Meet the sandwich generation

The extended Spencer family will be moving into their new home in March, which will accomodate the whole extended family. Pictured is (left to right) grandparents Bob and Dawn Wall with mum Michelle, daughters Sheridan (6) and Tianna (8), son Jos and dad Barry Spencer. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: PerthNow

PERTH homes are being redesigned to suit the needs of the "sandwich generation".

It's a term coined for houses tailored to accommodate three adult generations from the same family under one roof  parents, older children saving for their own property and grandparents.

Designs can include a U-shape layout that ensures bedrooms for each generation are as far apart as possible and put common communal areas, such as the kitchen, outside.

Dale Alcock Homes recently launched seven new multi-generational home designs.

"More and more West Australians are finding themselves 'sandwiched' between supporting their adult offspring and looking after their elderly parents, all while trying to fund their own retirement," Dale Alcock Homes general manager Dean O'Rourke said.

"It makes sense given we're all living longer, our kids are staying at home well into their 20s and our seniors want to release some of their hard-earned dollars for retirement.

"If you add in the rising cost of real estate and Perth's growing population, then it's not surprising that more and more West Australians are moving into a home that can accommodate the whole family."

Curtin University cultural studies professor Jon Stratton said that as the WA population aged and illnesses such as dementia and Alzheimer's became more prevalent, more and more people would be living with their extended family.

"The state does not have the resources to support this population so it falls back on families," he said.

Mr O'Rourke said a multi-generational home had to be adaptable as family dynamics changed.

"Rooms are designed for multipurpose, like transforming a theatre room into a games or activity room for the kids," he said.

Privacy and the location of bedrooms were the No.1 considerations when designing a multi-generational home.

"Multi-generational homes, like the Vespa, are commonly designed with the master suite at the front of the home and the bedrooms for adult offspring or grandparents to the rear," he said. "Another important design consideration is ensuring your home layout fosters family interaction, linking the central hub of the home to the bedrooms.

"It's all about balancing privacy and together time."

The first family to build a multi-generational home with Dale Alcock Homes, the Spencers, will move into their Ellenbrook property in March.

Michelle and Barry Spencer created their new home to accommodate their three children and Michelle's parents, Bob and Dawn Wall.

The Spencers chose a design in which the main home is almost entirely separate from their parents' section.

The U-shaped home will have two kitchens, two laundries and separate bathrooms.

Ms Spencer said she thought multi-generational housing was the way of the future.

"In the present, our home will help my ageing parents," she said. "If something happens to one of my parents, the other will have support and assistance if needed.

"Into the far future, if our children can't afford their own home or aren't able to rent, we will be able to offer them somewhere to live without cramping their style."

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'Messy times' but I'm right - Barnett

WA Premier Colin Barnett speaks about his 5th year in charge of the WA government. Picture: Richard Hatherley Source: PerthNow

A DEFIANT Colin Barnett insists he hasn't lost the support of the public despite a "messy" and unlucky few months where "what could go wrong has gone wrong".

In a wide-ranging interview with The Sunday Times to mark his fifth anniversary as Premier, Mr Barnett conceded major election promises such as the airport rail link could now be delayed by up to two years in the wake of the state losing its AAA credit rating this week.

He also voiced concern that there was no obvious replacement for him in Liberal ranks.

And despite more than two decades in the political spotlight he felt misunderstood by the public and the media. He saw himself as a leader who put achievement ahead of popularity.

CREDIT CRISIS

Mr Barnett admitted that Wednesday's decision by Standard & Poor's to downgrade WA's credit rating from AAA to AA+ caught him off guard.

"We were certainly conscious that our level of debt was rising," he said. "(But) I would've expected (that decision) if we hadn't made some significant progress by the end of year, maybe.

"So, I was surprised at the timing of it, to be honest."

Mr Barnett said he was confident he could get the AAA rating back. He promised any Government assets sold to alleviate debt "will not be things that impact on people in their daily life".

But he flagged delays of up to two years in delivering the airport rail link and Perth to Mirrabooka light rail.

Mr Barnett compared the move with his decision to delay the new football stadium by two years during the global financial crisis. He felt the public had enough common sense to understand why he pushed projects back.

He denied he had been reckless with the state's finances and said the debt of $18.5 billion was "manageable".

A 'MESSY PERIOD'

The past few months have seen public outcry over several Barnett Government decisions, including changes to solar rebates and proposed council mergers. And teachers went on strike against budget cuts on Thursday, keeping 180,000 children away from school for the day.

"It's been what I would describe as just a messy period for Government," Mr Barnett said. "It's almost since the election what could go wrong has gone wrong.

"You always need a bit of good luck in politics."

Mr Barnett admitted part of the problem was his team was distracted by the March poll.

"Elections are a big distraction," he said. "(They) use up an enormous amount of energy and effort."

But he was confident he had the support of West Australians and didn't sense any hostility when out and about in the community.

"Sometimes when I come out of the studios after talkback radio I think everyone must hate me out there," he said. "But I don't hear that in the street. Out there in the community people are very generous and very complimentary and friendly to me."

THE REAL BARNETT

Mr Barnett has been leader or deputy leader of the Liberal Party in every election since 1993. Yet despite so many years of public scrutiny he still feels misunderstood.

"I'm not a natural politician," he said. "I'm not the run-up-kiss-the-baby, know-the-name-of-the-pet-dog, ask-about-the-grandchildren (kind). That's not me.

"In fact, I think I'm not probably well understood by WA media or public."

Mr Barnett said he was not a "publicity-seeking Premier", but felt he deserved more credit for achievements like pouring hundreds of millions extra dollars into charities and his success with native title settlements.

He said criticism that he was "arrogant" pandered to stereotype and too many politicians wasted careers by being afraid to make controversial decisions.

"I get frustrated when people try to find a middle ground simply to defuse an issue," he said. "The issue is either right or wrong.

"The natural politicians ... tend to be the ones, from my experience, that look for the compromise that offends no one. But they don't achieve much.

"They may be very popular, but when you ask the question: What did you achieve? Not a lot. I put achievement ahead of popularity."

THE GST

Mr Barnett said it made no sense for WA to lose its AAA credit rating when it had the country's strongest economy by "virtually every measure".

He said the biggest problem was uneven distribution of GST revenue.

"I know people think I bang on about it too much," he said. "But it's not only our share going down, it's the actual absolute amount of money.

"For this financial year the Northern Territory will get more GST than WA and yet the population of NT is less than the City of Stirling. It is outrageous."

Mr Barnett said dwindling GST revenue made the state increasingly reliant on mining royalties to run services.

"Mining royalties are by their nature volatile," he said. "Yet our expenditure is not volatile  it just trends up."

Mr Barnett said the big influx of migrants from overseas and interstate had also put enormous strain on the economy.

TONY ABBOTT

Mr Barnett, who had repeated slanging matches with the Rudd and Gillard governments, said he would start a "little more gentle" with Liberal counterpart Tony Abbott.

He was hopeful the new Prime Minister would be a circuit breaker in the GST stand-off, despite Mr Abbott making it clear during the election campaign he would not change the tax.

"We've now got the four big states  NSW, Victoria, Queensland and WA  (where) the four premiers are all Liberal and we've all signed an agreement that we support a shift to a per capita distribution of the GST," Mr Barnett said.

"Those four states represent 90 per cent of the Australian population and 90 per cent of the Australian economy.

"You've now got the vast majority saying this system is broken. I wouldn't put words in Tony Abbott's mouth, but I think he understands the reality of that."

But, Mr Barnett said, any progress would be gradual: "I'm not expecting this to be corrected overnight, but I do expect it to be corrected."

NO SUCCESSOR

Mr Barnett said he would make up his mind to contest the 2017 election about six months or a year out from the poll.

He said it was "an issue" that there was no clear candidate to replace him.

"There's no obvious immediate successor to me whenever I move on," he said.

Rumours that tension existed between himself and Treasurer Troy Buswell over problems with the recent Budget were wrong.

"There have been a few things from the Budget that we have stepped back from," he said. "But there were some things that were wrong, to be blunt."

HIS LEGACY

"I'm not into legacies, but I think when people look back at that period when this guy was Premier they will say that was the period that Perth changed and grew up as a city," Mr Barnett said.

The Premier said he had been very conscious over the past five years that he was running the state during a unique period when Perth could be transformed thanks to the mining boom.

He was proud to have started projects that previously had only been talked about, such as sinking the Perth rail line, the Perth waterfront development and new football stadium.

"This is a one-in-100 year transition of Perth," he said.

FOR SALE? Political Editor Joe Spagnolo looks at some possible scenarios:

GoldCorp (including the Perth Mint): Likely to be sold.
Sale of GoldCorp would not generate riots in the streets. The public would not object.

LotteryWest: Unlikely to be sold.
The community feels an ownership of LotteryWest. To sell off Lotterywest would ignite passionate debate in the community - something the government can ill afford.

TAB: Likely to be sold.
Just a few weeks ago, South Perth Liberal John McGrath called for the TAB to be privatised to fund urgent infrastructure upgrades in the state's racing industry.
A real possibility.

Synergy-Verve: Likely to be sold.
Premier Colin Barnett is merging power utilities Synergy and Verve. This week, Energy Minister Mike Nahan said the long term plan was to sell WA's power utilities.

Western Power: Unlikely to be sold.
Premier Colin Barnett likes to control key energy infrastructure. Hard to see him wanting to sell off Western Power.

Water Corporation: Unlikely to be sold.
Premier Colin Barnett ruled out the sale of the Water Corporation this week.
But don't be surprised if the government considers selling off a desalination plant.

Insurance Commission of WA: Unlikely to be sold.
Treasurer Troy Buswell has previously ruled out opening compulsory third party insurance to to private competition.

Fremantle Port: Unlikely to be sold.
Both Premier Colin Barnett and Treasurer Troy Buswell say there will be no quick sales of our ports. But they admit, facilities within ports could be sold off, such as the Kwinana Bulk Terminal.

Land holdings: Likely to be sold.
Sites such as the old power station site in East Perth, Subiaco Oval, Princess Margaret Hospital will all come under consideration as the Premier looks to sell off land to pay off mounting debt.

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Internet boss pretends to trip models

Make up your own mind as to whether this gentleman was intentionally trying to trip models during last week's Perth Fashion Festival.

Michael Malone pretends to trip a model during the Perth Fashion Festival's An Evening with Camilla and Marc at the WA Museum. Picture: Alf Sorbello Source: PerthNow

HIS deft moves earned him big bucks on the stock exchange, but they weren't such a big hit at the Perth Fashion Festival.

iiNet boss Michael Malone was pretending to trip models parading in last Sunday night's Camilla and Marc fashion show at the WA Museum by repeatedly extending his leg across the catwalk.

But the mischievous multi-millionaire waited until the models had just made it past him before he stuck his leg out.

The schoolboy-type prank was broadcast live on big screens in front of bemused guests at the $270-a head soiree, which included a decadent three-course dinner.

Oblivious to yells from photographers for him to stop obstructing their shots, Mr Malone continued his antics.

One onlooker described his behaviour as "foolish".

"All of a sudden the show started and out comes his foot," he said. "He kept doing it. It was foolish, it was childish."

Mr Malone was later spotted waving wads of cash in the air during the charity auction at which he bid $7500 for a private dinner cooked by retired AFL star Andrew Embley and Olympic swimmer Eamon Sullivan.

Funds went to breast cancer charity The McGrath Foundation.

Other guests at the event included former cricketers Glenn McGrath and Adam Gilchrist, pop singer Samantha Jade, Hollywood fashion icon Cameron Silver, Singaporean socialite Marie Choo and Sydney fashion blogger Kate Waterhouse.

Mr Malone founded Perth-based internet company iiNet from his parents' suburban garage in 1993. It's now Australia's biggest independent internet service provider, worth $1 billion.

The Perth Fashion Festival, a six-day whirlwind of fashion, champagne and parties, ended on Monday night.

Mr Malone declined to comment.

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Gales, heavy rain looms for Perth, S-W

A storm is set to bring heavy showers and strong winds to Perth tomorrow morning. Source: PerthNow

GALES and heavy rain are set to batter Perth and the South-West with severe weather forecast for tonight and tomorrow morning.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning this afternoon as a deep low and cold front closes in on the south-west of WA this evening.

The warning covers people south-west of a line from Jurien Bay to Merredin to Hyden to Israelite Bay, which includes the Perth metro area, Mandurah and Busselton regions.

The Bureau warns that widespread damaging winds to 100km/h, which could result in damage to homes and property, with isolated gusts up to 125km/h possible.

"Damaging winds and dangerous gusts are likely to develop southwest of a line Jurien Bay to Merredin to Bremer Bay after 11pm tonight, and then southwest of a line Walpole to Narrogin to Hyden to Israelite Bay after 8am Sunday," the Bureau states.

Conditions are expected to ease for a period on Sunday but the Bureau warns that damaging winds and dangerous gusts are likely to redevelop south-west of a line Perth to Walpole by 11pm.

People are advised that higher than normal tides may cause flooding in low lying coastal areas between Perth and Albany, while dangerous surf conditions are likely which could cause beach erosion.

Heavy rainfall associated with the system could cause flash flooding in isolated areas.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services advises that people should:
- Store or weigh down loose objects such as outdoor furniture.
- Have an emergency kit with a battery operated radio, torch, spare batteries and first aid kit.
- Ensure pets and animals are in a safe area.
- Move vehicles under cover.
- Boat owners should securely moor their boats.
- Campers should find shelter away from trees, power lines, storm water drains and streams.

Residents whose property is badly damaged or flooded should contact the State Emergency Service on 132 500.

Wet slog for footy finals

Ahead of tonight's AFL preliminary final between Fremantle and Sydney, the Bureau is predicting: "Isolated showers developing during the afternoon. Winds northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h turning northerly in the late evening."

Storms will develop tomorrow morning, accompanied by strong winds, but they may have cleared by bouncedown for the WAFL grand final between West Perth and East Perth.

According to the Bureau, Sunday will bring: "Heavy showers developing early in the morning, easing to isolated showers by later in the morning. Isolated thunderstorms early in the morning.

"Damaging winds possible in the morning. Winds northerly 25 to 35 km/h turning west to northwesterly 35 to 50 km/h early in the morning."

Perth forecast - Sunday 22 September
Min 13 Max 19. Showers, easing. Morning storm.

Monday 23 September
Min 13 Max 21. Shower or two. Windy.

Tuesday 24 September
Min 15 Max 20. Shower or two. Wind easing.

Wednesday 25 September
Min 14 Max 21. Morning shower or two.

Thursday 26 September
Min 11 Max 20. Shower or two. Windy.

Friday 27 September
Min 11 Max 19. Cloudy.

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Chicago shooting: 3-year-old critical

Chicago police say two gunmen attacked a crowd on a park basketball court, with at least 13 people injured in the shooting, including three-year-old, their conditions from serious to critical. The gunmen haven't been taken into custody yet.

Shooting scene in Chicago. Picture from Twitter Source: Supplied

AMERICA has been rocked by another mass shooting incident, this time in Chicago.

Thirteen people were shot at a basketball court, including a three-year-old boy and two 15 year olds.

Chicago Fire Department officials said the child was in critical condition.

CNN quoted Chicago Police officer Ron Gaines as saying the child was shot in the ear with the bullett exiting through his mouth.

The 15 year olds are in a stable condition, Gaines said, while four other victims were in a serious condition.

The incident took place on Chicago's south side, in the Back of the Yards neighbourhood.

The Chicago Tribune reported that up to 60 police arrived on the scene after the incident.

Deputy District Fire Chief James Mungovan updates the media at the scene in Cornell Square Park. Picture: Scott Olson/Getty Images/AFP Source: AFP

All the victims were transported to hospitals but are alive, deputy fire chief James Mungovan said. Police do not yet have anyone in custody.

A Chicago police spokesman did not confirm how many were shot in the park. He added it wasn't known if there were fatalities.

A total of 10 ambulances responded to the scene near Cornell Square Park around 10:15 p.m. local time and transported 11 of the victims to various hospitals, fire officials said.

A police dispatcher told AFP: "Basically, there have been no fatalities reported and there is no one in custody at this time."

Shooting scene in Chicago. Picture: Twitter Source: Supplied

The Chicago Sun Times quoted 22-year-old local resident Julian Harris as saying that "dreadlocked gunmen in a gray sedan" fired at him at the corner of Wood and 51st street.

"They've been coming round here looking for people to shoot every night - just gang-banging stuff. It's what they do," the paper quoted Harris saying.

Another witness told the paper that he heard "at least 20 shots" and police arrived on the scene "real quick".

A third witness at the scene said three police officers carried the child to an ambulance.

"I didn't hear no sounds,'' from the child, he told the Chicago Tribune.

Residents from the Back of the Yards neighbourhood respond to the shooting. Picture: Twitter Source: Supplied

Francis John, 70, said she was in her apartment when the shooting occurred. She told Associated Press she went down to see what was going on and "a lot of youngsters were running scared.'' She said she was surprised by what had happened, saying she has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years.

The shooting comes as Chicago struggles to stem an epidemic of gang violence that helped push the city's murder rate up 16 percent to 506 people last year.

The Chicago Tribune reported that a total of eighteen people, including the 13 in the Cornell Park incident, were shot in the space of four hours in Chicago on Thursday night.

Despite this shocking figure, there has only been one fatality so far, that of a 36-year-old man who was shot near 77th Street and Sangamon Avenue.

A Chicago police officer picks through debris at the crime scene. Picture: AP Photo / Paul Beaty Source: AP

Back of the Yards is an industrial and residential neighborhood on Chicago's South Side and gets its name from the former Union Stock Yards, which employed thousands of European immigrants in the early 20th century.

It is still considered to be a working-class area, though now with a strong Mexican-American ethnic base, and suffers from a relatively high crime rate.

The incident comes four days after 12 people were killed in a mass shooting at Washington Navy Yard.

President Barack Obama returned to his adopted hometown earlier this year to appeal for an end to the 'senseless' gun violence ravaging Chicago as he pressed for ambitious gun control measures, which so far have been stalled in the US Congress.

Shooting scene in Chicago. Picture: Twitter Source: Supplied

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Three elite Aussie troops wounded

Australian Special Forces soldiers have been injured in Oruzgan Province in Afghanistan. Source: News Limited

A GROUP of elite Australian soldiers have been wounded during a successful mission that killed an insurgent commander.

Defence said three Australian Special Forces soldiers sustained "minor fragmentation wounds" during the operation in Oruzgan province last week.

In an operation led by the Afghan National Security Forces, enabled by the Special Operations Task Group, the soldiers were providing reinforcement to three ANSF security checkpoints in the Char Chineh region of the Shahid-e Hasas District that were under heavy, prolonged insurgent attack.

Defence said a number of insurgents were killed during the operation, including a mid-level commander responsible for supplying insurgents in the district with weapons and ammunition.

Local security forces successfully maintained security and regained control of the area.

Commanding Officer SOTG, Lieutenant Colonel M, praised the Australian soldiers for continuing the successful mission, despite their wounds.

"Coming under insurgent fire, with three of their Australian partners wounded, the ANSF demonstrated their effective capability and continued the mission," he said.

"As a result a number of insurgent fighters, including a mid-level commander, were killed, significantly reducing the capability of the insurgent fighting force attacking the ANSF checkpoints."

"The ANSF have proven themselves in a variety of combat situations. This mission was important as it reinforced ANSF checkpoints that have been under recent pressure from insurgent attacks. It has also disrupted the insurgent networks that are operating in this area, reducing their capability to target ANSF.

"At the time the entire force element was receiving heavy small arms fire, it was a situation that could have easily escalated."

Defence said the three wounded soldiers received immediate treatment from medical personnel at the incident site.

They returned to Multinational Base - Tarin Kot for follow up medical treatment when the mission was completed.

One of the soldiers was subsequently transferred to the International Security Assistance Force Role 3 Medical Facility in Kandahar for follow up treatment as an outpatient.

All soldiers were expected to return to full duties in the near future.

To date, 14 ADF personnel have been wounded in Afghanistan in 2013.

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No show: 180,000 kids take day off

STRIKE ACTION: Thousands of teachers rally at a stop-work meeting yesterday. Picture: Stewart Allen Source: PerthNow

COOL: A third of WA public school students took the day off. Source: PerthNow

TWO thirds of WA's public school students missed the whole day of school yesterday when thousands of teachers walked off the job.

New data, released by the Education Department, shows 201,000 pupils did not attend public schools yesterday morning when a stop-work rally protesting education cuts was staged at Gloucester Park.

But 180,000 students - some 65 per cent - stayed away from school for the entire day, authorities say. There are 276,000 students in the public education system.

A spokeswoman for the department said "not all of these students would have been absent because of the industrial action".

But on a normal school day, the Education Department records about 16,000 absences from school, with 11,000 of those justified. The remaining 5000 are unexplained or not warranted.

The data also shows that more than 11,300 teachers and other staff did not turn up for work on Thursday morning because of the industrial action.

Their pays will be docked by half a day, as warned by the Barnett Government.

Premier braces for more school strikes

Across WA, up to 20,000 teachers, other staff, parents and students took part in 23 stop-work meetings yesterday. The biggest was at Gloucester Park, where about 15,000 protested the cuts.

The action, which unions have warned is "just the first step", closed 62 schools yesterday.

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'Near miss' for Perth-bound plane

Two Qantas passenger aircraft have been forced to take action after flying too close to each other over SA.

Two Qantas planes fly in close proximity to each other over Sydney. Picture: Brett Costello Source: AAP

AIRSERVICES Australia has stood down a traffic controller involved in Qantas's mid-air near collision earlier today.

It is understood that at about midday, QF581, the Sydney to Perth flight was flying at 38,000ft and the Perth to Sydney flight was at 39,000ft when the Perth-bound flight requested to climb to 40,000ft.

Air traffic control gave permission for the ascension when the on board warning system went off and the pilots sought evasive action.

As the plane ascended, it came into the pathway of QF 576 from Perth to Sydney, which was travelling at 39,000 ft.

After warning notifications went off, the planes involved swerved and narrowly missed each other.

Passengers disembark at Perth Domestic Terminal after the flight from Sydney. Picture: Richard Polden Source: PerthNow

"Our pilots followed standard operating procedures in re-establishing the required separation distance following the alert from the onboard notification system,'' Qantas said in a statement.
"There was no impact to passengers.''

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau was earlier notified that two planes came too close to each other west of Adelaide this afternoon.

Qantas said the two Airbus A330 aircraft had a "loss of separation'', when one flying from Sydney to Perth was granted permission by air traffic control to climb.

The other flight, coming in the opposite direction, was travelling from Perth to Sydney.

FRIGHTENED: Walter T Bird, 76, talks to the media at Perth Airport about the flight. Picture: Richard Polden Source: PerthNow

Qantas confirmed the two planes involved were a Sydney-to-Perth flight, QF581, which landed at Perth Airport about  1.30pm. The other, flying from Perth to Sydney, was QF576.

Passenger 'saw other plane'

Passenger Gary Martin, who was on the Sydney-to-Perth flight, said he saw the other Qantas plane fly beneath his plane, but was not worried.
 
"I just happened to look out the window somewhere over South Australia and happened to see a plane fly underneath," Mr Martin said after landing at Perth Airport.

NOT WORRIED: Passenger Gary Martin saw the other plane fly beneath the aircraft he was on but remained calm. Picture: Richard Polden Source: PerthNow

"I was not worried at all."

Another Perth passenger, Leanne, said nobody on board was told about the incident.

"I'm a bit concerned that nothing was said, you still want to know what's going on and now I'm shaking," she said.

Former United Airlines maintenance technician Walter Bird said passengers noticed nothing at all during the flight.

"I didn't notice any violent manoeuvres or anything," he said.

"It's not uncommon actually, near misses and that sort of thing. It's just a matter of clear communications."

Safe ground: Passenger Leanne tells of her ordeal on arrival at Perth Airport. Picture: Richard Polden Source: PerthNow

Most of the passengers coming off the flight said they did not know about the near-miss until asked by news crews  at Perth Airport.

An ATSB spokesman said the authority knew of a "loss of separation" incident involving the two aircraft.

Qantas confirmed two of its aircraft had a "loss of separation" over Adelaide, but it denied there was any near-miss or immediate danger to the planes.

In a statement, Qantas said: "Indications are that the loss of separation occurred when one of the Qantas aircraft received clearance to climb from Air Traffic Control," the statement read.

"Our pilots followed standard operating procedures in re-establishing the required separation distance following the alert from the onboard notification system. There was no impact to passengers."

Airservices Australia, which has responsibility for air traffic management, said it had reported the incident to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and had notified the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

It said updates would be provided to the ATSB and Airservices Australia would cooperate fully with any investigation.

An ATSB spokesman said it was gathering more information to determine if it was necessary to investigate the incident.

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Pilot, airport staffer flown to RPH

Emergency services have been called to a plane crash in Geraldton this afternoon.

Emergency services have been sent to a plane crash in Geraldton. Source: PerthNow

Emergency services personnel help a pilot out of a plane which crashed in Geraldton today. Source: Supplied

A photo of the area where a plane crashed in Geraldton earlier today. Picture: Everything Geraldton (everythinggeraldton.com.au) Source: Supplied

EMERGENCY services have been called to a plane crash in Geraldton this afternoon.

Police and St John Ambulance were called just before 4pm after the small plane crashed and caught fire at the Geraldton Aerodrome.

Fire fighters extinguished the blaze and rescued the 50-year-old pilot, who was trapped in the plane.

Emergency services personnel help a pilot out of a plane which crashed in Geraldton today. Source: Supplied

He was taken to Geraldton Hospital with serious injuries, including burns and has now been transferred to Royal Perth Hospital along with an airport staff member who was burnt while trying to pull the pilot from the wreck.

Air Transport Safety Bureau has been advised.

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Wallabies star in trouble again

The Courier Mail's rugby writer Jim Tucker joins Fox Sports News after it was revealed Wallabies star James O'Connor was escorted out of Perth airport last weekend.

JAMES O'Connor's future in Australian rugby has been thrown into jeopardy after the allegedly intoxicated winger was escorted out of Perth airport by federal police.

The AFP confirmed a 23-year-old man was removed from the airport after being denied entry to a flight in the early hours of Sunday morning.

O'Connor was travelling to Bali with his girlfriend on a 5am flight and has admitted to the ARU he was involved in a heated dispute with airline staff over seating arrangements.

"The AFP can confirm it spoke to a 23-year-old man at Perth International Airport in the early hours of the 15th of September (Sunday)," an AFP spokesman said.

"It is alleged the man was intoxicated. The airline the man was booked to travel with made a decision not to allow him to board the aircraft. The AFP subsequently escorted the man from the terminal."

Witnesses have told Rugby Gold they saw O'Connor being escorted from the Perth terminal, affected by alcohol, in the wee hours after the Wallabies beat Argentina at Patersons Stadium.

The ARU launched an investigation on Sunday but were satisfied with O'Connor's version of events relayed from Bali, which stated a dispute over seating arrangements at the gate led to O'Connor and his girlfriend being taken back through customs to re-book seats on a later flight. He denied being drunk and there was no mention of the AFP.

The Wallabies have had the week off before leaving on of a tour South Africa and South America next Monday.

O'Connor has a storied history of off-field incidents.

O'Connor's presence on the two-week trip to South Africa and Argentina will now come under scrutiny in major doubt following a string of off-field incidents, and the airport matter could also threaten an impending deal with the Western Force, which was due to be finalised this week.

O'Connor was let go by the Melbourne Rebels in July – with attitude cited as one of the reasons – and a return to his first club the Force is understood to be conditional on the 23-year-old agreeing to strict behavioural standards.

If the deal with the Force collapses, O'Connor is likely to be left without an Australian Super Rugby club for next season, with all others not interested. He may have to take up an offer overseas or in rugby league.

O'Connor's airport incident comes just weeks after he pledged to clean up his act following a series of off-field disciplinary issues.

In 2011, O'Connor was suspended for a Test after sleeping through the World Cup squad announcement and a few months later was involved in a fight in Paris with Wallaby teammates Kurtley Beale and Quade Cooper.

Recently, O'Connor was again in hot water during the British and Irish Lions tour in June when he and Beale were photographed at Hungry Jacks at 4am, just a few days out from the second Test in Melbourne.

Along with missing a bus to training and a final Wallaby team meeting, O'Connor's behaviour infuriated senior Wallabies, some of whom spoke out against him.

After new Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie laid down the law about team standards, O'Connor said just over a month ago he was working to make changes.

"There's definitely things that I already have changed and am in the process of doing, personal things," O'Connor said.

"I don't play rugby to be talked about off the field.

"I'm playing rugby because I love it and that's what I want to be doing, playing for my country.

"At the moment I'm doing the hard yards and I'm trying to get involved and earn myself into the team."

"It's not hard to do, (team standards) is just putting the team first. I can't express everything, but it's something I'm pretty excited about.

"It's something I know I can be part of."

Wallabies captain James Horwill, who missed the Perth Test with injury, last month foreshadowed problems for O'Connor should he misbehave again.

"I think they (O'Connor and Beale) understand that's not what's acceptable being a part of the Australian team and we've got to make sure that that's clear and as long as we make that clear everyone understands where they stand, not just for those individuals but for everyone," Horwill said in August.

"Once you know where you stand and if you go away from that then that brings you into a place that you probably don't want to be, so that's something that we will make pretty clear – and have made pretty clear."

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Warne: Liz split rumours 'rubbish'

Channel 10 reporter Caty Price copped the brunt of a Liz Hurley lashing while attempting to ask questions of fiancee Shane Warne. Courtesy: Channel 9

SHANE Warne has lashed out against rumours he has split with Liz Hurley, calling them "absolute rubbish".

"Some of the reports re EH & me r absolute rubbish. Yes we're sorting through some (private) issues. But we're not throwing the towel in yet," Shane Warne said on Twitter.

Earlier, Elizabeth Hurley also used a tweet to break her silence over the apparent split, apologising to her followers on the social networking site.

"Apologies to loyal followers for Twitter silence on recent events. Too raw & personal to share right now," Hurley said.

According to the London Star, Shane Warne has reportedly asked actress Liz Hurley to marry him.

Initial reaction to the pair's tweets have been sympathetic.

''You should not have to share like you said it's personal to you and your family. It's no one business. x,'' @Swallis1970 responded to Hurley's tweet.

''None of our business. Relationships are hard enough without worrying about what the media is saying,'' @moreGaryFrank tweeted back to Warne.

Warnie  found a supporter in Delta Goodrem's ex fiance, Brian Mcfadden, who responded: ''f*#@ the begrudgers. Good luck to you pal x ''

Happier times: Shane Warne and Elizabeth Hurley. Picture: Twitter

Hurley has also stepped out without her engagement ring as rumours of a split with Warne refuse to disappear.

While the pair have not confirmed they've parted ways, The Sun reports the romance is definitely over - and Warne's ex-wife Simone Callahan is behind the split.

PICTURES: Warne and Hurley in happier times

Shane Warne: Elizabeth Hurley split rumours 'rubbish'

PICTURES: Shane Warne's follies

PICTURES: Shane Warne's scandals

Friends have reportedly told the British newspaper that Hurley, 48, grew tired of him "getting cosy with her again".

"Liz found out he had been over at Simone's house a lot," the source said.

Glammed up: Shane Warne and Elizabeth  Hurley arrive for the former cricketer's charity lunch at Crown Palladium today. Picture: Nicole Garmston

"It is felt now the kids are getting older, they need their dad around. Liz couldn't ever handle Shane and Simone still being best friends."

Warne proposed to Hurley with a stunning blue sapphire ring in September 2011.

The engagement came after he declared in December 2010 that his marriage to Callahan was over.

Shane Warne with his ex-wife Simone Callahan in 2009. Picture: News Corp Australia Source: News Limited

A sombre looking Hurley was seen without the sparkler on her finger outside her North London home yesterday.

Earlier this morning, Warne cancelled a Cricket Victoria press conference in Melbourne at the eleventh hour.

Warne had been due to announce a partnership with his charity the Shane Warne Foundation and Cricket Victoria but cancelled two hours before the launch.

The Shane Warne Foundation sent out a media releasing saying that the event was cancelled due to "scheduling conflicts of our new ambassadors and unavailability of some of our guests".

Journalists have previously been warned not to ask questions about the cricket great's rumoured romance troubles.

The newspaper adds that Shane has not yet moved back in with Simone but has been spending a lot of time at the family home.

Rumours of a split were initially sparked when the prolific tweeters had not tweeted each other in over three weeks.

Liz Hurley and her son, Damian, leave her London home to go out for a meal. Photo: Splash Source: Supplied

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Asset sales likely as WA loses AAA status

Treasurer Troy Buswell has reiterated that the government will look at selling off assets to improve WA's disastrous financial position.

TREASURER Troy Buswell has reiterated that the government will look at selling off assets to improve WA's disasterous financial position.

But he would not say which assets would be sold.

The state lost its cherished AAA credit status after ratings agency Standard and Poor's downgraded WA to AA+ today.

Mr Buswell warned of more economic pain for West Australians: "It's a message to the government and more broadly to the community that we have to understand the need to reform the current business model.

Western Australia has lost its AAA credit rating, with Standard %amp; Poor's downgrading the once-boom state.

"The current business model is not sustainable.

"Yes, this a bad outlook for the state but this also presents a great opportunity for us to do genuine reform that will have long lasting benefits."

Mr Buswell admitted that the downgrading would affect investment in WA.

WA Premier Colin Barnett, says the state may be forced to sell land or assets to service its debts after its credit downgrade today.

"It effectively means that people who want to invest money in WA government  bonds will do so at a slightly higher rate," he said.

"As a result of last October's announcement (S&P's previous outlook warning) the interest bill is about $72 million higher that what we anticipated.

"We anticipate today's announcement, across the forward estimates, will add another $23 million."

Earlier today, Premier Colin Barnett flagged the possible sale of assets to pay off the state's growing debt.

"We are not talking about widespread privatisation. There may be individual assets we can dispose of. We will look at that on a calm and sensible way," he said.

In the wake of S&P's announcement, Mr Barnett admitted that this was the first time that WA had lost its AAA credit rating since the WA Inc years.

The Premier tried to blame the downgrade on the pressures on the state's economy, which included cuts to GST revenue and growing population.

But he also admitted that the state's debt had climbed too quickly, from $3.6 billion in 2008 to a projected $28 billion.

Mr Barnett said he made no apologies for the fact that the government had loaded up the state's 'credit card', saying the government needed to provide more infrastructure for WA.

But he said that in hindsight, the government had maybe been too ambitious with its infrastructure program, which includes plans for a new $1 billion football stadium and a $4 billion light rail and airport link project.

Speaking about the government's spending habits of the last five years, he said: "I don't apologise for that. This is a transformational decade for Western Australia.

"However debt is real money and has to be repaid and serviced.

"You can expect there will have to be further belt tightening across all areas of government. There will be pressure across the WA community and I regret that."

Mr Barnett, as the first premier in decades to preside over a government which has lost its AAA rating, said the downgrading was a "blow" to the state but the WA economy was still strong.

He said the biggest impact on the state was the dwindling GST revenues, which had fallen to 45 cents in the dollar.

He admitted the government had been too ambitious with its infrastructure program.

"You can say perhaps we tried to do too much too quickly. Maybe we need to slow down. And we will."

But he warned: "There will be significant expenditure cuts right across government.

Opposition labels downgrade a 'disaster'

Opposition leader Mark McGowan has labelled the credit rating downgrade as a "disaster" for the state.

He said Mr Barnett had taken WA from having the "best set of books" in the nation to having "the worst". He said state debt had increased 700 per cent in five years.

CCI Chief Economist  John Nicolaou today said the government could clearly not afford its infrastructure "spend-a-thon" and needed to urgently review its plans with a view to dumping one or more of its big ticket spending items.

Mr Nicolaou said not cost-benefit analysis had been done on the MAX light rail or airport rail link to justify the Treasurer's claims that the state could not afford to forsake the projects.

Standard and Poor's verdict on WA

WA's long-term issuer credit rating is now AA+, but its short-term issuer credit rating of A-1+ has been affirmed.

Standard & Poor's said the lowering of the long-term rating reflected its view that while the state government's Fiscal Action Plan announced in the August budget "improves the state's path'', there was "likely to be slippage, reflecting our view of limited political will''.

That limited will had been shown by the early revision of some budget revenue and expenditure measures, the ratings agency said.

The report stated: "The ratings on WA reflect our view of the strong institutional framework supporting intergovernmental relations in Australia, combined with WA's wealthy - albeit concentrated - economy, positive liquidity, and low contingent liabilities.

"The ratings are constrained by our view of moderate budgetary flexibility and budgetary performance. WA's debt burden is now at the high end of the domestic peer group, and in our view is likely to continue rising."

S&P credit analyst Claire Curtin said the stable outlook for WA reflects the view that the government will implement enough of its fiscal action plan to ensure its cash operating balance remains positive.

But she added: "The rating could be pressured if WA's consolidated cash operating balance looked likely to fall into deficit without a convincing plan to return to surplus.

"A cash operating deficit could be a result of revenue pressures, or from a failure to remain committed to sufficient
cost-savings. An expectation that debt levels looked likely to breach 120% of consolidated revenues would also likely pressure the rating."

She said upgrade potential in the coming two years is not currently expected and for the outlook to change, would
require a greater commitment to fiscal improvement than expected.

It is estimated the loss of the hallowed AAA credit rating will cost the state government at least $21 million per year to access debt.

Yesterday, the state government watered down a plan to charge $4000 per year for students of 457 visa holders, saying the budget-boosting measure would bring in less than half of the $120 million that it originally anticipated over four years.

It was the second backflip by the WA government since the August budget, following the reversal of plans to halve the tariff rate for households that feed in surplus solar power to the grid, which was projected to claw back $51 million.

At the same time, the Liberal-led government is spending big on capital works such as the Elizabeth Quay waterfront development and a high-tech football stadium next to James Packer's Crown Casino.

A day after the budget was delivered, Treasurer Troy Buswell conceded that the estimated $47.3 billion debt facing WA in 2022/23 - assuming the Fiscal Action Plan worked - was a nasty figure that jumped from almost $22 billion in 2013/14.

Treasury had estimated the state's debt in 2022/23 would have been $86.3 billion if the Fiscal Action Plan hadn't been implemented.

with AAP

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Bird bailed but can't leave Malaysia

WA man Dominic Bird has been granted bail in Malaysia but won't be coming home until an appeal against his acquittal on drugs charges is heard.

Perth man Dominic Bird has been freed on bail after his acquittal on drug trafficking in Malaysia, but can't leave the country until the prosecution's appeal is heard. Source: AFP

PERTH man Dominic Bird has been granted bail in Malaysia but will not be allowed to return to Australia until the outcome of an appeal against his acquittal on drug trafficking charges that carry the death penalty.

Mr Bird, accused of supplying 167 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover police officer, was acquitted on September 4 but re-arrested days later, minutes before his flight to Perth was to depart, after prosecutors launched an 11th hour appeal.

The 33-year-old's lawyer Muhammed Shafee Abdullah had argued that the re-arrest was unconstitutional on the grounds that his client had been declared by the Kuala Lumpur High Court to be a free man, and should be allowed to return to Australia.

But Court of Appeal Justice Azahar Mohamed today ruled that the arrest was lawful and that the appeal, for which prosecutors are yet to provide any details, was simply a continuation of a trial.

``Consequently, criminal proceedings against the respondent are revived,'' Justice Azahar said.

``The right to liberty is not absolute,'' he said.

Still, Justice Azahar also ordered that Mr Bird, having already spent more than 18 months behind bars, should be granted bail pending the outcome of the appeal, dismissing concerns from prosecutors that the Perth man was likely to abscond.

Mr Bird must first come up with 50,000 Malaysian ringgit ($A16,000) in order to post bail, and will be required to report to police once a week.

His passport is already in the hands of Malaysian authorities.

Mr Abdullah said he would push for the appeal to be expedited.

``We would like to have this appeal within a month from today,'' Mr Abdullah said outside the court.

However, prosecutor Ahmad Bache told AAP today that he expected the appeal would not be heard until next year at the earliest, and that it would take several months more to be concluded.

Prosecutors are yet to detail the grounds on which they will appeal the case.

Mr Bird was initially arrested in March last year at a cafe near his apartment in Kuala Lumpur after allegedly supplying an undercover police officer with 167 grams of methamphetamine.

Possession of more than 50 grams of the drug carries a mandatory death penalty in Malaysia.

The prosecution's case subsequently collapsed amid allegations of corruption, including drug trafficking, against their star witness - drug squad detective Luther Nurjib - who was also responsible for Mr Bird's arrest.

Mr Bird has always maintained he was set-up by Inspector Nurjib, who last month was found guilty of contempt of court and fined RM2000 ($A665), after it emerged he had threatened and attempted to bribe a witness in the Bird case.

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Families grieve: 'He killed my sister'

Families are in mourning for the dozen people killed by a gunman in a shooting rampage at a US Navy Yard.

Three women embrace near Nationals Park where family members waited to greet loved ones that were at the Washington Navy Yard, Monday Sept. 16, 2013, in Washington. Picture: AP Source: AP

Stories from an horrific horrific morning in Washington DC with 13 shot dead at a Navy yard.

MORE details about the Washington navy yard shooting victims have emerged, as their families remain in shock over how the event unfolded.

Eight victims who died have been identified. They include: Michael Arnold, 59; Sylvia Frasier, 53; Kathy Gaarde, 62; John Roger Johnson, 73; Frank Kohler, 50; Kenneth Bernard Proctor, 46; Vishnu Pandit, 61; and Arthur Daniels, 51.

ARTHUR DANIELS 

Arthur Daniels' wife Priscilla has told of her shock after the shooting, and how she found out her husband had been shot.

Arthur and Priscilla Daniels. Picture: Fox 5 WTTG Source: Supplied

She told DC News FOX 5 that Arthur went to work on Monday morning and was on the fourth floor of the building when the gunman Aaron Alexis opened fire.

"I call his supervisor and left a message …. When he called me back he said, 'your husband got shot'," she said.

Too distraught to talk much further, she said she was struggling to find out about his condition at a number of hospitals before he was pronounced dead.

Priscilla Daniels says a Washington Metropolitan Police Department officer came to her apartment just before 9pm. Monday and told her that her husband, Arthur, was among those killed at the navy yard. Picture: Fox 5 WTTG Source: Supplied

MICHAEL ARNOLD

Michael Arnold, 59, of Lorton, Virginia, was a Navy veteran and avid pilot.

He had retired from the Navy as a commander or lieutenant commander and had previously been stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

Arnold graduated from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and served in the Navy for 29 years, before retiring as a captain last October, according to an article in the Navy Supply Corps Newsletter.

Arnold, who had two master's degrees from the University of Washington in Seattle, then went to work for LMI, a consulting firm based in McLean, Virginia.

He worked at the Navy Yard on a team that designed vessels such as the USS Makin Island, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship used by the Marine Corps.

He loved building and designing ships almost as much as he loved his family, The New York Daily News reports.

"He was a wonderful person, a loving son, brother and father to two boys, Chris and Eric," Arnold's uncle, Steve Hunter, told the Daily News. "It was just a normal day going to work."

Hunter told The Huffington Post that Arnold returned to Michigan for Labor Day to visit his 80-year-old mother, Patricia.

"He was a loving son of his mother and his wife, and great father to his kids," he said.

"It's tragic. How can you get up in the morning and go to work and have that happen? How do bad things like that happen to good people?"

Jeff Bennett, a vice president at LMI, told The Washington Post that Arnold "was just a solid, solid citizen ... great American."

Arnold and his wife, Jolanda, had been married for more than 30 years with two sons Eric and Christopher.

Arnold lived in the same town where his killer, Aaron Alexis, allegedly bought the shotgun he used during his killing spree, CBS reported.

Aaron Alexis, who police believe was a gunman at the Washington Navy Yard shooting in Washington. Picture: AP Source: AP

SYLVIA FRASIER

Sylvia Frasier, 53, had worked at Naval Sea Systems Command as an information assurance manager since 2000, according to a LinkedIn profile.

Frasier studied at Strayer University, earning a bachelor of science in computer information systems in 2000 and a master's in information systems in 2002.

Her duties at NAVSEA included providing policy and guidance on network security, and assuring that all computer systems operated by the headquarters met Department of Navy and Department of Defense requirements.

She also led efforts "to establish and implement procedures to investigate security violations or incidents," according to the profile.

Her brother, James Frasier, declined comment Monday night.

The Washington Post reports the Frasiers prayed and watched the live TV coverage as it unfolded. Their minister came over, and everyone sat on the couches and sang from the Bible.

By 7pm, there still had been no word on Sylvia, who lived in Charles County and was the second-youngest of James and Eloise Frasier's seven children.

"My heart is beating so fast," said Wendy Edmonds, 52, the youngest of the siblings and a college professor. "Dad knows something's wrong since all the children are coming over. It's the middle of the day. We're supposed to be at work, not here at their home."

Shortly before 10pm, Lindlee Fraser and a brother arrived at their parents' home with news they couldn't bring themselves to deliver by phone: Sylvia was dead.

"He killed my sister!" Edmonds cried.

KATHLEEN GARDE

Kathleen Gaarde, 63, of Woodbridge, Virginia, was a financial analyst who supported the organisation responsible for the shipyards, her husband, Douglass, wrote in an email to the AP.

Douglass Gaarde declined to speak, but wrote that he was unable to sleep.

"Today my life partner of 42 years (38 of them married) was taken from me, my grown son and daughter, and friends," he wrote. "We were just starting to plan our retirement activities and now none of that matters. It hasn't fully sunk in yet but I know I already dearly miss her."

Madelyn Gaarde, of Grand Junction, Colorado, who's married to Douglass Gaarde's brother, said her sister- and brother-in-law met while he was studying electrical engineering at the University of South Florida in Tampa. 

Brittany Carter, of Bowie, MD., (L) Jibri Johnson, of Landon, MD., (C) and Bryan Beard of Washington D.C. hold candles in remembrance of people affected by gun violence during a vigil at Freedom Plaza on September 16, 2013 in Washington, DC. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

Douglass Gaarde, an Illinois native, also worked for the Navy until his retirement last year, his sister-in-law said.

"She was a very gracious person and very welcoming," she said of Kathleen Gaarde.

KENNETH PROCTOR

Kenneth Proctor Senior, 46, pictured, was a father-of-two who also lost his life at the Washington Navy Yard. Source: Supplied

Kenneth Proctor, 46, worked as a civilian utilities foreman at the Navy Yard, his ex-wife, Evelyn Proctor, said.

Evelyn had spoken to Kenneth early Monday morning before he left for work at the Navy Yard.

While they were divorced, they were high school sweethearts who talked every day as they shared custody of their two sons.

"He just went in there in the morning for breakfast," she said.

"He didn't even work in the building. It was a routine thing for him to go there in the morning for breakfast, and unfortunately it happened."

She said she tried to call her ex-husband after the shooting. She was contacted at 8pm at night, and informed of his death.

"He loved the Redskins. Loved his kids - a very loving, caring, gentle person. His kids meant a lot to him," Evelyn said.

The Proctors married in 1994 and divorced this year. Their older son, Kenneth Proctor Jr., 17, enlisted in the Army after graduating from high school this spring and is in basic training in Oklahoma. Their younger son, Kendull Proctor, is 15.

"We were still very close. It wasn't a bitter divorce," Evelyn Proctor said. "We still talked every day, and we lived 10 minutes away from each other."

A dozen people were killed by a lone gunman in a shooting rampage Monday at the Washington Navy Yard.

It was the deadliest attack at a domestic military installation since November 2009, when an Army psychiatrist killed 13 people and wounded 30 others at Fort Hood, Texas.

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Two bodies inside upright Concordia

An animated look at the complex operation to salvage the Costa Concordia in Giglio. Video courtesy of AFP.

Crime scene ... The wreckage of Italy's Costa Concordia cruise ship that capsized killing 32 people has been righted after a unique salvage operation. AFP PHOTO / ANDREAS SOLARO Source: AFP

• Biggest salvage operation history took 19 hours
• Horn sounds, applause breaks out
• Operation cost millions and ship will be sold for scrap
• Captain with his lawyers, faces court on Monday

NOW that the Costa Concordia is upright again, the search will begin for the bodies of two people who died in the January 2012 cruise ship tragedy that claimed 32 lives.

Franco Gabrielli, head of the civil protection agency and project overseer, said the search for the corpses of Indian waiter Russell Rebello and Italian passenger Maria Grazia Trecarichi would start "in the next few days at the latest,'' after final checks to secure the ship.

"When the ship toppled, corridors became deep wells. Now she is upright, we can get to areas previously off limits,'' he said, adding that there would likely "still be areas it is difficult to access and search''.

"The fact that we could not find them outside (the ship) means that they are inside, but where, we have to see,'' Gabrielli, said.

Kevin Rebello, the waiter's brother, and Elio Vincenzi, the passenger's husband, were expected to arrive on Giglio today.

"I am still hoping to find my wife. This is a tense wait for me and for my daughter," Mrs Vincenzi said.

The wreck of Italy's Costa Concordia cruise ship begins to emerge from water near the harbour of Giglio Porto. AFP PHOTO / ANDREAS SOLARO Source: AFP

Salvage crews have to reinforce and stabilise the badly-mangled hull of the cruise ship before police officers can enter the ship.

"We have started a series of operations to reinforce the hull," said Franco Porcellacchia, a senior engineer and one of the project managers.

"At the moment the ship is inaccessible for safety reasons. No one has permission to enter".

The cruise ship, which has been partially submerged for 20 months, is a crime scene.

It is hoped that 1500 safes can be recovered from the ship's cabins and returned, along with other personal possessions, to passengers.

"This will also start as soon as possible. We have a plan in place," said Mr Porcellacchia.

Two bodies have never been found after the Costa Concordia capsized last year. Rescuers will enter the vessel now it is righted to see if they can find their remains. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Source:

The crippled Costa Concordia cruise ship pulled completely upright earlier today is a striking sight.

The cruise ship's port side, which had remained out of the water is still pristine white, while its heavily crushed starboard side, which had been submerged, is coated in brown scum and algae.

While the salvage operation was the biggest for a passenger ship ever undertaken, survivors will be recalling the nightmares of grown men pushing aside crying children to save themselves.

The severly damaged side of the stricken Costa Concordia with slime and algae is visible after the parbuckling operation succesfully uprighted the ship in Isola del Giglio, Italy. (Photo by Marco Secchi/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Thirty-two people died and hundreds were injured when the ship rammed into a reef on Giglio Island off Tuscany on January 13, 2012, and a massive rock tore a 70-metre gash into the hull of the 290-metre-long ocean liner, which keeled over.

Costa Concordia's starboard side, which was submerged for 20 months, is coated in brown scum and algae, whereas its port side, which had remained out of the water, is still pristine white. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Source: AP

There were 4229 people from 70 countries on board.

As the world watched the successful salvage operation, thoughts returned to that horrific night of 13 January, 2012, when passengers jumped to their deaths as men pushed and shoved to get onto lifeboats.

The crippled Costa Concordia is seen after it was lifted upright on the Tuscan Island of Giglio, Italy, after a complicated, 19-hour operation to wrench it from its side where it capsized last year, with officials declaring it a "perfect" end to a daring and unprecedented engineering feat. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Source:

Local residents and survivors told AFP that there was an eerie feeling as the ship rose - and some said the sight reminded them of the tragedy.

"Seeing it re-emerge is emotional for me," said survivor Luciano Castro. "I could not miss it. That ship could have been my end and instead I am here."

Five-year-old Dayana Arlotti, and her father William, were turned away from a lifeboat and drowned.

Horror of Costa Concordia too raw for Australian survivors

"It was every man for himself," said Michelle Barraclough, 46, of Melbourne.

The wreck of Italy's Costa Concordia cruise ship which begins to emerge from water near the harbour of Giglio Porto. AFP PHOTO / VINCENZO PINTO Source: AFP

"Everybody just shoved and screamed in 15 different languages," Ms Barraclough said.

"The people that pushed their way on to the boat were then trying to tell them to shut the door, not to let any more people on the boat after they had pushed their way on."

Edwin Gurd revealed men on board pushed past terrified women and children to get to the lifeboats first.

"... there was quite a lot of panic from the men who were forcing their way onto the boats. The men were stressed and panicking. They were pushing in front of women who should have got on first," said the 64-year-old retired policeman.

"There was a real danger of people being crushed."

Brian Page, 63, said that women and children "did not get priority at all."

The wreck of Italy's Costa Concordia cruise ship which begins to emerge from water near the harbour of Giglio Porto. Thirty-two people died when the ship, with 4,200 passengers onboard, hit rocks and ran aground in January 2012. AFP PHOTO / VINCENZO PINTO Source: AFP

"The ship was as big as a shopping mall, there was dark, there was absolute chaos, men were pushing women away, children in the back," said Peter Ronai, a lawyer for the family of a Hungarian violinist on the ship who, survivors recounted, helped children don life vests before perishing himself.

PICTURES: INSIDE THE COSTA CONCORDIA

After a complicated, 19-hour operation to wrench the Concordia from its side where it capsized last year off Tuscany, officials declared it a "perfect" end to a daring and unprecedented engineering feat.

"I am relieved and I am a bit tired. I will have a beer and go to sleep. I am sending a kiss to my wife,'' the South African-born chief salvage master, Nick Sloane, said as he emerged from the barge where the control room had been set up.

The salvage team also had to take special care against spillages since Giglio is in the heart of one of Europe's biggest marine sanctuaries.

The Costa Concordia (upright) and after the cruise ship ran aground and keeled over off the Isola del Giglio. AFP PHOTO/FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/ANDREAS SOLARO Source: AFP

Shortly after 4am local time, a foghorn wailed on Giglio Island and the head of Italy's Civil Protection agency, Franco Gabrielli, announced that the ship had reached vertical and that the operation to rotate it - known in nautical terms as parbuckling - was complete.

"We completed the parbuckling operation a few minutes ago the way we thought it would happen and the way we hoped it would happen," said Franco Porcellacchia, project manager for the Concordia's owner, Costa Crociere SpA.

"A perfect operation, I must say."

Salvage operators in Italy have lifted the Costa Concordia cruise ship upright from its watery grave.

The operation to right it had been expected to take no more than 12 hours, but dragged on after some initial delays regarding the vast system of steel cables, pulleys and counterweights. The final phase of the rotation went remarkably quickly, as gravity began to kick in and pull the ship toward its normal position.

The Concordia sits upright after a marathon operation. Source: AP

Parbuckling is a standard operation to right capsized ships, but never before had it been used on such a huge cruise liner.

Porcellacchia said an initial inspection of the starboard side, covered in brown slime from its 20 months under water while the ship was stuck on a rocky seabed perch, "looks pretty bad."

That is the side of the hull that was raised 65 degrees in the operation. Crews might have to do extensive work on that side to ready it for the attachment of empty tanks that will later be used to help float the vessel away. It must also be made strong enough to survive a second winter storm season, when high seas and gusts will likely buffet the 115,000-ton, 300m-long liner.

Thirty two people died and two bodies have never been recovered after the cruise ship Costa Concordia partially capsized in Isola del Giglio, Italy. (Photo by Marco Secchi/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Helping the Concordia to weather the winter is an artificial platform on the seabed that was constructed to support the ship's flat keel.

"The ship is resting on its platform," Gabrielli said.

The wreck of Italy's Costa Concordia cruise ship which begins to emerge from water near the harbour of Giglio Porto. AFP PHOTO / VINCENZO PINTO Source: AFP

Sloane said: "There is a lot of damage on the ship and we have to take stock of it."

The damage he said was caused by the capsizing, bearing 20 months of the ship's weight and the operation to rotate the ship.

"We have to do a really detailed inspection of the damage,'' to determine how to shore it up so it can withstand towing. But Sloane seemed confident: "She was strong enough to come up like this, she's strong enough to be towed.''

Experts proceeded cautiously during the rotation. The risk was that the rusting hull could snap or sink entirely, jeopardising the entire salvage operation and causing a likely environmental disaster.

There was no release of toxic liquids, as had been feared. The Concordia was emptied of fuel two months after its shipwreck, but the sea water inside its hull is thought to have been contaminated by residual fuel, chemicals and rotting food.

"It don't think we will have an ecological bomb,'' said Maria Sargentini, president of an environmental oversight group.

The Concordia's captain is on trial for alleged manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning the ship during the chaotic and delayed evacuation. Captain Francesco Schettino claims the reef wasn't on the nautical charts for the liner's week-long Mediterranean cruise.

Costa is a division of Miami-based Carnival Corp., the world's largest cruise company.

A hive of urgent activity surrounds the Concordia as the salvage operation continues into the night. AFP PHOTO / ANDREAS SOLARO Source: AFP

Meanwhile, Concordia captain Francesco Schettino, who has been accused of causing the accident that cost 32 lives and who was infamously heard to order escaping passengers back aboard the stricken vessel on the day it went down, has spent his day with lawyers.

Dubbed "Captain Coward" for his globally condemned actions, Schettino is expected in court again for his ongoing trial next Monday and, as work continues to salvage the Concordia for scrap, his legal team will be just trying to keep him out of jail. His reputation and probably his career have been scrapped already.

Captain Francesco Schettino after the first part of his trial. He denies all charges and says he saved lives. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Source: AP

The Ansa news agency reports that the 52-year-old and his lawyers worked at his home in Meta di Sorrento, near Naples and well down the coast from Giglio Island, where the Concordia came to grief 20 months ago.

Five employees of the Costa Cruises company have already been convicted of multiple manslaughter and negligence charges, having accepted plea bargains. Schettino is in the middle of his own trial on charges including multiple manslaughter and causing a shipwreck and faces up to 20 years in prison.

He contends he is innocent and is being made a scapegoat, insisting that the reef wasn't marked on the ship's navigational charts. He has also depicted himself as a hero in the tragedy, saying that he skillfully steered the stricken ship closer to Giglio's harbour, thus facilitating the rescue of the survivors.

Prosecutors allege Schettino steered the ship too dangerously close to the island in a publicity stunt for the cruise company.

After the disaster, suggestions were made that he was also distracted by the presence of Moldovan model Domnica Cemortan on the bridge and that he had been seen kissing her before the crash. Her luggage was found in his cabin, but he denies they were having an affair.

Moldovan Domnica Cemortan, who was spotted with Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino during the spectacular crash, at his trial on July 17. AFP PHOTO / TIZIANA FABI Source: AFP

She is claiming civil damages as a passenger, but has said the captain should not shoulder all the blame for the disaster. She attended his indictment hearing.

Schettino said that "prison doesn't frighten me," when asked him about the possibility of a long sentence.

"One's conscience causes fear. My conscience is in place," he said after indictment.

"I will be able to explain calmly what happened".

Schettino claims he is a scapegoat and that media attention in the days after the disaster unfairly focused on him. He further argues that lives were saved by his manoeuvrings in response to the crash.

A hive of urgent activity surrounds the Concordia as the salvage operation continues into the night. AFP PHOTO / ANDREAS SOLARO Source: AFP

Salvage workers struggled to overcome obstacle after obstacle as they slowly inched toward their goal of raising the crippled vessel 65 degrees to the upright position.

An early morning storm delayed the salvage command barge from getting into place for several hours. Later, some of the cables dragging the ship's hull upright went slack, forcing engineers to climb the hull to fix them.

THERE'S MORE WORK TO DO: WATCH A LIVE FEED OF THE OPERATION

The Concordia itself didn't budge for the first three hours after the operation began, engineer Sergio Girotto told reporters.

The initial operation to lift the ship moved it just 3 degrees toward vertical. After 10 hours, the crippled ship had edged upward by just under 13 degrees, a fraction of what had been expected.

Still, the top engineers were staying positive.

The Concordia itself didn't budge for the first three hours after the operation began, engineer Sergio Girotto told reporters.

The initial operation to lift the ship moved it just 3 degrees toward vertical. After 10 hours, the crippled ship had edged upward by just under 13 degrees, a fraction of what had been expected.

The scene in January last year after the Concordia ran aground. (AP Photo/Giglionews.it, Giorgio Fanciulli) Source: AP

After some 6000 tons of force were applied - using a complex system of pulleys and counterweights - Girotto said that "we saw the detachment" of the ship's hull from the reef thanks to undersea cameras.

At the waterline, a few feet of slime-covered ship that had been underwater slowly became visible.

The tilt of the ship at the time of the accident was so drastic that many lifeboats couldn't be launched. Dozens of the 4200 passengers and crew were plucked to safety by helicopters or jumped into the sea and swam to shore. The bodies of many of the dead were retrieved inside the ship.

The rocks of the reef can clearly be seen in the gaping hole left by the crash in January, 2012. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Source: AP

Girotto said the cameras on Monday did not immediately reveal any sign of the two bodies that were never recovered.

Images transmitted by robotic diving vehicles indicated the submerged side of the cruise ship's hull had suffered "great deformation" from all its time on the granite seabed, battered by waves and compressed under the weight of the ship's 115,000 tons, Girotto said.

Officials said so far no appreciable pollution from inside the ship had spewed out. Giglio Island is part of a Tuscan marine sanctuary where dolphins and fish are plentiful.

Stunned passengers brought to shore after the Concordia wrecked last year. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Source: AP

Parbuckling was used on the USS Oklahoma in 1943 after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. But the 300m Concordia has been described as the largest cruise ship ever to capsize and subsequently require the complex rotation so it can be towed away in one piece and dismantled for scrap.

A few dozen island residents gathered on a breakwater to witness the operation. One woman walking her dog sported a T-shirt with "Keep Calm and Watch the Parbuckling Project" written across it in English.

Others watched from afar. Kevin Rebello, whose brother Russel was a waiter on the ship and was never found, said he was in constant touch with the project managers as he monitored news reports.

"I haven't slept since yesterday," he told The Associated Press in an interview in Rome. "It's taken 20 months. If it takes another 20 hours, for me it's worth the wait."

The stricken Costa Concordia slowly begins to emerge during a parbuckling operation off Isola del Giglio, Italy. Source: Getty Images

Rebello plans to travel to Giglio Island on Tuesday, even though he knows there's no certainty his brother's remains will be found. His hope is that someday he can bring his brother home to Mumbai "to give him a decent burial.

"That's what me, my family, his wife and all of us are hoping for," he said.

Islanders whose lives have been turned upside-down by the wreck said they were relieved that the time when the ship will finally be removed was drawing closer.

Engineers work furiously in the fading light. (Photo by Marco Secchi/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

They will have months more to wait, as the towing away is not planned until spring of next year at the earliest when the ship will eventually be scrapped.

Special prayers were held in a local church on the eve of the operation on Sunday for the salvage.

"The sooner it happens, the better," said the parish priest, Father Lorenzo Pasquotti, who opened his church to survivors on the night of the disaster.

IN PICTURES: FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF COSTA CONCORDIA

IN PICTURES: COSTA CONCORDIA DISASTER - AS IT UNFOLDED

Some 400 journalists witnessed the event and the island's tiny port was swarming with officials, rescuers and curious onlookers since the early morning.

The idyllic harbour has played host to a shipwreck for 20 months. (Photo by Marco Secchi/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

The 14-deck Costa Concordia was once a floating pleasure palace with a casino, four swimming pools and the largest spa centre ever built on a ship.

Four crew members and the head of ship owner Costa Crociere's crisis unit were handed short prison sentences earlier for their roles in the crash.

The parbuckling salvage technique was also used to refloat the USS Oklahoma, sunk at her Pearl Harbour moorings by the Japanese in 1941. Source: Supplied

The ship had 4229 people from 70 countries on board when it crashed on January 13, 2012.

Two bodies -- that of an Indian waiter and an Italian passenger -- were never recovered from the wreck and are believed to be still stuck under the ship.

"I am filled with hope. I am still hoping to find my wife," Elio Vincenzi, the widower of Maria Grazia Trecarichi, told Italian news channel SkyTG24.

Newspaper columnists said the righting of the ship was a chance at "rehabilitation" for Italy after the damage it suffered from tales of Schettino's antics.

One of many television journalists at the scene reports on the epic operation. (Photo by Marco Secchi/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

"What is left of Italy's reputation and credibility is playing out on this chunk of rock," said Enrico Fierro, a columnist for Il Fatto Quotidiano daily.

Tito Boeri went further in La Repubblica, comparing the rising ship to the future of Italy's economy.

"If everything goes well... the Italian economy will stop sinking and will get back on track," he said.

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Premier bites back at striking teachers

Teachers are set to strike against job and funding cuts in Perth this week.

WA Premier Colin Barnett believes teachers are striking for the sake of having a strike. Source: PerthNow

TEACHERS in Western Australia have been accused by Premier Colin Barnett of disrupting hundreds of thousands of children and families with "a strike for the sake of having a strike''.

In an unprecedented alliance, three unions have called on 10,000 angry teachers, education assistants, library staff, lab technicians, cleaners and gardeners to attend a two-hour stop work meeting on Thursday.

They are protesting the loss of 500 education jobs, a freeze on teacher numbers and reduced funding for special programs to improve literacy, numeracy, attendance and behaviour.

But in a combative retort, Mr Barnett said the strike was unnecessary and unjustified.

"This is a strike for the sake of having a strike - what are they striking over? They are the best-paid teachers in Australia,'' Mr Barnett told parliament.

"It will cause distress to parents, and so many parents will be angry on Thursday if they go on strike. They will be fearful for the care of their children, that is the reality.''

The State School Teachers Union, United Voice and the Community and Public Sector Union have directed members to attend stop-work meetings at Gloucester Park and in country areas.

Anger has been rising since the post-budget revelation that as many as 500 education assistants and support staff will lose their jobs as a result of a funding reallocation for WA schools.

The state government insists the cuts are not happening, pointing to a $300 million increase in funding for education this year, saying the budget is higher now than before the Liberals came into power.

Sharyn O'Neill, director general of WA's Department of Education, said it was not yet clear how many schools may shut on Thursday, but she was anticipating it would be only a handful.

"It is too early to speculate on the numbers of staff involved. It is possible that I may have to endorse the closure of some schools if they cannot provide adequate supervision for students,'' Ms O'Neill said.

State School Teachers' Union president Anne Gisborne said she wanted the premier to acknowledge the issues his reform would present to hundreds of schools.

"We have got a belligerent premier and a belligerent minister who are holding the line that there will be no cuts and everything will be hunky dory,'' Ms Gisborne said.

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Honey, I shrunk the block - to 171sq m

Settlers Hills estate, Baldivis Source: The Sunday Times

THE mini-lot has well and truly arrived, slicing the size of the once-considered modest cottage lot in half.

Blocks starting from 171sq m are part of a new land release in popular Baldivis this week, showing developers are well into the trend of launching smaller lots.

Cottage lots in Perth have been known to vary between 250-350sq m.

Full coverage - the best WA Real estate news

The $112,250 block at Stockland's Settlers Hills estate works out to about $656 a square metre.

The median block size in the Perth metropolitan area is 450sq m.

Stockland WA general manager Col Dutton said affordability remained the No.1 issue for homebuyers – and with first homebuyers in particular.

''We've been working closely with our builder partners to come up with highly affordable new home sites and innovative new designs at Settlers Hills,'' Mr Dutton said.

''I expect these affordable low-maintenance lots will particularly appeal to younger buyers and downsizers who want the convenience of living within easy reach of shops and restaurants,'' Mr Dutton said.

Block sizes have been shrinking in Perth for more than a decade, Urban Development Institute of Australia statistics show.

The median block size in 2003 was 690sq m at a cost of $96,000.

This shrank to 538sq m for $255,000 in 2008 and is now 450sq m for $239,000.

But the cost per square metre of a median block has risen from $139 to $531.

And developers are keen to go smaller.

Developer Nick Perrignon recommended to the industry for block sizes to go as small as 75sq m to combat affordability concerns, according to the UDIA WA's blog.

Twenty-seven per cent of lots given subdivision approval in the last financial year were smaller than 320sq m, up from 16 per cent in 2007-08.

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SW capes blasted by 130km/h gales

Guy Stubbs and his son Sam at Cottesloe groyne during one of Perth's bigger storms several years ago. File Picture: Richard Hatherly Source: PerthNow

CAPE Leeuwin has been blasted by 130km/h wind gusts with the far South West warned of more destructive 125km/h winds.

A Severe Weather warning had been issued for Perth and the South West of the state, but at 6pm tonight the Bureau advised that the warning was cancelled, as the front weakened and moved inland. 

The State Emergency Service has responded more than 15 calls for help today, mostly from Rockingham and Mandurah residents to tackle water inundation.

The strong cold front had delivered 8mm of rain in Perth by 6pm and more is expected overnight after much of the South West copped a drenching last week.

In Perth's northern suburbs this afternoon, Ocean Reef copped a particularly severe buffeting from the strong winds, with one gust clocked at 93km/h at 3.36pm.

Other centres weren't spared, with gusts of 87km/h at Rottnest, 85km/h and 25mm of rain at Bickley, and 82km/h at both Perth Airport and Jandakot recorded this afternoon.

The storm front hit the southern capes around 10am, with Cape Leeuwin recording repeated wind gusts over 100km/h from 10.44am, peaking with four gusts measuring a cyclonic 130km/h from 10.45am to 10.51am. 

By 11am, as the main stormfront passed, winds abated to around 50-55km/h.

Cape Naturaliste also experienced a series of strong winds gusts up to 82km/h and was lashed by more than 10mm of rain. Busselton had 15mm to 1.30pm.

By 1.30pm the Bureau's radar showed the storm front buffeting Bunbury and bearing down on the Peel region.

Main Roads said that significant debris from fallen branches has been blown onto Bussell Highway in both directions about 15km north of Busselton. 

Severe weather warning cancelled

Tonight the Bureau advised that: "For people in parts of WA west of a line from Perth to Collie to Bunbury, (including) people in, near or between the Perth metropolitan area and Mandurah, are dvised that the Severe Weather Warning has been cancelled.

"The cold front has weakened, and is moving inland. The Severe Weather Warning for the South West forecast district and parts of the Lower West forecast district has been cancelled, but the situation will continue to be monitored and further warnings will be issued if necessary."

By 10am the cold front, which could deliver up to 15mm to Perth, was brushing the South West capes and is due to hit the city by mid-afternoon.

The wintry system will further boost Perth's September rainfall, which is well on track to exceed the monthly average of 80mm. in the past week Perth recorded 68mm, while several Hills centres had more than 100mm.

Witchcliffe, in the South West, had 139mm in the past week.

Farmers throughout the Wheatbelt will be upbeat as repeated cold fronts keep delivering perfect finishing rains for crops which are now looking healthier than expected after a dry start to the grain-growing season.

Wet and windy night for Perth

Tonight, the Bureau forecast for Perth is: "Rain, easing to scattered showers during the evening. Isolated thunderstorms with possible heavy falls. Winds westerly 30 to 45 km/h."

Tomorrow, the rain will ease up later in the day, with the Bureau predicting: "Isolated thunderstorms early in the morning. Possible small hail early in the morning. Isolated showers contracting to the southwest in the afternoon. Winds westerly 25 to 40 km/h tending southwesterly before dawn then becoming light in the late afternoon.

The forecast for the rest of the week is for showers every day through till at least Sunday.

The week ahead

Tuesday
    Min 8C
    Max 18C
    Chance of an early storm.

Wednesday
    Min 10C
    Max 20C
    Shower or two.

Thursday
    Min 13C
    Max 21C
    Shower or two.

Friday
    Min 12C
    Max 21C
    A few showers.

Saturday
    Min 13C
    Max 22C
    Shower or two.

Sunday
    Min 13C
    Max 21C
    A few showers.

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Schools set to shut as WA teachers strike

The 2013 Perth Fashion Festival wraps up tonight with the much anticipated show of Ellery's 2014 Vitreous resort collection

MORE PROTESTS: WA teachers will walk off the job on Thursday. Pictured are United Voice members protesting against planned education funding cuts earlier this month.  Picture: Kerris Berrington

DOZENS of schools across Perth and Western Australia could shut this week, as teachers and other staff join forces for an unprecedented joint strike to protest against government cuts.

Up to 10,000 angry teachers, education assistants, library staff, cleaners and gardeners are expected to attend a two-hour stop work meeting and rally at the Gloucester Park racecourse on Thursday morning, which in turn could force principals to close schools across the city.

Parents are being warned to prepare to have their children home until lunchtime.

"In many instances I think there will 100 per cent of staff out so there will be no supervision available,'' State School Teachers' Union president Anne Gisborne said.

And Premier Colin Barnett is being warned the action by the SSTUWA, the CPSU/CSA and United Voice could be just the start.

"The Premier is sitting in Parliament House not realising the depth of concern we have as people working in schools,'' Ms Gisborne said.

"The mood of people out there is such they want to send a very clear message to the Premier that we are not to be messed with, and public schools are not to be messed with.''

Anger has been rising since the post-budget revelation that up to 500 education assistants and support staff will lose their jobs as a result of a funding re-allocation for WA schools.

The state government insists the cuts are not happening, pointing to a $300 million increase in funding for education this year, saying the budget is higher now than before the Liberals came into power.

Education minister Peter Collier says school funding needs overhauling because it is complex and unwieldy.

Mr Collier, who met with the unions last week, urged members to reconsider the action.

"I do not think it is helpful at all,'' Mr Collier said.

"Our schools have never been better resourced, our teachers are now the best paid in the nation - I am making the bold and courageous decision to make sure our funding is most effectively targeted.''

Potential Labor leader Bill Shorten addressed a mass protest rally at WA parliament on the eve of the federal election that was dismissed by Mr Barnett as a party event.

The protest on Thursday promises to be much bigger, while 4000 educators are expected to attend protests at major regional centres including Albany, Broome, Esperance, Bunbury and the Goldfields.

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