Fuming ratepayer rams council car

This forklift driver didn't want the Gosnell Shire Council parking on their farmland. So he decided to remove them.

Police were called in after fuming forklift driver lifts Gosnells council car off property.

AN IRATE ratepayer has taken out his anger on the City of Gosnells by picking up a council car with a forklift and moving it - with two staff inside.

His "moment of madness" was captured on video and posted on LiveLeak early today - instantly attracting nearly 50,000 views.

The video was taken on Tuesday, September 3, on a property in Kenwick where owners Graham and Sandra Palmer and the City of Gosnells have been in a dispute over the use of the land since December 2010.

The Palmers were successfully prosecuted by the City over their unapproved developments, fined $50,000 and ordered to pay $10,000 in court costs, but are now appealing the decision in the Supreme Court.

The video begins with the two council workers getting out of a silver four-wheel-drive parked on a gravel driveway near a truck and shipping container. The City of Gosnells claims that moments earlier, the two staffers were in the car when it was first elevated from the ground.

The video shows a yellow forklift approaching and lifting the car and moving it backwards away from a truck. A council worker quickly moves out of the way.

A man's voice is heard saying "You're joking . . . I got it mate" while in the background another person is heard shouting "Get off or I'll call the police".

The forklift is then seen carrying the four-wheel-drive down a driveway while it's former occupants stand dumbfounded.

City of Gosnells chief executive officer Ian Cowie told PerthNow the City's compliance officers and rangers visited the property after receiving 13 complaints about activities occurring on the land.

Mr Cowie said the land was zoned rural and up to eight commercial or industrial businesses could be operating on the Kenwick lot.

"These activities are prohibited on rural properties," Mr  Cowie said.

"Complaints led to the City Officers visiting the property. On the day of this incident, they had been invited on to the property by one of the business operators."

Mr Cowie said after City officers had talked to the business operator, they were about to leave when they were approached by Mrs Palmer, and asked to leave. 

A city of Gosnells council car is removed by forklift from a property in Kenwick. Source: PerthNow

Mr Cowie claimed Mr Palmer prevented his officers from leaving.

The council boss told PerthNow: "The officers agreed to leave but were prevented from doing so by Mr Palmer who blocked their exit by ramming the vehicle and elevating it with his fork lift.

"Two staff were in the vehicle when it was first elevated from the ground. It appears that the staff did not suffer any serious injury."

Mr Cowie said the incident had been reported to WA police and he understood it was being investigated.

In February 2012, the City of Gosnells voted to proceed with legal action against the Palmers and the activity on the Kenwick property after years of non-compliance with zoning and planning permits. The city was first made aware of unauthorised works on the property in December 2010.

Throughout 2011, the city was aware of works continuing with no planning or development applications lodged.

In council minutes from February 2012, it was noted Mr Palmer's defence for the zoning breaches was that the City was "not constitutional".

"The City commenced prosecution and the conviction resulted in a $50,000 fine against the property owner, plus $10,000 legal fees," Mr Cowie said.

"The property owner appealed this conviction with the appeal now to be heard in the Supreme Court."

Attempts have been made to contact Mr and Mrs Palmer.

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James and Erica Packer's shock divorce

James and Erica Packer enjoy a kiss at the 2012 Melbourne Cup. Source: News Limited

BILLIONAIRE James Packer and his wife Erica have divorced after six years of marriage.

The couple, who have three young children, released a statement today, announcing the shock split.

"It is with great sadness that Erica and James Packer announce their separation,'' the statement said.

"We remain deeply close friends and incredibly proud parents and our children are our priority going forward."

James and Erica Packer have announced their divorce. Source: News Limited

The couple married on the romantic French Rivera in June 2007 in a glittering $6 million affair before Hollywood celebrities, sports stars and business moguls.

They have three children, Indigo, 5, Jackson, 3, and Emmanuelle, who turns one later this month.

James and Erica Packer in the gardens of the Hotel Du Cap Eden Rock, in the French Riviera, on their wedding day. Source: News Limited

"It's incredibly sad but these things do happen unfortunately,'' one friend said.

The divorce comes only two months after Mr Packer, Australia's third richest person with an estimated personal fortune of $6 billion, achieved his crowning glory as a businessman, winning a government licence to build a $1.5 billion casino-hotel resort at Sydney's Barangaroo.

Erica Packer takes her three children Indigo, Jackson and Emmanuelle trick or treating on halloween last year. Picture: MEDIA MODE Source: Supplied

Mr Packer, 45, began dating the Gunnedah-born beauty in 2003 and encouraged her to chase her dream of recording pop albums.

After weathering together the death of Mr Packer's larger-than-life father, Kerry Packer, on Boxing Day 2005, the couple married in 2007.

The recently moved into a new $50 million mansion in Sydney's Vaucluse.

James Packer's Vaucluse home. Source: News Limited

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Cyclone scarier than crocs, snakes

A NZ man has had a lucky escape after becoming stranded on a WA island and being stalked by a crocodile.

New Zealand kayaker Ryan Blair, who was kept hostage on a remote Australian island by a 6m crocodile for more than two weeks. Picture: Nine News Source: PerthNow

Ancient crocodiles may have once ruled Brisbane. Picture: Marc McCormack Source: News Limited

DODGING massive crocodiles and death adders is part of daily life for Kimberley local Don MacLeod, but he says that pales in comparison to battling a 300km/h cyclone.

Mr MacLeod hit headlines this week for saving a stranded Kiwi kayaker from an isolated island where he was menaced by a massive crocodile for two weeks, too terrified to paddle back to the mainland.

The rescue is one of many by the retired grandfather, who ``went feral'' and set up camp near the Drysdale River in a remote part of Western Australia's Kimberley 11 years ago.

Mr MacLeod speaks with great love for the countless native animals he shares his home with - including the deadly ones.

But it was Cyclone Ingrid, which crossed the coast near Kalumburu in mid-March 2005 - not jumbo man-eaters - that has proved his most frightening experience so far.

When he received a call warning him that 300km/h winds were on their way, he grabbed a mattress and a tarpaulin, and squeezed himself into a tight crack in a big rock.

And he didn't forget a bottle of whisky and a tin of bully beef to see him through the night.

``It was open at the top so you could see all the clouds were racing by, the wind got up and by 9pm, it was just absolutely roaring,'' Mr MacLeod, who is nearly 70, told AAP.

``It's just like a jet taking off.

``You couldn't hear any thunder - there was lightning - but it was just the sound of the trees getting smashed. Just one big homogenous roar.''

When daylight broke and the winds had died down, he emerged from his makeshift shelter and faced utter devastation.

``You really didn't know where you were for an instant.

``And for five or six days after, everything started to smell like cold tea.

``All the animals came out of the swamp because the oxygen was getting depleted - I came out of a billabong covered in these big leeches.''

Because the bees and tattered butterflies had nothing to feed off, Mr MacLeod threw out jars of jam from what was left in his shack.

Mangrove birds didn't have the shade they needed, so he put up a tarpaulin, ``which had a two inch fringe on it just from being whipped by the wind''.

The tremendous sound of the cyclone left him with ringing ears for three days afterwards, he says.

``I kept going down to the phone but the phone (line) had blown off the roof.''

He managed to re-attach it to advise the State Emergency Service that he was okay, but they came to check on him anyway.

``I hadn't smoked for 20 years but I accepted a smoke off the pilot. Just a rolly to settle my nerves.''

But the whole experience was strangely exhilarating, he admits.

``If you've ever got a hiding from your mother or been in a fight or something - and after it's all over, a couple of days later, you think `that was alright - I wouldn't mind doing it again'.

``It was like `I survived this - the excitement!''

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Vote 1 me! Final pleas from contenders

Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott have made one last appeal for votes. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

THE two men vying to be prime minister share their final pre-election messages to the people of Australia.

By Kevin Rudd

WHEN Australians vote this Saturday, they will be making a choice between fundamentally different visions for the future of our country.

Labor's vision is for a country where every Australian has the right to a decent job and where our economy grows to generate these job opportunities.

It is a vision of an Australia powered by the industries of the future - innovative agribusinesses, hi-tech manufacturers and new industries we haven't even dreamed of yet.

An Australia where all our kids get the education, skills and training they need.

We envision an Australia where homes and businesses are wired to the world through modern broadband technology.

It's an Australia with one of the world's best health and hospital systems, which looks after its elderly people and cares for those with disabilities.

By contrast, Tony Abbott's policies all boil down to just one thing: cuts.

My opponent is planning to cut billions of dollars in spending: cuts to services; cuts to education; cuts to family payments and cuts to public sector jobs.

And he continues to hide the details.

Throughout the election campaign Mr Abbott responded to questions about cuts by promising he would produce a full account of his promises and how he would pay for them before September 7.

When he finally produced documents on Thursday they included no detail and concealed the cuts he will impose upon Australians if he wins the election.

Cuts are the last thing Australia needs as our economy faces an important transition with the mining investment boom winding down.

To secure our future we need to diversify our sources of economic growth by investing in new industries and new jobs.

Kevin Rudd says his vision is very different to Tony Abbott's. Source: AFP

Labor has a $1 billion plan to create jobs beyond the boom and diversify our economy.

We have policies to ensure more Australian firms get work on the big investment projects and to ensure more young people get jobs as apprentices on federally-funded construction projects.

We will tackle unemployment through a new Jobs, Training and Apprenticeships Guarantee which will bring together our employment services and training systems - to give jobseekers and employers alike the skills they need.

Labor has a $15 billion Better Schools Plan to ensure our children get more one-on-one attention in the classroom.

Mr Abbott will cut school funding - and then he will cut the Schoolkids Bonus, making it harder for hundreds of thousands of families to make ends meet.

Labor is building the National Broadband Network to provide affordable, superfast broadband for families and businesses.

Mr Abbott will scrap the NBN.

It will cost up to $5000 to connect to a home or business to Mr Abbott's second-rate alternative, while Labor's NBN will be connected to homes and premises at no cost.

Labor will continue investing in our health and hospital system.

Mr Abbott's track record as Health Minister was to slash $1 billion from hospitals. Now he poses a threat to Medicare Locals and the jobs of 3000 front-line health workers.

Labor is building cooperative workplaces and supporting women in the workforce with the nation's first Paid Parental Leave scheme.

By contrast, when Mr Abbott was last in power, the Coalition introduced WorkChoices which cut wages and conditions.

On the economy, Labor has created nearly one million new jobs in Australia at a time when the global economy faced the worst downturn since the Great Depression.

Under our economic management, Australia has a AAA credit rating from all three global ratings agencies.

But we cannot take the future for granted.

We can only build a prosperous future by working together and implementing Labor's positive plans, not by cutting to the bone.

By Tony Abbott

Today we face the most important choice in a generation.

It is a clear choice between: the Liberal team with a positive Plan for the future or another three years of chaos, dishonesty and division from Labor.

We are a great country and a great people but we can't afford another three years like the last six - with more waste, more debt and more boats.

We need a stronger government and a stable Parliament, not another divided minority government.

We stand ready to deliver more jobs, higher wages and better services for all Australians - and we will do that by building a stronger economy through lower taxes, more efficient government and more productive businesses.

If you choose the Coalition, you'll get a new government that will:

• build a stronger, more diversified economy so everyone can get ahead;</p><p>

• scrap the carbon tax so that next year alone your family will be $550 a year better off;

• get the Budget back under control by ending Labor's waste;

• stop the boats; and

• build the roads of the 21st century - including the North-South Road.

That's our Contract with you.

I am confident in our plans because I am confident in my team.

For the last three years, the Coalition has had the same strong, united team as well as the same clear plans.

As you consider the choice for the next three years just remember:

•Labor changed prime ministers twice in three years;

•Labor hit your power bills with a carbon tax that is going up and up - as well as over 40 other new taxes and tax increases;

•Labor has run up record debt that you will have to repay - a debt that will surge past $300 billion by Christmas, and

•Labor started the boats - with over 51,000 arrivals including 3000 since Mr Rudd launched his "PNG solution".

Tony Abbott is promising a ''positive Plan'' for the future of Australia. Source: Getty Images

At this election, only the Coalition has put forward a positive Plan to build a strong, prosperous economy and a safe secure Australia.

If you vote for Our Plan real change starts the morning after the election.

You know what you will get.

If you vote for change, on day one of an incoming government, I will instruct the public service to prepare the carbon tax repeal legislation.

If you vote for change, Operation Sovereign Borders will start immediately.

If you vote for change, Labor's $1.8 billion FBT hit on company cars won't proceed and confidence can return to the local car industry from Sunday morning.

If you vote for change, defence spending will be preserved and defence industries supported.

With your vote, within one hundred days, legislation to abolish the carbon tax and the mining tax will be in the Parliament.

With your vote, by the end of a Coalition government's first term, the Budget will be on-track to a believable surplus.

And with your vote, we will restore confidence in our country and in our future.

Your vote gets a competent, trustworthy government. That's what my strong, united team want to deliver to the Australian people in the future.

And there's another commitment that we give you - there will not be a minority government under the Coalition.

There will be no deals done with independents or the Greens under the Liberal and National Parties.

At this election I need you to vote for change - so that we can achieve all the good things that we set out in our Contract with you.

There's only one way to do it and that's to vote for your local Liberal candidate.

I respectfully ask you to join us - and help us build a stronger Australia and a better future - for all Australians.

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Teacher jailed for raping girl, 8

A WA school teacher has been jailed for 12 years for raping an eight-year-old girl on a desk at a country primary school. Source: PerthNow

A FORMER primary school teacher who raped one of his eight-year old students on a classroom desk has been jailed for 12 years.

Ian Alexander McCooke, 70, will serve at least ten years in jail after being convicted on 13 charges of sexually abusing and raping two girls in Western Australia's Wheatbelt, the youngest of whom was just four.

McCooke denied both sets of offences, which began in 1997 - despite being secretly recorded by one of the girls admitting to touching her ``below the waist''.

An audibly emotional Judge John Staude said McCooke was one of the most cynical sex offenders he had ever encountered, saying he had utterly disgraced the teaching profession, and morally corrupted both of his victims.

``You put your sexual gratification above all other considerations,'' Judge Staude said in Perth's District Court.

``Both victims were groomed in order to get their cooperation and silence in a way that was particularly sinister.''

The two girls, who did not know each other, had both claimed McCooke groomed them with elevating levels of inappropriate touching before raping them.

The youngest was just four when the alleged abuse began, the court was told.

Prosecutor Brett Tooker said McCooke was a teacher at the Wheatbelt school from 1990, and in 1997 began taking a sexual interest in one of his Year 3 pupils.

The victim, who is now 24, told police McCooke began his abuse by touching her over her clothes, then inside her underwear and eventually raped her in the pre-primary room of the school.

He raped her again soon after on a desk in another classroom.

The second girl alleged she was abused repeatedly in the back of McCooke's van and in his home between 2000 and 2002.

McCooke, who has been married for 48 years, claimed to police that he had touched his younger second victim because she had asked him to. He had also attempted to blame another man as the abuser.

Judge Staude described his claims as ``unspeakably dishonourable''.

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Family 'knew' they had $22 million lucky ticket

A northern suburbs family has won $22.2 million in Oz Lotto, the third biggest Lotto prize ever won in WA. Source: PerthNow

A NORTHERN suburbs family has come forward to claim their $22.2 million Oz Lotto Division 1 win from Tuesday night.

The lucky ticket was purchased at Ocean Village News in City Beach.

The family said they'd been aware of the big Lotto win yesterday but didn't check their ticket straight away. As they day went on, one of the family members had a strong feeling that they had the multi-million dollar ticket.

"I just felt it really might be us. When I finally decided to check it late in the day and realised we had all the numbers I was initially calm," the family member said.

"We are all feeling quite overwhelmed now and it still hasn't sunk in that we will be sharing in this incredible prize."

The regular Lotto players left their numbers to chance, purchasing a Slikpik 12 ticket, which has numbers randomly generated by the terminal.

The family said the prize would be shared amongst several family members.

"It's great that lots of people will benefit from this win and that their lives will change dramatically," they said.

One of the plans on the family's wish list was travelling the world.

"I think we might be upgrading to first class flights," they said.

The $22.2 million won by the family is the third largest Lotto prize to be won in WA.
 

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Rebels bikies banned from pubs

Rebels bikies are preparing for their national run in WA.

HUNDREDS of Rebels bikies have started making their way to WA for the club's annual national run.

Patched members from different chapters of the club have formed in groups across the country and are expected to cross the border into WA together on Monday.

WA's gang crime squad has warned the public to expect traffic delays as close to 1000 club members travel through the state and into the Perth CBD.

Acting Detective Inspector Jeff Christmass said police were well prepared for the run and would shadow the group's movements during their stay in WA.

"We envisage that there will be some delays because there could be anywhere up to 800 or 900 motorbikes travelling in the same direction at the one time," Det Insp Christmass said.

"That's obviously a concern for us and something we need to manage.

"It looks like they will be coming into Perth and probably around the Mount Hawthorn and Osborne Park area, where they have their main club house."

The Rebels have about 70 chapters in the country and are the biggest outlaw motorcycle gang in the Australia.

Det Insp Christmass said the group would be met by police when they crossed the border into WA.

He said they were also monitoring ports and air traffic for the arrival of international club members.

"We have a large police contingent and we are ready and prepared to deal with any situation that happens throughout this operation," he said

"We don't expect there to be any trouble, but having said that, OMCG are always unpredictable and we need to be prepared to take all steps to make sure the community are safe.

"From the minute they cross the WA border we will be shadowing them."

Club members are expected to travel through Perth on Thursday next week and leave the following Monday.

Det Insp Christmass said associates of the club would not be allowed to enter licenced venues across the state.

ashlee.mullany@news.com.au
 

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Coalition red-faced over net filters

Communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull retracted the Coalition's internet filter policy tonight. Source: News Limited

A RED-FACED Coalition has been forced to issue a correction on its own policy that would have put internet filters blocking "adult content" on every mobile and tablet.

An 11-page policy quietly released today also promised service providers would be instructed to install filters for all new home broadband systems that would automatically block content, like a recently adopted UK model.

The blocks would have only been removed from mobiles only if the owner could prove they were over 18 and from home services if the customer specifically requested it be removed.

But Communications Spokesman Malcolm Turnbull retracted the policy tonight.

He said it was "poorly worded and incorrectly supported an opt out system of internet filtering for both mobile and fixed line services".

"The Coalition has never supported mandatory internet filtering," he said.

Instead, the Coalition would encourage mobile phone and internet companies to make available software that parents could install to protect their children from inappropriate material.

The initial document published specifically promised to copy measures introduced in the UK in recent months for opt-out internet filters for unsuitable content like pornography.

Malcolm Turnbull tweeted on the issue tonight. Source: News Limited

The Gillard Government was forced late last year to abandon a Rudd Government promise to introduce a national internet filter, which critics said would be inefficient, slow internet speeds and block unintended sites.

But the since retracted Coalition document said its approach was "a very different approach to the discredited compulsory filter", allowing people to decide whether to operate the "maximum protection" filter or not, as had been adopted in the UK.

Tony Abbott admitted to having quickly read the internet filter policy but did not spot the blunder, instead he believed it referred to encouraging providers to offer internet filtering if customers chose.

"We don't support internet filtering, we have never supported internet filtering," he said.

"I think there should be commercially available filters at the PC and mobile phone level for people to opt into if they wish.

"I read the policy last night, quickly it has to be said, I thought it was a reference to the ability of people to get an internet-based filter. I am sorry it was poorly worded, that has been cleared up."

Earlier tonight, Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey said he knew nothing of the compulsory internet filter when asked about it on Channel Ten's The Project.

When asked about Malcolm Turnbull's 2001 comments - in which Turnbull described the Labor proposal of a similar filter, almost exactly the same filter, as a restraint of freedom of speech - Hockey said: "Well, I'm not sure it's the same internet filter. I mean that's news to me.''

"I will check it out ... I've been a bit preoccupied today.''

When pressed about that it was a bit late to check out given it had already been announced just 36 hours out of Saturday's election, Hockey said: "Hang on - It's not quite the same as the internet filter that was previously - which I also campaigned against, the previous government's internet filter. But let me have another look at it. Today I have been preoccupied. I don't want to cut across what has been released today.''

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New royal hoax phone records twist

A student of a nursing college places a candle in front of a picture depicting nurse Jacintha Saldanha, during a candle-lit vigil. Picture: AP Source: AP

THE London nurse who took her own life after being pranked by Austereo for royal baby news is believed to have kept secret more phone calls from the radio network in the days before her suicide.

While details of the hoax call made to Saldanha in December 2012 made headline news around the world in the wake of her death and outrage over the hoax, it has emerged the Australian radio network has confirmed a number of follow up calls were made by the 2DayFM show responsible for the controversial prank.

The station says the calls were to ask permission to air the call.

A London Sunday Times investigation has claimed Southern Cross Austereo will present phone record evidence of four calls to the hospital, which previously denied it had been contacted for permission to air a controversial stunt, where DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian were given details on the condition of a newly pregnant Duchess of Cambridge after pretending to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles.

Michael Christian and Mel Greig interviewed on national television after the prank call. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

An inquest into Ms Saldanha's suicide death is scheduled for September 12 and 13 where at least one of the presenters, Greig, has committed to testifying about her role in the prank.

The hospital had held that there had been no further calls beyond the recorded material put to air by 2DayFM of another hospital staffer revealing private details on the morning sick princess.

But phone records may now allow for the possibility the 46-year-old nurse had received the calls but was too embarrassed to report them.

Mel Greig (R) and Michael Christian (L) leaving the 2Day FM radio office in Sydney's World Square. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

A 2DayFM spokesman said "we can confirm that four follow up calls were made to seek permission to air the call within an hour of the (prank) being made. Telstra has verified the calls coming from our Sydney studio and all being received at the same number in London (at the King Edward VII's hospital where Saldanha was night sister in charge).

"Because the calls were placed overseas, there was some debate about whether permission was needed. After the fourth call, we were advised internally we didn't need permission because (Saldanha) was not a resident of Australia."

Husband of late Jacintha Saldanha, Benedict Barboza, reacts as he and his son Junal, 16, left and daughter Lisha, 14, speak to the media. Picture: AP Source: AP

The newspaper report suggested this may have added to her distress and ultimately triggered her decision to hang herself in her nurses' accommodation quarters three days later.

"One of the calls was ended abruptly, but three others were long enough to have been a conversation. They were not made by the DJs, but members of the `Hot 30' show's production team.''

The additional calls were not recorded but the phone log confirms the destination number and the duration of the calls.

The Times said it is "highly likely the calls were answered by Jacintha and that she never disclosed these calls to another person before she hanged herself."

Ms Saldanha left behind three suicide notes and while two were left to her family, the third clearly implicates the two radio presenters, stating: "I hold the Radio Australians Mel Greig and Michael Christian responsible for their act. Please make them pay my mortgage. I am sorry, Jacintha."

The Times investigation also revealed details of Saldanha as a deeply troubled woman who had attempted suicide in late 2011 and may have again in early 2012.

After being diagnosed with a depressive disorder, she was referred to psychiatrist "in view of suicidal risk."

When she was discharged three days later, a doctor's note in her file read: "there is a risk of deliberate self-harm and the need for 24-hour supervision."

In the wake of Ms Saldanha's death and the scandal, Greig has been battling her own anguish and is also taking legal action against her employers.

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Millipedes 'blamed' for train bingle

HUNDREDS of tiny millipedes could be behind the collision of two trains on the Joondalup line that left six people injured this morning.

Two Perth trains collided at the Clarkson Station this morning. Source: PerthNow

Hundreds of Portuguese millipedes squashed on the tracks are suspected of causing a low-speed train collision at Clarkson. Picture: Berrington Kerris Source: PerthNow

HUNDREDS of tiny millipedes could be behind the collision of two trains on the Joondalup line that left six people injured this morning.

The two trains collided at the Clarkson train station about 6.40am. The collision occurred between a moving train and a stationary train which was taking on passengers going to Perth.

PTA spokesman David Hynes said the transport body was talking the matter very seriously and a full investigation into the incident was already underway.

"It was low speed (the collision)," Mr Hynes said.

"The stationary train was loading passengers at Clarkson and the other train was coming up behind it, as it would do being the next cab off the rank and it just hasn't been able to pull up in time.

"We don't know why.

"We are obviously looking quite seriously into that. We are very keen to find out what the circumstances were."

Mr Hynes said an ambulance was called to the scene to treat several people for stiff and sore necks.

"We have since had a couple of (injured) people put their hand up who continued on into Perth…I think we've got up to about five or six people who have reported they've got a stiff neck," he said.

Millipedes are being investigated as one possible cause, after the tiny arthropods were spotted in their hundreds on the tracks.

Drivers had previously been warned about the bizarre occurrence, with an infestation of Portuguese millipedes thought to have caused train tracks to become slippery when crushed by the wheels of a passing train last year.

The problem was reported in Rockingham and Kwinana, and on the freight network, with the PTA spraying insecticide in and around the tracks last September.

In 2009, a plague of the millipedes - latin name Ommatoiulus moreletii - overran railway tracks at Tallarook in central Victoria, causing several trains to be cancelled.

Services on both the Joondalup and Mandurah lines were delayed for about 15 minutes as a result of the incident. Services are now back to normal.

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