Have your say about WA

AS West Australians enjoy a public holiday this weekend, celebrating all that is great about WA, PerthNow, The Sunday Times and Nine News are giving you the chance to have your say on this great state and what matters to you.

Our survey canvasses the issues that are on the lips of the growing number of people who call WA home.

From cost of living pressures to transport priorities, to crime concerns and the controversial shark cull, this is your opportunity to make your views known.

As the biggest survey of its kind, the results will be keenly scrutinised by our political leaders.

We have commissioned respected pollster Galaxy to analyse the responses and the results will be revealed on PerthNow and on Nine News in the coming weeks.

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New stadium to have few extra seats

Terry Waldron, minister for Sport and Recreation. Source: News Corp Australia

Opposition planning spokeswoman Rita Saffioti Source: News Corp Australia

PERTH'S new $1.2 billion 60,000-seat football stadium is likely to have just 2000 extra general admission seats.

Informed sources have told The Sunday Times the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers want at least 50,000 seats at the new Perth Stadium to be reserved for its members and corporates.

Sports Minister Tuck Waldron has also confirmed a scheme is being investigated that would sell off "super memberships", which are likely to cost about $10,000 a year and give the buyer a ticket to every event at the venue.

Super memberships are used at other major sporting stadiums across Australia.

It is understood there could be up to 5000 sold at the Burswood stadium.

This would leave just 5000 seats for general admission tickets – just 2000 more than available at the 43,500-seat football stadium in Subiaco.

Opposition planning spokeswoman Rita Saffioti said the super memberships made a mockery of the Barnett Government's promise that the new stadium would have a "people-first" philosophy.

"(It should be) something for all West Australians to enjoy, not just those who can afford to fork out a fortune," Ms Saffioti said.

"The Barnett Government is at risk of putting footy beyond the reach of ordinary fans."

At the 53,500-seat Etihad Stadium, 7500 have been allotted to super memberships. In some cases they incur a $5500 joining fee and $737 payments each month for three years.

The Sydney Cricket Ground has 18,000 super members, with 10,000 as SCG members and the remainder a mix of gold and platinum members.

The gold and platinum memberships, with a joining fee of $10,000 and annual fees starting at $800, provide access to a gym, pool, spa, sauna, parking and crèche.

At Adelaide Oval, which seats about 53,000 people, customers can either become a member of the South Australian Cricket Association or buy Adelaide Oval Football memberships for as much as $550 a year.

Mr Waldron said "the option of developing a stadium membership is one of many membership models that are under consideration".

And he said that the number of general admission tickets that would be available to the general community without being a member of a sporting organisation was "also under review".

"The goal is to ensure that a broad spectrum of the WA community has access to the new Perth Stadium while at the same time ensuring the long-term financial viability of WA sport teams and the Stadium," he said.

Richard Mann, the Government's executive director of strategic projects, recently told MPs there was "significant resistance from key users" to super memberships.

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Perth Airport’s stunning master plan revealed

Blueprint for the future of Perth Airport. Source: Supplied

THE bold blueprint for Perth Airport's future – including a third runway by 2019, more terminals, an on-site hotel and a driverless train – can today be exclusively revealed.

Leaked plans show passenger numbers are forecast to surge more than 200 per cent from the current 14 million a year to 46 million by 2044.

Due to be unveiled later this month, the Perth Airport Master Plan 2014 outlines how the airport will develop over the next 30 years to meet demand.

The ambitious vision reveals how the airport will look when all commercial domestic flights are moved to the international terminals precinct.

Perth Airport of the future. Source: Supplied

A high-level briefing document prepared by the airport's owners summarising the master plan also includes the following timeline:

2014-15: Virgin Australia's domestic pier to open early next year.

2014-16: Multi-storey car parks around the air traffic control tower.

2016-17: A hotel at the centre of the airport, next to the tower

2016-18: An international pier to cater for airlines such as Emirates.

2019: Construction of the l third runway completed.

2019-20: Forrestfield Airport Link, including two railway stations, to start operating.

2020-23: A new terminal alongside Horrie Miller Drive

2024-2029: Further enhancements as passenger numbers hit 30 million per year.

2034: Automated passenger shuttle looping the airport, similar to those at major international airports such as San Francisco, Heathrow and Singapore.

2044: New terminal opens to replace the existing Terminal 2

A view inside a new international terminal. Source: Supplied

Beyond 2044: Ongoing expansion to handle up to 70 million passengers per year.

The plan, which is updated every five years, will be released for a two-month consultation on June 19. It will then be presented to Federal Transport Minister Warren Truss in late October for approval next year.

Perth Airport officials recently briefed Government MPs on the plans.

Last night, confirmation work would start soon on a third runway was welcomed by the Barnett Government, which has pressured the airport to fast-track the investment.

The 2700m third runway, planned for a site east of the airport, is expected to cost $600 million and take four and half years to plan and build.

Perth Airport has already spent $850 million on a new domestic terminal, revamping and expanding international arrivals and departures and building Virgin's domestic pier.

But it has been criticised for struggling to keep up with demand and in its draft aviation strategy the State Government said a new runway was an "imperative" to "avoid damaging and disruptive" delays.

The leaked briefing document reveals concerns aircraft noise as a result of the extra runway will impact new suburbs including Ferndale, Langford, Lynwood, Middle Swan, Dayton and High Wycombe.

Route of the new Forrestfield Airport Rail Link. Source: Supplied

Homes currently impacted by northbound and southerly departures, such as Shelley, may experience less noise as the new runway will split flight paths.

The runway, which has been planned since 1999, will undergo extensive community consultation and require environmental and Aboriginal heritage approvals.

Transport Minister Dean Nalder yesterday said he was "very supportive" of the third runway. He also said the airport was being consulted on the exact route of the $2 billion Forrestfield Airport Link, which will open in 2020.

Former transport minister Troy Buswell late last year said the State Government was considering building the entire 12km rail line underground.

The document appears to show two options for the rail link route.

One is similar to the State Government's proposed route, beside Tonkin Hwy in Bayswater before diverting through bushland next to Dunreath Dr at the domestic terminals. An alternative route is shown following Tonkin Hwy, but splitting earlier at Brearley Ave in Ascot.

The State Government has said the plans include a tunnel from the domestic terminal, under the runway to the international terminals and on to Forrestfield.

The Barnett Government is also considering a new bus service to the airport, according to the leaked papers.

Another view of the proposed new international pier at Perth Airport. Source: Supplied

Perth Airport is planning for up to 70 million passengers a year to pass through its terminals in the second half of the century. This is despite Transport officials already beginning the search for a suitable site for a proposed second metropolitan airport.

Guildford Ratepayer's Association president Peter Stephenson said the new runway should bring relief for residents currently suffering aircraft noise. He renewed calls for households under the flight path to receive grants for insulation and double glazing and for a curfew on night flights between midnight and 6am.

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Volcano air chaos ‘may last days’

A volcanic eruption in Indonesia has sent ash clouds towards Australia, shutting down Darwin airport and disrupting travel around the country.

Up, up, up and now coming Down Under ... Mount Sangeang Api spews smoke and ash in this shot taken from the window of a passing commercial flight by professional photographer Sofyan Efendi. The volcano is one of 129 active volcanoes in Indonesia. Picture: Barcroft Media/Splash News Source: Supplied

FLIGHTS around Australia this weekend have been disrupted after a major volcanic eruption in Indonesia sent an ash cloud barreling into our skies.

The impact could last for days, Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss has warned, and could hit other airports beyond Darwin, which is already closed.

The cloud is spreading south towards Alice Springs.

"Depending on wind and other weather conditions, the ash has the potential to affect flights to and from other airports, including Brisbane, during coming days. This is currently being fully assessed," Mr Truss said.

The cloud has come from Mount Sangeang Api, a volcano off the northeast coast of the Indonesian island of Sumbawa, which blew late Friday and is continuing to discharge debris with further eruptions.

"The volcano is continuously erupting," Tim Birch from the Bureau of Meteorology's Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in Darwin told AFP.

Birch said one plume was affecting northern Australia and impacting Darwin and was expected to linger for at least the next 18 hours.

Another was located over central Australia which could cause problems for overland flights, while a third was about 100 kilometres (60 miles) from Denpasar airport on Indonesia's Bali.

"All of the plumes will be affecting aviation," he said.

Surono, an Indonesian government volcanologist who goes by one name, said that Sangeang Api was spewing columns of ash up to 2,500 metres (8,200 feet) into the air on Saturday.

Towering inferno ... an aerial shot by photographer Sofyan Efendi shows the terrifing majesty of the ash cloud. Picture: Barcroft Media/Splash News Source: Supplied

Airservices Australia, the nation's air navigation authority, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the Bureau of Meteorology are all investigating the cloud, Mr Truss said.

"Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for further information."

While early indications were that Sydney and Brisbane would not be badly affected, experts warned that could change as the volcano has not yet finished erupting.

Airservices Australia has begun diverting international flights around the ash cloud.

WHEN WILL FLIGHTS RESUME?

It depends on whether further volcanic eruptions in Indonesia amplify an already huge intercontinental plume of ash, an expert says.

Sangeang Api, a volcano off the Indonesian island of Sumbawa, has erupted three times since Friday afternoon.

The volcano is about 300km east of the eastern tip of Java and about 1200km west-northwest of Darwin.

The manager of the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre at the Bureau of Meteorology in Darwin, Emile Jansons, said the cloud was dispersing as it spread south but the situation could change at any time. He said there was a "pretty clear" stream of ash from the volcano across the Timor Sea, flowing west of Darwin and southeast to Alice Springs.

"If there is a big eruption in the next six to 12 hours, longer effect is more likely across Australia," he told AAP.

Strong winds within a narrow jet stream had carried the ash at up to 150km/h towards central Australia but the ash was dissipating, he said.

"The ash that is west of Darwin will affect Darwin for the next 18 hours, so it looks likely to hang around for a day or so. "Regional aviation to places like Kununurra and even Derby (in Western Australia) may be affected but in terms of larger international airports only Darwin is affected." The jet stream will move east over the 24 hours, changing wind direction and helping to further dissipate the ash, unless another large eruption spews more into the air.

The ash near Darwin is in a band between 10km and 15km in the air - the cruising altitude for commercial jet aircraft.

WHY IS VOLCANIC DUST DANGEROUS?

Volcanic ash can affect all aircraft with piston or jet engines at all flight levels, CASA warned. Fine particles of pulverised rock consisting mainly of silica contained in volcanic ash clouds can be highly abrasive and damage aircraft engines, structures and windows.

"Commercial air operators and private pilots planning to fly in this area should conduct a safety risk assessment before any flights," a spokesman said.

"CASA recommends flights are not conducted into areas with visible volcanic ash clouds. Flights into areas with low levels of ash contamination should only be conducted after a safety risk assessment has been carried out."

However the decision whether or not to fly is a safety and economic decision that rests with individual airlines.

Ring of fire ... another of Indonesia's volcanoes, Mount Merapi, spews lava and ash in 2006. Source: AP

The manager of the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre at the Bureau of Meteorology in Darwin, Emile Jansons, earlier said the cloud is dispersing as it spreads south.

"It is continuing to disperse but it is moving very rapidly — at 70 to 80 knots (130 to 150km/h) — towards Alice Springs," Mr Jansons said. "There is a very strong jet stream so the boundary (of the cloud) may come further south."

While it is a "fairly sizeable eruption", Mr Jansons told the Northern Territory News that the cloud here would be invisible to the naked eye.

"The volcano has been erupting to 15km in the air," he said. "It has moved across the Kimberley and western Top End. It's high in the atmosphere so there won't be any ashfall different to normal bushfire ashfall."

He said there should be negligable impact on the air quality and said adverse health effects were unlikely.

STRANDED OVERSEAS AS BALI AND SINGAPORE FLIGHTS HALTED

Qantas and Virgin Australia confirmed all their flights to and from Darwin have been cancelled, including some overseas.

"Because of the impact of the volcano we have cancelled all flights today on our schedule to and from Darwin," Virgin Australia spokeswoman Jacqui Abbott said.

"Our meteorologists are monitoring the situation and are consulting with the (volcanic ash) advisory centre in Darwin and we will renew normal operations as the situation allows."

Qantas Group spokeswoman Kira Reed said cancellations also affect all Qantas flights to and from Darwin on Saturday and Jetstar's Cairns-Darwin and Darwin-Cairns flights — plus its Darwin-Adelaide service and its Darwin-Bali, Bali-Darwin, Singapore-Darwin and Darwin-Singapore flights.

Flights from Melbourne were also affected by the plume of volcanic ash.

Holidaymakers scheduled to fly to Bali on Saturday afternoon were inconvenienced when their flight with Virgin Australia was cancelled.

Flights between Melbourne and Darwin were also cancelled by Virgin, Jetstar and Qantas on Saturday.

Virgin has also cancelled a flight from Denpasar due into Adelaide at 7.35am on Sunday.

The airlines said they were monitoring the situation closely to see if further flights would be affected.

The Northern Territory News reports that while there is no official announcement yet, word on the ground at Darwin Airport is most flights will be cancelled until Monday.

PICTURE SPECIAL: The stunning beauty of an erupting giant

Not the first time ... ash from this Chilean eruption in 2011 disrupted flights in Australia and elsewhere. Source: News Limited

Asked to look into his crystal ball to get an end date, Mr Jansons said: "It continues to erupt — it's still going up right now — but how long it'll go I don't know".

"They tend to stop after a day or two so it's unlikely to reach the east coast.

"It's almost reached Tennant Creek in the south. It won't get to Brisbane or Sydney."

Sangeang Api is 1373km northwest of Darwin, roughly halfway between Bali and Timor.

This is not the first time an exploding volcano overseas has disrupted air traffic Down Under.

One of the most memorable was the Chilean eruption in 2011 that caused chaos here and in other countries.

The Indonesian volcano causing the current problem is a regular menace.

It is believed to have erupted at least 17 times since 1512, with the last eruption recorded in 1999.

The island of Sangeang Api has no permanent residents after they vacated the area in 1985.

Volcanos are prevalent across Indonesia, as part of the Pacific's "Ring of Fire". A number of people were killed during an eruption in East Java in February.

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Don’t bet against China: Twiggy

Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest at the Australia in China's Century Conference at the Crown in Melbourne. Source: News Corp Australia

IRON ore magnate Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest has angrily slapped down the suggestion that China is vulnerable to the biggest property and credit bubble collapse in history.

Mr Forrest said China's rise in the last three decades was the world's greatest modern economic miracle that had dragged its people out of poverty.

He was asked at the Australia in China's Century conference by Lindsay David, a co-founder of a green technology company, if Australia's economy was also at risk of collapsing because it made a very large bet on China's continued growth.

The comments came as the price of iron ore — Australia's most valuable export — has fallen to near two-year lows at close to $US95 a tonne.

Iron ore being unloaded on a port in Qingdao, east China's Shandong province. Picture: file image Source: AFP

Mr Forrest said he was comfortable when the price was $US110.

There have also been well documented financial issues China's government is tackling: including deleveraging its economy where invest spending is way above economic output, and its unregulated shadow finance system.

"This country came out of political purgatory with no money and just the shirt off their backs and set their people free," he said.

"They are hard working, intelligent and determined to raise their children's living standards more than most countries ... 400 million people still have to be urbanised.

"Walmart and other huge consumers rely on China, add to the mix trillions of dollars of foreign reserves, soft power and I would say your bet against China is the only guarantee of loss I've seen for a long time."

He said Australia should make exporting food to China a far greater priority and that Chinese premier Li Keqiang had told him that was "Australia's most important question".

He said he did not want to see Australia miss out again, saying that it had missed out on $30-$40 billion in extra foreign revenue during Japan's economic boom when it had brought Brazil in amid concerns about the reliability of Australian supplies.

Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest at the Australia in China's Century Conference at the Crown in Melbourne. Source: News Corp Australia

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Jailed shoplifter’s car park rampage

A shoplifter has been jailed after a violent car park rampage. File picture Source: News Corp Australia

A PERTH woman who shoplifted lollies and chips and then ran over an undercover security guard who confronted her has been jailed for three years.

Narissa Marie Gidgup was with two children when she stole confectionery and cosmetics worth $60 from a Coles supermarket last July.

Gidgup was confronted by a female covert security guard dressed in casual clothes and a male security guard when she sprayed the male guard in the face with deodorant and then tried to flee in a car.

She attempted to run both guards over, but her car got stuck on a bollard, so she turned it around and sped towards the female guard, knocking her down, the Perth District Court heard toda.

The guard was flung across the bonnet and became trapped under the vehicle as Gidgup drove over her.

Gidgup reversed the car, crashing into a pole and then the car stalled as she tried to flee.

The male guard grabbed the keys from the ignition, but Gidgup then charged at him, the court heard.

He punched her in the face and tried to grab her cardigan to stop her from leaving, but it was pulled off in the struggle. Gidgup then removed other garments and spat in his face until police arrived.

The female guard suffered injuries to her legs, hip, ribs and back.

In sentencing, Judge Ronald Birmingham said it was lucky her injuries were not more serious.

Judge Birmingham rejected claims Gidgup was stealing because she was "desperately hungry" for food, saying it was "sly deliberate stealing".

"There was preparation, forethought and certainly persistence in your offending conduct," he said.

Judge Birmingham also noted Gidgup's mental health, alcohol and drug abuse, and lengthy criminal record.

He said she had little remorse and was likely to reoffend.

Gidgup's sentenced was backdated to March 2013 and must serve 18 months behind bars before being eligible for parole.

She will also be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver's licence for two years, to begin upon her release from prison.

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One hurt in Fremantle boat collision

Fremantle's South Mole, where two boats collided this afternoon, leaving one person injured. Source: News Limited

A COLLISION has occurred between a refuelling barge and a private boat off Fremantle.

There are reports that one person is injured and the boats are being towed back to shore this afternoon.

A Fremantle Ports spokeswoman said there was a "minor collision" between a private vessel and the refuelling or "bunkering" barge, Parmelia 1.

"It happened south of South Mole about 800m offshore. The Department of Transport will be investigating," the spokeswoman said.

Water Police could not be reached for comment. A Sea Rescue Fremantle spokesman said volunteer rescue crews were not called to the incident, which was handled by Fremantle Ports.

In 2011, the same barge hit the Fremantle rail bridge, damaging the crossing and causing headaches for commuters when train services were disrupted.

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Diesel shortage hits Perth bowsers

PERTH motorists have been advised to call ahead to service stations thanks to a diesel shortage in the metro area.

Some service stations in Perth are running low on diesel because of a short-term supply shortage. Picture: file image Source: News Limited

PERTH motorists have been advised to call ahead to service stations before refuelling vehicles that require diesel fuel, thanks to a shortage in the metro area.

FuelWatch manager Lynne Gould said diesel is unavailable at many locations in metropolitan Perth and regional WA but the situation is rapidly changing.

"FuelWatch is aware that the number of sites affected is fluctuating with some out of diesel, some that had been running low now restocked and others currently in short supply," she said.

"As at 1pm (today), FuelWatch has gauged that at least 124 sites are out of diesel. 113 of those are in metropolitan Perth and 11 in regional WA, however things are changing by the hour."

She said there were still 556 fuel retailers selling diesel and contact details for all sites can be found on the FuelWatch website www.fuelwatch.wa.gov.au

BP's Kwinana oil refinery. Picture: file image Source: News Limited

No other fuel type has been affected.

Late yesterday, BP stated the temporary shortage was due a shipment of imported diesel that had slight discolouration as it was checked for Australian standards.

This led to BP making addition technical inquiries to ensure the diesel was fit for use, which they have now confirmed to be the case.

BP said it had 'considerable' stock at its Kwinana refinery that was being prepared for distribution to service stations but it advised that supplies may be slower than usual to arrive.

Caltex has also advised it has adjusted its supply chain to minimise any impact on motorists and customers.

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GP found guilty over serious crash

Christine Caffrey, who was today found guilty of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm, leaves court earlier this week. Source: News Corp Australia

A WESTERN suburbs GP has been found guilty over a serious crash which left a Coles delivery driver with an amputated leg.

Christine Marie Caffrey was this afternoon found guilty of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm against Matthew Chapman.

A Perth magistrate convicted Caffrey following a three-day trial.

While driving to pick up her daughter, Caffrey hit Mr Chapman as he unloaded the back of a Coles delivery truck on Vincent Street in Nedlands on August 8 last year.

While one of his legs had to be amputated, the other was also severely injured.

She was fighting the charge arguing that while she hit Mr Chapman, she was not driving dangerously.

The prosecution argued phone records showed Caffrey had been distracted by her mobile at the time of the crash – a claim the doctor rejected.

This afternoon, Magistrate Michael Wheeler found Caffrey guilty, fining her $5000 and suspending her driver's licence for two years.

The magistrate could not conclude Caffrey was on the phone at the time, but said it was inevitable she was either totally distracted by something or driving with such inattention which led to a catastrophic accident.

"The truck was there to be seen, and should have been seen and must have been seen – it was not a hidden obstacle," Mr Wheeler said.

After the verdict, Mr Chapman told Seven News he was pleased with the result, which would offer some closure.

But he said he had been hurt that Caffrey had not tried to contact him and was offended by claims in court she was remorseful, but still forgave the doctor.

He said the court case was difficult to endure and it was "hard not to have relapses of what happened that night."

"It has totally changed our lives, but we have to move on and try live the best way we can now," he said

Victim Matthew Chapman is relieved at the guilty verdict against Dr Christine Caffrey. Source: News Corp Australia

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Wife ‘shattered’ at MH370 setback

Danica Weeks with her two sons Lincoln and Jack. Source: News Corp Australia

THE Perth wife of a passenger on ill-fated Malaysia Airlines flight 370 says she has difficulty processing news that searchers have given up on an area of the Indian Ocean where acoustic "pings" were detected.

Underwater drone Bluefin-21 has completed its scouring of the zone off the West Australian coast where the man-made sounds were picked up, and come up with nothing.

A massive broadening of the search area is now expected, based on a fresh analysis of data that led British satellite firm Inmarsat to conclude the plane crashed in the southern Indian Ocean.

New Zealander Danica Weeks, whose mechanical engineer husband, Paul, had boarded MH370 on his way to start a new job in Mongolia, remains in Perth, where their family moved after the Christchurch earthquakes in 2011.

Ms Weeks said she had "cried a lot of tears today".

"It just is another slap in the face, it's just another long road for us and I'm just shattered by the news, I'm absolutely shattered," Ms Weeks told the Seven Network.

"When your child cries for their father, it just breaks your heart and I can't tell them the truth because I don't know.

"I still haven't reconciled that he's not coming back, because I've had nothing.

"When you don't have anything – not even a piece of the plane, just nothing, and so many different stories – how can you not have a little piece of hope?"

The couple have two boys, Lincoln, 3, and 13-month-old Jack.

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Rolf tells of family’s shock

Trial appearance. Australian born veteran TV and music entertainer Rolf Harris arrives at court with his daughter Bindi. Picture: Matt Dunham Source: AP

BINDI Harris had become so incensed with allegations her father Rolf sexually abused a school friend of hers she was banging her head against a wall and later sought counselling, a London Court has heard.

Rolf Harris took to the witness stand for a third day to be cross examined over who knew what and when in relation to claims he indecently assaulted a 13-year-old friend of Bindi's during a holiday in 1978 as well as other women.

The 84-year-old agreed his daughter had become upset when she heard the claims in 1997, almost 20 years after the alleged incident, and was "beside herself" when she rang him on the telephone while he was in Australia to accuse him over the sexual child abuse claim.

"She was in such a state she was banging her head against a wall she was beside herself with shock," prosecutor Sasha Wass put to Harris to which he agreed she was bedside herself in shock.

He told the court he couldn't recall her head banging or receiving counselling but was aware she had smashed two paintings he had done for her.

Harris, has pleaded not guilty to 12 counts of indecently assaulting four females over almost two decades, from 1968 to 1986.

Harris told Southwark Crown Court all the women, including the four alleged victims and up to a dozen other witnesses who have claimed they had been or witnessed indecent assaults, were lying.

But he told the court he couldn't say why they would do that.

Ms Wass yesterday set out five points of a "common theme" between all the alleged independent victims and witnesses as: Harris meeting them all in public; sexually assaulting them from a friendly gesture like a hug; each victim being unable to move or protest; other people present or close by and then he behaving after the assault as if nothing happened.

The prosecutor told the court what Harris found attractive about touching children was they would not judge him like adults.

Harris denied the claim and suggested there were holes in all of the women's stories with many of the alleged acts just "not physically possible". That included allegedly molesting a girl sitting on his lap at a pub bench which he said was physically not possible because the bench was tight to the wall, indecently assaulting a girl while signing her an autograph because he had no free hands, assaulting a girl after he had been on all fours and barking like a dog because he had never been to the venue and tongue kissing an 11-year-old girl with Harris claiming it was physically impossible to tongue kiss anyone who didn't want to partake in the act.

The case continues.

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Uproar over MH370 ping ‘mess’

Today's top trending stories and news.

Koji Kubota of the Japan Coast Guard keeps watch for debris from Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. Photo: AFP. Source: AFP

REVELATIONS that the underwater pings heard in early April were not from the MH370 black box has left family members of those on board angry and demanding answers.

The area where the supposed black box pings were heard later became the focus of an intensive ocean search by an underwater vehicle over an 850 square kilometre zone.

But oceanographer Dr Erik Van Sebille warns against criticism, saying deep ocean searches are massively difficult tasks.

Selamat Osman, whose son was on board MH370, said he had been informed by Malaysian Airlines about the doubt now surrounding the supposed black box pings.

Mr Osman said from his home in Malaysia that he was disappointed in the efforts to find the plane and his son and the other 238 on board.

"I feel really disappointed. The attempt to search for the plane is not optimal yet," Mr Osman said.

"They should be working harder rather than talking and talking. In my opinion, they have too much talking rather than working. It doesn't make us really feel sure about their work."

Mr Osman said it was his big hope that the renewed search would yield some results.

FLIGHT PATH: MH370 report confirms search delays

"I am really disappointed that the search operation hasn't found anything."

Sarah Bjac, whose partner Philip Wood was on board the plane, leads a group of relatives of passengers who want more answers.

She said yesterday the latest black box twist was "consistent with the tangled mess that is this supposed investigation". Ms Bajc said from her home in Beijing: "It is a sad commentary on the situation that family members are rejoicing that there is still a chance that our loved ones are being held hostage by hijackers. It is a better option than dead at the bottom of the ocean."

She said the family members were being managed and intentionally distracted.

"I've been saying this since the first weeks. We are being managed and intentionally distracted. Lead, redaction, lead, redaction, lead — until three months later there is not a single solitary fact or piece of evidence that has been proven to be true, not one. Both the leads and the redactions come from a mix of official sources and "leaks". Nothing is logical or consistent or according to standard expected protocols much less common sense."

Mystery disappearance ... it is now believed the pings came from a source not related to the missing Malaysia Airlines plane. Source: AFP

'INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TASK'

But oceanographer Dr Erik Van Sebille warns against criticism of authorities in the search.

He said deep ocean research, particularly in a place like the southern Indian Ocean, was an incredibly difficult task.

He said oceans were full of sounds and it was not easy to discern them.

'Sounds are made at all different frequencies. The ocean is more a cacophony of these different sounds. You might think you hear one thing but it is another," Dr Van Sebille, from the University of New South Wales said yesterday.

"I think we should be very careful with our criticism. There is no team in the world that could have done a better job than this. Navies know their sounds in the ocean like nothing else," he said, adding that the Australian Navy were among world experts in underwater sounds.

Dr Van Sebille said so many things in the ocean made sounds and it was very difficult to differentiate them.

"Everything in the ocean makes sounds, from whales to shrimps that actually make clicking sounds. Biologists use instruments that make sounds to track animals," he said.

He said that while the 850quare kilometres search by Bluefin-21 did not sound like a lot, searching that amount of ocean floor was a painstakingly slow task.

No sign of the plane ... specialists prepare to launch the Phoenix Autonomous Underwater Vehicle 'Artemis' Bluefin-21 from the vessel Ocean Shield. Source: AFP

PRIMARY SEARCH ZONE 'DISCOUNTED'

Australian authorities today discounted an area that had been considered the most likely zone.

The triangle of water in the Indian Ocean was seen as the prime area largely as a result of the acoustic pings picked up last month, and thought to be from the missing plane's black box.

But the Australian Transport Safety Bureau today advised that the search in the vicinity of the acoustic detections can now be considered complete and that the area can be discounted as the final resting place of MH370.

Transport Minister Warren Truss told parliament the hunt for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane will continue in the Indian Ocean even though it was not found in the recent search zone. He said search is about to move into a new phase and Australia was committed to doing everything it can to find the plane.

"We are still very confident that the resting place of the aircraft is in the Southern Ocean," he said.

SEARCH TEAMS HEAD HOME

The ATSB said Bluefin-21 completed its last mission yesterday afternoon searching the remaining areas in the vicinity of the acoustic signals which were detected in early April by the Towed Pinger Locator deployed from ADV Ocean Shield.

"The data collected on yesterday's mission has been analysed. As a result, the JACC can advise that no signs of aircraft debris have been found by the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle since it joined the search effort," it said in a statement.

HUNT TO CONTINUE

The next search begins in August and is expected to take about 12 months.

"Unfortunately this is a painstaking effort in a very large ocean." The next area could be 800 kilometres long and 70km wide, he said.

Manager of opposition business, Tony Burke, said the hopes of many had been dashed by the failure to find the plane in the most recent search zone.

"Once again we offer our condolences and words of comfort to the families and friends of the passengers on MH370 who still await more news," he said.

It's over ... the search for the plane in the Indian Ocean has come to an end. Source: AP

SHOCK CIRCLES THE GLOBE

The news has come as a shock and disappointment for relatives who are still searching for answers.

New Zealander Danica Weeks, whose mechanical engineer husband, Paul, had boarded MH370 on his way to start a new job in Mongolia, remains in Perth, where their family moved after the Christchurch earthquakes in 2011.

"When your child cries for their father, it just breaks your heart and I can't tell them the truth because I don't know," Ms Weeks told the Seven Network.

"I still haven't reconciled that he's not coming back, because I've had nothing.

"When you don't have anything — not even a piece of the plane, just nothing, and so many different stories — how can you not have a little piece of hope?" The couple have two boys, Lincoln, 3, and 13-month-old Jack

US BREAKS THE BAD NEWS

The official word came after a US Navy official told CNN this morning that the pings are now universally believed to have come from a man-made source unrelated to the missing jetliner, and not from the plane's data or cockpit voice recorders.

Michael Dean, the Navy's deputy director of ocean engineering, said that if the pings had come from the recorders, searchers would have found them.

"Our best theory at this point is that (the pings were) likely some sound produced by the ship ... or within the electronics of the Towed Pinger Locator," Dean said.

"Always your fear any time you put electronic equipment in the water is that if any water gets in and grounds or shorts something out, that you could start producing sound."

When asked if the other nations involved in the search effort also believed the pings were unrelated to MH370, Dean answered "yes".

No sign of the plane ... specialists prepare to launch the Phoenix Autonomous Underwater Vehicle 'Artemis' Bluefin-21 from the vessel Ocean Shield.

He went on to tell CNN that it is not possible to categorically rule out that the pings came from the black boxes but that there is no evidence to suggest they did.

The US Navy later dismissed Mr Dean's comments as "speculative and premature" — but that was before the ATSB's announcement this afternoon.

"The US has been working cooperatively with our Malaysian, Australian and international partners for more than two months in an effort to locate MH370," US Navy spokesman Chris Johnson said in a statement.

"Mike Dean's comments today were speculative and premature, as we continue to work with our partners to more thoroughly understand the data acquired by the Towed Pinger Locator.

"As such, we would defer to the Australians, as the lead in the search effort, to make additional information known at the appropriate time."

'Debacle' ... Prime Minister Tony Abbott with search co-ordinator Air Chief Angus Houston. Source: News Corp Australia

REQUEST FOR DATA

The latest revelation comes after News Corp Australia last week revealed that underwater scientists have labelled the search for MH370 a "debacle" and say Prime Minister Tony Abbott was playing politics when he prematurely announced the black box pingers had been found.

The acoustic experts, who do not wish to be identified, said the four crucial signals detected by a US pinger locator were almost certainly not from the missing Malaysian Airlines plane's black boxes, but from another man-made source.

They insisted that the signals were in the wrong frequency and detected too far apart to be from the boxes.

"As soon as I saw the frequency and the distance between the pings I knew it couldn't be the aircraft pinger," one scientist said.

That conclusion is supported by the lack of success from a detailed search of the area conducted by the US deep sea drone Bluefin 21.

In answer to questions from News Corp Australia the Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) said that the signals were "likely" sourced from electronic equipment and were "believed to be" consistent with the Flight Data Recorder.

However the scientists said the 33.3 kilohertz frequency of the signal was very different to the 37.5 kilohertz generated by underwater acoustic beacons. The signals were also detected some 30km and four days apart.

The JACC has refused a request to release recordings of the signals for independent analysis and it did not release the exact location or precise depth of the signals.

Agency head retired defence chief Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston said the signals were still being analysed to ensure nothing was overlooked.

Meanwhile the families of passengers aboard missing flight MH370 accuse Malaysia of a cover-up over newly released satellite data, saying it is incomplete and does not prove that the plane crashed in the southern Indian Ocean.

This comes as the first stage of the search off the west coast of Australia concludes without finding any debris from the missing Boeing 777.

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.

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Obese toddler put into state care

A MORBIDLY obese child has been taken into state care amid fears her life is at risk.

The Department of Child Protection and Family Services had confirmed an East Kimberley toddler has been placed with a foster family in Perth so she can receive urgent medical treatment.

Department acting director-general Emma White said the child was at signficant risk of death and was not receiving the appropriate care.

"The Department is faciliating ongoing contact between the child and the family," she said.

"Medical professionals have clearly stated that the child needs to reside close to a

hospital which has the necessary breathing equipment which is required if she gets into

breathing difficulties.

"The only hospitals with this equipment are in Perth, Broome and Kalgoorlie."

The ABC reports the three-year-old child weighs at least 30kg and is believed to have been hospitalised in Broome several times in the past 12 months.

She was flown to Perth last week after a court order to place her in foster care was secured.

It was reported that her family, who live in a remote Aboriginal community, have refused to move to Broome or Perth so the child could be near a hospital with breathing equipment.

A spokeswoman for WA Health confirmed the child had been discharged from Broome Hospital, but said all other inquiries should be directed to the Department of Child Protection and Family Services.

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One step closer to ‘waste dump’ shut down

The Department of Environment Regulation today served Bio-Organics Pty Ltd with a "draft decision" to revoke its licence. Source: News Limited

Industrial effluent pouring out of a culvert on a property next to the Bio-Organics facility at Oakford. Source: Supplied

WA's environmental watchdog is one step away from shutting down an Oakford composting business that neighbours complain has become a dumping ground for noxious liquid wastes.

The Department of Environment Regulation today served Bio-Organics Pty Ltd with a "draft decision" to revoke its licence.

The company, which is paid by industry to receive a range of liquid wastes, has ten business days to respond.

A DER spokeswoman said: "After considering any response, DER's Acting CEO will make a final decision."

Bio-Organics has been the subject of an investigation by The Sunday Times. In February, the newspaper revealed:

● THE plight of neighbouring residents, who claim their idyllic corner of rural Oakford, 36km south of Perth, had been ruined by putrid smells and other impacts from the Bio-Organics site. They complained of nausea, headaches, burning eyes and nosebleeds;

● LIQUID had been pouring from the site into a creek that drains into the Serpentine

River. Samples collected by the DER showed high concentrations of a range of chemicals, including arsenic, cadmium, chromium VI, lead, nickel, nitrogen and phosphorus; and

● AN environmental scientist, hired by the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale to test groundwater quality on a neighbour's property downstream from Bio-Organics, reported results "suggestive of industrial effluent contamination".

● THE site is just 250m from the Jandakot Mound, one of Perth's main drinking water supplies.

Industrial effluent pouring out of a culvert on a property next to the Bio-Organics facility at Oakford. Source: Supplied

Although the DER has taken steps to revoke Bio-Organics' licence, neighbours complain they are still in the dark about exactly what types of liquid waste have been tanked there for mixing with green waste. They say it's disgraceful they haven't been told.

A Freedom of Information application to the DER by The Sunday Times failed to shed any light on the waste types, because the regulator – which has permitted the waste to go there – has determined that the information is a trade secret of Bio-Organics. Though it confirmed "the waste types are not widely used in the composting industry."

The newspaper is in the process of appealing the FOI decision.

The Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale is taking court action against Bio-Organics, claiming it doesn't have planning approval. Meanwhile Bio-Organics is suing Shire president Keith Ellis over comments he made about the company on radio.

Oakford residents have kicked up a stink over the Bio-Organics site, which they claim is affecting their health and well being. Picture: File image Source: News Limited

The DER spokeswoman today said that if the licence is revoked, a closure notice will be served on the company.

"This enables DER to manage the environmental implications of the materials on Bio-Organics' site during the closure period," the spokesman said.

"Such a notice would require Bio-Organics to continue managing, reporting and auditing its operations, under the provisions of the closure notice."

The spokeswoman added: "The matter of possible site contamination is being managed separately under the provisions of the Contaminated Sites Act 2003.

"DER will review the reports documenting the investigations and will update the classification of the site based on the information provided. If contamination to the soil or groundwater is identified, which represents a risk to human health or the environment, DER will require that remedial or management measures are implemented to mitigate the risk."

Bio-Organics denies causing any pollution.

PerthNow sought comment from the company earlier today.

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Serial traffic offender jailed

Serial traffic pest Mitchell Walsh has been sentenced to nine months prison for his eighth charge of driving under a suspended licence.

Mitchell Walsh leaves court following a previous court appearance. Picture: File image Source: News Limited

SERIAL traffic pest Mitchell William Donald Walsh has been sentenced to nine months prison for his eighth charge of driving under a suspended licence.

Walsh, formerly known as Mitchell Walsh-McDonald, was caught driving his work vehicle to a job in January this year, despite being banned from driving in 2013 for two years.

It was his eighth such charge and his 14th driving-related charge to go to court since 2008.

Walsh first came to the public's attention in 2003 when he struck and killed schoolgirl Jess Meehan.

He went to trial over the matter and was acquitted because the prosecution did not successfully prove the alcohol in Walsh's system had any impact on his driving.

This afternoon, the Perth Magistrates Court was told Walsh's latest charge occurred when the father-of-one got behind the wheel because his lift to work phoned to say he was sick and could not come.

This afternoon, Magistrate Joe Randazzo said Walsh had "put your personal interests ahead of the rule and sanction of the law."

Magistrate Randazzo described Walsh's criminal record as "appalling" and imprisonment was the only appropriate punishment.

"I would be failing in my duty to not impose an immediate term of imprisonment," he said.

"It is unbelievable that you have not received the message it is not OK to drive."

In sentencing submissions, Walsh's lawyer Oliver Paxman said his client had cognitive issues that were not picked up until a psychological report was done for this afternoon's sentencing hearing.

He said Walsh was living with a "constant level of stress and anxiety" following the death of Jess Meehan.

Mr Paxman suggested a pre-sentence order to monitor Walsh's behaviour and give him an opportunity of counselling for substance abuse and grief before sending him to prison.

"I don't think sending him to jail is going to stop him offending," he said.

Police prosecutors opposed any option other than a jail term.

Walsh's prison sentence was back dated to April 16 when he was remanded in custody are pleading guilty to the charge.

He will be released in January.

His 15 months driving suspension is cumulative on a current suspension that ends in June 2015.

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Rolf ’admired’ bikini teen

Rolf cross examined ... The entertainer admitted to a prosecutor in court today that comments about a 13-year-old's bikini may have been sexual. Source: AFP

ROLF Harris has conceded his admiration of the bikini of a 13-year-old girl he later allegedly indecently assaulted during a beach holiday may have been a sexual reference to her body, a court has heard.

The 84-year-old entertainer in his second day in the witness box was softly spoken, barely audible in part, as he was placed under cross-examination by prosecutor Sasha Wass QC.

That was in marked contrast to his testimony yesterday in which he sang a verse of his hit tune Jake the Peg and mimicked a wobble board sound.

Prosecutor Wass today reminded him his trial was not a "talent show" nor was his "polished performance" ever in question. But Ms Wass said that couldn't disguise Harris' darker side and the court had to decide how dark that side was.

The court had earlier heard one of his alleged victims was a sporty 13-year-old and on holiday with the family in 1978 when she was allegedly indecently assaulted by Harris after she stepped out of a shower wrapped in a towel and later on the beach after she went swimming.

Harris denied he ever assaulted her but said he had during the holiday complimented her on her bikini.

Ms Wass said when he said that it could have meant "you've got a great body" as opposed to admiring the material of a couple of small triangles.

"I suppose so," Harris said.

"And she was 13?" Ms Wass asked.

"Yes."

He was then asked whether that could be seen as a sexual comment.

"In hindsight I suppose it is," he replied.

"You admired (alleged victim's) body during that holiday … you admired her sexually during that holiday?"

"It's possible yes."

Ms Wass reminded the court that Harris had admitted having an affair with the girl when she turned 18, and he was aged in his 50s, and also a secret sexual affair with a housekeeper/chauffeur staying with his family.

"You are pretty good Mr Harris aren't you at disguising the darker side of your character aren't you?" Ms Wass asked.

"Yes"

"The issue that we have to decide in this court is how dark is that dark side."

Harris yesterday admitted he had said "it takes two to tango" when the brother of the alleged victim rang him up to abuse him decades later.

But Harris said that was in reference to their consensual relationship when she turned 18. Ms Wass branded the remark as arrogant and dismissive.

Harris denied visiting the alleged 13-year-old — who was a friend of his daughter Bindi — after the holiday when the family returned to England.

He said the victim and her family, despite being decent people, were now lying.

"I think she's probably supporting her daughter's story," Harris said of the mother's testimony in which she said Harris visited her home, asked to see the schoolgirl then when directed upstairs abused her once in her bedroom and again in an upstairs sitting room.

Ms Wass said he was grooming her and she had "nowhere to hide".

Referring to his behaviour on the holiday, Ms Wass suggested Harris "played with her like she was a toy".

He replied: "I would never do that."

He said their later sexual encounters when she was 18 was borne out of "mutual love and affection"

Harris has pleaded not guilty to 12 counts of indecently assaulting four women from 1968 to 1986.

The case continues.

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How affordable is Perth property?

SOME of the sharpest analysts at RP Data crunched the nation's property numbers at a recent roundtable. What did they find for Perth?

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Student Jamie Gao ‘shot twice in chest’

Disgraced former detective Roger Rogerson faces a media scrum as he is arrested at his Sydney home over the alleged murder of student Jamie Gao.

Disgraced former police detective Roger Rogerson has been arrested at his Sydney home over the alleged murder of student Jamie Gao.

POLICE will allege that Jamie Gao was allegedly shot twice in the chest by two former detectives Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara in a rented storage room.

Earlier today, the state's most infamous former detective Rogerson limped into the dock at Bankstown Local Court charged with murdering student Gao.

A special late sitting was arranged to get Rogerson, 73, before a court after he was arrested earlier today.

His solicitor Paul Kenny said that he would be making a formal complaint about the "disgraceful" actions of police who turned up at Rogerson's home this morning despite arrangements having been made with police for him to hand himself in at the Sydney Police Centre in Surry Hills.

He said Rogerson's arrest was theatrical and staged for the media.

Under arrest ... Detectives lead Roger Rogerson away for questioning. Picture: John Grainger Source: News Corp Australia

'Treated like a dog' ... Rogerson's lawyer was furious at his treatment. Picture: John Grainger Source: News Corp Australia

Rogerson, 73, who recently had knee reconstruction surgery, was not required to say anything in court and he did not apply for bail.

Magistrate Elaine Truscott formally refused bail and remanded Rogerson in custody to appear at Central Local Court on July 22, the same day as his co-accused former Kings Cross detective Glen McNamara.

The body found floating off Cronulla yesterday was earlier identified as Gao, the missing Hurstville man.

It was spotted by fishermen early yesterday morning about 1.5km offshore. It was wrapped in a blue tarpaulin.

Detectives storm Rogerson's property this morning. Source: News Corp Australia

And some use the front door. Source: News Corp Australia

The 20-year-old University of Technology student had been missing since Wednesday.

An examination of the remains, for the purpose of identification, was conducted a short time ago. A post mortem examination, to determine the cause of Mr Gao's death, has not yet been completed.

Detectives made the dramatic arrest just before 11am this morning, more than a dozen officers storming Rogerson's Churchill Road address in Padstow.

Less than 10 minutes later brought out a frail looking Rogerson in handcuffs.

As he was escorted to a waiting police car Rogerson said: "We're back to the Gestapo days now.

Taken away ... Rogerson is driven from his home by detectives. Picture: John Grainger Source: News Corp Australia

"On the advice of my solicitor I am saying nothing".

It is understood Rogerson was due to meet police at 12pm but officers did not wait with several banging on the front door asking his wife Anne to answer. Others raced around the back of the home.

Rogerson's lawyer Paul Kenny said he was furious at the arrest. He said police treated Rogerson, 73, like an animal.

"He was treated like a dog," Mr Kenny told reporters, adding he would complain to the police commissioner.

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Unlicenced drive-by-torch hoon jailed

An unlicenced driver has been jailed after a police pursuit through Perth with the offender driving without headlights. Source: News Limited

A MAN who led police on a car chase with no headlights and a handheld torch through a window has been jailed for six months.

Joshua John Farmer appeared in Perth Magistrates Court this morning charged with six charges from three different incidents.

Farmer was charged with reckless driving, failing to stop, driving an unlicensed vehicle and driving with a disqualified licence after he led police on a chase through Forrestfield, Armadale and Casuarina.

Police spotted Farmer driving the unlicensed Holden Calais on Roe Highway in Forrestfield doing 150kmh in an 80kmh zone.

They tried to pull him over but he kept driving through Forrestfield and eventually made it to Armadale.

When in Armadale, the car's headlights failed but Farmer continued to drive.

The police helicopter was then called in and tracked him through Casuarina.

Tyre stingers were put on the road and Farmer drove over them, and kept driving on the flat tyres for another 15 minutes.

He started to head towards the Kwinana Freeway southbound, using a handheld torch out of the driver's side window to navigate the roads before he was stopped and arrested.

The court heard on the night of the police chase, he was driving even though his licence was disqualified for life in 1998.

Chief Magistrate Steven Heath sentenced Farmer to an additional six months prison for reckless driving, as well as another six months each for failing to stop, driving without a licence and stealing a motor vehicle — all to be served concurrently.

Farmer was already in custody for stealing a motor vehicle from a man he had earlier asked for a cigarette from, before bashing him when the victim refused.

The assault occured on June 3, 2013 at a block of flats in Bentley and Farmer was sentenced in the District Court on May 3 this year to three years jail for that assault.

He also answered charges of obstructing police over a September incident in Belmont when police tried to arrest him, which resulted in a three-month concurrent prison sentence.

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Contrite Rolf admits affairs

Rolf Harris is set to take the witness stand to give evidence at his child sex trial in London.

Court appearance ... Artist and television personality Rolf Harris arrives at Southwark Crown Court with his daughter Bindi Harris, left, and wife Alwen Hughes, second right, today. Picture: Ben A. Pruchnie Source: Getty Images

ROLF Harris has accused one of his alleged indecent assault victims of instigating a sexual relationship with him when she was 18 with her "flirtatious and coquettish" invitations.

And its been revealed for the first the entertainer also had a sexual relationship with a female lodger aged in her mid-30s while she was living on the same property with he and his wife Alwen.

The 84-year-old entertainer yesterday took to the witness stand at Southwark Crown Court in central London to declare his innocence he indecently assaulted four women over a 20-year period, at least three of who were under age.

Harris began evidence in an animated way, chuckling as he described his early days as an entertainer and even sung a verse of his song Jake the Peg to remind the jury of his fame and popularity.

But then his voice dropped to being barely audible as he described claims against him by a woman who alleges he abused her since she was 13 years old in 1978.

Frail ... Rolf Harris reportedly looked tired and frail during today's court appearance. Picture: Ben A. Pruchnie Source: Getty Images

Affair 'started when 18'

Harris denied all specific allegations of indecent assaults while the then schoolgirl travelled with his family on holidays to Hawaii and Australia but conceded they did start an affair when she turned 18.

He said the alleged victim had been a best friend to his daughter Bindi since the pair were two-years-old but from the age of 16 his daughter developed a closer friendship with another girl.

He said the alleged victim became jealous but continued to visit and stay over at the Harris house even when Bindi was not there.

He recalled in detail one morning bringing the by now 18 year old girl a cup of tea in bed at his home where she stayed the night and she grabbing his elbow, motioning him to sit then she kicking back the duvet to reveal her bare legs.

"It seemed to me she was being very flirtatious with me, as you can imagine it was very flattering for me," Harris, who was aged 53 at the time, said of the alleged attention "from a very much younger girl".

He said the move with the duvet was an "invitation" and he touched her leg. Nothing happened on that occasion but he detailed other instances of "sexual activity" in which she instigated all with her looking at him in a coquettish manner and he said the sexual chemistry between the pair was clear.

"I find it very hard to discuss this, its highly embarrassing, I am a married man and she was very much younger girl … I shouldn't have been doing it."

He said the relationship developed and they would give each other oral sex on walks in his home village of Bray, in a parking stop on a highway and later at his daughter's house where she grabbed his crotch while watching TV and later that night was sitting naked on the edge of the bed waiting for him. Many times though he said it was oral sex between the two because he would ejaculate early.

"She seemed to be welcoming the whole business and enjoying it," he said of the affair which lasted until she was 29.

Public figure ... Rolf Harris during the opening of Lasseter's Hotel Casino in 1981. Source: Supplied

Second relationship

Harris revealed that it was about this time a woman he knew through mutual friends was angling for free lodging as she was broke, down on her luck and was sick.

They began a sexual relationship while she lived in a converted boat shed on his property. He said it ended when the woman got breast cancer and needed specialist care and moved out. He said his wife Alwen found out about it and it was devastating for the pair but they worked through it. His wife was in court to hear his evidence.

The real deal ... Artist and singer Rolf Harris "spluttered" the sound of his iconic wobble board during his court appearance today. Source: News Limited

'Touchy feely', not abuser

Earlier in his lengthy testimony, Harris said he was a "touchy feely person" but not a sexual abuser.

After 45 minutes on talking about his background he then described the moment he was arrested by police in 2012 and he took a more serious tone.

"I must say it's been very difficult," the more serious Harris said when asked how easy it had been to recall events for police from over 40 years ago.

Harris was specifically asked about the holiday to Australia via Hawaii in which it is alleged he indecently assaulted the 13-year-old.

She has claimed she stepped out of a hotel shower wrapped in a towel and he was in her room and hugged her then spat on his fingers before digitally penetrating her.

He was asked by his lawyer Sonia Woodley QC whether he had hugged the allegedly victim.

"Yes I have, I am a very touchy feely sort of person, I would normally hug anybody," he replied before shaking his head and giving a defiant "no" that his hugs were sexual. On the towel incident he said it "didn't happen".

He was then asked if he fondled the alleged victim again, ostensibly after he wrapped a towel around her after she walked up a Hawaiian beach after a swim.

"No," he replied when asked if that happened.

He also said "that did not happen" when asked if he later abused her again in Perth at the home of his parents after a tickling.

Support ... Alwen Hughes arrives at Southwark Crown Court with her husband, artist and television personality Rolf Harris. Picture: Ben A. Pruchnie Source: Getty Images

Charges denied

Harris has pleaded not guilty to 12 charges related to the indecent assault of four women from 1968 to 1986. Several other women have also appeared in court to formally make allegations of sexual assault against the star but do not form part of the indictment since their claims fall outside of the UK jurisdiction.

Harris, his voice sounding a little strained, asked if he could sit at this part of his evidence and sipped water as he described events from 1968 leading to the moment he allegedly abused the 13-year-old girl. He asked the lawyers and jury at one point whether they could hear him okay to which they replied they could.

It has been a packed Court 2 for Harris appearance with court clerks several times needing to clear people out who were wanting to stand by the doorway and hear the star speak.

The case continues

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Eagle Yeo faces $70,000 dental bill

West Coast Eagles youngster Elliot Yeo has coughed up a couple of teeth in a sickening collision with Collingwood's Jarrod Witts.

Elliot Yeo (second from left) walks off the MCG with two fewer teeth than when he started. Source: Getty Images

ELLIOT Yeo's lifetime dental bill could top $70,000 after the West Coast midfielder had his two front teeth fractured in a sickening collision with 113kg Magpie Jarrod Witts.

A leading dentist who forecast the mammoth cost also said adjacent teeth could be affected by the trauma, causing Yeo to remain under observation for at least the next two years.

But the Eagles are confident Yeo would line up against North Melbourne on Sunday and said it made no difference that the former Lion's teeth were not recovered from the MCG turf.

Unlike Dustin Fletcher in 2004 — who had two teeth placed in milk to preserve the nerves — Yeo's teeth splintered and did not completely dislodge, meaning the roots remained in place.

Ed and Derm catch up with Dr Peter Larkins for the latest update on player injuries from round 10 of the AFL.

That could allow the 20-year-old to escape with caps placed on the existing base, if there are no cracks, although further complicated dental treatment will be required.

Yeo, who tweeted after the loss to Collingwood "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth ..." could also need implants, or false teeth, inserted.

"It's a lifetime injury, not an isolated event," a Melbourne dentist said yesterday.

"Somebody will have to fork out over his lifetime something in the order of $30-35,000 potentially per tooth, plus inflation.

"If the tooth has been broken off at the gum and the root has remained then the nerve of the tooth is exposed it means every time he breaths air in it will be painful (depending on the condition of the teeth pre-accident)."

The expert said it was the "height of stupidity" for players to not wear mouthguards in collision sports, although warned they only lessened the severity of traumas.

"And that's being generous. If the tooth is fractured at gum level then the root needs to be dealt with either by extraction or by having the nerve removed."

He said implants, which are placed on a device and screwed into the bone, could need to be redone more for cosmetic reasons than once when gum level drops.

Elliot Yeo feels his cracked tooth after crashing into Jarrod Witts. Source: Getty Images

Eagles coach Adam Simpson said: "I think he rates himself, too, with the looks.

"So he's going to have to get that fixed pretty quick. It was a big knock, but he should have taken the mark."

Witts' shoulder cannoned into Yeo on the halftime siren, while Magpies defender Nick Maxwell urged youngsters to ensure they always wore mouthguards.

"It's no fun (loosing teeth). I've watched Clinton Young for three weeks have soup for every meal after in the NAB Cup losing his front tooth."

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Holden recalls 42,000 Commodores

Safety concern ... Holden is recalling 42,000 Commodores due to a possible seatbelt fault. Source: Supplied

HOLDEN is recalling 42,000 Commodores — almost every one since the new model went on sale in May last year — over a potential fault with the front seatbelts.

Holden issued the recall Monday afternoon after a confidential bulletin was sent to its network of 230 dealers late last week, instructing them not to sell any new Commodores or transfer them to other showrooms.

Holden says the seatbelt pre-tensioner module can make contact with the seatbelt buckle assembly under the seat, causing an electrical short that can disable the seatbelt pre-tensioner mechanism in a crash.

Pre-tensioners are designed to take up the seatbelt's slack milliseconds before an airbag deploys, giving the driver and front passenger the best chance of survival in a serious crash.

RELATED: Hyundai recalls 32,525 cars

MORE: Holden Commodore sales surge

VIDEO: New Holden Storm

Holden says there have been no customer reports of the seatbelt pre-tensioners not working.

"The investigation began following an isolated report received from the (production line)," the Holden statement said.

The airbag warning light may appear in the instrument cluster on affected cars.

Holden says the other airbags and safety systems are unaffected.

This is the fourth Holden recall so far this year (of the 33 vehicle recalls to date) but this is the first sign of trouble for the new Commodore, which went into production in May 2013 and has enjoyed 10 months in a row of year-on-year sales growth.

Commodore sales so far this year are up by 62 per cent, albeit off last year's record low base.

The previous generation Commodore was recalled 10 times between 2006 and 2013, two of which were in the first three months of going on sale.

On the up ... new Holden Commodore has had 10 months of sales growth. Source: News Limited

In March 2006, more than 129,000 Commodores, Monaros and Statesmans were recalled after Holden discovered the seat-mounted side airbags in 13 customer cars activated "under circumstances which did not warrant inflation".

In 2004, Holden recalled 115,000 Commodores in Australia (and 20,000 overseas) to replace faulty power steering hoses.

But the Holden recalls are small compared to those issued by market leader Toyota.

In April 2014, Toyota recalled almost 300,000 cars and utes for faults including a potential airbag failure and seats that may slip forward.

Owners of 179,000 Hilux utes built between April 2004 and the end of 2009 and 118,600 Yaris small cars made between June 2005 and May 2010 have been caught up in global recall of 6.76 million Toyotas.

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Parents’ frantic search for killer

The alleged Isla Vista shooter, Elliot Rodgers wrote a chilling 140 page document providing graphic details of his murderous plot. Courtesy: Fox News

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

WHILE Elliot Rodger was out killing innocent people his parents madly tried to find him after receiving a chilling manifesto from their son, it's been revealed.

The 22-year-old sent a 140-page document via email to his parents — as well as a dozen others — just before the shootings began, family friend Simon Astaire told CNN.

Devastation ... Peter Rodger is seen in public for the first time since his son went on a deadly drive-by rampage. Picture: Splash Source: Splash News Australia

Rodger's mother, Lichin, who saw the e-mail at 9.17pm, immediately went to Rodger's YouTube page, where he had been known to post videos about himself.

According to Astaire, that's when Rodger's mother saw her son's latest video, called "Retribution," that he posted Friday, the day of the shootings.

Grieving mum ... Lichin Rodger, the mother of killer Elliot Rodger, called 911 after seeing her son's chilling YouTube video. Picture: Splash Source: Splash News Australia

In the video, Rodger outlined his plan of "slaughtering" women at a sorority house at the University of California at Santa Barbara.

His mother called her former husband, British-born director Peter Rodger, and said he had to watch the YouTube video. At the time, Peter Rodger had not yet seen the manifesto.

In cold blood ... Elliot Rodger killed six people before taking his own life. Source: Supplied

FULL TRANSCRIPT: Read Rodger's hate-filled YouTube rant

'WHY DID CHRIS DIE?': Father lashes out

KILLER WAS A 'VERY DISTURBED BOY': grandmother tells of fears

Lichin Rodger called 911, and the parents set off for Santa Barbara from Los Angeles, according to Astaire.

En route, they heard there was a shooting. Later that night, they found out their son was behind the violence.

Rodger began his deadly rampage by fatally stabbing his room-mates George Chen, 19, and Cheng Yuan Hong, 20 inside their Isla Vista apartment.

Weihan Wang, 20, was also killed in the apartment but it is unclear if he was a room-mate or was visiting.

Rodger then got into his black BMW and drove to a nearby deli where he shot student Christopher Michael-Martinez, 20.

He then shot dead University of California students Katie Cooper, 22, and Veronika Weiss, 19, in a drive-by shooting outside the Alpha Pi sorority house.

Less than 24 hours after the bloody rampage that left six innocent victims dead in the California college town, the manifesto also arrived at a local TV station.

In the rambling document, titled "My Twisted World", Rodger outlined his plans to take vengeance against those female students who had rejected him.

Elliot Rodger details the reasons behind his mass shooting, the day before carrying out the horrific attack. WARNING: Some viewers may find disturbing.

He had sent the document to a friend who then passed it on to KEYT-TV Channel 3 in Santa Barbara, which provided a copy to The Los Angeles Times.

"All of those beautiful girls I've desired so much in my life, but can never have because they despise and loathe me, I will destroy," wrote Rodger, the son of Peter Rodger, an assistant director on The Hunger Games.

"All of those popular people who live hedonistic lives of pleasure, I will destroy, because they never accepted me as one of them. I will kill them all and make them suffer, just as they have made me suffer. It is only fair."

Rampage ... a Facebook selfie of Elliot Rodger, who stabbed to death three of his room-mates before killing three students in a drive-by shooting in Santa Barbara. Source: Supplied

The Santa Barbara City College student took his own life after his deadly rampage, which began in his own apartment.

"I would have to kill my housemates to get them out of the way," he wrote in his manifesto. "In fact, I'd even enjoy stabbing them both to death while they slept."

It appears as though Elliot Rodger was planning the killing spree "for at least a year," Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown told CNN on Sunday morning.

In his manifesto, Rodger divided his rampage up into three parts.

Deadly ... Elliot Rodger in his black BMW, which he drove during his killing spree. Source: Supplied

"On the day before the Day of Retribution, I will start the First Phase of my vengeance: Silently killing as many people as I can around Isla Vista by luring them into my apartment through some form of trickery," he wrote.

CHILLING VIDEO: 'I will slaughter you like animals'

His Second Phase, he said, would represent his "War on Women".

"I will punish all females for the crime of depriving me of sex. They have starved me of sex for my entire youth, and gave that pleasure to other men," he wrote.

"In doing so, they took many years of my life away.

"I cannot kill every single female on earth, but I can deliver a devastating blow that will shake all of them to the core of their wicked hearts. I will attack the very girls who represent everything I hate in the female gender: The hottest sorority of UCSB."

Senseless killing ... student Chris Martinez was shot dead in the gun rampage. Source: No Source

The final phase, he said, would be his "ultimate showdown in the streets of Isla Vista".

In this section, he spoke of killing his family and using his parents' Mercedes SUV as "killing machines against my enemies."

Rodger also spoke of his plans for "retribution" in a chilling video posted on YouTube.

"On the day of retribution I am going to enter the hottest sorority house ... and I will slaughter every single spoiled single stuck up blonde s--t I see inside there," he said.

Earlier, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown detailed how the horror of Rodger's rampage unfolded.

Rodger "repeatedly stabbed" three male victims at his apartment prior to the shootings in the town of Isla Vista, near the University of California's Santa Barbara campus.

Grief ... students attend a candlelight vigil in the college town of Isla Vista. Source: AFP

Once outside, Rodger targeted three women from across a street, killing two of them aged 22 and 19, Brown said.

Driving in his car, a black BMW, Rodger found his next victim, a 20-year-old student named Christopher Martinez, shooting him dead.

Police then went after him, Brown said, as Rodger shot indiscriminately at passers-by — injuring at least 13 — and drove all over the road.

Rodger was shot in the hip in a shootout, before zooming off once more and hitting a cyclist, throwing him onto the hood of his car.

"The suspect's vehicle then collided with several parked cars and came to a stop," said Brown, but Rodger "was obviously dead with an apparent gunshot wound to the head."

So much grief ... Students gather at the University of California's Santa Barbara campus in Isla Vista to pay tribute to the victims. Source: AFP

Three nine-millimeter semiautomatic handguns were recovered from the BMW — all legally purchased and registered — and Rodger had dozens of unused rounds of ammunition.

It has emerged that police had "contacts" with Rodger on three separate occasions before Friday's killings, the first time in July 2013, Brown said.

Richard Martinez, father of Christopher, choked up several times as he paid tribute to his son and blamed politicians and the gun lobby, asking in an emotional and at times angry speech:

Father's pain ... Richard Martinez, whose son Christopher was killed in the mass shooting, breaks down as he talks to the media. Source: AP

"When will this insanity stop?" "Our family has a message for every parent out there: you don't think it'll happen to your child until it does," he said, his face contorted with despair and rage.

"Chris was a really great kid, ask anyone who knew him. His death has left our family lost and broken." His voice shaking with emotion, Martinez rounded on politicians and the powerful National Rifle Association.

Hollywood family ... Elliot Rodger's father, British director Peter Rodger. Source: Getty Images

"Why did Chris die? Chris died because of craven, irresponsible politicians and the NRA," Martinez said, raising his voice.

"They talk about gun rights. What about Chris's right to live? When will this insanity stop?"

The bloodshed was just the latest in a string of gun massacres that have rocked the United States in recent years and is likely to trigger more passionate debate about gun rights.

Horrific ... Elliot Rodger took his own life after his deadly rampage in Santa Barbara. Source: Supplied

Anti-gun campaigner Michael Moore responded to the massacre by posting a statement on his Facebook profile describing America's national symbol as "the gun, not the eagle".

"With due respect to those who are asking me to comment on last night's tragic mass shooting ... I no longer have anything to say about what is now part of normal American life," Moore wrote.

A community in mourning gather for a candlelight vigil to honour the victims of Friday night's mass shooting in Santa Barbara, California. Courtesy: Instagram

"Everything I have to say about this, I said it 12 years ago: We are a people easily manipulated by fear which causes us to arm ourselves with a quarter BILLION guns in our homes that are often easily accessible to young people, burglars, the mentally ill and anyone who momentarily snaps."

Devastated students from the University of California's Santa Barbara campus hugged each other and wept as they gathered at a candlelight vigil for those killed in the rampage.

Katie Cooper, shooting victim. Picture: Facebook Source: Facebook

Veronica Weiss, shooting victim. Picture: Facebook Source: Facebook

Earlier, residents at the Alpha Phi sorority reported hearing loud and aggressive banging on the front door that lasted for about two minutes. Shortly afterwards witnesses reported seeing young women standing outside shot by Rodger from across the street.

Those inside who refused to open the door were saved from certain death.

"He [Elliot] banged on the door, but no one opened the door so he just drove off and opened fire everywhere," said one student.

Alan Schifman, the lawyer for the Rodger family, said the 22-year-old was being treated by several therapists. He added that his parents and a social worker knew of his difficulties and had been so alarmed by his behaviour they had reported him to police.

Schifman said Rodger was a high-functioning patient with Asperger syndrome who had faced bullying through his schooling and had difficulty making friends.

Mass shooting ... bodies are seen covered on the ground after the mass drive-by shooting. Picture: AP Photo/KEYT, John Palminteri Source: AP

In the YouTube video, Rodger rants about women who have allegedly rejected him, saying he doesn't understand why he is a 22-year-old virgin and wanted to seek his revenge.

He says: "Tomorrow is the day of retribution, the day in which I will have my revenge against humanity, against all of you.

"For the last eight years of my life, ever since I hit puberty I've been forced to endure an existence of loneliness, rejection and unfulfilled desires all because girls have never been attracted to me.

"Girls gave their affection and sex and love to other men, but never to me.

"I'm 22 years old and still a virgin. I've never even kissed a girl.

"I've been through college for two and a half years … and I'm still a virgin. It has been very torturous. I've had to rot in loneliness. It's not fair.

"Girls have never been attracted to me. I will punish you all for it. It's an injustice, a crime."

Murder ... paramedics at the scene of the rampage next to the University of California. Picture: NOOZHAWK Source: Supplied

Bloody scene ... Seven people, including the suspected gunman, died during the shooting rampage. Picture: AP//KEYT, John Palminteri Source: AP

A student said 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

Andrew Jun, a third year economics and accounting student who witnessed the rampage, told AFP the situation was "pretty surreal." "It's unbelievable that this kind of thing can happen," he said. Other witnesses said they initially mistook the gunshots for fireworks or firecrackers.

Sienna Schwartz, her voice breaking, recalled how she came face-to-face with the gunman.

At first, she mistook the attacker's "little black pistol" for an airsoft gun. "I turned around, and I started walking the other way. He shot, and I felt like -- I just felt, like, the wind pass right by my face," Schwartz told CNN as she choked back tears.

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

By grisly coincidence, in 2001, the son of Ally McBeal and The Wire television series director Daniel Attias ran down four pedestrians with his car on a crowded street just a block away from the scene of Friday's assault.

Witnesses said that part-time college student David Attias got out of the car after his deed and shouted "I am the angel of death." He was ruled insane and locked up in a state hospital after being initially convicted of second-degree murder.

If you or someone you know may be at risk of suicide contact Lifeline 13 11 14, Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36, or Salvo Care Line 1300 36 36 22.

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