spokeswoman for the airline said.

The plane landed at 1.47pm (AEDT) and ambulance crews assessed about 50 passengers for dehydration.

Were you on the plane? Tell us about it at news@dailytelegraph.com.au

The Qantas spokeswoman said the flight crew had called ahead to request medical assistance and the plane was met by ambulance crews on the tarmac.

She could not confirm the temperature inside the cabin, but said it was high enough to cause the plane to turned around.

Some passengers reported that the temperature had reached up to 40 degrees in the cabin.

Passengers and crew were treated for heat exposure at the airport and two passengers were taken to hospital, the Qantas spokeswoman said.

An ambulance spokesman said paramedics were called to the airport around 1.30pm today after "reports the temperature inside was quite high,'' he said.

Two female passengers were treated at the scene for dehydration and taken to hospital, in a stable condition.

A spokeswoman for Sydney Airport confirmed a Qantas aircraft landed there this afternoon but would not give any further details.

''I can confirm that there was a Qantas aircraft that landed,'' she said.

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Beware of Buswell, WA Labor leader warns

Mark McGowan is banking on Metronet to get him over the line on Saturday. Source: PerthNow

WEST Australian Labor leader Mark McGowan entered a party campaign rally to the strains of a sci-fi theme song but made his case for Saturday's election on down-to-earth concerns for voters.

In six weeks of campaigning the Labor leader said he had focused on tackling health, education, community safety and public transport through his Metronet plan.

"Mr Barnett mocked Metronet by saying Perth is not London,'' Mr McGowan said, referring to Liberal Premier Colin Barnett.

"Well, Mr Barnett, I make this observation - Perth may not be London, but the way things are going under your stewardship we will end up with traffic like Los Angeles or Bangkok.''

The Liberals had also failed by allowing increases in power, water and gas bills, he said, describing Mr Barnett's arrogance as "breathtaking''.

About 150 people crammed into the historic Victoria Hall in Fremantle for today's rally, including prominent WA Labor figures Ben Wyatt, Roger Cook, Sue Ellery, Michelle Roberts, Rita Saffioti, Paul Papalia and Margaret Quirk.

Fremantle MP Melissa Parke was the only Federal Labor identity to make an appearance, but she did not speak.

Mr McGowan also went on the attack over privatisation, saying Labor would not "sell off the family silver'' but the Liberals would sell off Western Power, Water Corp and possibly some hospitals.

He said controversial Treasurer Troy Buswell was being groomed to take over as Premier if the
Liberal Party won the election, prompting boos and hisses from the crowd.

"Troy Buswell is the master of deceit and deception,'' he said.

Labor would continue to support mining and foster other industries like tourism and science, Mr McGowan said.

He was given a standing ovation after his speech, before he boarded a bus bound for regional WA for more campaigning.

But while he arrived onstage at the rally to the theme of Stargate SG-1, polls indicate he might need a miracle in the style of MacGyver - Richard Dean Anderson's other TV show - to win on Saturday.

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Hughes in the firing line again

Australia are 192 runs behind India despite a stirring fightback by their much-maligned spinners on day three of the second Test in Hyderabad.

Murali Vijay made a fine 167. Picture: Cameron Richardson Source: The Daily Telegraph

EMBATTLED Phil Hughes risks being dropped for the third time in his career after his latest duck left Australia on the brink of an embarrassing innings defeat in the second Test against India.

At stumps on day three, Australia (2-74) are going down the gurgler, still trailing by 192 runs after India's innings of mass destruction finally ended at 503 at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.

First-Test tormentor Ravi Ashwin struck twice in the final session, bowling David Warner (26) and Hughes (0) around their legs to leave Ed Cowan (26) and Shane Watson (9) fighting in the Hyderabad furnace.

Classy Indian No.3 Cheteshwar Pujara, who crunched a sublime 204 yesterday, turned up the heat, saying the tourists needed to be mentally tougher to succeed on the sub-continent.

"They need to apply themselves," he said.

"They don't know how to go about the turning tracks. They know their strengths and we are trying to find out their weaknesses.

"So far we have been successful so our spinners have to continue with what they are doing."
Today is D-Day for Australia's batsmen. Perform, and they might pull off Mission Impossible and save this Test.
Perish, and some careers may go bust before the Ashes.

Hughes is fast perishing. In his third incarnation as a Test batsman, the 24-year-old impressed against Sri Lanka last summer but he is struggling to cope with the suffocating walls of spin in his maiden series on Indian soil.

Coming to the crease at 1-56, Hughes lasted just nine balls before he played on attempting to sweep Ashwin.
The pint-sized left-hander now has scores of 6, 0, 19 and 0 at an average of 6.25 at the mid-point of this four-Test series.

And while the size of the 16-man touring party may save Hughes for the third Test, his hopes of being retained for the Ashes in June are diminishing with every failure.

The former NSW opener has already been dropped twice in his Test career. Australia's selectors will be reluctant to order a third demotion, for they would fear Hughes may never be back.

CLICK HERE FOR SCORES AND MATCH CENTRE

But in the data-rabid game that is cricket, every batsman knows their indisputable currency is runs, and plenty of them.

Hughes is simply not getting enough.

He spent the winter re-shaping his technique to open up leg-side scoring options but the reality is Hughes has not looked comfortable employing strategies to combat spin on Indian decks.

As he trudged back to the pavilion yesterday, his Test average had dropped to 33.25 from 22 Tests. Since his return, he has managed scores of 86 and 87 against Sri Lanka, but the Test ton he is craving with his beefed-up style still beckons.

If the Australians are to have any hope of reclaiming the Ashes, they need solidity, consistency and durability in all conditions from their No.3.

Not that Hughes has been Robinson Crusoe on this tour.

The brilliance of Michael Clarke aside, the top four of Cowan, Warner, Hughes and Watson have all under-performed. Of their 12 collective innings before the second dig yesterday, just one, Warner's flaky 59 in Chennai, has yielded a half-century.

To underline the profligate batting, Australia has slumped to 3-126, 3-65, 4-63 and 2-56 in their first four outings this series. Before yesterday, Clarke had contributed 29.3 per cent _ almost a third _ of Australia's runs.

It was a mixed day for the Australians yesterday, with besieged spinners Glenn Maxwell (4-121) and Xavier Doherty (3-131) bouncing back from their day-two mauling to earn a scintilla of credibility.

At 1-387, India looked like scoring 700. But Test debutant Maxwell and Doherty claimed seven wickets yesterday as the hosts lost 7-103 in the middle session to leave Australia's batsmen staring at Mt Everest.
Doherty, who also took two fine catches yesterday to help remove MS Dhoni and Pujara, conceded Australia face an uphill battle to avert a 2-0 series deficit.

"We came in today knowing we were up against it and we needed to put in a better day than yesterday to eventually knock them over," he said.

"Today we took nine for 190 or something like that (9-192), which was a pleasing effort.

"But the damage was done yesterday so there's still a lot of work for us to do to get ourselves back into the game."
Doherty said he was relieved to finish with three wickets after figures of 0-124 from 42 overs at one stage.

"It was starting to look that way (like he would go wicketless)," he said.

"Things just didn't seem to be going my way.

"I was trying to work out my Test bowling average there at one stage because I came into the game at a hundred (three wickets at 102 in two matches).

"In the last five or six overs, it was just more pleasing how the ball started to come out. It did take a while for it to take a bit of rhythm.

"To get a couple of wickets was nice as well."

Australia can learn lessons from India's top-order. Murali Vijay (167) and Cheteshwar Pujara (204) provided the perfect Test-match template, batting with patience then panache and finally power to grind Australia into the Hyderabad dust.

Vijay and Pujara's second-wicket stand of 370 was the third-highest partnership against any Australian team in Test cricket's 136-year history.

After lunch, India collapsed, enabling Doherty and Maxwell to hit back.

The tourists will wake today determined to move mountains.

But with 192 runs still to knock off, Australia, climbing Everest, are in the death zone.
 

 

***

PHOTO DISPUTE

We are unable to publish photographs from the Test series in India due to a dispute between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and international news organisations.

The BCCI has refused access to Test venues to established picture agencies including our supplier Getty Images.

News Limited considers the BCCI action to be a strike against freedom of the press.

News Limited, along with international photo and news agencies, is not providing live imagery from the tour in protest.

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Kwinana Freeway crash halts traffic

A crash is causing headaches for motorists on the Kwinana Freeway. Source: PerthNow

A MULTIPLE car crash on the Kwinana Freeway southbound has forced the closure of one lane.

A MULTIPLE car crash on the Kwinana Freeway southbound has forced the closure of one lane.

It's understood the crash involves as many as five cars.

It happened on the Kwinana Freeway southbound south of Preston Street in Como.

The left lane is currently blocked and traffic is banking back to the Narrows Bridge.

Emergency services are still at the scene.

Main Roads is asking drivers to be cautious when travelling through the area and to expect delays.

DRUGS FOUND IN CAR

ITEMS used to manufacture drugs were found in a car during a traffic stop in Perth's southern suburbs in the early hours of this morning.

About 2.40am, Mandurah police were on patrol when they stopped a car in Siracusa Court in Secret Harbour.

Officers searched the vehicle and identified what they believe were items used to manufacture drugs.

The area was cordoned off and the Organised Crime Squad was sent to the scene.

A man and a woman have been taken into custody and are assisting police.

CHARGES OVER ESPERANCE GLASSING

A 22-YEAR-old man will face court later this month over an alleged "glassing" attack at an Esperance bar overnight.

Police will allege the incident occurred about 6pm at the Pier Hotel when two men got into an argument.

"They became involved in an argument with each other and it will be alleged one of them struck the other with a glass, causing an injury to the victim's neck," police said in a statement this morning.

The 22-year-old man has been charged with unlawful wounding and is due to appear in the Esperance Magistrates Court on March 12.
 

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Cultured kids centre stage of $3.4m plan

IN STEP: Dance is one of the arts that will benefit from the government's proposed KidsCulture plan. Source: The Daily Telegraph

CHILDREN in the Cities of Stirling and Albany will be the first in WA to take advantage of a new program aimed at engaging more kids in the fields of dance, arts, music and theatre, if the Liberal's are re-elected next weekend.

Under a re-elected Barnett government a $3.4 million program dubbed KidsCulture will be made available though the Cities of Stirling and Albany in an effort to encourage more children to take part in dance, arts, music and theatre activities.

Eligible children who come from low income families between the ages of 5 and 18 will be provided with up to $200 a year in vouchers that they can then put towards participation in music, dance, visual arts and theatre related programs in their respective areas.

Premier Colin Barnett says the KidsCulture scheme will be similar to the KidSport program, which has already assisted 13,000 kids get involved with their local sporting groups.

"I think this will be something fantastic for children with an interest in arts, great for those families and also I think very positive for the wider arts community," Mr Barnett said.

"Kids will be able to spend their vouchers on lessons or classes provided by not-for-profit organisations or local governments as well as on things to support their activities such as paints, brushes, or dance shoes and costumes."

Mr Barnett said the program will be extended to other local government areas once it gets up and running in Stirling and Albany.

Culture and the Arts Minister John Day said $140,000 will be allocated to the Cities of Stirling and Albany to help set up the program initially and that $3.4 million would be allocated over the next four years to extend it thereafter.

"This will give young people…an opportunity to participate in a whole range of activities they may not be involved in at the moment," Mr Day said.

"Any involvement in artistic or cultural activities does tend to help develop the brain whether it be music or dance.

"A lot of more affluent families ensure their children participate in music lessons or dance lessons, what this (program) is going to do is ensure that children in lower income families…also have the same sort of opportunities."

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Fight for life after Northbridge assault

A 23-YEAR-old man is fighting for his life in Royal Perth Hospital after being assaulted in Northbridge in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The young man was assaulted on William Street just after 4am and sustained serious head injures.

The street was closed to traffic for several hours while forensic officers scoured the scene for evidence.

A spokesman at Royal Perth Hospital said this afternoon the 23-year-old man was in a critical condition and was receiving treatment in its intensive care unit.

Police are expected to release further information about the assault later today as well as CCTV footage of a "person of interest" they wish to speak to.

Anyone with information about the assault should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Mining responsibility buried

There is uncertainty surrounding who will be the minister responsible for minerals and resources after the state election. Source: AP

SOMETHING neither side of politics wants to talk about as we creep ever closer to next Saturday's election is the uncertainty surrounding who will be the minister responsible for minerals and resources.

Both the major party spokespersons for mines are retiring at the election, and no one has been fingered to replace them. This is a serious issue.

Given that Mark McGowan is trailing in the polls, it was a lost political opportunity in not announcing a new spokesman and quickly going on the attack that the Government is rudderless in this important portfolio because the minister, Norman Moore, is retiring without a replacement.

After three decades in Parliament, Moore is retiring from the Upper House. He wasn't just Colin Barnett's minister for mines, he was Richard Court's, too. Before that he'd grown up and worked within the mining sector, he understands it intimately. WA has been blessed to have had such a no-nonsense minister looking after the mining sector for so many years now.

Unlike Alan Carpenter's resources minister, Fran Logan, the sector respects Moore.

And unlike a federal government that thinks miners exist solely for the purpose of extracting additional taxation dollars, Moore knows that a vibrant mining industry provides a raft of flow-on benefits to the economy.

So who is going to replace Moore as mines minister? No one knows, including the sector. Hopefully, Barnett has given the matter some private thought, but it is hard to know why he wouldn't have announced it by now. Rumours have thrown up a few names, but one of Barnett's difficulties is that his parliamentary team doesn't bat all that deep.

There can be only one candidate from within the Government's ranks, but I'll come back to that in a moment.

On Labor's side, their spokesman for mining and resources, Jon Ford, is also retiring at this election. If McGowan manages to pull off an unlikely victory, who will be his mines minister? Again nobody knows, and again there can be only one candidate.

What a ridiculous situation to have an election all about economic management in the middle of a once-in-a-generation boom, driven by the mining sector, and neither major party has a spokesman for minerals and resources who will be staying on to oversee the sector after the election.

It sounds like a situation torn from a Yes Minister script.

There can be only one serious solution in the aftermath of the election: whoever wins out of Barnett and McGowan (and let's face it, Barnett looks certain to do so) should take on the role of mines minister for themselves. The head of the department is well regarded enough to manage his own department without a minister directly breathing down his neck. But in the wake of Moore's departure, the state deserves to have the Premier himself looking after the portfolio.

That is the best way to ensure the important issues the mining sector faces get a good hearing at the cabinet table. It is the best way to ensure the boom is fully taken advantage of.

One of the big mistakes the federal government makes when it thinks about mining resources is that they just sit there in the ground to be taken advantage of at a latter date if policy deters investors doing so now.

Physically, of course, they do, but the price for certain resources may fall if we don't take advantage of demand now, especially with the levels of exploration going on in developing parts of the world.

A good mines minister is essential for WA and the nation.

McGowan, if he becomes premier, also would be well placed to assume the mines portfolio with his background as an environment minister. Barnett all the more so, given his ministerial experience during the Court years, not to mention his background heading up the state's Chamber of Commerce.

For all their political disagreements over the years, Moore and Barnett ended their co-existence in parliament with a healthy respect for one another. Moore, through his seniority, had the clout the sector needed in cabinet. Any new minister must have the same to keep exploration ticking over, and to battle any federal efforts to impose a national view on resources that are WA owned.

It's the Premier who is best placed for the job, whichever side of politics wins.

Peter van Onselen is The Sunday Times political commentator and a UWA professor. On Agenda on Sky Channel today at 9.30am he will interview Colin Barnett and Mark McGowan.

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