Schoolie hurt in Bali balcony fall

A Perth school leaver celebrating in Bali has suffered serious injuries after falling from a balcony.

A PERTH school leaver is lucky to be alive after falling six metres from a balcony at a resort in Bali.

The 17-year-old suffered serious injuries after falling from the third-floor balcony - about six metres - at the Jayakarta Resort on Legian Beach.

Nine News reports Sunny, a graduate from Seton Catholic College, was partying with friends at the resort when they moved on to the balcony.

Sunny, the Perth school leaver who was badly injured after falling from a balcony at a Bali resort. Picture: Nine News Source: Supplied

He was leaning against a handrail when suddenly it gave way and he plunged to the pavement below.

He was rushed to the BMIC Hospital in Kuta with severe head injuries and broken bones and tonight he remains in hospital in a stable condition.

The boy's parents have flown out to Bali to be with him but it is believed he is too unwell to return to Perth immediately.

He is expected to be well enough to fly by the weekend.

SCHOOLIE FLOWN FROM BALI AFTER DRINKING METHANOL COCKTAIL

PICTURES: SCHOOLIES RUN WILD IN BALI

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was investigating the incident.

``Consular officials stand ready to provide assistance if requested,'' a DFAT spokeswoman said.

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Campbell Brown's knockout blow

The Gold Coast Suns have sacked Campbell Brown following last week's altercation with teammate Steven May outside a Los Angeles nightclub.

The final moments of an altercation between Campbell Brown and Gold Coast Suns teammate Steven May, who was left with a fractured jaw.

Campbell Brown at the press conference to announce his sacking as a Gold Coast player. Source: Getty Images

CAMPBELL Brown has apologised for the drunken punch that ended his 205-game AFL career but has been cleared of king-hitting teammate Steven May and is expected to be paid out 75 per cent of his salary for 2014.

The Suns announced they had reached an agreement with Brown to part ways after he broke May's jaw in a drunken stoush outside West Hollywood nightclub Bootsy Bellows.

Brown expressed genuine remorse at the incident and said he had no complaints about the investigation led by CEO Travis Auld or the recommendation from chairman John Witheriff and director Bob East that his three-year career with the Suns be ended.

"I'm really disappointed, it is not the way any player wants to finish their career," he said.

"But I think the process was thorough and very fair, I have been more than happy with the way the process has happened.

"I am obviously really disappointed with the way it has finished-up but I take full responsibility for my actions on the night.

"Actions have consequences and clearly they have helped finish my career early."

The Suns believe the fight occurred when May tried to re-enter the nightclub to take a photo of pop princess Rihanna and was restrained by Hawthorn premiership player Josh Gibson.

May and Gibson began arguing and Brown intervened.

It is understood May was heavily intoxicated, vomiting and confused about what had happened to him on his return to the hotel. When informed of the events by teammates, he became irate and waited in the lobby for Brown's return.

CAMPBELL BROWN'S CAREER RAP SHEET

It is alleged he attempted to retaliate when Brown returned. Suns CEO Travis Auld refused to divulge any details of the fight or the events before or after but stressed it was not an unprovoked attack by Brown.

"It is important that the investigation did not provide any evidence that there was a king-hit that took place," he said.

"That is very important for both this football club and for Campbell to put on the record."

.

Campbell Brown arrives at Gold Coast headquarters. Source: Getty Images

May will escape an official sanction over his behaviour on the night but is expected to be chastised and given a warning.

"Steven and Campbell have both spoken and apologised to each other for the roles they played in the incident," Auld said.

"There was certainly two people involved.

"We will have a conversation with Steven when he returns to the club about the role he did play in this and how he may avoid those situations in the future."

The pair sat alongside each other on the flight home from the US and were able to patch-up their differences.

Brown described the incident as regrettable.

"Steven and I are friends, I have checked-in with him to see how he is going pre and post-surgery and we will continue to be friends," he said.

"It was a spur of the moment mistake, if I could go back and change it I would but you can't do that in life."

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Thomson 'spent $2500 in a night'

Charges against Craig Thomson have been dropped after a magistrate ruled they couldn't be heard in Victoria.

EXPLOSIVE allegations about former MP Craig Thomson's appetite for porn and prostitutes have been aired publicly, including detailsl of a private spa room at brothel Tiffany's.

Prosecutors finally started outlining their fraud case against Mr Thomson yesterday, detailing in court for the first time allegations he used $28,449 of union funds to pay for sexual services, R-Rated movies, cigarettes, and flights across the country.

The Melbourne Magistrates' Court heard Mr Thomson would sometimes use the alias "Jeff Thomson" - not to be confused with the Aussie cricket legend - when hiring escorts.

It was alleged that while Health Services Union boss between 2002 and 2007, Mr Thomson hired escorts ranging in price from $240 an hour to $770 an hour and used union funds to pay them.

Lead prosecutor Lesley Taylor, SC, outlined dozens of the 66 individual incidents in which the Crown alleges Mr Thomson fraudulently used union credit cards.

Ms Taylor said one of the alleged escort dalliances took place in the exclusive "red turbo spa room'' at Sydney brothel Tiffany's Girls, and cost $418 for 90 minutes.

Mr Thomson called himself Jeff when he ordered an escort named "Tracie'' to his Sydney hotel room in 2003, at a cost of $200 to HSU members, it was alleged.

Craig Thomson arrives at Melbourne Magistrates' Court.

The court heard on one occasion in 2005, Mr Thomson charged $2475 to union credit cards for escort services in a Sydney hotel.

On another occasion he allegedly ordered sexual services to the Westin in Sydney, at a cost of $770 an hour for the services of "Alina", the night before his wife joined him in the same hotel.

The court heard Mr Thomson called for sexual services on at least 10 occasions and often withdrew cash from ATMs to pay for them.

On some nights, Thomson is accused of ordering both adult movies and female escorts to his hotel room.

Thomson is also accused of using union funds to pay for a hire car, accommodation and flights from Melbourne to Sydney when he and his former wife were searching for a NSW rental property.

Prosecutor Lesley Taylor said Thomson would later instruct an HSU employee to enter the misused money as legitimate expenses in the union's accounts.

Thomson is accused of beginning the fraud in October 2002, shortly after he became secretary, and continuing his illegal spending until February 2008, several months after he was elected to federal parliament.

It has taken almost 12 months for the case to be fully aired in courts after months of adjournments and legal arguments between prosecutors and Mr Thomson's high-powered legal team led by prominent QC Greg James.

The DPP is planning to appeal a ruling by Magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg to withdraw 79 of 224 charges because he found the court did not have jurisdiction to hear the charges because the alleged offending didn't occur in Victoria.

Mr Rozencwajg said yesterday prosecutors had been given more than enough time to prepare their case against Mr Thomson.

"I don't see the problem with proceeding with what we've got," he said.

"You've had so much time in this case. it's about time you bite the bullet."

An appeal could take 12 months to finalise, the court heard.

shannon.deery@news.com.au

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Abbott in Greens deal over debt

Treasurer Joe Hockey and Greens leader Christine Milne announce they have reached an agreement on removing the debt ceiling, with the Coalition promising more transparency in the budget

"Economic fringe dwellers" no more ... Greens leader Christine Milne and Deputy Adam Bandt hold a doorstop at Parliament House after agreeing on a deal with the Government on lifting the debt ceiling. Source: News Limited

THE Abbott Government has struck a deal with the Greens to abolish the limit on the nation's credit card.

After once deriding the Australian Greens as extreme and "economic fringe dwellers", Treasurer Joe Hockey praised the Greens for being prepared to solve the problem he said had been caused by the previous Labor government.

Without a deal, the nation's existing $300 billion debt limit would have been reached next week.

"Labor created the debt but they do not want us to fix it," Mr Hockey said.

The new deal scraps the limit which Labor introduced in 2008 and set at $75 billion but has since been increased several times.

Mr Hockey said despite removing the limit, the Government would be "prudent and responsible". He said the deal would mean more information provided to the public about debt.

JESSICA IRVINE: JOE, AUSTRALIA HAS A BUDGET EMERGENCY

CHRISTINE MILNE: JUSTIFY $50 MILLION DEBT INCREASE

JOE HOCKEY: INVESTORS TROUBLED BY DEBT DEBATE

Greens leader Christine Milne said it had been a phony limit because "no one has the faintest clue what the debt was actually for" and the new deal would require the government to spell out to people what was "good debt and bad debt".

"Everyone knows there is a big difference between a mortgage to buy a home and a credit card to splurge on luxuries," Senator Milne said.

"The public will now be able to see whether the government is incurring good debt to invest in our future, or bad debt to cover up a shortfall in revenue."

Opposition finance spokesman Tony Burke said the Government were hypocrites because they said before the election the answer to debt was not more debt and they would not do deals with the Greens.

Mr Hockey had wanted to increase the limit to $500 billion but Labor would only allow a rise to $400 billion, which Mr Hockey said was not enough to cover the debt legacy he inherited from the former government.

The debt deal came after the release of the national accounts showed the economy grew by 0.6 per cent in the September quarter and was running at an annual rate of 2.3 per cent.

Mr Hockey said this showed the economy he inherited had rising unemployment, below trend growth and a deteriorating Budget.

"The economy is stuck in second gear," Mr Hockey said.

He warned it was not strong enough to create the jobs the economy needs.

As part of the deal secured with the minor party to scrap the national debt ceiling, the government has agreed to report on the impact of climate change policy in future budgets.

Senator Milne said this would highlight the cost of tackling climate change without a market mechanism like an emissions trading scheme (ETS).

"That is a good improvement, too, so people can clearly see what not going to a market mechanism is going to cost in terms of the budget,'' Senator Milne told reporters in Canberra.

The government's direct action plan will directly fund activities that reduce carbon dioxide emissions, whereas an ETS requires businesses to pay for the greenhouse gases they release.

The Greens have fiercely opposed direct action, and vowed to block the repeal of Labor's carbon pricing mechanism in the Senate.

In his letter to Senator Milne, Mr Hockey said a debt statement with details regarding government spending on climate change would be included in future budgets and key economic reports.

The extent to which this expenditure had contributed to debt would also be included.

All future Intergenerational Reports will retain an extra section on the environment, including climate change and the effect of these policies and their impact on the economy and budget.

"I will consult with the Australian Greens on the scope of what could be included within the section,'' Mr Hockey wrote.

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Brothers guilty of body-in-boot murder

Two brothers have been found guilty of murdering a Perth businessman and dumping his plastic-wrapped body in the boot of his car.

Ambrose Clarke, who has been found guilty of murdering Peter Davis. File image Source: News Limited

Xavier Clarke, who has been found guilty of murdering Peter Davis. File image Source: News Limited

Peter Davis' mum Madeline Davis after the verdict. Source: PerthNow

THE mother of murdered Perth businessman Peter Davis says she hopes the men found guilty of killing her son spend the rest of their lives behind bars.

Madeline Davis was speaking moments after a WA Supreme Court jury unanimously found brothers Ambrose and Xavier Clarke guilty of the murdering the 57-year-old.

Mr Davis' body was discovered wrapped in plastic in the boot of his car at the Great Eastern Motor Lodge in May 2011.

The Clarke brothers both denied their part in the crime but were today found guilty of Mr Davis' murder.

They are due to be sentenced on December 17.

Speaking outside court, an emotional Ms Davis said it had been a long two and a half years, and at times, worried what they jury would do, but was relieved they had found the pair guilty.

"I have tried to watch the jury to see what they would think(over the past few weeks). Two hours, that's great. I think they knew," she said.

Asked whether she thought justice had been served, she replied yes.

Mr Davis sustained 52 wounds to his body.

Ms Davis said she hoped the pair would get life.

"I hope they never get out for what they did to Peter," she said.

The photo Jenni Davis carries in her purse to remember her late husband Peter. Picture: Kaitlyn Offer Source: Supplied

After hearing seven weeks of evidence the jury retired yesterday for an hour. They were sent home for the night and resumed early this afternoon.

They deliberated for another two and a half hours before returning the guilty verdict.

Outside court, Peter Davis' wife Jenni Davis said she was glad it was over.

"Justice has been done, I'm just glad with the verdict, everybody's help in this has been amazing," she said.

Mrs Davis said the quick deliberation of the jury showed it was a strong case against Ambrose and Xavier Clarke.

"He (Peter) was a fun happy person and he didn't deserve this," Mrs Davis said.

Peter's sister Coralanne said it had been a hard trial and she felt sorry for the Clarke family too.

"It can't bring my brother back, it's been a very hard trial, it's been very emotional for everyone and I'm so sorry for the other family too, because nobody wins in this situation," she said.

"I hope this doesn't happen to other people's families, please, think about what you are doing, be kind to other people, you can't keep doing this to other people, it ruins lives."

Coralanne said despite the guilty verdict, she could not hate her brother's killers.

"I don't hate them, I believe something higher than us will deal with them, but the families are hurting, all of us," she said.

"There's no right, there's no wrong, there's no good, there's no bad, it's just a horrible situation.

"And I heard so many times 'I'm an ordinary person' but guess what, it can happen to you, because it happened to me and my family.

"Pete and I were very very close growing up. All I've been thinking about is when we were kids and what we used to do, we were so very close and I just don't know where to go from here."

Jenni Davis, the wife of Perth businessman Peter Davis, speaks outside court after two brothers were found guilty of murdering Mr Davis. Picture: Kaitlyn Offer Source: Supplied

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Barnett, Buswell split on light rail

Transport minister Troy Buswell. Picture: file image Source: News Limited

TRANSPORT Minister Troy Buswell has ruled out splitting up the proposed light rail project, even though the Premier said last week other options were being considered.

The differing opinions come after The Sunday Times last month revealed Premier Colin Barnett was concerned about extending the $1.9 billion light rail through the malls on Hay and Murray streets and it could stop short of the CBD.

The Sunday Times was told Mr Barnett met with Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi recently to discuss the line stopping at Kings Square, in the Perth City Link precinct, with future branches of the network being built later.

The Government's light rail election promise is a 22km network that would be built from Mirrabooka to the CBD and then out to the western and eastern suburbs.

The route of the proposed MAX Light Rail Network. Source: Supplied

Ms Scaffidi has publicly criticised the plan to extend the rail through the street malls in the city, saying it would "obliterate" foot traffic and affect heritage landmarks.

Transport Minister Troy Buswell today told Nine News the MAX Light Rail would not be built in separate stages.

"What I'm saying is, that's not currently under consideration," he said outside Parliament.

"My understanding is that the project that has been canvassed with the link from Mirrabooka to the city and then the east-west link through the city effectively from QEII, West Perth, and out to Victoria Park, that is the project that has been developed and is being considered."

Less than a week ago, Mr Barnett said at a press conference that splitting up the light rail project as an option.

"We're looking at the project, and obviously we've got some financial constraints as well," he said.

"The extensions are down to the causeway and maybe ultimately to Curtin University and to the QEII site and the University of WA, that could be split into a separate stage but that decision has not yet been made."

The project was initially due to be finished by 2018, but the time frame blew out to 2019 and could be delayed a further two years after the loss of the state's AAA credit rating.

"The government has said many times that we are reviewing our asset investment program, and the results of that review will be known at the time of the mid-year review which will be released a little later this month," Mr Buswell said.

"We'll go through all of those major investment projects at that time."

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Shark cull would be pointless, say experts

Surfers in Gracetwon say they're 'rattled' by the latest fatal shark attack but that won't stop them doing what they love. Footage: Trevor Paddenburg

A white pointer shark being tagged for CSIRO research. Experts believe a shark cull would be pointless, despite recent fatal attacks. Picture: supplied Source: News Limited

SUGGESTIONS of a shark cull in the wake of fatal attacks on both sides of Australia have been dismissed by experts as overemotional and pointless.

After the deaths of Chris Boyd in Western Australia, and Zach Young in Coffs Harbour, calls for a cull of sharks grew louder, with WA Premier Colin Barnett saying he was beginning to favour a harsher line on bigger animals closer to the shore.

But two experts from the University of WA's Oceans Institute say a cull would make little difference to the number of people being attacked every year.

Professor Shaun Collin and Ryan Kempster said there was no evidence a cull would make the sea any safer.

"Pre-emptively killing sharks is a response based on emotion rather than of scientific data," they wrote on theconversation.com website.

"So often the argument in favour of a cull comes down to the emotional question of who is more important: a human or a shark. Rather, we need to ask the question, will culling sharks actually reduce the risk of an attack?

"The answer is no. In fact, when shark culling was carried out in Hawaii, between 1959 to 1976, over 4500 sharks were killed and yet there was no significant decrease in the number of shark bites recorded."

The secret journeys of great whites

Mr Barnett visited the Oceans Institute earlier this year to launch the state government's shark barrier, which was due to be installed at a beach in Dunsborough this summer.

But after it emerged red tape was holding up that installation, two of the institute's experts have directly challenged the premier on his support of destroying sharks that lurk around popular swimming or surfing areas.

Research has shown that the number of shark bite incidents occurring each year appears to be directly related to the length of time people spend in the water, according to a press release from the university.

"Given that Western Australia has the fastest population growth of any Australian state, there is likely to be an increasing number of people venturing out into our coastal waters every year," Professor Collin said.

"Thus, the likelihood of someone encountering a shark increases. "Before suggesting we cull economically and ecologically important shark species, with no scientific assessment of their populations, we need to educate people about the risks involved when entering the ocean." The Oceans Institute is currently testing new methods of shark deterrents using light, sound and walls of bubbles, through funding from the WA Government.

Researchers at UWA will also conduct research into shark numbers in Australia to add to similar studies in Fiji, Borneo and Palau.

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Perth teen latest Bali spiking victim

A teenage girl has returned home from Bali after nearly dying from a cocktail containing methanol she drank while on schoolies

A PERTH student is believed to have become the latest victim of drink poisoning at Bali nightclubs after she fell ill and was hospitalised last week.

Tessa Mettam, 19, from Mindarie was in Kuta with friends and visited the Bounty nightclub when she started to become sick while she was drinking.

She told Seven News she "kept going unconscious" and suffered seizures.

Friends rushed her to hospital and her family suspect she was a victim of methanol poisoning.

She has since been released from the Bali hospital and is now back in Perth.

Ms Mettam's scare came after two teenage girls from NSW celebrating school leavers in Kuta fell sick, also after visiting the Bounty club.

Stephanie Lamb, 17, was poisoned and began coughing up blood, before she fell unconscious. She ended up in the same hospital as 18-year-old Jasmine Baker.

Ms Baker, who was flown from Bali to Royal Darwin Hospital on Friday, has now returned to her NSW Central Coast home, where she will receive further treatment.

Her father Errol Baker credited the early intervention of her friends for saving her life.

"What Jazzy remembers is that she knew she was in trouble and once her friends realised that she lost her eyesight they knew something dangerous was happening," he said today.

"I am just so grateful for a young 17-year-old boy to take the lead and he probably saved my daughter's life."

In a Facebook post he wrote just after his daughter became ill on Thursday night, Errol Baker issued a warning to all schoolies.

He wrote: "Drinks spiked with methanol served at the Bounty last night (in Kuta) and two other smaller bars close by.

"If you feel sick and your eyesight becomes fuzzy or blurred seek medical attention.

"BETTER STILL IF ITS NOT IN A BOTTLE OR CAN DONT DRINK IT."

He said people never really knew how much they loved their children until they were vulnerable, alone and they needed their parents to be there.

The latest incident comes after a Perth teenager died in January, after being poisoned by a methanol-laced cocktail in Indonesia.

Liam Davies, 19, had been celebrating New Year at a local bar in Lombok when he consumed the lethal drink.

He was flown back to Perth but died days later.

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Firefighters battle Samson blaze

FIRE THREAT: The Department of Fire and Emergency Services have issued a bushfire advice for the fire that was reported at 4.30pm Source: News Limited

RESIDENTS in the City of Fremantle are being warned to stay alert after a fire erupted in Sir Frederick Samson Memorial Reserve.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services have issued a bushfire advice for the fire that was reported at 4.30pm.

People in an area bounded by South Street, North Lake Road, Winterfold Road and Stock Road in Samson are being told to watch for signs of a bushfire, close doors and windows and turn off evaporative airconditioning.

At 6.40pm, the fire was burning in Sir Frederick Samson Memorial Reserve between Sellenger Avenue and McCombe Avenue.

Some roads may be closed as fire crews are on the scene.

Aircraft have been sent to assist ground crews.

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Perth houses hit record $535,000

REIWA President David Airey says sales turnover in WA in October and November has lifted Perth's median house price to $535,000. Source: News Limited

PERTH'S median house price has hit a record $535,000 while the rental market remains in favour of tenants.

Real Estate Institute of WA (REIWA) president David Airey says sales turnover lifted during October and November, following a slump in September, and surpassing the June peak of $525,000.

``The quarterly median for the three months to November was up by almost four per cent and due mainly to the composition of sales during this period after strong first-homebuyer activity pulled the median house price down to $510,000 in the September quarter,'' he said.

More WA Real Estate news

``While first-homebuyer activity is still very evident, there was a solid increase in sales within a 10km radius of the CBD and a softening of activity in outer areas, particularly along the coastal sub-regions north and south of the city.

``This shift in sales composition towards more expensive properties selling pulled the median upwards.''

Data also showed that in some coastal sub regions - such as parts of Wanneroo, Joondalup and Rockingham - there was a slight weakening of sales in November, but it was accompanied by a drop in listings, Mr Airey said.

The number of properties on the market overall continues to recover from below average levels over the past year to reach a peak for this year of 8656 dwellings and 1199 land lots for sale.

Mr Airey said the rental market was still in favour of tenants, with the number of available rentals growing and median rents coming down again.

The median rent in the metropolitan area dropped by just over two per cent over the past three months to $460 - house rents at $470 a week, and units and apartments at $450 a week.

Vacancy remains above average at about 3.2 per cent.

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