Schools fighting the filth

Armed for Life director Adam Przytula discusses issues with Georgia Owen , Brad Engelbrecht, Hannah Pillinger and Ben Trezona. Picture: Theo Fakos Source: PerthNow

WA schools are holding workshops to fight pornography addiction in students as young as 14.

In some cases students are using school computers at home to surf the web for explicit images into the early morning, even though they know their usage is monitored by teachers.

It comes as research shows a large number of teenagers rely on pornography to learn about sex, making them more likely to engage in risky behaviour, get pregnant and use drugs.

Elizabeth Handsley, president of the Australian Council on Children and the Media, said children could be exposed to "hardcore" pornography by searching innocent terms on Google such as "puppies".

A recent study by the University of Canberra found that more than 90 per cent of boys aged 13-16 and 60 per cent of girls had seen pornography online.

And research by the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition and Youth Empowerment Against HIV/AIDs found 64 per cent of young people learnt about sex via pornography.

Kennedy Baptist College chaplain Adam Przytula has visited six WA schools to discuss pornography addiction.

His company Armed for Life runs school workshops for struggling students. He set up the company after he was alarmed by the number of teenagers struggling with bullying, low self-esteem, and pornography addiction, problems he faced when he was young.

"(One Perth school) said students that had devices provided by the school, even though they knew the school was monitoring what they were doing, were staying up to anywhere between 4am and 6am looking at porn because they needed to, because there was an addictive drive to do it," Mr Przytula said.

He shared his personal demons with students to make them comfortable enough to ask questions about pornography.

"Kids are going to be talking about it and if we don't talk about it and advise them on what's healthy and how destructive it is, then they're going to have no idea," he said.

"They're going to be making decisions without direction."

He said parents should buy computer programs such as Netbox Blue or Net Nanny that blocked inappropriate content. Curtin associate professor Rosemary Coates said the impact of pornography on a child's development was largely unknown.

Researchers were reluctant to expose young children to it then re-assess them as adults.

But she said pornography definitely left viewers with unrealistic expectations of relationships.

"(It fails) to provide useful tools for negotiating relationships and making informed decisions about engaging in sexual activity," she said. Sex education was the best way to prepare children for healthy relationships and allow them to "dismiss the nonsense that is presented in pornographic material".

Australian Youth Affairs Coalition deputy director Josh Genner said most young people got sex education through pornography, though just three in 10 believed it was an appropriate source.

He said young people were happy to learn about sex at school, but it was taught too late and the content was too narrow. It had to be more than just teaching students how to use a condom.
"It's not just about which bits go where and how to not contract diseases," he said.

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Barnett: Why I'm right on councils

WA Premier Colin Barnett believes history will prove him right on council amalgamations. Picture: Supplied Source: The Australian

HISTORY will prove he is right on controversial council mergers, Premier Colin Barnett has declared.

The Premier is prepared to wear heavy flak from opponents of the plan, but said people would look back in five years time and wonder what all the fuss was about.

"I realise it's not necessarily going to make the Government or myself popular but it is the right thing to do," he said.

The Premier said the moves  to reduce the number of Perth councils from 30 to 14  made sense on so many levels that councillors privately admit the changes had to occur.

"Privately, as I travel around WA, councillors say to me, 'We know it's got to be fixed', 'You've got to fix it up'. They won't say it publicly, they'll say it privately," he said.

Mr Barnett said much of the heat this week came from "vested interests".

He said it was ludicrous that there were 320 councillors in Perth, with 69 looking after the western suburbs alone.

"You've got more people managing the western suburbs than you do managing Western Australia in the State Parliament Lower House," Mr Barnett said.

The system was unable to deal with the problems of a growing city and was deeply flawed.

He said many people would be surprised to learn that 13 council chief executives were paid more than himself and 23 earned more than a state minister.

"It really does beg the question: Is running a local authority more significant than being the Premier or a senior minister," Mr Barnett said.

His changes would also address the unbalanced level of amenities in many local government areas.

Ratepayers in some council areas were subsidising facilities for residents in neighbouring areas, he said.

"You might find one council builds a recreational sporting facility and you might find that half of all people using it might come from outside that local government area," he said. "I don't think that that's fair."

Though there was no guarantee mergers would reduce rates, Mr Barnett pointed to several bigger councils that had lower rates and equivalent services to their smaller neighbours. East Fremantle had rates of about $1681 last year and bigger Melville had rates of just $1233, he said.

"That's about $450 and I would have thought Melville and East Fremantle were much the same," the Premier said.

 Though vested interests were generating some noise, Mr Barnett said he had not detected any public backlash.

"I don't see any great groundswell (of opposition) from the population," he said. "The only people who have come up to me in the street so far have supported it.

"That's not a general sample, but I think what it's showing is that if people aren't directly involved in local government, most people don't really care all that much."
 

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Why this man should be banned

Mitchell William Walsh-McDonald has been given an extraordinary licence. Picture: Lincoln Baker Source: PerthNow

SERIAL drink-driver Mitchell Walsh-McDonald's application for an extraordinary licence was opposed by the Government but still granted by the courts, it can be revealed.

The Transport Department said that 69 per cent of the 3152 applications for an extraordinary driver's licence last year were successful.

Opinion: E-licence should be the exception, not the rule

This is despite attempts by the Barnett Government in 2011 to make it harder for drivers to secure the licences and data that show 40 E-licence drivers are convicted every month for breaching their conditions. Walsh-McDonald was granted the extraordinary licence despite his horror track record on the road, which includes knocking down and killing schoolgirl Jess Meehan in 2003 when he had a blood-alcohol reading of 0.165.

The 29-year-old's latest run-in with the law saw him charged last week with three driving offences, including driving with a blood-alcohol level above 0.08.

He has already been convicted of drink-driving six times and will face court on Thursday on the new charges.

Transport Minister Troy Buswell said his department opposed the granting of Mr McDonald's extraordinary licence last year.

"However, the court made the decision that it should be granted," he said. "The DoT is currently examining its options to see if it can make an application to revoke the licence."

It's a criminal offence for a person to breach the conditions of an extraordinary licence, however, the court can allow for that person to keep the licence in special circumstances.

Under the law changes made in 2011, drivers could no longer argue hardship and inconveniences were a reason to be granted an extraordinary licence.

Instead, they must prove to the courts they needed it for medical reasons or it deprived them of principal means of obtaining an income.

WA Police Union boss George Tilbury said it was obvious that drivers such as Walsh-McDonald should be banned from the roads.

"It is a privilege not a right to hold a driver's licence and as far as I'm concerned he doesn't deserve one," Mr Tilbury said. "Our members should not have to be chasing this serial drink-driver around. He should not be on the road full stop."

Walsh-McDonald was acquitted of dangerous driving causing Jess Meehan's death.

But he admitted driving under the influence and driving without a licence. It was his third conviction at the time for drink-driving. He was fined $1700 and banned from driving for two years.

His acquittal prompted new laws to be passed, which mean anyone involved in a fatal accident and with a blood-alcohol reading above 0.15 is automatically charged with dangerous driving causing death. The new law became known as "Jess's Law."

In 2010, Walsh-McDonald copped a nine-month suspended jail sentence after he pleaded guilty to four counts of driving under suspension.

Outside court this week he said he had changed since Jess's death and hardly drank.

The plasterer said he had consumed just half a beer before driving and police did not follow correct procedures. He said the publicity caused by his latest indiscretions would impact on his business.

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Blues fail finals test

Pest ... Hayden Ballantyne was at his irritating best against Carlton. Source: Getty Images

THIS was a statement game.

Carlton, again, failed to make it.

On a season-defining night it was a Blues performance that has defined their season - not hard enough for long enough.

Blues loss fight and match

It is a well-worn phrase, but never has it been more appropriate than to sum up Mick Malthouse's debut season at Visy Park.

A side that has lost more 'coulda, woulda shoulda' games than just about any other in 2013, last night lost to a weakened Fremantle side that was there for the taking at Etihad Stadium.

The Dockers won a physical, sometimes spiteful and see-sawing contest 17.14 (116) to 12.8 (80).

Fremantle, without Matthew Pavlich, Luke McPharlin and late withdrawal Garrick Ibbotson, booted five goals to one in the last quarter to keep its top-four hopes very much alive. For the Blues, who lost Andrew Carrazzo to a quad injury in the first quarter, finals are highly unlikely now.

The Dockers play this game like no other. They drag four quarters of football into a battle of desire.

Carlton, desperately needing to claim the scalp of a top-tier side, couldn't match the desire of a visiting team down on personnel.

Ross Lyon's men won the contested ball 153-140, clearances 41-35 and dominated the inside 50s 58-42. It was 31 scoring shots to 20. It was comprehensive.

Marc Murphy was silenced by the game's No.1 attack dog, Ryan Crowley and limited to just 13 touches and zero influence. Murphy had just one kick at quarter-time.

In-form forward Lachie Henderson (two goals) was kept in check by Zac Dawson, but when the Blues lose the microscope often falls on three men.

So often the barometer, forward trio Eddie Betts, Chris Yarran and Jeff Garlett failed to fire - the former two particularly quiet.

Betts, demanding more money than Carlton are willing to pay on a new contract, had seven disposals and no scoreboard impact. Yarran had 12 touches and kicked a behind.

Carlton's electricity instead came from rugged Irishman Zach Tuohy, who was involved in the game's most intriguing match-up with best afield Michael Walters.

Tuohy kicked three brilliant goals, two of them back-to-back 50m bombs to the Lockett end as the Blues made their charge in the third quarter.

But Walters finished kicked a goal each quarter to finish with a bag of four from 17 disposals and was brilliant throughout.

Carlton's twin taggers Jarryd Cachia and Ed Curnow went to work on David Mundy and Stephen Hill respectively and did a reasonable job.

But the slack was picked up by a marauding Nathan Fyfe (31 disposals, seven clearances), typically irritating Hayden Ballantyne (17 and 3.3) and Lachie Neale (24 disposals, 18 uncontested).

This was a game engulfed in trench warfare in the first half before exploding to life in the second.

Carlton sprang out of the blocks to monopolise possession and after Garlett kicked the game's second goal to make it 12-0 after eight minutes the Blues lead disposals 30-12.

But the Dockers would awake from their slumber and worked their way back into the contest with a rugged determination that is becoming their trademark. They kicked the last three goals of the first term to lead by eight points at quarter-time.

The game then descended into slog that meant the highlights came around about as often as a Melbourne taxi on a Saturday night.

Those that came were worth talking about and there were few better than a sizzling Stephen Hill, who took a handball from Walters at speed and drilled one from 35m half way through the quarter.

The Dockers controlled both the contested ball (48-31) and clearances (13-7) in the second term to go into the main break with a nine-point lead.

But any feeling the visitors had this one in that vice-like grip of theirs were soon blown out of the water. The Blues opened the third term with renewed vigour - lead by Tuohy's rugged brilliance - and kicked the first two goals.

It was the first of several momentum swings. Fremantle rattled off five unanswered to lead by 28 points 20 minutes into the third before Carlton responded with another two, the latter from Garlett after the three quarter-time siren.

The last half hour began with the Dockers holding onto a 10-point lead. It appeared a vulnerable advantage, but this had been a war of attrition and this mob don't lose games like this.

Fremantle just kept coming. Carlton, not for the first time, didn't.

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Vomiting outbreak on Qantas flight

THIRTEEN hours in the air, eight toilets, and 26 passengers violently ill with gastroenteritis.

That was the scene when an international flight became the trip from hell after 26 passengers fell sick during a Qantas flight.

The group, believed to be a tour group travelling together, were sick before they embarked on the 13 hour and 51 minute flight from Santiago, Chile yesterday.

"The people were sick prior to the flight," a Qantas spokesman said. "It was a tour group that had food poisoning so it was contained to them."

A statement from the NSW Ministry of Health said the group had developed "vomiting and diarrhoea on the plane" consistent with norovirus infection, which is a common cause of outbreaks of gastroenteritis in Australia and elsewhere.

The flight was aboard a Boeing 747-400 which has a total of seven  toilets located on the main deck and one on the upper deck.

A statement from the NSW Ambulance service said the 26 passengers were assessed at the scene.

"Of those, 16 patients required transport to hospital, three of whom were stretcher patients," the statement reads.

A total of 10 patients were transported to the Prince of Wales Hospital, the remaining six were transported to St George Hospital.

"Ambulance will assess the sick passengers, and if well enough to leave they can be cohorted through the airport with minimal exposure to other passengers," a Spokesperson from the Ministry of Health said.

"NSW Health has provided Qantas with a letter and factsheet about viral gastro to distribute to all departing passengers, as well as advice for cleaning and cabin staff."

As a precaution, other passengers have been advised to keep a close eye on their health over the next 24 to 48 hours and seek medical advice if they become unwell.

Scores of family members were left high and dry in the arrivals hall with no official word from Qantas over the incident.

David Sanhueza and his family from Mount Druitt were left waiting two hours for his mother-in-law, Carmen Caro, visiting from Chile.

"They don't give you any information, there's nothing out of the speaker. I went and saw customer service but they wouldn't give me anything," he said.

Her granddaughter Jennifer Sanhueza said the family only found out what was going on from the news.

"We weren't told much, we only heard from a phone call that it was all over the news," she said.

Mrs Caro said the the group that got on in Brazil had been vomiting the whole flight.

"A whole lot of kids got on the plane at Brazil and they were all vomiting and sick," she said in Spanish translated by her granddaughter.

Bernie Herrenberg was left waiting balloons in hand for the return of his 23-year-old daughter Stefanie.

"I've been waiting and all I know is what my daughter SMSd me," he said.

The SMS shown to The Daily Telegraph read: "Woo just landed! So our plane is being quarantine because there were heaps of people with a bad virus on it. I have no idea how long it will take but it will definitely delay us."

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Treated sewage gets ok for drinking

The State Government has signed off on a plan to pump recycled water into Perth's drinking water supply. Source: AFP

RECYCLED water from showers, washing machines and toilets will be pumped into Perth's underground drinking water supply after the State Government today officially signed off on a plan by the Water Corporation.

Seven billion litres of treated sewage will be added to Perth's drinking water supply every year, Water Minister Terry Redman said today.

The Sunday Times first reported the Water Corporation claimed the trial was a success - and the State Government would approve the scheme - in March.

Mr Redman said the $116 million project was an Australian-first and would "drought proof" Perth's water supply.

"This is only the first stage of three stages to go from seven gigalitres up to 28 gigalitres," he said.

"I'm very confident we can move towards potentially supplying 20 per cent of Perth's drinking water supplies through this process.

"This process will come online and be injecting into the aquifer in June 2016. Stage two, hopefully with Government support by 2018, stage three in 2022."

What do you think about drinking treated water? Leave a comment below.

It comes after three-year trial that saw 2.5 billion litres of wastewater from a Craigie treatment plant treated to Australian drinking standards and then injected into an isolated aquifer in Leederville was concluded last year.

Despite the trial finishing in December, the plant has continued to recharge the aquifer with treated sewage.

The same technology would be used to treat seven billion litres of wastewater from the Beenyup Wastewater Treatment plant that would then be injected into the aquifer and eventually end up in Perth homes.

Currently, water from Beenyup is discharged into the ocean.

The Water Corporation have repeatedly claimed water injected into the aquifer during the trial was "isolated" from Perth's drinking water supply.

However, Mr Redman said today it had in fact already entered the interconnected system.

"When you talk about how long until someone drinks this, this has been injected under the ground as part of the trial for the past three years so there is water in the ground now that has been highly treated going into the interconnected system," he said.

Mr Redman said the trial had been a "resounding success."

"The trial recycled 2,533 megalitres of water - that's the equivalent of 1,000 Olympic-size swimming pools - and returned an outstanding result in terms of meeting water quality guidelines," he said.

"All of the 62,300 water quality samples that were taken met the required strict health and safety guidelines."

He said he was "highly confident" there was strong community support for recycled water for drinking.

WaterCorp manager for water source planning Nick Turner told PerthNow in March there could be no 100 per cent guarantee, but he said the plant was designed to shut off immediately if water purity was compromised.

The Minister's statement also repeats claims there is 76 per cent public support for recycling wastewater for drinking.

However, PerthNow revealed in May the majority of Perth householders would prefer desalination.
 

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Father, son mauled by dog in Como

The 11-year-old victim of a dog attack in Como recovers in hospital. Picture: Andrew Nelson - Nine News / Twitter Source: PerthNow

A father and son were mauled by a dog in Como yesterday. Source: adelaidenow

A MAN and his son were taken to hospital after being mauled by a dog in Como yesterday.

The attack happened outside a house on Wooltana St about 4.15pm.

Police and St John Ambulance attended the house, where the 33-year-old man and his 11-year-old son both suffered injuries.

The boy was rushed to Princess Margaret Hospital and his father was treated at Royal Perth Hospital.

It's believed both suffered lacerations to their hands and arms.

City of South Perth Chief Executive Officer Cliff Frewing said the council was assisting police with their investigation.

"The attacking dog is registered as a Staffordshire bull terrier cross and was seized by the City. The dog was detained for police forensics and impounded by the City," Mr Frewling said.

"The City is currently investigating the attack and until complete, an outcome cannot be determined. The City takes dog attacks seriously and will prosecute if required."
 

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Asylum seekers refuse to turn back

Labor's advertising campaign, recorded in eight different languages, warns asylum seekers that if they come to Australia by boat they will not be allowed to stay.

Would-be asylum seekers are helped off a Sri Lankan naval craft at the northeastern port of Trincomalee after their boat was intercepted off the island's eastern coast. Source: AFP

A NEW influx of Sri Lankan asylum seekers is defying expensive government measures to turn them back, amid revelations $30 million in taxpayers' cash could be spent advertising the PNG deal.

The new spending emerged a day after the Government sent 40 single adult men to Manus Island for resettlement in PNG with families to remain in Australia, potentially for months, while facilities are improved.

Almost 2000 Sri Lankans have arrived on boats so far this year with the new influx coming after the government spent hundreds of thousands of dollars flying hundreds home to Colombo in the past 12 months.

The turn backs by air had been declared successful but in addition to the arrivals, Sri Lanka's Navy has intercepted or rescued almost 700 people attempting to leave the country this year.

Other Sri Lankan families have been devastated in boat tragedies this month with multiple deaths, including of children.

Almost 200 people, including babies and children, have been rescued from stricken vessels close to Sri Lanka in the past two weeks.

The Navy said in one incident involving a boat carrying 17 children that without the quick response of a merchant vessel "precious lives would have perished in deep sea."

"The shift in policy that matters isn't whether or not some people are flown back, it's whether or not a new rule can be applied to everyone. And that's why the Government is determined that none of the people who come by boat without a visa will ever be settled in Australia," Immigration Minister Tony Burke said yesterday of the new Sri Lankan influx.

Mr Burke defended the huge advertising spend on the PNG deal, calling the first $2.1 million wave of spending out of a potential $30 million, "an effective and targeted way of ensuring individuals who are in the pipeline for people smuggling operations hear about and understand Australia's new rules."

He has authorised $4.59 million be spent but a letter from the Auditor-General to Independent Senator Nick Xenophon confirmed the total spending could reach $30 million.

"This is targeted to the vote people, not the boat people," Mr Xenophon said.

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said the new Sri Lankan influx was not surprising.

"Just as well Sri Lanka is prepared to turn back boats, because Labor never will. Labor haven't lifted a finger to help Sri Lanka turn back boats," he said.

"The Coalition understands you need to put all the measures in place to stop the boats, including turn backs and Nauru, and not just rely on one element like PNG.

"Labor's PNG bluff is a two page election fix that has already cost Australian taxpayers almost $500 million in hospitals, roads and universities in PNG, without resettling one person. It makes the five for one Malaysia people swap look like a good deal."

The Opposition in PNG yesterday launched a new legal challenge against the Manus Island processing centre after a previous attempt came to nothing.

A new vessel with 75 on board, almost twice the number sent to Manus Island, arrived by boat yesterday.

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New era: Metro councils slashed from 30 to 14

WA Premier Colin Barnett announces council merger plans on Sunday. Picture: Kerris Berrington Source: PerthNow

John Gangell, Mayor of the Town of Bassendean. Picture: Richard Hatherly Source: PerthNow

Colin Barnett has done a deal with Brendan Grylls to force some city councils to merge.

The proposed Metropolitan Local Governmen boundaries, released today by the Premier. Source: PerthNow

THE landscape of local government in Western Australia has been transformed, with the number of Perth's metropolitan councils to be slashed in half.

After years of wrangling, Premier Colin Barnett today unveiled the state government's plan for the state's councils, with WA's 30 metropolitan councils to be reduced to 14 by July 1, 2015.

Having said during the March election campaign they would not support forced amalgamations, Mr Barnett revealed nine new super councils would be formed.

See how your suburb is affected here

The plan includes the merging of seven of Australia's most affluent areas in Perth's western suburbs, which could save up to $2 million.

South Perth and Victoria Park will join forces, as will Cockburn and Kwinana; Melville, Fremantle and East Fremantle; Armadale and Serpentine/Jarrahdale; Bayswater and Bassendean, Swan and Mundaring; Canning and Gosnells; and Belmont and Kalamunda.

``Today is decision day, and we intend to act with speed,'' Mr Barnett said.

``Perth is the fastest growing city in Australia but our local government structure dates back to the late 1800s.''

The Premier said the reform plan redefined outdated local government boundaries to create councils with improved economies of scale and provided better co-ordination across the metropolitan area.

It would create nine new local government areas through a series of mergers.

Mergers not forced - Barnett

Despite repeated accusations from mayors of forced mergers, both Mr Barnett and Mr Simpson insisted the moves were voluntary.

"I said we won't have forced amalgamations and we have not got forced amalgamations, in 2015 in the unlikely event this is not in place then we will reconsider that position," Mr Barnett said.

"A forced amalgamation would be if we brought in a piece of legislation into parliament next week, redraw the boundaries putting it through parliament and achieving it in a week.

"This is about bringing about what is long overdue."

Wanneroo, Joondalup, Rockingham unchanged

The Wanneroo, Joondalup and Rockingham local government areas would remain unchanged. Perth and Stirling would undergo boundary adjustments. Vincent residents would become ratepayers of either Stirling or Perth.

The Premier added: "The key objective is to create stronger councils to provide the best possible services to residents with maximum efficiency - and modern councils to meet the needs of a rapidly growing city.''

"We need local governments with the scale and capacity to deal with these challenges. Council reform will deliver a more strategic, co-ordinated approach across the metropolitan area for issues like planning, road networks, waste management, the Swan River, recreation, housing and health.''

Before the state election in March, Mr Barnett said there would be no forced council amalgamations, but confirmed in The Sunday Times that the state's 40 councils would be reduced in number.

David Templeman Opposition local government spokesman, said: "Tony Simpson, I've got to say, he himself made an apology back in February this year that the Liberal Party does not support forced amalgamations, he got it wrong and it was his mistake."

"He just needs to be upfront, this is forced amalgamations, there's no other word for it."

"I am appalled by what he said today, and this has created I think a huge amount of chaos in councils throughout the metropolitan area.''

Mr Barnett today said that a further $2.5 million has been allocated to assist councils in the merger process.

The Premier said he did not expect the amalgamations to hinder any developments in progress under Directions 2031, but would help such developments.

Defending the planned mergers, Mr Barnett said 69 councillors for the Western Suburbs was way too much.

State Labor leader Mark McGowan and federal candidate Alannah MacTiernan yesterday criticised the merger plans.

'Changes don't suit Fremantle' - Mayor

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettit was one of the first council leaders to leave the meeting and said the changes did not suit the area.

"Fremantle alway's been a centre that's had a unique character and watering it down with suburbs all the way to the freeway doesn't really suit our needs, especially when key parts like North Fremantle are being removed " he said.

Mr Pettit said he would be arguing for changes more in line with Directions 2031 that had Fremantle as a centre.

He said with Fremantle merging with other councils, it may no longer be treated as a regional centre and heritage could suffer if resources weren't allocated correctly.

The Urban Development Institute of Australia (WA) today welcomed the government's release of the new council boundaries.

"Whilst the detail of where the lines on the map have been placed are bound to dominate discussions, achieving economies of scale and a more robust planning and approvals system is the goal for the industry," said Debra Goostrey UDIA (WA) Chief Executive Officer.

The Metropolitan Local Government Review final report (Robson Report) said that "the fragmented approach to local planning results in a system that is unnecessarily complicated, uncoordinated and lacking in strategic focus.''

Industry is on record as saying that the biggest delays in the system occur in the structure planning process which is largely controlled by local authorities.

"The current fragmented planning system has seen dramatic variations between local authorities including engineering conditions that to a large extent should be consistent," said Ms Goostrey.

"Our rapidly growing population demands a planning and approvals system that is efficient and effective if affordable housing is to be achieved in Perth."

Earlier today criticism of the planned mergers started to flow in the lead up to this morning's official announcement by the state government.

Yesterday Opposition Leader Mark McGowan and City of Vincent Mayor Alannah MacTiernan raised questions about the process.

This morning those questions continued from Town of Bassendean Mayor John Gangell who predicted his council would be forced to merge with Bayswater, despite wanting to join the City of Swan.

"We decided to take the front foot, go and analyse, speak to our residents and community and see which was the preferred option, Swan or Bayswater. Clearly it was Swan," Mr Gangell said on ABC radio.

"Unfortunately despite both councils unanimously voting and supporting and taking that position to the advisory panel, the State Government is going to completely disregard that, it's quite astonishing."

Mr Gangell said he had already been told that merging Bassendean and Swan would be "too hard" and leave Bayswater standing alone.

Mr Simpson will announce the local government reforms later this morning.
 

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Fade to black: Amy's last days

TWO years after her death, Howard Sounes delves into the tragic life of Amy Winehouse.

Amy discharged herself from the Priory clinic on May 31, 2011, angry with those who had persuaded her to go there.

Neither her brief stay, nor her doctor's written warning, altered her behaviour. Amy joked about Dr Cristina Romete telling her that her drinking was putting her life in danger.

"She'd joke and laugh about it," says drummer Troy Miller.

"We'd all laugh - not in a sinister way - she was genuinely joking about it. It's not that she knew it was going to happen, but she was sick."

He means she had psychological problems. "She had a dark sense of humour."

Amy was in no state to sing at a family bar mitzvah, let alone give a concert, yet there were plans afoot for an 11-date European tour, starting in Belgrade, Serbia, on June 18.

Her father, Mitch Winehouse, says Amy wanted to tour, despite the misgivings of her manager.

She ordered new suits for her band and arranged to give a private warm-up show at the 100 Club in London on June 12. It was at this show she betrayed warning signs

of the disaster that was to follow.

Amy had been sober for several days - some say weeks - prior to the 100 Club gig.

But on the day of the performance she was gripped with stage fright, craved a drink and became very bad-tempered.

British singer Amy Winehouse performs at the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, in Glastonbury on June 28, 2008. AFP PHOTO/BEN STANSALL Source: AFP

Finally she was able to perform and the show went tolerably well. But if Amy had got herself into this state at a club gig in front of family and friends, what would she be like on tour?

Five days later, on the eve of the tour, Amy told her father she didn't want to perform. He asked why, but couldn't get a lucid explanation.

The following day she changed her mind and boarded the private plane leased for the tour.

The first show was an open-air event in the grounds of the Kalemegdan fortress in Belgrade. On a hot summer night, Amy and a cast of support acts drew an audience of 20,000 from across Serbia and neighbouring countries. Once again

Amy was gripped with stage fright. Mitch Winehouse (who wasn't present) said she became agitated before the concert and asked her manager for a drink.

"So Raye [Cosbert] allowed her one glass of wine to help her calm down."

Unless that glass was as big as a bucket, it wouldn't account for the state Amy got into.

Either she drank a great deal more than one glass, or she mixed alcohol with medication, or both.

Amy Winehouse performs at the Brit Awards 2008 in London. Source: AP

She was out of her head by showtime and didn't want to perform. But 20,000 people were yelling her name, so finally the band was given the signal to begin.

Amy let the audience sing most of the first verse of Tears Dry on Their Own, while she danced with backing vocalist Zalon Thompson, shouting the occasional line. The song was about ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil, and one of the songs she found difficult. She roused

herself to sing a couple of the most vivid lines about their doomed love and then gave up.

The next moment she seemed to nod off, stumbled and grabbed the mic stand for support. People were laughing. Throughout the show Amy alternated between inebriation, pathos and schoolgirl cheek.

The stage manager helped Amy offstage as the crowd howled and booed, furious that they'd paid to see a fiasco. There were no encores.

The tour party left for Istanbul, where the next concert was due to take place. But the show was cancelled, along with the rest of the tour. Amy would never perform a concert again - her career ended in Belgrade.

In a spooky parallel to fellow tragic talent Jimi Hendrix, Amy was booed offstage at her last gig - an open-air concert in a foreign land.

She checked in to theWHotel in Istanbul and was later joined by boyfriend Reg Traviss.

By the time he arrived, she was sober and contrite.

Director Reg Traviss, a close friend of Amy Winehouse is comforted as he looks at flowers left by mourners in Camden Square outside the house following her death, in Camden, northern London. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) Source: AP

"She was taking it seriously. She was like, 'Aw, f*ck, what did I do?'" he says.

Amy and Reg returned to London on June 22. She watched amateur footage of the Belgrade show on YouTube. It was unusual for her to look at herself online, though she did so more than once in her final days.

Amy was sober for several days, then started drinking again, possibly triggered by news that ex-husband Blake had been given 32 months in prison for burglary.

Reg spent Tuesday night, July 19, at Amy's house in Camden Square, leaving for work the next morning at the time Amy's bodyguard, Andrew Morris, returned after a break. Reg said Amy was sober when he left the house, though she got up early to make breakfast.

Morris told the police that when he arrived at 10am he realised she'd been drinking, "Because of the way she was speaking to me." He wouldn't say she was drunk - he'd seen Amy drunk too many times to use the word lightly.

British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse performs at the 46664 charity concert in honor of Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday in London. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File) Source: AP

Amy was going out that evening, to hear her goddaughter, Dionne Bromfield, sing at the Roundhouse venue. It was her last public appearance. Dionne, only 15 but a confident performer with a strong voice, introduced Amy to the audience. She came onstage

chewing gum and looking edgy. Dionne gave the signal for the band to play Mama Said, appearing to want Amy to join her, but Amy merely danced around the stage, looking evasive and high. Still, she hugged Dionne at the end and exhorted the crowd to cheer.

Mitch called by Amy's house on July 21 and found her looking at family photos. He was flying to New York and didn't see Amy alive again. Amy called Reg, who was busy at

work and couldn't come over. Amy disliked being alone and several people she normally counted on for company were unavailable.

Amy's mother, Janis Winehouse, visited at lunchtime on July 22 with her partner.

"When we left, she hugged me and said, 'I love you, Mummy.' She was always calling me that and telling me she loved me. Amy never really grew up. She was like a little girl, permanently fixed in time as a kiddie."

Amy drank throughout the day. In her search for company, she Skyped childhood friend Ricardo Canadinhas.

Cover of Back to Black by Amy Winehouse. Source: News Limited

"When she was on Skype it was because no one was there," says Ricardo, providing an insight into how lonely Amy had become. "She was like,

'Talk to me, talk to me.'"

Attempts to reach others failed. "A lot of people had missed calls. Basically everyone was out," says local publican and friend Doug Charles-Ridler. "Kelly [Osbourne] said she tried to Skype. Naomi [Parry, her stylist] had missed calls. Everyone had missed calls. No

one picked up, and she was alone."

To comfort herself, Amy drank. She drank vodka more or less constantly the last three days of her life. But her GP was satisfied she wasn't suicidal. "She specifically said she did not want to die," Dr Romete told the police.

Amy Winehouse's father Mitch Winehouse (C) and brother Alex Winehouse (R) look at floral tributes left at her house by fans on July 25, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Amy was alone at the end, in her bedroom suite, although Morris was in the house. It's not known for certain what she did in her last moments, other than drink more vodka, judging by the post-mortem evidence and empty bottles. So she drank to forget herself and her problems, as drunkards do. She drank herself into a stupor in the early hours.

Flowers, pictures and messages are left in tribute to late soul music and pop star Amy Winehouse, near the house in north London where her body was found the previous day, on July 24, 2011. AFP PHOTO/CARL COURT Source: AFP

Then she curled up to sleep as the sky lightened with the dawn. She may not have meant to die, but she'd been living dangerously for a long time. Death had been shadowing her for years, sometimes coming close, sometimes retreating. We can imagine death

materialising at the foot of her bed as the vodka bottle slipped from her grasp and the last grains of sand ran through the hourglass.

This is an edited extract of Amy, 27, by Howard Sounes (Hodder &Stoughton).

Amy 27 by Howard Sounes (Hodder & Stoughton) Source: Supplied

###

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Former UWA professor fined

A former associate professor of the University of WA has been convicted of attempted fraud. Source: PerthNow

A FORMER associate professor of a prestigious Perth university has been convicted of attempted fraud after he tried to claim almost $3000 from a research fund.

Steve Su worked at the University of WA until last year after the institution detected he had falsified a personal credit card statement and an invoice to claim $2750.

UWA reported it to the Crime and Corruption Commission before the money could be paid, an investigation was launched and Su was charged.

Today, the 34-year-old pleaded guilty in the Perth Magistrates Court and fined $4000 and ordered to pay $129.35 in costs.

Su resigned from UWA in December and now lives in Sydney.

He was not required to appear in court and was granted a spent conviction, meaning the conviction will not appear on his criminal record.
 

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Tourist attack 'racially motivated'

Three people are being questioned over a gang attack on four tourists in Northbridge last night, which police believe was racially motivated.

The Perth Cultural Centre, where four tourists were attacked last night. Picture: Marie Nirme Source: PerthNow

Four tourists were attacked in the Perth Cultural Centre last night, with a Swedish man and woman hospitalised.   Source: PerthNow

THREE people are being questioned over a gang attack on four tourists in Northbridge last night, which police believe was racially motivated.

Two of the tourists, a Swedish couple aged 35 and 22, had only arrived in Perth yesterday, a few hours before they were attacked.

The Swedes and a New Zealand couple, were assaulted about 9.30pm in the Perth Cultural Centre near James Street.

The Swedish couple was taken to Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital for treatment for head and facial injuries.

The New Zealand pair, a 31-year-old woman and a 27-year-old man, received minor injuries in the assault and were treated at the scene.

There are reports that the 27-year-old New Zealand man was approached as he walked to his hostel last night and he was asked for a cigarette, but when he declined, he was set upon.

This afternoon Perth City Detectives revealed they were interviewing a man and two women in relation to the attack.

It's believed the couples were assaulted by up to eight people, six men and two women.

"One of the male offenders was not wearing a top during the incident," a police spokeswoman said.

"The offenders used offensive and racially motivated language towards the victims."

City of Perth acting lord mayor Janet Davidson said: "It is always disturbing to hear of tourists, or anyone else, being assaulted in the city."

"The circumstances of Monday night's incident are for the police to investigate and establish.

"All cities are subject to violence, but by international standards Perth is a relatively safe city and remains very popular with tourists.

"Safety and security is a priority for the City of Perth. We maintain a network of CCTV cameras and will supply any footage to the police to assist with their investigations."

Anyone with any information about the incident is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Isolated Hird 'won't quit'

Julian de Stoop has the latest on the shock resignation of Essendon chairman David Evans.

ESSENDON coach James Hird won't stand down before the ASADA report into the club's drugs saga is handed down.

That's the view of Bombers great Tim Watson, father of club captain Jobe.

Hird is increasingly isolated after the shock resignation of chairman David Evans last night, prompted in part by a physical breakdown in the changerooms after Essendon's match against Hawthorn on Friday night.

Evans was treated by club medical staff after complaining of breathlessness, having a light head and struggling with his vision after the match.

The stress of the five-month investigation into alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs, combined with revelations that he and coach James Hird were at loggerheads over conversations leading up to Essendon "self-reporting", led to Mr Evans' health deteriorating.

Bombers at risk of being gutted

James Hird today, after the resignation of David Evans. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

His stunning resignation happened less than two weeks before the ASADA-AFL investigation report is to be completed.

Asked on Channel 7's Game Day if Evans' departure would shake Hird's resolve, Watson said: "I don't think so, I don't think that's changed at all.

"He and David had a strong working relationship, they've been friends for 20 years … obviously this has taken a toll on everyone, he spoke about that post-game on Friday night and obviously David one of those people in his mind at the time and there are others too so he, like everyone else, would like this to conclude.

"But what he has shown throughout all this, James, is he's been stoic, he's been strong and he's stood his ground and he'll maintain that."

Evans' resignation has left Essendon reeling - it now has lost its chief executive and chairman within a matter of months.

Evans did not refer to personal issues or his disagreement with Hird.

He described the events as a tragedy, but was confident the club would survive.

The Essendon drugs saga has claimed its biggest casualty with chairman David Evans announcing his resignation effective immediately.

Players rally behind Evans

"I strongly believe that the best thing for the club at this stage is for a new chairperson in order to see through the next phase of this challenging and difficult time for our club," Mr Evans said.

"Leadership is tough at times and I have tried to lead with fairness and integrity and at the same time acknowledging responsibility to make the right decisions.

"I am confident that this decision is one of those."

"What is happening at our club right now is a tragedy, but I know that it will survive," Mr Evans said.

Essendon coach James Hird walks up the race after his three-quarter time address against Hawthorn on Friday night.

Kick 'pests' out of the game

Bombers officials have been deeply concerned with Mr Evans' stress levels for several days.

Watson said the drug crisis had taken a huge toll on Evans.

"I just think he's completely and utterly burnt out,'' Watson said.

"From what I now know to be true, David has been struggling with his health for some time - he's exhausted.

David Evans has stood down as Essendon chairman.

Bombers' night of crisis

"He's been under enormous strain and stress going back five months now.

"This was something he would work on full-time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week if necessary and he's maintained that.''

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou said Evans had been a "great chairman" and said he wasn't shocked by yesterday's news.

"I'd obviously spoken to David on a number of occasions. He's made a decision that's taken into account his family, his professional career and obviously he's personal well-being and so we respect that."

GWS Coach, Kevin Sheedy has thrown his support behind former Essendon chairman, David Evans. Describing him as a 'fantastic' person, Sheedy concedes he had a tough time at the club.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said he hoped Evans was not lost to football.

"He's gone through some hard circumstances that we all know at the moment but he's always put the club first. He's been a wonderful president, a wonderful person," McGuire said on Game Day.

An emotional Hird was referring to Mr Evans at his post-match press conference on Friday night when he referred to the doping investigation "affecting people's lives permanently".

Hird left Mr Evans' side in the medical room to attend the press conference.

Drugs saga will affect lives: Hird

Former Essendon player Tim Watson says he is not completely shocked by chairman David Evans' resignation.

"It has got to the point that, if it's not over very quickly, it's going to affect people's lives permanently," Hird said.

Hird on Saturday night did not want to comment on his friend's resignation.

However, others paid tribute to Mr Evans.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said Mr Evans had shown outstanding leadership and tremendous personal courage through a confronting, difficult period.

Hird, Evans now at loggerheads

Essendon's iterim CEO Ray Gunston leaves James Hird's house. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

"David has paid a heavy personal toll with the interruption to his family and business life, with his commitment and love for his club, and the AFL applauds his efforts to make the welfare of Essendon's players his absolute priority throughout this difficult time and the AFL wishes him the very best as he steps back into private life," he said.

Essendon interim chief executive Ray Gunston said: "It is with great regret that the Essendon Football Club board has accepted the resignation of David Evans."

Essendon great Tim Watson said the players especially would miss Mr Evans.

"They see him as an outstanding leader and he's been fantastic through this whole episode," he said.

Evans says Hird a friend for life

Former Essendon player Mark McVeigh denies players at the embattled club were involved in a secret drug trial as part of their 2012 supplements program.

"They've not only lost the club president, they've lost a friend and a real ally."

Mr Evans had been under increased pressure since the Herald Sun on Thursday revealed differing versions of a telephone call he had with Mr Demetriou at Mr Evans' home on February 4, the night before the Bombers announced they wanted an investigation into the drug-taking claims.

On Friday, the Herald Sun revealed the differences between Mr Evans and Hird.

Mr Demetriou again denied he had tipped off Essendon about the then-impending Australian Crime Commission report into drugs in sport and that Essendon was the club named in the report.

Mr Demetriou, who is to fly to America on Sunday for a fact-finding mission, said the AFL would be taking legal action against the Herald Sun over its reporting of the situation.

In recent days, Mr Demetriou said he couldn't have tipped off Essendon because he didn't know which club was in ASADA's sights.

He said the call with Mr Evans did not include discussion about Essendon being the club named in the ACC report.

"He rang me to see if I knew any more and I said, 'I don't know any more David, I don't know who the club is'," Mr Demetriou said.

"I returned his phone call at 9pm that night.

"To say that I rang David Evans that night and said, 'I'm tipping you off that ASADA's about to investigate you' ... it simply didn't happen."

- with Michael Warner 

---

DAVID EVANS' FULL STATEMENT

"I am announcing tonight my resignation from the Essendon Football Club board, effective immediately.

I appreciate very much that this will cause some consternation amongst the Essendon family.

However, I strongly believe that the best thing for the Club at this stage is for a new Chairperson in order to see through the next phase of this challenging and difficult time for our club.

The ASADA report is close to finalisation, and I believe that I have put the interests of the players and their families first in this process, and I have been guided by my duty of care to them and to the Club throughout the last 5 months.

I remain extremely hopeful that our players will be treated with fairness and dignity through the next stage, and I do trust the process that we have been subject to.

Leadership is tough at times and I have tried to lead with fairness and integrity and at the same time acknowledging responsibility to make the right decisions. I am confident that this decision is one of those.

My involvement, and indeed my family's involvement over many years at both Essendon and the AFL have given me great strength during the last 5 months, because many of the people that I deal with are close friends. 

This has given me great insight and assisted in making tough decisions, but those decisions now may be seen to be clouded by those relationships or be seen as a conflict, and I am not prepared to have my decisions reflect poorly on the Club either now or in future. 

It is also for slightly selfish but important reasons. I have significant responsibilities to the 100 people who work at my firm.

They have stepped up to the plate admirably and very capably and the business is thriving but it is important that I return, and this means I cannot give to Essendon what it needs over the coming months.

My business is 6 years old, and I have a clear vision of its future, and I need to get back to the business to prosecute that vision.

What is happening at our club right now is a tragedy, but I know that it will survive. I believe in the Essendon Football club and its people and it will get through this crisis with people like Paul Little, James Hird and Ray Gunston as its leaders.

The Essendon Football Club is a great institution that is bigger than all of us, and survives and thrives because of the passion of our members and supporters, and the commitment of our players and our staff.

Those of us lucky enough to serve the club must always keep in mind that we owe the club our best, not the other way around.

I would like to acknowledge the players who have been my inspiration over the last few months. 

They have displayed much integrity, honesty and passion for their club. They have such a desire to play for each other.  

I would also like to acknowledge the players parents.  I have come to know these people and understand they have been through a lot. I thank them for their trust in me and I promise I will continue to watch over their boys in the coming months. 

I urge all involved in the next stage of this process to put the interest of the players first and foremost.

I will remain a loyal servant to this great club and will be available to help the club through the final stages of the investigation. 

This decision is also, finally, about my family, whose support has been unwavering, but who have also had to bear much of the stress of the last 5 months. 

This process has taken its toll on me, and on those around me, and I owe it to them to hand over now for the next phase. 

I will make no further comment until further notice."  

---

AFL STATEMENT

The AFL tonight said it wished to acknowledge the service of Essendon Chairman David Evans, who this evening announced his resignation from his role.

AFL Chief Executive Andrew Demetriou said that Mr Evans had shown outstanding leadership and tremendous personal courage through a confronting, difficult period for his club and the wider game and had made a significant contribution to the Essendon Football Club.

''Essendon has been faced with one of the great challenges in the history of a proud establishment club in our competition and David has led the way over the last six months to guide the welfare of his player group and the wider club,'' Mr Demetriou said.

"These are difficult and complex matters that have been investigated, through the ASADA enquiry, and at all times David has sought to discover the facts, act in the best interests of all those under him at the club and to provide leadership on a challenging issue.''

Mr Demetriou said members and supporters of Essendon, as well as the wider football family, should acknowledge his wider work in expanding the club's base to its new home at Tullamarine and guiding the rebuild of the club to its current position entrenched in the top four.

''David has paid a heavy personal toll with the interruption to his family and business life, with his commitment and love for his club, and the AFL applauds his efforts to make the welfare of Essendon's players his absolute priority throughout this difficult time and the AFL wishes him the very best as he steps back into private life,'' he said.

---

ESSENDON STATEMENT FROM INTERIM CEO RAY GUNSTON

It is with great regret that the Essendon Football Club Board has accepted the resignation of David Evans.

David joined the Board in 2006, and has been Chairman since 2009.  

While his successes in leading the club are many, it will be the courage and fortitude of his leadership over the last 5 months that will be remembered.

He has led a strategy that has put the interests of our players and their families first in the AFL and ASADA investigation, called the Ziggy Switkoski report which has already led to significant change, and been the face of the club during its most difficult of times.

The Board will be meeting over the coming days to make a new appointment.

No further comment will be made.

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Rudd returns as election date looms

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd makes a surprise pre-election visit to Australian troops serving in Tarin Kowt, Uruzgan province southern Afghanistan. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: News Limited

KEVIN Rudd will fly back into Australia tonight amid strong signs the election will be in late-September and not late August.

The Prime Minister has a politically fraught week ahead of him and this is expected to dissuade him from asking Governor-general Quentin Bryce to approve an August 31 election tomorrow, which would be the latest possible time to ask for that day.

And Mr Rudd believes he has more policy work to do before testing opinion poll findings showing a strong renewal of Labor's vote.

This could test the patience of some groups of voters but the Prime Minister does not want to be rushed.

But first he has to negotiate the week ahead.

The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) today will deliver four reports on corruption allegations involving figures who have been prominent in the ALP.

The reports on Wednesday and Thursday will revive damaging criticism of Labor mismanagement, although Mr Rudd has positioned himself as the voice of party reform active against abuse of political power.

However, the revived debate would rob Mr Rudd of at least two days' worth of momentum should he call the election on Monday.

The Government is expected to this week release its economic statement, which will in effect be a mini-Budget aimed at explaining how, despite falling revenues, Labor intends to achieve a surplus by 2016-17.

That explanation could include politically sensitive proposals for cuts to spending.

Mr Rudd and wife Therese Rein flew to Tarin Kowt in Afghanistan to visit the base where 1500 Australian troops continue to serve until most are sent home by next year.

The Prime Minister spent four hours at the base talking to Diggers.

Cabinet will meet in Canberra tomorrow and it is certain the election date will be discussed by senior ministers.

If the election is held before September 14 the Government will have to formally dump the referendum of constitutional recognition of local government.

September 14 is the earliest date that a referendum could be held.

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Radical reshape: City of Perth just got bigger

EAST: The city boundary changes will include Burswood, as pictured from the top of Central Park today. Picture: Kerris Berrington. Source: PerthNow

THE City of Perth's boundaries will be expanded to include Kings Park, the new Perth Stadium at Burswood, Leederville, the University of WA, Beaufort St and other landmarks under historic local government reforms.

The changes, announced today by Premier Colin Barnett and Local Government Minister Tony Simpson, will swallow up large parts of the City of Vincent and the City of Stirling.

MAP: SEE THE CITY BOUNDARY CHANGES

The City of Perth will expand from 782ha to 1,893ha to also include QEII hospital, the Leederville cafe strip and Beaufort St as far as Walcott St.

The extension of the city's western boundary will take in Kings Park, which is not currently included in a local government area.

The new boundary will also take in UWA, which now falls within three local government areas.

After years of wrangling, the process to reduce WA's 40 local councils will be finalised on Tuesday. The full plans will outline the Government's amalgamation blueprint in a briefing to mayors, shire presidents and CEOs from Perth's 30 local councils.

It is understood South Perth and Victoria Park will merge, and a super council will be formed in some of Australia's most affluent suburbs of Cottesloe, Peppermint Grove, Nedlands, Cambridge, Claremont, Subiaco and Mosman Park.

NORTH: The view towards Beaufort St, Mt Lawley. Source: PerthNow

The City of Vincent and the City of Stirling could also come together, against the wishes of both.

City of Vincent Mayor Alannah MacTiernan told PerthNow she was "totally opposed'' to Vincent being split in two, and supported the entire council being amalgamated into the City of Perth. 

"The City of Vincent was originally part of the City of Perth before the very stupid decision to split us apart.

"And we see this as an opportunity to fix that."

Ms MacTiernan said the City of Perth would be better able to cater for the unique identity of the City of Vincent than the "monolithic suburban council" of Stirling.

She will run a community campaign to oppose the split and support the whole of Vincent becoming part of the City of Perth.

TOTALLY OPPOSED: City of Vincent Mayor Alannah MacTiernan, pictured in Mary St, Highgate, will rally against Vincent being split in two. Source: PerthNow

"We're meeting this afternoon," she said.

"I've already been down to the North Perth coffee strip to speak to some of the business owners, and they're not happy".

And the mayor of the City of Stirling has told the ABC that cultural events such as the Beaufort Street Festival could be at risk under new metropolitan council amalgamation plans.

Mayor David Boothman told the ABC that a number of projects would be revised under that amalgamation.

"All local governments as well were required to sign off on 10-year plans this year which we have just done," he said.

"[We are] committed to about $120 million worth of major projects.

"The delivery of those projects now is going to be compromised."

Mr Boothman says it would be difficult to accommodate both councils' plans and priorities under such a merger.
"There's going to be a significant impact one way or another on rate payers on either side," he said.

"Any major changes can hurt us badly as far as being able to deliver on the commitments we currently have."

Premier Colin Barnett ascended to the 53rd floor of a Perth office block to announce the expansion of the City of Perth authority, and a significant increase in revenue for the council.

CENTRAL PARK: Colin Barnett outlines the boundary plan today. Picture: Kerris Berrington Source: PerthNow

Premier Colin Barnett ascended to the 53rd floor of a Perth office block to announce the expansion of the City of Perth authority, and a significant increase in revenue for the council.

The Premier said the changes, which would take effect from July 2015, signalled a new era for the State's capital and were the first step in the State Government's reforms which aimed to meet the demands of a growing city.

"It is fitting that the reforms begin with the City of Perth. These changes will give it the status it should hold as Australia's west coast capital and an increasingly important city in the Asia region,'' Mr Barnett said.

"What we have is a one in 100 year opportunity to really enhance the city of Perth. You have seen this with projects such as Elizabeth Quay and Perth City Link and these reforms will further improve the city. 

"They bring the iconic features that are Perth's great selling points under one umbrella which makes good sense from a planning and tourism point of view.

"The changes lay the foundations for building a greater capital. A bigger City of Perth will be better equipped to respond to the demands of a growing State - and better represent WA internationally."

The City of Perth would gain about $10m in revenue from the acquisition of the Burswood site - which will include the casino and the new stadium but not the residential area or Belmont racecourse, Mr Simpson said.

He said the Government would work with Victoria Park and South Perth to compensate for losing Crown casino.

Mr Simpson also said the changes would not mean immediate job losses for council staff as all employees have a job guarantee of two years when a new boundary comes into place.

After the two years it would be up to the new councils how much staff they needed, he said.

OUTLINE: The new boundaries take in parts of the Town of Vincent and City of Stirling. Source: PerthNow

 CLOSER LOOK: SEE A MAP OF THE BOUNDARY CHANGES

The City of Perth boundary changes are the first part of State Government's response to the Robson report, which recommended the number of Perth metropolitan councils be reduced.

Mr Simpson will outline the Government's amalgamation blueprint in a briefing to mayors, shire presidents and CEOs from Perth's 30 local councils on Tuesday.

"This will be a critical step in updating local government boundaries for the first time in decades and ensure that we have modern local councils that can meet the challenges facing Perth now and in the future," the Minister said.

"It's essential that local governments merge to create economies of scale to provide quality and affordable services and better facilities for residents now and into the future."

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Cruel lie that tore a family apart

DESPAIR: Selvamalar knows her son is dead, but cannot accept the tragedy. Picture: Rante Ardiles Source: Supplied

MY BEAUTIFUL SON: Baby Darnasen, who drowned on the way to Australia. Source: PerthNow

About 1000 asylum seekers have died trying to get to Australia illegally by boat since the Labor Government was elected. The Sunday Times was on the scene in the immediate aftermath of the latest boat tragedy this week and, in a common but rarely captured story, can tell why one woman took an extraordinary risk to reach her husband in Perth and suffered the most painful loss of all. Special report by Paul Toohey in Java and Ashlee Mullany in Perth.

SHE was sold a cruel lie by the people smugglers. He will never meet his son.

She was told she would travel on a luxury ocean liner from Indonesia to Australia. They showed her photos of the ship that would transport her, her beautiful son and her brother to their new life in Australia. It was a superb vessel, with three storeys of cabins.

"I believed them,'' she said.

He had warned his wife not to do it, to never get on a boat. They would achieve their dream of being together again as a family but not like that. He knew first-hand how dangerous it was, having escaped to Australia four years earlier on a boat to build a new life in Perth for his wife and unborn son, their first child.

He had left Sri Lanka when she was five months pregnant.

His life on hold in a cluttered share-house with three other men in Langford in Perth's south-eastern suburbs, he spent his days working, eating, sleeping and dreaming. He dreamt of them being together, even cutting up photos to make a collage of the three of them in a typically Australian scene. The tragic montage is now the only way they would be together.
 

BROKEN MAN: Balamanokaran Nagaraga at his home in Langford holding a picture of his late son Darmasen. Picture Theo Fakos Source: PerthNow

  
**********

Wind back a few days. We are in the village of Cidaun, on the southern coast of West Java, at one of the closest points between Indonesia and Christmas Island.

Two Sri Lankan women are weeping. One says that her three children and husband are missing, lost at sea after their boat sank. The second woman says her only son is missing. Someone calls her name. She turns, in horror.

She knows that over where the voice came from is the makeshift morgue they have set up at the clinic in the fishing village.

An ambulance has just arrived with another body rescuers have pulled from the water.

The woman runs, then stops, not wanting to go closer, but compelled to do so. She knows without doubt what she'll find. She begins to scream. She rushes and grabs her small son's grey and wet body and clutches him, her overwhelming lament  unbearable to behold.

Local villagers circle her, staring at her pain. And then she and her dead boy are gone.

In Perth, husband Balamanokaran receives a phone call from his wife. His baby boy is dead.

Until now, he had no idea his wife and child had boarded a boat to try to get to Australia.

"It's not the correct way. I never wanted her to go on a boat. I came by boat and I know about the travel,'' he said.

"I told her not to stay in Indonesia, don't waste your life. Go back to Sri Lanka and I'll send you money and she said OK. I didn't know about the boat.''

Balamanokaran planned to bring his family to Australia next year, when he expected to get citizenship in the final year of his five-year visa.

"I wanted a life here with my wife and son,'' he said. ``A good future, good opportunities here.''

Now, all he wants is to hold the son he never knew.

"I want to see my son's face because I've never seen him,'' he said, sobbing quietly in a bedroom in his Langford home.

He is urgently trying to get a passport to go to Jakarta, but says he has been told to wait until next week.

"I'm asking the Australian Government to let me go to Indonesia. Send me to Indonesia,'' he said. ``If I can't do that, please bring my wife and baby here to stay with me for a couple of weeks and then send my wife back to Sri Lanka. I just want two weeks with my wife and child.''

**********

Selvamalar tells her heartbreaking story to Paul Toohey. Picture: Rante Ardiles Source: Supplied

We pick up this extraordinary story on Wednesday at noon. There are so many tales of loss after an asylum boat, believed to be carrying 187 people, most of them Sri Lankans and Iranians, broke down and sank soon after leaving Cidaun for Christmas Island on Tuesday morning.

There are also remarkable stories of survival. Most of the passengers somehow escaped with their lives after the smugglers cruelly overburdened the small wooden cargo vessel in their soulless pursuit of profit.

None of the Sri Lankans seems to know much about the screaming woman. They nicknamed her Radha, and say she, her son and brother travelled with, but were not part of, a bigger group of Tamil asylum-seekers.

By Thursday morning, we have tracked her down on the other side of Java, in Jakarta, at the police hospital. She is with a young couple who have also lost their son, a one-year-old.

The Disaster Victim Identification Unit wants to DNA-match the dead children to their parents.

The woman comes out a doorway in a daze. Her name is Selvamalar. She is 39. Her son's name is Darmithan. He was four.

She speaks passable English. She says the police won't let her see Darmithan. They took him from her when they arrived here in the ambulance, the day before. ``I want my baby, I want to see my baby,'' she cried.

Selvamalar tells how it came to this. Late last year she, her brother Rahulan, 25, and Darmithan left their home in Vavuniya, in Sri Lanka's Northern Province. She said husband Balamanokaran faced serious ethnic and political problems as a Tamil in Sri Lanka.

FAMILY ALBUM: A photograph father Balamanorkaran had stuck together of him with his wife and child. Source: PerthNow

Selvamalar said she'd tried to join her husband through legal means, but was refused a visa. ``I don't know why,'' she said.

In mid-November, feeling she had no alternative, she set off from Galle, in the south of the troubled island nation, with her son, brother and 43 other Australia-bound asylum seekers.

Each paid the equivalent of around $7200 for passage to Indonesia. The engine stopped as they got close to Indonesia in their 2000km journey.

"We were 45 days in the boat,'' Selvamalar said. ``After 25 days, there was no food. Then a ship stopped and give us food. After 36 days, we got more food from a New Orient ship. We just floated. On January 1, we are rescued by a ship and come to Indonesia.''

They were taken to Medan, capital of north Sumatra, and put in an overcrowded migration detention facility with other Sri Lankans and Iranians, Afghans and Burmese.

"On April 4, eight Rohingya (Muslim) persons from Myanmar were murdered by Buddhists in the jail,'' she said.

"I don't know why. They were stabbed. My son saw this. My son is very afraid. We are all very afraid.''

After more than three months, the International Organisation for Migration secured their release into the community. Selvamalar found a smuggler who arranged for their three-day journey by inter-island ferry and bus to Jakarta.

By April 22, the three were in Cisarua, in central West Java, the place where most asylum seekers register with the UNHCR in the hope of gaining legal resettlement in Australia, or to make contact with the smugglers.

She and her brother had no trouble finding the smuggler network. At least 40 brokers operate on behalf of the kingpins in the area, looking for passengers.

The deal was that Selvamalar and her brother would pay $7200 each. Darmithan would travel free.

They were taken from Cisarua to another town on the evening of July 22, where she said a large number of Sri Lankans were gathered. They were driven down to the coast, arriving on Tuesday morning.

``When we saw the boat, very shocked,'' she said. ``But they are saying that this boat will take us to the ship.''

They motored to sea for two hours. Selvamalar began to realise there was no ship. They were put on a boat that quickly began taking water through a hole in the hull. ``We are very afraid,'' she said. ``The boat is in danger.''

The captain responded to passengers' pleas and turned back for Java, limping on half power for three hours until the boat swamped and began to quickly sink. Selvamalar tells of something strange, but something we have heard from others: that a bigger, more- modern boat was just 50m from them as people began to struggle and drown.

"They are watching our boat,'' she said. ``We say, `Please help us'. We remove our life jackets and wave. They don't help our rescue. They are watching, watching. We called out, `Help us, save our life'. They not help.''

She had become split from her brother (who would survive) and was floating, holding Darmithan. Each had a life jacket, but she didn't know how to swim. She didn't want to float further out to sea with her boy.

"A man came and took my son,'' she said. ``A Sri Lankan man. He could swim. I gave him my son to take him to safety, to take to land.'' But Darmithan arrived dead.

What happened? ``I don't know, I don't know,'' she said, bursting into tears again. ``On Wednesday I see my son, dead. Very cute boy, very cute boy.''

She does not know if the man who took her son made it back to shore. She does not know if someone stole her son's life jacket.

When we speak to Selvamalar in the police hospital, she says someone had given her a phone so she could call her husband.

Selvamalar cannot let go. She cannot accept her son is dead.

"My baby was a good dancer, a very good singer,'' Selvamalar said. ``Every day he's saying, `Mama, I want to see my papa. When will I see my papa? When are we going to Papa?'.

Darmasen died on the way to Australia. Source: News Limited

"My baby is always saying to me, `Don't cry Mama, don't cry Mama'. He was very cute, very cute.''

She doesn't know what will happen now. ``I don't want to go to Australia,'' she said. ``My life is my baby. My future is my baby. I want my baby. I want to see my baby.''

Asked what she thinks of the people smugglers, she says: ``They are very cheaters. No life do they understand. Not babies, not pregnant ladies, nothing. They not understand.''
 

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