WorkSafe probe into fire truck safety

Emergency Services Minister Joe Francis was unaware there was a safety probe into WA's firetrucks. Source: News Limited

EMERGENCY Services Minister Joe Francis is unaware WA's safety watchdog is investigating claims our fire trucks have design faults.

Documents leaked to The Sunday Times reveal concerns firefighters are being sent to blazes in vehicles that are hundreds of kilograms overweight, have water pressure problems, are equipped with tyres not meant to go off-road and even have water tanks in the wrong place.

The documents also claim the rollout of vital safety features such as heat shields and sprinkler systems is "flawed".

WorkSafe has confirmed it is investigating these claims. And, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services confirmed it is replacing tyres on many vehicles because the manufacturer said they were "not suited for cross-country driving".

Mr Francis conceded up to one in four fire trucks had weight issues, which affects braking and manoeuvrability.

Yet he said he was unaware of the WorkSafe investigation into other concerns, such as tyres and water pressure fears.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said. "Let's be realistic, I'm the Minister – I'm not the chief mechanic for the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.

"It's not a cop-out, but it's not my job to micromanage the types of tyres that are fitted to fire trucks."

Mr Francis said ensuring trucks were safe was Fire Commissioner Wayne Gregson's responsibility.

"His job is to make sure (trucks are safe)," he said. "Now, if he said to me, 'I need more money to provide resources or modify trucks', well that's where my job kicks in."

Opposition emergency services spokeswoman Margaret Quirk said she was appalled by Mr Francis's lack of responsibility.

"He is more than happy to have a photo opportunity in front of a fire truck, but not ensure the safety of its occupants," Ms Quirk said.

The documents obtained by The Sunday Times reveal a catalogue of concerns dating back to 2005. A recent complaint warns hundreds of vehicles are so overweight they are "illegal", some by as much as 800kg.

Another says the rollout of vital safety features was adding to the weight problems. "More weight, no matter how small, increases the risks," it says.

The leaked document also says the rollout of safety features has been inconsistent. "This will lead to end-users putting faith in a safety feature that is flawed," it says.

Another complaint says potentially fatal issues, such as reports of a "water pressure spike problem" in hundreds of vehicles, have been ignored for years. The tyre bungle was first raised more than three years ago, one complaint claims.

Mr Gregson said he ordered a fleet review in June 2012 after realising he had inherited "a number of longstanding issues, concerns and areas for improvement".

He said he was addressing the weight issues with "urgency and transparency", but denied they were affecting the rollout of safety features, which he said had a "consistent standard".

Mr Gregson said "water spiking" fears had been investigated by an independent engineer who found "there were no concerns".

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Fears over patient info sent offshore

Hospital staff fear sending patients' ­information inter­state and ­offshore for typing is putting confidentiality at risk. Source: News Limited

HOSPITAL staff fear that a program to send patients' ­information inter­state and ­offshore for typing is putting confidentiality at risk.

An investigation by The Sunday Times can reveal that 12 health facilities — including Royal Perth and Fremantle hospitals — now outsource ­typing.

GP referrals, discharge papers and internal reports are some of the documents being typed up by workers in the eastern states, New Zealand, Canada and the UK.

Audio recordings made by doctors are sent to a private company whose employees work from home to transcribe and type letters.

They use their own computers, but the company claims specialised software prevents them from saving "final copies of letters" on their hard drives.

Australian Nursing Federation state secretary Mark Olson has warned it is a "recipe for disaster."

Osborne Park Hospital will start using a private transcription company this week.

The company, NTS Transcriptions, is based in Melbourne but employs work-from-home typists in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the UK.

Under the hospital agreement, NTS Transcriptions will be paid 25c a line.

OPH staff have told The Sunday Times they fear doctors and specialists will be pressured to be brief when dictating reports to help keep costs down.

This could mean important medical history could be left out.

NTS Transcriptions director Mike Scales said staff were put through a "very stringent" screening process and had to sign a confidentiality agreement.

And according to the company's website, its server is located in Chicago Illinois which has "substantially similar" privacy laws to Australia.

Mr Scales said the company did work for six hospitals in WA.

The Health Department has confirmed other health facilities also outsource medical typing, but said they "engage other providers when required". A spokesman said the service was used by facilities on an "ad hoc basis" when there was a backlog of work. He could not provide more specific details.

Mr Olson said there was a "risk that sensitive patient information can go astray".

"This is a quick fix that has the potential for patient information to be compromised and West Australians do not want their personal data floating around unknown countries, with unknown people," he said.

Opposition health spokesman Roger Cook said he was concerned standards were being lowered in favour of cost cutting.

"It means we cannot be confident about the privacy issues, and it means that local jobs are being lost," Mr Cook said.

"It's time the Barnett Government stopped cutting costs and started protecting standards."

Dan Hill, WA secretary of Health Services Union, the union which represents medical typists, said it was "much safer and more productive" to keep medical typing close to the source.

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WA’s Blake the new Bachelor

Perth real estate agent Blake Garvey, 31, is the new Bachelor. Source: News Corp Australia

BLAKE Garvey is used to selling houses — but the Perth real estate agent and auctioneer now has to sell himself to 24 bachelorettes as the new star of Ten's dating reality show The Bachelor.

And if his online agent profile is anything to go by, Garvey shouldn't have too many problems sealing the deal.

In it, he's likened to the king of romance, Barry White.

"When you first meet Blake you'll be struck by his height (6'5") and his deep baritone voice (he's been likened to Barry White)," reads the blurb on Acton Real Estate Carine Glades' website.

"Spend some time with him and you'll be impressed with his passion and energy and his exceptional communication skills."

Garvey told The Sunday Times he welcomed the likeness to the seductive crooner.

"I don't think it's going to hurt," he said.

"I think Barry White did quite well, from what I can see."

Garvey, who has been single for about 18 months, said he doesn't have an ideal woman.

"But it's someone who's got their heart in the right place, who's going to have a good personality and someone who is going to be real about who they are and doesn't hide behind anything," he said.

"Because it's going to be pretty obvious if they are, because we're all going to be spending a lot of time together."

The 31-year-old said he would heed his mother's dating advice.

"She said two things to me before I left to go on the show: 'Have fun and be respectful'," he said.

Garvey has regularly flexed his pecs for Perth event and modelling company Crazy Sexy Cool,

winning their best male model award in 2013.

Agency owner Michaela Maher described Garvey as very handsome, smooth, charismatic and funny.

"He is the full package really," she said.

The Bachelor was Ten's highest rating Sunday program last year, with the series averaging 753,000 metro viewers.

Its former star Tim Robards is still dating lawyer Anna Heinrich six months after they met on the show.

The Bachelor is due to hit screens later this year.

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Seven shot in ‘mass murder’

Scene of the shooting ... in California. Picture: France Kirsten, Twitter Source: Supplied

A GUNMAN went on a drive-by shooting rampage in a Santa Barbara student enclave and at least seven people were killed, including the attacker.

Investigators believe a gunman driving a black BMW acted alone in the shootings near the University of California, Santa Barbara.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown described the shooting in the town of Isla Vista, near the University of California campus, as "a mass murder by a gunman," CNN reported.

Brown confirmed at a news conference that seven people were killed, including the gunman, and seven wounded.

Brown said the suspect exchanged gunfire with deputies and then drove off and crashed into a parked car.

Deputies found the suspect inside the BMW dead from a gunshot wound to the head. But the sheriff said he did not know if the suspect was shot and killed by deputies or if the wound was self-inflicted. A semiautomatic handgun was recovered.

Seven killed ... a nighttime drive-by shooting in a student enclave next to the University of California. Picture: NOOZHAWK Source: Supplied

It wasn't immediately clear what touched off the gunfire or what the suspect's motivation might have been. The sheriff said that the circumstances surrounding the shootings were under investigation.

Authorities searching for a motive were looking into a video posted on social media that contains a man's tirade against women who supposedly rebuffed him, Brown said.

The sheriff is not releasing the suspect's name.

Brown, however, confirmed that written and video material left by 22-year-old Elliot Rodger of Calabasas in the hours and days leading up to the shooting is being reviewed as evidence in to the massacre. "It appears to be connected," he said, the Independent reports.

Paramedics on the scene ... a nighttime drive-by shooting in a student enclave next to the University of California. Picture: NOOZHAWK Source: Supplied

Brown said the shootings occurred at several sites in the town, resulting in nine crime scenes.

Santa Barbara County sheriff's spokeswoman Kelly Hoover told KEYT-TV the gunfire broke out around 9.30pm. Friday in the Isla Vista neighbourhood.

A student told the station he saw shots fired from a BMW, fatally striking one woman and critically injuring another woman.

"I heard shots, scream, pain," Michael Vitak said.

"All emotions. I hope she is going to be fine."

Wrecked car ... a BMW sedan sits wrecked on an Isla Vista sidewalk after the driver — who allegedly gunned down six people during a blocks-long shooting rampage Picture: Urban Hikers Source: Supplied

Xavier Mozejewski told NewsChannel 3 reporter Victoria Sanchez that he witnessed some of the violence and described it as an "old western shoot-out."

The station said a black BMW slammed into as many as two cars.

The shooting prompted officials to issue alerts urging people to stay indoors.

The seven injured victims are being treated at Santa Barbara Cottage hospital — some for gunshot wounds, others for trauma sustained when the suspect crashed his car as he was pursued — and one recently underwent surgery for life-threatening injuries.

Nine crime scenes ... nighttime drive-by shooting in a student enclave next to the University of California. Picture: NOOZHAWK Source: Supplied

Isla Vista is known for parties, including an annual spring bash that turned into a violent blowout last month as young people clashed with police and tossed rocks and bottles.

A university police officer and four deputies were injured and 130 people were arrested.

The incident occurred over a 10-minute period, from the first emergency call at 9.27pm to the suspect's discovery, KEYT-TV reported.

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‘WA needs innovative housing for young’

Join Kara Vickery as she catches up with Premier Colin Barnett for the third instalment of Coffee with Colin.

PREMIER Colin Barnett has called on the building industry to become more "innovative" to better meet the needs of WA's young people.

During PerthNow's third Coffee with Colin today, Mr Barnett said alternative designs would help young people break into the housing market.

"For young people, maybe couples before they have children or even with young children, if they wish to live close to the city, say within even 15km or so, there is limited choice now available and the prices obviously are high," he said.

"And not everyone wants to live in the traditional Australian block of land in the outer suburbs.

"I would like to see the building industry be more innovative.

"I happen to personally think terrace type developments are very attractive, where you have got perhaps a two-storey terrace with a small backyard.

Coffee with Colin: Premier Colin Barnett at the Midland Railway Workshops this morning with PerthNow reporter Kara Vickery. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper

"We need more housing designs that will allow people to be able to live closer to the city if that's their desire. And I think more and more people are wanting to do that."

Mr Barnett met PerthNow at the Midland Railway Workshops this morning to answer a series of questions chosen by readers.

Responding to questions about disgraced former Treasurer Troy Buswell — the most popular questions among readers — Mr Barnett said it was up to Mr Buswell to decide if he continues on as the Member for Vasse.

"I think that's something Troy will decide," he said.

"Sometimes people think the Premier is the boss of Members of Parliament. It doesn't work that way.

Premier Colin Barnett at the Midland Railway Workshops this morning with PerthNow reporter Kara Vickery. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper

"Troy is the member for Vasse. He was elected. He'll have to make a decision as to whether he continues on in that role."

But Mr Barnett said he did not think Mr Buswell was "well enough" to return to Cabinet.

Mr Barnett also answered questions about the proposed Roe 8 Highway extension, saying he wasn't yet sure where the State Government's portion of funding for the road would come from.

"I don't know if it will be in the next State Budget," he said.

"We are now going to have to see how we can fund our share of that project. We're certainly keen to do so. State finances are tight but I'm sure we will find a way."

Premier Colin Barnett at the old Midland Railway Workshops. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: News Limited

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The forgotten details of MH370

Family of missing Malaysian Airlines Captain Zaharie Shah from flight MH370 pay tribute to him. Courtesy: Chumguan Phoon/YouTube

ANGRY family members of those on board MH370 have sent an 18-page letter to the Prime Ministers of Australia and Malaysia, demanding answers about the ill-fated flight.

IN FULL: Read the MH370 letter

The letter, calling for the truth, has been sent to Tony Abbott and Najib Razak, along with a host of Malaysian ministers and Government bodies involved in the search for the plane which today enters its 76th day with no trace.

So far the family group which composed and sent the letter has had no response from any Government official but says they are not surprised by the lack of communication.

The letter comprises an analysis of the preliminary report into the plane's disappearance, which was released on May 1 but written a month earlier, on April 9.

Family member, Sarah Bajc, whose partner Philip Wood was on board the plane, said that a host of experts, including retired pilots and air traffic controllers and military experts, had helped the family group to analyse the preliminary report.

And what the families want is for a host of erroneous information, which is currently out there about what happened to the plane, to be eliminated.

They want the truth.

Ms Bajc said the families want more answers about the investigation to be released and for transparency.

The Malaysian Government has now pledged to publicly release the raw satellite data, from Insmarsat satellite communications company. But they have given no time frame for when this would be done.

The data was used to plot the Boeing 777-200's path after it disappeared from civilian and military radar and showed it had flown down into the southern Indian Ocean, off Perth.

FBI PROBE: Sarah Bajc cops death threat after MH370 went missing

MH370 SEARCH: Hits unbelievable technical snag

Seeking the truth ... Sarah Bajc and her partner Philip Wood. He went missing with Malaysia Flight MH370. Picture: Facebook Source: Supplied

The letter to Australian and Malaysian leaders says the preliminary report contains only a "skimpy account" of some things and contains glaring ommisions. And it makes no mention of the police investigation into the crew and passengers and what that has found out.

"The purpose of this analysis is to highlight discrepancies of facts or details in the report itself and to consolidate the outstanding questions many people expected would have been addressed but were not," the letter says.

Still looking for clues ... Australian navy vessel Ocean Shield is pictured berthed at Fleet Base West near Perth as it prepared to resupply and undertake routine maintenance. Picture: Greg Wood Source: AFP

"We request that a comprehensive interim report be issued as soon as possible detailing all the known facts, to include, but not be limited to, the many areas that we have enumerated in our analysis. We believe that eliminating wrong information and assumptions is as important as confirming correct information and assumptions."

Taking its toll ... one family member of a missing relative on Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 from China breaks down as she speaks to the media at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Picture: Azhar Rahim Source: AP

The letter includes questions about "omitted information" from the preliminary report which could be suspicious, retracted data which waves a red flag. And there is no mention of an FBI analysis of the flight simulator hard drive at the chief pilot's home.

"There is no mention on why they are so sure the Inmarsat data is highly accurate and reliable to the extent that they have thrown all resources there," referring to the search in the southern Indian Ocean.

"There are no statements from the independent sources who supposedly looked at the edata as to what data they analysed or how they analysed it."

The families of those on board have long been asking for access to the raw satellite data in a bid to have it independently analysed by experts.

Search continues ... Able Seaman Matthew Tranter-Edwards kneels alongside the 'Artemis' Bluefin-21, on the deck of the Australian navy ship Ocean Shield. Picture: Greg Wood Source: AFP

The Malaysian Airlines flight, with 239 passengers and crew on board, disappeared in the early hours of March 8 on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Since then no trace of the jetliner has been found, despite a multi-million dollar search effort.

There are so far no clues, at least publicly known, for why and how the plane veered so radically from its course, doing an air turnback as it was crossing between Malaysian and Vietnamese air space, and then flying back over Malaysia, over the tip of Indonesia and into the treacherous southern Indian Ocean.

The search, off Perth, has so far yielded little and doubt is now also being cast on a series of "pings" which authorities were certain had come from the plane's black box.

The search has now entered a new phase and underwater mapping of the ocean bed is due to begin soon.

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Perth, South West brace for storm

Perth and the South West has been warned to brace for severe weather tonight. Source: News Limited

PERTH and the South West should brace for a storm overnight and tomorrow, which may bring destructive winds of more than 100km/h.

A cold front is expected to bring strong winds and rainfall to the south west coast overnight, prompting a severe weather warning.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued the warning, which says a cold front will move over the south west this evening and cover the south west land division tomorrow morning.

"Thunderstorms and showers associated with the front may bring damaging winds up to 100 kilometres per hour and could cause damage to homes and property," the alert states.

"Heavy rainfall may also bring localised flooding."

The alert includes people between the Perth metropolitan area, Mandurah, Bunbury, Busselton, Margaret River, Albany, Katanning, Narrogin, York and surrounding areas.

The warning issued by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services says the weather is typical for this time of the year, but warned winds may cause damage to property and make roads dangerous to drive on.

DFES advises residents to store or weigh down loose objects which could be picked up and thrown by strong winds, make sure pets and animals are in a safe area and move vehicles under cover.

"Residents should also unplug electrical appliances and avoid using landline telephones if there is lightning," it states.

"Construction workers should store loose building material and tie down sheds while boat owners should securely moor their boats.

"(People should) also ensure they have a complete emergency kit, including a battery operated radio, torch, spare batteries and first aid kit."

If your home is badly damaged by a storm call the State Emergency Service on 132 500.

For the latest weather information visit www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 213.

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Thai general declares coup official

Thailand's military chief says they are taking control of the government to 'restore order' in the country.

In control ... Thai army soldiers have surrounded a building containing the nation's leaders after their general declared a coup d'etat. Picture: Nicolas ASFOURI Source: AFP

THAILAND'S has military seized power in a bloodless coup, dissolving the government, suspending the constitution and dispersing groups of protesters from both sides of the country's political divide who had gathered in Bangkok and raised fears of a violent showdown.

The powerful army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha announced the military takeover in a stunning statement broadcast on national television.

Coup announced ... Thailand General Prayut Chan-O-Cha (centre) announces in a televised address to the nation that the armed forces have seizing power after months of deadly political turmoil. Picture: AFP PHOTO / Thai television Source: AFP

It was followed by additional announcements, including a nationwide curfew from 10pm to 5am and an order for top government officials — including the ousted prime minister — to report immediately to the country's new governing military commission.

There was no immediate sign of soldiers patrolling central Bangkok, but troops dispersed the two protest sites where competing groups were camped out — one backing the ousted government and one that had struggled for six months to unseat it. There were no signs of resistance or reports of violence.

In power ... Thai soldiers arrive to set up roadblocks outside the main campsite of anti-government protesters near the Government House after the coup. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

Long lines formed at the city's elevated train and subway stations as panicked office workers tried to rush home before the curfew.

Flanked by the heads of the armed forces, General Prayuth said the coup was launched "to quickly bring the situation back to normal, to let the people have love and unity as in the past, and to reform the political and economic systems — and to grant equality to every side."

An army spokesman later announced that it had dissolved the caretaker government and suspended the constitution, but said the Senate would remain in place.

The pivotal developments came after General Prayuth declared martial law on Tuesday, in what he called a bid to resolve the crisis.

On guard ... Thai soldiers block a motorcade at the Army Club shortly after the army staged a coup in Bangkok. Picture: AP Source: AP

A day later, he had summoned the country's rival political leaders for face-to-face talks. After two days of talks, the meeting failed to break the impasse.

Shortly before the coup announcement was made, armed soldiers in military vehicles surrounded the military facility where the politicians were meeting, apparently to block those inside from leaving.

Many of the country's highest-profile figures were summoned for the meeting. They included the acting prime minister — who sent four Cabinet ministers in his place — and anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, as well as Suthep's rival from the pro-government Red Shirt group, Jatuporn Prompan.

Political instability ... Thai anti-government protesters watch the coup announcement on TV at their main campsite near the Government House. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

Reporters at the meeting said Mr Suthep and Mr Jatuporn were escorted out of the meeting by soldiers.

A government official, Paradorn Pattanathabutr, contacted shortly after the coup announcement said that the four ministers attending the meeting were still being held by the military.

"The rest of us who are outside are still fine and in the safe places.

"However, the situation is very worrying. We have to monitor it closely and don't know what else can happen," he said.

Political instability

The overthrow caps months of increasing political tension, pitting a Bangkok-based royalist elite and its backers against the democratically elected government aligned to Thaksin, whose sister Yingluck was dismissed as premier earlier this month in a controversial court ruling.

Celebrating ... Anti-government protesters sing the national anthem in Bangkok after the government was overthrown. Picture: AP Source: AP

Thailand has been gripped by bouts of political instability for more than seven years.

The latest round of unrest started in November, when demonstrators took to the streets to try to force Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down.

They accused her of being a proxy for her popular billionaire brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup and now lives in self-imposed exile to avoid a jail sentence on a corruption conviction.

The coup announced Thursday was the 12th since the country's absolute monarchy ended in 1932.

The military was widely viewed as sympathetic to the protesters seeking to oust the current government.

"Stay calm" ... The military has urged locals to stay calm, saying tourists will be safe and urging public servants to continue to come to work. Picture: AP Source: AP

'Remain calm'

The tough-talking General Prayut said he seized power because of "the violence in Bangkok and many parts of the country that resulted in loss of innocent lives and property and was likely to escalate."

"We ask the public not to panic and to carry on their lives normally," General Prayuth said. "And civil servants stay in every ministry, carry on your responsibilities as normal."

The army chief said that the military would "provide protection" for foreigners in Thailand.

General Prayuth invoked the military's expanded powers on Tuesday and issued more than a dozen edicts that included moves to muzzle the media, the internet and vaguely defined threats to prosecute opponents.

At the time, the military had insisted it was not seizing power, but the move prompted widespread speculation in Thailand of an imminent coup.

Military coup ... Thai soldiers stand guard at a roadblock outside the Defence Ministry building after the coup. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

Fears for the future

Some experts expressed fears the military takeover could unleash more turmoil.

"The coup is not a solution at all to end the crisis. This will become the crisis," said Pavin Chachavalpongpun of the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies at Japan's Kyoto University.

"It shows the military has never learned the lesson from 2006," he said, referring to the cycle of political crisis stemming from Thaksin's overthrow.

Mr Pavin said the coup would make anti-government protesters "very happy".

Protests by the anti-Thaksin movement have rocked Thailand for months. Related violence has left at least 28 people dead and hundreds wounded.

Seizing power ... This handout picture released by the Thai Army shows Thai anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban (C) walking prior to meeting with General Prayut. Picture: AFP / Thai Army Source: AFP

The army chief likely took over due to the weakened caretaker government's refusal to make way for an interim regime, said Paul Chambers of the Institute of Southeast Asian Affairs at Chiang Mai University.

"Since the caretaker government was resisting moving to an ad hoc prime minister, Prayut was pressured to take the 2006 option," he said.

The English-language newspaper The Bangkok Post ran a commentary Thursday titled "Coup or No Coup, Task Ahead Is Huge.''

The column questioned the military's intentions and its stated goal of imposing martial law to bring about a democratic solution.

Taking position ... An armed Thai soldier ducks behind a military vehicle in the compound of the Army Club shortly after the military staged a coup in Bangkok. Picture: AP Source: AP

"Will the army chief be able to persuade politicians to bridge their differences and start talking, to place the national interest beyond that of their own? No one knows,'' the column said.

"At this stage, the people realise they have no choice but to place their trust in the army chief.''

Suthep's anti-government movement, which started in November, had blocked elections and vowed to overthrow the Thai government.

Thousands of his supporters were gathered in Bangkok's historic district near the prime minister's office compound, which has been vacant for months due to security concerns.

The pro-Thaksin "Red Shirt" movement had called for new national polls they hope will provide a fresh mandate to the beleaguered elected government.

Coup ... Anti-government protesters lift a giant national flag during the national anthem is played at their protest camp in Bangkok. Picture: AP Source: AP

But the anti-government movement has first demanded vague political reforms that are widely seen as a bid to cripple the political power of Thaksin's family and allies, and some Thais welcomed the army takeover.

Arnusit Chenruk, a 39-year-old Bangkok office worker, said the coup was a "good" thing.

"Our country has been chaotic and has had no solutions for a long time."

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Boat doomed with ‘too many people’

Two Indonesian nationals accused of taking part in an ill-fated people smuggling voyage to Christmas Island which claimed more than 100 lives have pleaded not guilty.

Asylum seekers on top of the upturned vessel in June 2012. Source: Supplied

AN Indonesian fishing boat packed with more than 200 asylum seekers sunk because there were too many people on board, a Perth court has been told.

Navy officers who helped in the rescue of about 100 survivors of a fatal June 2012 voyage have given evidence in the trial of two Indonesian nationals accused of being crewmen in the people smuggling mission.

Boy Djara and Justhen Justhen went on trial yesterday fighting six charged each of trying to assist illegal non-citizens into Australia.

This afternoon, Lieutenant Clinton Walters, who was on HMAS Larrakia when the ship was involved in the June 21 rescue, told the court he watched on as one of the accused men was plucked from the sea in darkness after the initial recovery of survivors.

Lt Walters said he spoke to the rescued man for about half an hour the next morning in Indonesian.

He said during the conversation he asked the man why the boat sank and "too many people" was the response.

Lt Walters said he also asked if there were people underneath the sinking hull and was told there was "many".

He also told the jury he asked the man if he was the captain, and when the man said he was not, he asked where the captain was, where the boat left from and where did the passengers get on board.

Earlier this morning, the jury was shown video filmed from the HMAS Larrakia of the rescue of men clinging to the hull of the upturned boat.

The court was told on the day of the rescue, seas were reaching 2.5m and many of the survivors were struggling to stay on the hull or were dotted throughout the ocean in small groups.

The trial continues.

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Tony’s wink on phone sex gran

The Prime Minister has shared a wink with a radio host while taking a call from a phone sex worker.

Serious listening mode ... Prime Minister Tony Abbott hears Gloria's story. Picture courtesy of Sky News Source: Supplied

TONY Abbott was confronted today as he tried to sell his tough budget by an angry pensioner who says she must work on an adult sex line just to get by.

The woman's story was enough to make listeners sit up and take notice — but it was the prime minister's reaction, caught on video, that is gaining more widespread attention.

As caller Gloria introduced herself, saying "I work on an adult sex line to make ends meet", Mr Abbott winked and smiled in the direction of ABC Radio host Jon Faine (off camera).

As she continued, Mr Abbott broadened his grin for a few seconds — then looked straight at the camera and swiftly composed his expression.

Government spokespeople said the PM winked merely to reassure Mr Faine that he was happy to take the call.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has criticised the PM, calling him a "total creep".

"Rather than taking seriously her concerns of poverty and illness he gave a wink and a smirk, and all I have to say to the Prime Minister on this is what a creep. What a total creep," she said.

But Labor MP Graham Perrett came to Mr Abbott's defence, labelling the criticism "overkill".

"It's not the sort of question that you'd get every day. Not the sort of call you'd get every day," he told Sky News.

Watch the PM's reaction on the video above — and have your say below

One eye off the ball ... the PM Abbott winks as sex line worker Gloria introduces herself. His media advisors presumably groan. Picture courtesy of Sky News. Source: Supplied

Mr Abbott, who faced accusations of sexism — most notably by then-PM Julia Gillard — before the election campaign, then tried to deal with Gloria's stinging criticism.

The woman began by asking Mr Abbott, who had hit the airwaves to take questions from the public, whether he'd like his mother or grandmother to be in her situation.

"I'm a 67-year-old pensioner. Three chronic incurable medical conditions, two life threatening. I just survive on around $400 a fortnight after I pay my rent," she told him.

"I work on an adult sex line to make ends meet," the woman, who said she was from Warburton, added.

"Now that's the only way I can do it."

Happy to help ... Mr Abbott gives a wide smile as he braves Gloria's criticism of his budget. Picture courtesy of Sky News. Source: Supplied

The woman went on to quiz the prime minister on what she should "cut out".

"Food, electricity, firewood, Christmas, birthday presents to my grandchildren or should we all just die and get out of your way?"

He responded by saying he "absolutely" understood she was doing it tough and insisted she would still pocket carbon tax compensation even when it is axed.

"But you don't give a stuff though do you."

When Mr Faine asked her to "keep it nice", Gloria hit back.

"But I don't feel very nice about you Mr Abbott."

As discussion of the incident spread, one of the show's producers issued a tweet saying the wink was a surprise to his team.

"We were as surprised as anyone!" Dan Ziffer posted.

Mr Abbott's sister later tweeted:

Other readers on social media have questioned if Gloria was just a pensioner - or if she was possibly Labor affiliated.

Last week, Mr Abbott was questioned on TV by a pensioner named Vilma Ward, who was later outed as a staunch ALP supporter and one of former prime minister Kevin Rudd's biggest fans.

But it's no laughing matter ... back to serious mode with a glance at the camera. Picture courtesy of Sky News. Source: Supplied

Mr Abbott said he was just reacting to his radio host when he winked and smiled.

A spokeswoman for Mr Abbott told Fairfax Media the wink was to assure the presenter he was happy to proceed with the call, but the Prime Minister later told Perth's 6PR radio that he was simply reacting to Faine's facial expression.

"It was a reaction to Jon, really," Mr Abbott told Fairfax radio.

"Obviously it was an interesting call from someone who had an interesting story.

"Jon was smiling at me and I responded to him."

The confrontation came during a robust morning for the PM, who had earlier been forced to cancel a university visit over planned protests.

Other callers also got stuck in over last week's budget, which Mr Abbott defended strongly.

Stella from Geelong said she had voted Liberal since she was 18 but she took the PM to task for lying about introducing new taxes and making her feel like an "idiot".

"What I cannot accept is myself and other intelligent voters being condescended to by a politician who won't answer a straight question," she told him.

"That's the last thing I would want to do," Mr Abbott replied, conceding the fuel excise, which will go up as he restores indexation, is a tax.

"I don't want him to play games with words. Just come out and be honest," the caller declared.

Another claimed the $7 co-payment to see the doctor was a "mean thing to do".

"I don't think you're looking after our people here," he said, accepting the fuel tax hike was necessary but not the increased GP fee.

"This is purely picking on people who can't afford it and who are needy."

Mr Abbott "cross-examined" the voter, asking "was Bob Hawke picking on people" for introducing the Medicare levy.

"This is an important reform," he said, insisting there will be a strong safety net.

Open for discussion ... Tony Abbott was ready for tough questions as he hit the airwaves today. Source: News Corp Australia

Mr Abbott also copped hard questions from talkback callers on 3AW's Mornings with Neil Mitchell.

"Chantelle", a home and community care worker, called in to say she was worried about her job as her organisation was on a three-year contract with the local council.

"We have a three-year contract but we don't know what's going to happen after that three years," she told the Prime Minister.

Mr Abbott replied: "Look, I have a three-year contract as well and I don't know what's going to happen after three years."

"You'd probably get out on a bit more money than Chantelle," Mr Mitchell interrupted.

"That's a fair point Neil," Mr Abbott said. "We all have to live with uncertainty. It's not nice and sometimes you've got a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach when you contemplate your future.

"But nevertheless the Commonwealth government is tackling its issues because we have got to get the debt and deficit problem that we were left under control.

"Other levels of government are doing what they think is best as they wrestle with their particular problems."

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Rolf abuse tale ‘for cash’

A WOMAN who alleged she was sexually assaulted as a 15-year-old by Rolf Harris made the story up because she was in debt and needed to make "blood money" by selling her story, a London court has heard.

Aspiring theatre performer and child TV actor Tonya Lee had told Southwark Crown Court she was in London on a tour with a Sydney Theatre Company in 1986 when Harris, dining with the group, allegedly assaulted her.

She claims he ran his hand up her skirt after he asked her to sit on his lap and later when she came out of a toilet put his hands down her pants and penetrated her.

But cross examining the 43-year-old, Harris' lawyer Sonia Woodley QC put it to her she was unemployed, with three children and in debt to the Australian Tax Office as well as a laptop hiring company.

Ms Woodley said the debt to the ATO alone was $10,000, although Ms Lee said it was closer to $3000.

She then asked her if it was true she broke up with her partner of seven years Fian McDaid because he found out she was lying to Women's Day who had paid her $20,000 for her "spiced up" Harris assault story.

Ms Lee's voice cracked as she emotionally told the court that the couple broke up because he had allegedly bashed her as she tried to leave him, an assault for which she said he was subsequently charged and later jailed for three months.

She said her partner had been threatening to discredit her and her Harris assault claim if she did not drop her assault allegations against him.

She denied wanting to sell her story telling the court the contracting of celebrity publicist Max Markson was Mr McDaid's idea and she had never been motivated by money although she later accused Mr Markson of having "stolen" from her by not paying her the agreed sum for the story, which in total was $66,000 including tax.

"That was blood money, that's not money for frivolity or fun … I was not trying to make a quick buck," she said.

Initially Ms Lee had told the court she developed an eating disorder during the UK tour and lost significant weight after being assaulted by Harris the night the group had arrived in the UK.

But she later agreed that may have been wrong after Ms Woodley revealed the Harris dinner at the pub where the alleged assaults were supposed to have occurred was at the end of the trip not the start and the weight loss was suffered by other members of the troupe due to the distaste of the perceived poor quality of British food.

Ms Lee, who was once selected from 200 other young teenagers to star in a pilot TV program for the ABC in late 1986, said while she may have been wrong on the timeline the alleged assaults by Harris which she had detailed were accurate.

Ms Woodley raised numerous other alleged inconsistencies with Ms Lee's account during the lengthy cross examination including allegedly lying to police as to why she went to the media with her allegations before going to them.

Harris has pleaded not guilty to 12 charges of indecent assault.

The case continues.

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Hostage ordeals: victims held captive in cars

A Perth woman is in hospital recovering from a hostage ordeal.

A 35-year-old man was bashed, tied up and left in the boot of a car for 12 hours.

Police are investigating two separate hostage cases – one which saw a woman assaulted and held captive in her own car, while a man was bashed and left in his own car boot for 12 hours. Source: News Limited

POLICE are investigating two separate terrifying hostage ordeals in Perth, which involved both victims being held captive in their own cars for long periods.

A young woman is recovering in hospital tonight with a 10cm wound to the back of her head after two women forced their way into her Lynwood home in the early hours of this morning.

Nine News reported the victim was assaulted, tied up and put in the back of her own car. The offenders then drove around with the victim tied up in the back.

The victim managed to escape about 11am and call police, while the offenders are still on the run after dumping the car at the BP service station in Huntingdale.

It was reported that police believe the victim and offenders are known to each other.

In the other frightening incident, it was reported a 35-year-old man was bashed, tied up and left in the boot of his own car for 12 hours in the Midland area.

The victim confronted a group of three men at the Stratton Shopping Centre on Sunday night after his wallet was stolen and was bashed, tied up, gagged and put in the boot, Nine News reported.

Police are unsure exactly what happened next but the car – a gold Toyota Corolla – was driven about 1km away and left at the Midland Sports Complex.

A worker heard banging coming from the boot the following morning and immediately called triple zero.

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

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What would you ask Colin Barnett?

Colin Barnett at the Marie Antoinette Cafe in Cottesloe with reporter Yasmine Phillips for PerthNow's Coffee with Colin segment. Picture: Marie Nirme Source: News Corp Australia

GOT a question for WA Premier Colin Barnett? Now's your chance to ask it.

Perthnow readers are being given the opportunity to pick the questions they believe Mr Barnett should answer in the third instalment of Coffee with Colin.

Mr Barnett will sit down with Perthnow on Thursday morning and answer the five questions readers most want answered.

Coffee with Colin: Public transport fares will rise

'It's about time Perth grew up and became a more vibrant city'

He'll also have to response to one "wildcard question" chosen from readers' comments so suggest a question below or on the Perthnow Facebook page.

In the first Coffee with Colin, Mr Barnett told West Australians who believe Perth's new stadium and the Elizabeth Quay should pay the price for education cuts to "get a life."

In the second instalment, he confessed he'd known Treasurer Troy Buswell "drank too much."

Vote below to have your say on what questions we ask the Premier on Thursday.

VOTE: Which questions should we ask the Premier?

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Indon pair deny 100-death voyage charges

Asylum seekers on the upturned vessel in June 2012. More than 100 men died at sea. Source: Supplied

Indonesian nationals Boy Djara and Justhen Justhen are on trial in the Perth District Court. Source: Supplied

TWO Indonesian nationals accused of taking part in an ill-fated people smuggling voyage to Christmas Island which claimed more than 100 lives have pleaded not guilty.

Boy Djara and Justhen Justhen are on trial in the Perth District Court having pleaded not guilty to one charge each of assisting a group of five or more unlawful non-citizens into Australia and five charges each of assisting a group of five or more unlawful non-citizens into Australia in a way that gave rise to danger of death or serious injury.

The pair are the only two surviving crew members from a June 2012 capsizing that saw more than 100 men die at sea.

In his opening address to the jury, Commonwealth Prosecutor Alan Troy told the court that on June 21, 2012, Australian authorities were alerted to a vessel capsizing in international waters.

About 4.58am, an Australian Customs aircraft spotted a capsized vessel, 110 nautical miles from Christmas Island.

Dozens of people in life jackets were spotted clinging to the wreck or to floating debris.

Mr Troy said despite the incident being in Indonesian rescue waters, Australia took control of the situation because they were the ones called for help by people on board the boat via a satellite phone.

Mr Troy said it was alleged Mr Djara and Mr Justhen used a GPS unit to help steer a wooden fishing vessel, about 15m-20m long and 3m-5m wide, packed with 210 passengers, before it started taking on water.

The passengers were all males, and of the 108 who survived, most were from Pakistan, some from Afghanistan and one from Iran.

There were also four crew members on board.

Two of the crew members, a man aged in his 40s or 50s who primarily steered the boat and a man in his 20s who looked after the engine, both died in the capsizing.

Mr Troy said on June 18, 2012, "more than 200 non-Indonesian males gathered on a beach in the middle of the night."

"They got on to speedboats and smaller boats controlled by Indonesian men who were not the accused and were delivered to the larger vessel moored in deeper waters," Mr Troy said.

Mr Troy said it will be alleged there were concerns too many people were coming to the boat and when one of the accused tried to stop more passengers coming on board, he was shoved back onto the larger boat.

"The vessel was grossly overcrowded," Mr Troy said.

He said the boat had only been sailing for a short time when it had become stuck on a sand bank three kilometres from land.

Mr Troy said the two accused helped throw ropes to Indonesian fishermen who eventually pulled the stuck boat free.

He said at least one of the accused warned passengers not to make any references that they were travelling to Australia to the fishermen helping.

On the fourth day, the boat ran into trouble again.

Mr Troy said a passenger saw water fill the engine room, it started to tip to the right and then it rolled.

He said it will be alleged the life jackets on board were inadequate and did not float well, some even ripped in the panic.

There will also be evidence that the boat did not have any corking or stuffing between it's wooden planks, causing water to come in.

Mr Troy said it will be alleged Mr Justhen was saved after the initial rescue operation and told some of his rescuers he had been paid five million Indonesian rupiah to take part.

This afternoon, crew members from a customs aircraft that spotted the vessel on the day before and the day of the capsizing gave evidence.

One of the men, electronic observer Paul Wetering, was on the plane on June 20 — the day before tragedy struck.

Mr Wetering said the boat was sitting low in the water.

"For us that would mean it was probably fairly laden," he said.

Mr Wetering told the jury he saw "quite a few objects on the deck" and it was not until he saw a person walking that he realised all of the objects were people.

Kym Epping was in command of the surveillance flights on both days.

He told the jury on June 21 when they found the upturned vessel, people were clinging to the hull and were floating in the sea.

"There were survivors in an oil slick," he said.

The trial continues.

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Storm dumps 85mm on Bunbury

A STRONG cold front has dumped 85mm of rain on Bunbury and will bring more rain to Perth and the south of the state.

Bunbury recorded 52mm overnight to 9am today — with more than 30mm falling in an hour early today — and has had another 33mm since.

Nearby Ferguson Valley recorded 66mm to 9am, while Dardanup and Collie had 57mm and Donnybrook 47mm.

Falls in other centres appear to be more sporadic and isolated, but many recorded 20mm-30mm.

More than 32mm was recorded in Bunbury in a torrential downpour from 6.20am to 7.20am.

By early afternoon Bunbury had recorded 85mm and more showers are possible.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a Severe Weather warning for the South West early today, which was later extended to the South coast and Great Southern — from a line from Windy Harbour, to Collie and east to Bremer Bay.

An earlier warning for people in the Bunbury/Busselton region has been cancelled.

"The Bureau of Meteorology advises a cold front and mid-level disturbance is currently crossing the southwest of the state. Conditions are expected to ease by the afternoon.

"The front is likely to cause heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding this morning that could result in damage to homes and property.

"This is typical weather for this time of year but could damage homes and make travel dangerous. Thirty two millimetres has been recorded in Bunbury in the hour to 7.20am.

"The bad weather is expected to move in an easterly direction and should clear by this afternoon.''

Perth is set for a cool, showery day with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting a 90 per cent chance of rain with the chance of a storm.

The Bureau radar shows the bulk of the rain band passing across the South West, south of the city.

If the rain reaches the southern agricultural areas, it will be more good news for farmers who have had fantastic opening rains, boosting prospects of a good grain-growing season.

In the Great Southern, Kohonup had 16mm to 9am, but other centres are yet to receive any significant rainfall.

In the metropolitan area, falls to 9am were light, with most suburbs getting less than 5mm. By 11am Mandurah had nearly 20mm, while Perth has had just 2mm and Swanbourne, Jandakot and Champion Lakes 4mm.

Dwellingup, just 97km south of the city, has had 28mm.

In the south of the state Mt Bartker has had 20m and Rocky Gully, west of Mt Barker, has had 13mm, but looks set to receive substantially more as they front moves across the southern half of the state.

Perth can expect a week of cool, showery weather with showers or rain forecast through the week, with maximums around 20C. Thursday could be the wettest day, with showers tipped to increase late in the day with the chance of a storm.

PERTH: THE WEEK AHEAD

Tuesday

Max 22C

Few showers, chance of a storm.

Chance of any rain: 90%

Wednesday

Min 14C

Max 23C

Shower or two.

Thursday

Min 15C

Max 22C

Showers increasing. Late storm risk.

Friday

Min 14C

Max 20C

Few showers.

Saturday

Min 14C

Max 20C

Shower or two.

Sunday

Min 11C

Max 19C

Cloud clearing.

Monday

Min 12C

Max 20C

Partly cloudy.

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Buswell probe: Legal advice released

The State Solicitor's Office told WA Police there were "no reasonable prospects" of convicting disgraced former treasurer Troy Buswell of drink-driving. Source: News Corp Australia

THERE were "no reasonable prospects" of convicting disgraced former treasurer Troy Buswell of drink-driving, according to a letter to WA Police from the State Solicitor's Office.

Documents relating the February car crash that derailed Mr Buswell's political career have been released publicly today, following a parliamentary committee hearing examining the police investigation into the incident.

A letter from the State Solicitor's Office, dated March 31, has been released, which details legal advice for police on the possible charges for Mr Buswell.

FULL DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE COMMITTEE:

- STATE SOLICITOR'S ADVICE TO POLICE

- POLICE DAMAGE REPORT OVER BUSWELL'S CAR

- MINIBUS DRIVER'S STATEMENT TO POLICE

- BUSWELL'S FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF'S STATEMENT TO POLICE

- POLICE INSPECTOR'S FULL WITNESS STATEMENT

In the letter, senior assistant state counsel John O'Sullivan says the prospects of Mr Buswell being convicted of drink driving or dangerous driving in court were low, given the available evidence.

The police statements of Mr Buswell's former chief-of-staff Rachael Turnseck, who was at a wedding with Mr Buswell the night of the crash, and those of other witnesses have also been released online.

It comes after the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee heard yesterday that the initial police response to the incident, which was phoned in by a witness, took just nine minutes.

The committee was also told by senior WA police officials that police were unsuccessful in contacting Mr Buswell after the car crash was made public by a media report in March, and did not know where he was until they saw a photograph of him in Busselton in a newspaper.

Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan told the hearing that even if Mr Buswell had admitted to drink-driving on the night, police would still not have been able to charge him with it.

"There was insufficient evidence and there was contradictory evidence, so it's very, very difficult to charge someone with a drink-driving offence after the fact," he said.

Mr Buswell entered an endorsed plea of guilty to 11 charges last month — including careless driving, failing to stop and failing to report — and was fined $3100 and banned from driving for 12 months.

He stepped down from his treasury and transport portfolios after the incident was reported in the media, citing a mental health breakdown at the time.

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Barnett ‘put Jackman, footy first’

The Opposition believes Mr Barnett should have been in Sydney on the weekend, rather than seeing Matthew Pavlich achieve his 300th game for the Fremantle Dockers. Source: News Corp Australia

LABOR has lashed the WA premier for missing a crisis meeting of his state and territory counterparts to discuss the Federal Government's planned public hospital funding cuts.

The Opposition has also taken aim at Colin Barnett for saying the cuts won't kick in for several years, with WA hospitals facing a $196 million reduction in funding over four years from July 1. "Mr Barnett has been saying 'it's four years away, there's nothing to worry about'. This is not a problem that is a long way away in the future. This is on us now," WA opposition leader Mark McGowan told reporters today.

"There needs to be a sense of urgency about addressing this. Mr McGowan said Mr Barnett's non-attendance was "reprehensible and unforgivable", and his priorities were out of whack, given he reportedly attended a Hugh Jackman event and a football game (Matthew Pavlich's 300th game, against Geelong at Subiaco) instead.

"Originally, I thought it was just slackness and laziness. Now I think it's irresponsibility.

"He should have been on an aircraft to Sydney to argue the case for the state.

"This is going to impact people's lives."

Late today, the premier conceded that the Federal Government's planned public hospital funding cuts will start having an impact from July 1, but the state won't cover the shortfalls.

Mr Barnett has promised to instead the next Council of Australian Governments meeting.

Mr Barnett said he had "very good reasons" for skipping the Sydney gathering: GST distribution wasn't on the agenda and that is the key issue facing WA, so he will attend the next Council of Australian Governments meeting later this year, where it will be discussed before Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

There is "an unnecessary sense of panic" about the cuts, he added.

Mr Barnett previously said he was in no rush to discuss the health and education budget cuts because they wouldn't kick in for several years.

But today he admitted some impact would be felt, particularly in health, from the start of the new financial year. "There are some National Partnership Agreements that it appears the Commonwealth may not continue. If that is the case, they will finish - the state is not in a position to pick up that gap in funding," Mr Barnett said.

"Some of the states - NSW and Queensland in particularly - at previous COAG meetings did special deals with the Gillard government. They can hardly be surprised that those deals have disappeared." He flagged potential changes to eligibility for pensioner cards and health-care cards.

"Under the worst scenario, there would be $24 million less coming to WA. We would maintain our commitment, but we're not going to pick up any reduction in commonwealth entitlement." While he previously said Mr Abbott had not flagged the funding changes at the previous COAG meeting, he claimed the prime minister had foreshadowed states and territories taking increased responsibility for education and health.

Hugh Jackman at a star-studded launch of his foundation at the WA Aademy of Performing Arts on Saturday.

"Everyone agreed that was the way to go." According to Mr Barnett, Mr Abbott also said there would be some compensatory arrangements, with the Commonwealth taking on increased responsibilities in other areas.

While WA hospitals faced a $196 million funding cut over the next four financial years, the overall impact of the federal budget on the state was positive, including "a slightly better position on GST ... and some funding in particular areas"

Meanwhile, Federal opposition health spokeswoman Catherine King said it was extraordinary that the first time the state premiers heard about the "cruel" cuts was two hours before the budget was handed down. "It is a complete contempt of states and territories," Ms King said.

"It's a shame the Western Australian Premier doesn't appear to be as angry as the other states." Ms King said the federal government should not be funding the Medical Research Future Fund from the new Medicare co-payment and other savings to hospital and health spending.

She said Labor was committed to fighting the cuts.

● Should Mr Barnett have been in Sydney or Subi?

Opposition leader Mark McGowan says proposed national health cuts will affect West Australians soon.

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’They got the bastard’: Rolf accuser

A woman who alleges Rolf Harris indecently assaulted her has rejected suggestions she instigated relations.

Artist and television personality Rolf Harris arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London, England. Picture: Peter Macdiarmid Source: Getty Images

A WOMAN has described the tears of relief that washed over her as they "got the bastard" and arrested Rolf Harris four decades after he allegedly indecently groped her on the dance floor in New Zealand.

Three women from different corners of the world gave evidence against the 84-year-old entertainer yesterday including one who alleged he apologised to her moments after an assault.

A New Zealand woman told the court she was working for a wine company serving sparkling wine at a function on North Island in 1970 when she was about 16 years.

She said she saw the then famous star and had asked him for an autograph. He in turned asked her for a dance and it was while they were on the dance floor of the function at a local restaurant that he allegedly assaulted her.

"In a flash, in a moment I saw the dark side of a man who I thought could be trusted," the woman said.

"We were in a public place. He slid his hand down by back then up under my dress and put his hand between my dress."

The woman cried in court as she recalled how she pulled away and after collecting her belongings immediately left the venue before her shift had finished. She later told her mother but did not report it to police. In 2013 when Harris was arrested the woman described her elation.

"Oh I told you they'd finally get the bastard, I was so relieved, all these years later it was unbelievable the relief I felt," she said after she contacted an Australian media group to help find a contact for police to report the incident.

Veteran Australian entertainer Rolf Harris, centre, who is accused of indecent assault, accompanied by members of his family, arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London. Picture: Lefteris Pitarakis Source: AP

Under cross examination by Harris' lawyer Sonia Woodley QC she reacted with anger at suggestions she had made the story up and the "twisting of her words".

"How do you sleep at night?" she asked Ms Woodley loudly to which the lawyer replied she had a job to do.

Another witness from the UK then described how she was allegedly assaulted while on holiday in Malta with a boyfriend. She said Harris had given the couple some advice on where there was a doctor after the boyfriend cut his foot. The woman returned to the beach bar where they had encountered Harris and two men to thank him and let him know things were okay. It was at this point the woman, then 18 years old, said she saw a large framed drawing on the wall of two little boys with two rocking horses in the bar which Harris confirmed he had painted. He then invited her to a back room ostensibly to see other works.

The woman alleged Harris had pushed her up against a wall in the room and started to kiss her. She said she initially felt flattered by a friendly kiss but then it turned "slobbery" and he put his hands over her breasts and later under her skirt, into her underwear and into her vagina and grabbed her hand and put it over his clothes onto his penis. She said the motion was all very quick when he suddenly stopped, cuddled her and said "I'm sorry" before leading her back out to the bar area.

An earlier witness from Darwin recalled 1969 when she was staying with friends as a sick 11 year old and Harris, also staying at the home, asked her how old she was.

She said she told him and he then allegedly replied "Good I want to be the first one to introduce you to a tongue kiss".

"I just stood there, I didn't say anything, I froze … then he walked up towards me," she said and described the kiss which she said had affected her relationships and intimacy for years.

Under cross examination Ms Woodley asked if it was that incident that affected her relationships or the fact she had been allegedly assaulted by a cousin when she was 17 to which the woman said it was the Harris assault when she was a child.

Harris has pled not guilty to 12 counts of indecent assault.

The case is continuing.

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Doubt grows over MH370 ‘pings’

Technical troubles have hindered a resumption of the search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.

NEW doubt has crept into the search for Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 after the Australian search agency said it would not make public the audio recordings of four acoustic "ping" signals.

After strong initial certainty they were hearing black box transmissions, the Joint Agency Coordination Centre headed by Angus Houston now appears less certain that they came from the plane.

"Analysis on all four detections is continuing," said the JACC in a statement to News Corp Australia.

"The recordings of the detections will not be released at this point in time."

RELATED: Captain Zaharie's family defend his reputation

Retired Air Chief Marshall Houston had earlier said he could see no issue with releasing the audio, but that position has changed after six weeks of intense examination of the signals.

Questions are now being raised over the legitimacy of the two sets of pings, detected by the Ocean Shield's towed-pinger locater on April 5 and 8, and why they need further analysis given they have already been subject to extensive scrutiny.

Mission commander ... Chief Coordinator of the Joint Agency Coordination Centre, Former Air Chief Angus Houston. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: News Corp Australia

And a new note of doubt yesterday crept into the JACC's language.

"We continue to pursue this lead to either discount or confirm the area of the detections as the final resting place of MH370," the JACC stated, noting that Mr Houston still believed the four signals were the most promising lead.

"At this point in time, it is too early to discount any of the acoustic detections."

The four recordings, taken on April 5 and 8, were immediately sent to a secret facility at HMAS Albatross, in Nowra, NSW, called the Australian Joint Acoustic Analysis Centre.

One of the main purposes of the Nowra facility is to provide real-time feedback to Australian submarines that need instant analysis of potentially hostile frequencies.

Only days after the detections were first sent to the analysis centre, which stores a library of underwater sounds, Mr Houston said the transmissions had already been "analysed again and again".

The international frequency standard for black boxes is 37.5kHz, and Mr Houston said an April 5 transmission was detected 33.331 kilohertz, pulsing at 1.106 second intervals.

Even though this was below 37.5kHz, it was an acceptable margin of error and Mr Houston was confident the pulsing was "identical" to an emergency beacon locator and likely from MH370.

Element of doubt ... Commander Joint Task Force 658, Commodore Peter Leavy, right, United States Navy Salvage Supervisor, Captain Mark Matthews, left, and ADV Ocean Shield RAN Mission Commander, Commander James Lybrand, centre, at a media conference in front of the Australian navy vessel Ocean Shield. Picture: Greg Wood Source: AFP

But last week, the Wall Street Journal quoted Australian naval officer Commander James Lybrand, as doubting that the second set of pings was from the plane's cockpit voice recorder or flight data beacons.

The second transmissions from April 8 were at 27 kHz, and gave Commander Lybrand little confidence. "As far as frequency goes, between 33 kHz and 27 kHz is a pretty large jump," he told the WSJ.

Mr Houston was asked on April 9 whether he would release some of the audio. "We'll take a look at that. I don't see why not," he said at the time.

One possible reason for the JACC's reluctance is that it would only cause more speculation from so-called experts. However, the mystery is already so awash with wild theories that its release would unlikely cause the searchers to lose focus.

But the fact that analysts were continuing to pore over the transmissions suggests they are reviewing earlier assumptions they did come from the jet's black boxes.

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Top cops grilled over Buswell crash scandal

Former treasurer Troy Buswell, pictured on his first day back at Parliament earlier this month, is not being called as a witness to the parliamentary hearing. Picture: File image Source: News Corp Australia

WA's police chief has conceded that even if Troy Buswell had admitted to drink-driving, it's still unlikely there would have been enough evidence to charge him with that offence.

Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan today gave evidence to a parliamentary committee examining police's handling of the former treasurer's car crash scandal in February.

The hearing was told police unsuccessfully tried to contact Mr Buswell multiple times after the incident.

WA Police have not spoken with beleaguered former treasurer since his car crash fiasco in February. And the committee was told they could not locate the Vasse MP in the two weeks after his incident was brought to light by the media – until they saw a photograph of Mr Buswell walking around Busselton in a newspaper.

The Community Development and Justice Standing Committee is conducting an agency review hearing into the handling of the Buswell case by WA Police.

The committee was also told the initial police response to the incident – after a witness reported seeing a car swerving on the road, hitting other cars and that the person who emerged from the vehicle looked a lot like Mr Buswell and could barely stand upright – was completed in just nine minutes.

Mr Buswell crashed into four cars and a telephone pole in Subiaco as he drove home from a wedding in Kings Park in the early hours of February 23.

This afternoon, the police statement from Buswell's former chief-of-staff Rachael Turnseck was read out to the committee.

Ms Turnseck told police although she and Mr Buswell were drinking throughout the evening at the wedding, she did not know how much he drank.

The damaged front of Troy Buswell's ministerial car, which was towed away for further police examination today. Picture: Nine News

She said she went to Mr Buswell's house the next day and he told her his car was damaged and he had no memory of driving home.

Dr O'Callaghan reiterated to the committee the first he had heard of the incident was when local media contacted his media adviser on March 9.

Committee chairwoman Margaret Quirk queried whether it sent a terrible message that people could get away with drink driving. Dr O'Callaghan said drink driving has always been hard to prosecute.

Dr O'Callaghan acknowledged if the information was better able to be integrated, police would have responded "in a different way".

He told the committee Mr Buswell had done nothing wrong in the eyes of the law by using his right to silence.

Dr O'Callaghan conceded that even if Mr Buswell had admitted drink-driving on the night it was still unlikely police would have been able to charge him.

"There was insufficient evidence and there was contradictory evidence, so it's very, very difficult to charge someone with a drink-driving offence after the fact," he said.

Troy Buswell at the February 22 wedding reception.

● Buswell fined, banned after admitting post-wedding crash charges

● Buswell breaks silence, refuses to confirm if he was drink-driving

Commander Alf Fordham, from the State Traffic Operations unit, told the committee they had not been able to interview or speak with Mr Buswell since the incident.

Commander Fordham said he tried calling Mr Buswell's mobile multiple times after the incident came to light on March 9, but the calls all went to his voicemail.

He admitted police did not know where Mr Buswell was.

On March 13, a lawyer acting for Mr Buswell called police to say the former treasurer would not be participating in a recorded interview with police.

The hearing was told Mr Buswell was offered a lift home twice by a limousine driver who was taking other guests home from the wedding.

In her police statement, read to the committee today, Troy Buswell's former chief-of-staff Rachael Turnseck said her then-boss had no memory of driving home when she visited him the next day.

But both times he told them he was walking home.

The committee was also told the police went to "great lengths" after they knew about the incident on March 9 to piece together what happened that night.

But they still did not know what happened between Mr Buswell's last sighting walking down the driveway from the wedding around midnight and his erratic driving around 1.30am.

Mr Buswell entered an endorsed plea of guilty to 11 charges last month – including careless driving, failing to stop and failing to report – and was fined $3100 and banned from driving for 12 months.

Police Assistance Centre officer-in-charge Lance Martin told the hearing the call from witnesses about the incident was received by a police call taker at 1.28am on February 23. After the call ended at 1.35am, it was passed on to a dispatcher as a Priority 3 under a 317 code, which means driving under the influence.

Officers on patrol received the dispatch at 1.45am and responded to the job.

Supt Martin said the response time was under 10 minutes, which was well under the 25-minute benchmark set for Priority 3 jobs.

Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan told a parliamentary committee today that Troy Buswell had done nothing wrong in the eyes of the law by using his right to silence. Picture: File image

The hearing was told the officers took just nine minutes to complete their investigation of the area, which included looking for smashed cars or suspicious persons and looking through the gate of Mr Buswell's Roberts Road home to see the car in question parked inside. The matter was closed at 1.54am.

The officers noted the house was in darkness and there were no tyre marks visible on the road. They did not approach the front door of the house.

Supt Martin said while the WA Police's Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system did receive a feed from Landgate, which could have alerted the officers to the owner of the house, the system did not have the capability to integrate the data.

The CAD system was developed in the late 1990s, and built in 2003.

The vehicle's registration plate was not checked against the database during the initial report of the incident.

Supt Martin said there was no requirement for plates to be checked, but admitted it could have been an oversight.

At a press conference this afternoon, Premier Colin Barnett said the hearing was "unnecessary" and a "political exercise".

"It is an investigation into the police, not into Troy Buswell," he said.

"Troy has been extremely unwell, he is still unwell, and I just find it appalling that the Labor Party and Mark McGowan in particular continue to pursue someone who is clearly having mental health problems.

"I in no way excuse or condone his actions on that night, but he did have a serious breakdown, he has been through the court process, he has been treated no differently from any other citizen. He's lost his job, he's been fined, he's lost his licence. Fortunately no one was hurt in that incident."

The committee is due to hand down its report next month.

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