Dockers to discuss Simpson’s ‘issues’

Lance Franklin made a significant contribution as the Swans scored a 17-point win over Fremantle at the SCG.

Fremantle's Luke McPharlin against Sydney Swans' Lance Franklin at the weekend. McPharlin is adamant that the Dockers don't have a culture issue. Source: News Corp Australia

Josh Simpson, in action against Essendon, missed a Fremantle training session this morning. Source: Getty Images

FREMANTLE defender Luke McPharlin is adamant the AFL club doesn't have a culture issue, but admits a minority of the player group needs to clean up their act.

Josh Simpson's immediate playing future hangs in the air after the midfielder's refusal to make the trip to Sydney as the club's travelling emergency last week.

Simpson, the No. 17 pick from the 2012 national draft, missed training again this morning.

He is dealing with some sensitive family issues in his remote hometown of Yalgoo, and the Dockers are unlikely to end his AFL dream just yet.

However, given his workrate has come under the spotlight in the past, he is sure to earn some form of punishment from the leadership group.

Late today, Fremantle's general manager of football operations Chris Bond said: "The club has advised Josh Simpson and his management that we will be having ongoing discussions throughout the week with regards to the issues at hand.

"Until those discussions have been finalised, Josh will be on leave from the club."

Forward Hayden Ballantyne is also in the bad books of coach Ross Lyon after being suspended for the fourth time in two years.

■ HAVE YOUR SAY: Does Hayden Ballantyne's talent justify his discipline record?

Ballantyne will miss Friday night's Len Hall game against North Melbourne at Patersons Stadium after pleading guilty to kneeing and striking Sydney's Rhyce Shaw in Saturday's 17-point loss at the SCG.

His ban came just a week after high-profile recruit Colin Sylvia copped a two-week suspension for an off-the-ball hit in the WAFL.

McPharlin said the string of recent discipline issues shouldn't reflect the culture of the wider player group.

"We believe our culture is very strong, and has been for a number of years now," McPharlin said.

"We've had a couple of incidents early in the season that we wish didn't happen. But this is part and parcel of trying to organise and manage 40 players from different walks of lives.

"For the great majority of our playing group, it's a very strong brand and culture. Unfortunately some players fall by the wayside, but we deal with them internally."

McPharlin urged Simpson to revive his career by following in the footsteps of teammate Michael Walters.

Walters was banished to the WAFL in 2012 for substandard fitness standards.

But the goalsneak worked hard to win back the trust of his teammates, and is considered as one of the best small forwards in the competition.

"No one really thought he'd come back and play, but he certainly turned it around," McPharlin said.

"I don't think you can every write anyone off, but the incident on the weekend (involving Simpson) was pretty serious and we'll have to look at it."

Ballantyne's suspension, combined with the season-ending loss of Walters (ankle), has robbed the Dockers of their two premier small forwards.

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Aussie retail’s dirty, big secret

Retailers routinely slug Australian shoppers with a higher price. Source: ThinkStock

IT'S being dubbed the 'Australia tax', the dubious honour of being slugged a premium price on everyday goods simply for living under the Southern Cross.

Australians have a love affair with online shopping. We love the convenience of clicking away rather than battling crowded car parks and apathetic shop assistants, parting with $15 billion online in the year to February, according to NAB.

And while local brands have cried foul over a perceived imbalance in GST collection against overseas sites, Australians are still spending most of their money at local e-commerce outlets, a dominant 74 per cent in fact.

So it's natural for major international retailers to eye our sunny shores and look to grab some of that discretionary cash that consumers in a stable economy have to spend. But some of them are taking a little too much advantage.

It's something most of us have probably encountered already — watching the price fluctuate wildly between the Australian price and the (mostly) American price.

For example, this morning on the Australian version of the J. Crew website, a major US retailer who started shipping to Australia in 2012, a "silk chiffon sweet meadow dress" was listed at $AU323.90. Switch over to the American site and the same dress is listed at $228. Accounting for the exchange rate, it's a $AU79 difference, or a 32 per cent mark-up. Ouch. And that's just one example.

Expect to pay more on the Australian site. Source: Supplied

Spot the difference? Same dress, but much cheaper. Source: Supplied

But why, you might ask? J. Crew has no Australian operations so no higher local wages to pay and shipping costs are a separate charge. Whole threads on forums including Whirlpool and Vogue have seen incensed shoppers gather to fume over the price difference.

A couple of posters included purported replies they received from J. Crew which said it takes into account the cost of doing business internationally and, "our prices are reflective of the value we deliver in the context of each local market." In other words, J. Crew will charge Australians what it thinks local consumers will bear because we're already used to high prices from local brands.

Our friends over the ditch in New Zealand have had similar experiences, notably with All Blacks gear during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Choice head of media Tom Godfrey said in a statement: "Whether it's IT products, cosmetics or clothes, it's never been easier for Aussie consumers to compare prices between Australia and overseas stores and it's not pretty viewing.

"It seems the 'Australia tax' is the new black in the rag trade, with major international manufacturers and distributors working to block Australians from getting a better deal."

Choice also compared a number of products from major multinational brands such as Uniqlo, The North Face and Coach, and found a significant price difference between what Australians pay versus what Americans pay.

J. Crew doesn't have a physical presence in Australia, so why the huge mark-up? Source: AP

"We're comparing online stores with online stores so there should be no reason Australians are being forced to pay more," Mr Godfrey said. "This has nothing to do with higher costs of doing business in Australia and everything to do with slugging us with the 'Australia tax'.

"Our advice is that if you're being blocked by an international retailer from getting the best deal, don't get angry, get savvy. Consumers using a virtual private network and a third-party delivery service that is happy to estimate shipping costs can navigate around the geo-blocks."

Getting around geo-blocking can make all the difference. Many local companies provide a VPN service for a very small fee (starting at $2 a month) which tricks international sites into thinking your IP address is based elsewhere. Using VPNs to skirt geo-blocking is controversial in some circles but while he was in office, former federal attorney-general Robert McClelland said it wasn't illegal.

There's a smarter way to shop online. Source: ThinkStock

While some sites will require an American credit card, some consumers have experienced a go-around by using their Australian credit card but pairing it with either an American billing address or a US postcode. Some people have also had success in signing up for a US PayPal account. Some third-party delivery services (which forward on your purchases through a US street address) also offer a personal shopping service in which they will make the purchase on your behalf.

Of course, the whole issue becomes even more complicated when you consider Australians are clamouring for more international retailers to open up here, lured by the variety and cachet. Each retail launch, including H&M, Zara and Topshop, has been met with enormous fanfare.

But it's also led to complaints from savvy shoppers who've commented the range on offer locally doesn't meet the same standards they've seen overseas or the prices here are just that much more. The price issue on international retailers with a local physical presence can be complicated by higher Australian wages.

Pottery Barn opened its first Australian store in Bondi Junction by then-premier Barry O'Farrell. Source: News Limited

But there is also another downside to when international retailers open shop here as services previously accessible to Aussie shoppers get blocked.

When US giant Williams-Sonoma set up its Pottery Barn and West Elm outlets in Sydney and Melbourne, it also established Australian websites. As a result, customers who have previously been able to purchase from the US Pottery Barn and West Elm websites found themselves blocked with those sites no longer accepting Australian shipping addresses.

The problem there is the American sites have a far greater range of products and the local stores won't assist you in importing or purchasing products on the American sites that aren't available through its Australian operations. Why would they when they have their own budgets to hit?

Of course, the upside is you can now buy the retailers' furniture, which it didn't ship internationally.

It's a similar story with Amazon. If Amazon established an Australian version of their site, it might block the UK and US versions to Australian customers.

The lesson here? While Australian shoppers often get a raw deal, a little ingenuity will open a whole new world of possibilities for the savvy consumer.

J. Crew has been contacted for comment.

Have you come across a blatant price difference for the same product? What do retailers do that gets your goat? Sound off below in the comments or on Twitter @newscomauhq or @wenleima

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Williams ‘deeply sorry’ after avoiding jail

COLLINGWOOD footballer Marley Williams has apologised to all those hurt by my actions after avoiding jail for an assault outside a WA nightclub

COLLINGWOOD footballer Marley Williams has apologised to 'all those hurt by my actions' after avoiding jail for assault.

This morning, Williams narrowly avoided immediate jail time for breaking the jaw of 29-year-old Matthew Robertson during a fight outside the Studio 146 nightclub in his hometown of Albany on Boxing Day 2012.

The 20-year-old was found guilty of one count of grievous bodily harm after a four-day trial in February.

Williams pleaded not guilty to the charge, saying the punch outside the Studio 146 nightclub was in self defence after he had been set upon earlier in the venue's toilets.

He will now return to Melbourne to play for the club's VFL team "as soon as he is physically and emotionally ready", according to club officials.

Collingwood has released a statement on the footballer's behalf, with Williams stating his acceptance that he had made a mistake.

"I would like to apologise to all of those hurt, one way or another, by my actions," he said.

Collingwood defender Marley Williams has been handed a 12 month suspended sentence for breaking a man's jaw outside a WA nightclub, but avoided immediate jail time.

"I'm deeply sorry for the pain I've caused a lot of people. The last 16 months have not been easy for anyone involved.

"I want to thank my family, friends and football club for their support throughout an extremely trying time. I look forward to quietly getting on with my life with a new understanding of the harm one bad decision can cause.

"I have certainly learned that, regardless of the circumstances, you have to be strong enough to walk away. To be the better man.

"I'm relieved and grateful for the opportunity to return to football, a game I value and respect in a new way after what I have put myself and others through."

In sentencing, District Court Judge Julie Wager said while Williams' punch was not in self defence, it was not premeditated.

She sentenced him to a 12-month prison term, suspended for 12 months.

Collingwood footballer Marley Williams leaves the Perth District Court after being given a 12-month suspended sentence for a one-punch attack. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper

Outside court, Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert said Williams would return to Melbourne and continue training as soon as he is physically and emotionally ready.

"He'll be playing with our VFL team and then will be available to play in the AFL," he said.

Pert said Williams would not be commenting on the sentencing.

"You can imagine it's been a very stressful, emotional time," Pert said.

"He's very relieved, at the same time he's very sorry for what he's created, not only to the victim and the impact that that's had, but to his family and friends, especially to his mother."

Pert said Williams feels he had let down his family, friends, teammates and club.

Collingwood CEO Gary Pert speaks to the media outside the Perth District Court after footballer Marley Williams avoided jail over a one-punch attack. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper

"This is something that's been out of character for him and he wants the opportunity now to go on with life and be a better person," he said.

ASSAULT 'NOT SELF DEFENCE': JUDGE

Earlier, during the sentencing hearing, Judge Wager said she accepted Williams was a victim of an "unprovoked verbal abuse and low level physical violence" in the nightclub toilets, but he chose to leave the nightclub when his attackers were evicted.

"You weren't asked to leave the nightclub. You chose to leave because you were angry over what happened," she said.

"You didn't have to walk up to them, though when you saw them, you chose to.

Marley Williams looks on during a Collingwood training session last week. Picture: Getty

"What occurred was not in self-defence."

"You should never have punched him in the way that you did."

Judge Wager said while the injuries were at the lower end of the scale, a grievous bodily harm charge warranted jail.

She said it was "unfortunate" Williams chose to defend his actions by trial because of the remorse he showed immediately after the punch.

She noted the case was however "very different" to the grievous bodily harm case involving West Coast Eagle Murray Newman, who was sentenced to a one-year jail term.

As the sentence was handed down, Williams' many supporters in court gasped with relief.

Collingwood director of football Rodney Eade (front left) leads Marley Williams into the Perth District Court for his sentencing. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper

SENTENCING SUBMISSIONS

Williams' lawyer Tom Percy QC would not comment outside of court, but had told the court his client was the victim of an unprovoked attack in Studio 146's toilets, possibly because of his AFL profile.

"He was bewildered, upset and wanted to see what was going on downstairs with these men who attacked him, it appeared for no reason," Mr Percy said.

He said it was not a premeditated attack, based on the fact "it was a blow delivered with a non-preferred hand"

Mr Percy said the publicity surrounding the case had a "significant effect" on Williams and should be treated as a mitigating factor.

Marley Williams at Collingwood training. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

He submitted jail would be inappropriate and a suspended sentence should be given.

Prosecutor Tony Loudon said Williams acted in revenge and the notoriety he has received should not be a mitigating factor.

"This is simply a case where a footballer has brought his club into disrepute," Mr Loudon said.

He said submitted it was acceptable for Williams to be sentenced as a case of general deterrence for alcohol fuelled violence and called for an immediate term of imprisonment.

"Mr Williams swung that punch and swung it quite deliberately," Mr Loudon said.

"He swung at a man who had his arms folded."

CHARACTER WITNESSES

Collingwood director of football Rodney Eade gave a character reference for Williams this morning, telling the Perth court the 20-year-old's violent behaviour in December 2012 was "completely out of character".

Eade told the court Williams is highly regarded by the team's leadership group.

"He's a very quite lad and just gets his work done," he said.

"He's certainly regarded as a future leader of the club."

Eade said he felt Williams' behaviour in Albany in 2012 was "completely out of character" and he has continued to do volunteer work with the Salvation Army in Melbourne after his mandatory 10-week program.

Williams pleaded not guilty to the charge, saying he hit his victim in self defence after he was bailed up by a group of men in the club's toilets.

Melbourne Salvation Army Commander Brendan Nottle was another character reference and said Williams had continued to volunteer over the last year in the homeless program.

He said during his time working with the Salvation Army Williams had been in confronting situations, but never reacted with violence.

"He's been in circumstances where he could have reacted in a violent way and he chose not to," he said.

Mr Nottle attributed Williams' behaviour in 2012 to a "different Marley" and one who reacted in "basically self defence."

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274 fined for not wearing seatbelts

Hundreds of WA drivers were caught driving without seatbelts over Easter, and 64 cars were impounded during the Easter break

MORE than 270 WA drivers have been caught behind the wheel without seatbelts over Easter while over 2400 motorists were pinned for speeding.

Another 148 drivers were caught talking or texting on their mobile phones.

Senior police officers labelled the figures "disturbing" in what has been a tragic Easter on WA roads with five fatalities in total.

Three of the five people who died were young men aged just 17, 19 and 20.

Police figures released today show that since Wednesday night:

● 148 mobile phone offences were issued to drivers

● 274 drivers were fined for not wearing seatbelts

WA Police issued 2481 speeding infringements over the Easter holiday. Picture: File Image.

● 94 motorists were charged with drink driving, another 19 were done for drug driving

● 2481 speeding infringements were issued; and

● 64 cars were impounded.

Commander Alf Fordham described the amount of people driving and using mobile phones at the same time over Easter as unbelievable.

"It's unbelievable with the amount of attention this issue has received over the last couple of weeks that we were able to apprehended 148 people using mobile phones," he said.

"278 people not wearing seatbelts, in this day and age there is no excuse for not wearing your seatbelt. 'I was just going to the shops', 'I was just going around the corner' is not an excuse for not wearing your seatbelt. It's just not good enough.

The scene of a fatal crash in Margaret River on Sunday night.

"It's something the community has to get behind … it's not acceptable not to wear your seatbelt, it's not acceptable to speed and use a mobile phone while you are driving."

Commander Fordham said police will be out in force once more targeting drivers over the ANZAC Day holiday this weekend.

Double demerit points be in place again from 12:01am on Thursday through to 11:59pm on Sunday.

ROAD TOLL: Five killed on WA's roads over Easter

REVEALED: WA's 25 most deadly and dangerous roads

The wreckage of a Toyota involved the fatal crash near Margaret River on Sunday night.

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Badly hurt child left in burning car wreck

A three-year-old girl has been injured after being left in a burning car allegedly stolen by her father.

The Roe Hwy on-ramp off Great Eastern Hwy in Midland, where the burning car was found. A man has been charged over the incident. Picture: Marie Nirme Source: News Corp Australia

The Roe Hwy on-ramp off Great Eastern Hwy in Midland, where the burning car was found. A man has been charged over the incident. Picture: Marie Nirme Source: News Corp Australia

The Roe Hwy on-ramp off Great Eastern Hwy in Midland, where the burning car was found. A man has been charged over the incident. Picture: Marie Nirme Source: News Corp Australia

A FATHER allegedly abandoned his toddler in a burning stolen car after a domestic dispute in Perth's eastern suburbs overnight.

Police attended a disturbance at an Ellenbrook house at about 10.10pm last night, where a man was damaging the house and a 16-year-old girl had been seriously assaulted.

The Ellenbrook home belonged to the man's former mother-in-law, where his ex-partner and their daughter were also staying.

It will be alleged the man was invited over for the night, but started to drink and become agitated.

East Metropolitan District Office Acting Superintendent Steve Byrne said it appeared the family, including five children, ran outside to escape the man but he chased after them.

It will be alleged he then started to bash his ex-partner's 16-year-old niece with a baseball bat on the front lawn, inflicting injuries on her arms and wrists, while his former partner ran back inside.

Police say he then bashed down the front door with the bat and when he could not find his ex-partner, he grabbed the three-year-old girl and drove off in a Kia Carnival.

At about 11pm, the car was spotted being driven along Lloyd Street in Midland without headlights on.

Police attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver failed to stop.

Because of the child in the car, officers did not start a pursuit but did monitor the movements of the car.

It was found on fire a short time later after it had crashed into a concrete barrier on Great Eastern Highway near the Roe Highway on-ramp.

It will be alleged the man had already left the scene on foot, leaving his daughter inside the burning wreck.

Acting Supt. Byrne said he believed the child was in the front seat of the car and not in a proper child seat.

Officers from Midland Police Station managed to rescue the child, using fire extinguishers to allow them to get her, and the fire flared again during the rescue.

The girl was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital by ambulance with serious injuries — including a tear to her bladder.

She had to have emergency surgery to stop internal bleeding and is in a spine splint as a precautionary measure. She remains in a serious but stable condition.

The man was found 150m away from the crash scene hiding behind a vehicle on Beaconsfield Avenue, Midvale, where he was arrested and taken to Swan District Hospital by St John Ambulance for treatment to injuries he received in the crash.

Acting Supt. Byrne said he found the situation "abhorrent".

"The violence inflicted on the family by this gentleman is unfathomable," he said.

"To leave a child like that, to flee, for your own concern and not have any concern for your own child, I just can't imagine."

Acting Supt. Byrne said he had been told the man was upset over the recent death of a brother in a car accident.

A 25-year-old man from East Victoria Park will face several charges:

■ armed in a way that may cause fear

■ aggravated assault occasioning bodily harm

■ criminal damage

■ stealing a motor vehicle

■ no authority to drive

■ failing to stop

■ dangerous driving occasioning bodily harm

■ driving with a blood-alcohol level in excess 0.08

■ failing to give assistance after traffic incident

■ failing to give name or address

The man was refused bail and will appear in the Perth Magistrates Court today, Monday April 21. He was returned to hospital and may require a bedside hearing.

Twitter: @KaitlynPST

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Facebook’s extremely creepy new feature

Your location could permanantely be traced. Source: Supplied

FACEBOOK has introduced a new feature for its mobile users allowing them to share their location with friends. It is an "opt in" feature, meaning you don't have to sign up for it. On the surface, it seems to be a useful tool for people to use.

But the new Facebook "feature" is pretty dangerous. It is sending your location information on a continuing basis into a network run by Facebook. Among the problems: your GPS is always on if you use this app, meaning you can be followed by hackers, intruders or government agencies more or less at will. And Facebook itself, which is not a secure system, also can be targeted by the same folks.

Facebook has also revealed that it plans to share your Nearby Friends data with advertisers. It is far from clear if the opt-in feature matters in collecting and sharing this information.

Social media are sometimes lots of fun, but they also leak a lot of information about your life, your relationships, your preferences, and your comings and goings which you may not want in untrusted hands. People who use these apps seem to be oblivious to the risks. Yet, on a daily basis, we read about people being hounded and abused through social media. There are many cases of such abuse.

Facebook's latest Android app update looks like this. Source: NewsComAu

People also forget that smartphones, tablets and PCs are high-risk devices — with the smartphone leading the pack as the worst of the worst. Why? Because the smartphone has few, if any, safeguards against hackers. There are no firewalls or security barriers; antivirus and other tools tend not to work on smartphone platforms, and marketing and advertising people in cahoots with telephone carriers are using the platforms as a way to access your information and influence you to buy products, vote for candidates, or convince you to support some opinion or another.

We are at an early stage of exploiting smartphone marketing features. But, if I know where you are, what you had for dinner and at what restaurant, whether you are in your car or on foot, where you work and where you live, I have some really potent information that I can, and certainly will, exploit to the fullest. Maybe it is just a nuisance when advertisers barge into your life. But it has far greater consequences — a haven for crooks, criminals and psychos.

Recently an iPhone update turned on the Bluetooth feature in all of the latest iPhone models. Why? Because Apple is now in the business of helping store owners' flash messages to clients in the stores in proximity to a local Bluetooth transmitter. The reason: to push advertising. Say you are looking at a bicycle in a big outlet store. All of the sudden you get a "recommendation" on your smartphone: you will like a certain bike and it is safer than others. Would you pay attention? Most likely, yes, and that is what Apple and the store owners are shooting for.

But at the same time, now your Bluetooth is on all the time, just like the Wi-Fi that is on all the time if you opt in with Facebook. Not only will this suck your battery dry, provide critical information on your location and on your behaviour, but it also leaves your phone wide open to hackers.

Like? We'd rather give this feature a massive 'unlike'. Source: Supplied

Nothing on the horizon is going to stop the exploitation of personal privacy now in high gear in our country. Our courts have stepped aside and, in fact, condoned our government ripping off our phone's metadata, forget about the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. Google has announced that it not only scans all your emails, but actually, you grant it a worldwide license automatically when you send anything, especially any attachment, through their Gmail system. Now Facebook wants to make sure that you keep your GPS humming so your location can be tracked all the time.

The gradual and sometimes voluntary surrender of personal privacy is increasingly dangerous not only for personal security, but in the end, to the preservation of our rights and freedom. This latest Facebook "feature" is a step in the wrong direction.

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Easter toll: Head-on smash kills man

The wreckage of a Mazda involved in the fatal crash near Margaret River last night. Source: Supplied

DRIVERS are being reminded to be calm on the roads as they drive home following a horrific head on crash that killed one man and injured three others.

A crash in Margaret River last night has killed a 26-year-old man, taking the Easter road toll to four in WA.

The crash occurred between two cars on the Bussell Highway near the Margaret River airstrip at about 8.10pm last night.

Police said a blue Toyota Corolla was being driven south along the highway, while a silver Mazda 3 was heading north when they collided head-on.

The wreckage of a Toyota involved in a fatal crash near Margaret River last night.

The driver of the Toyota, a 26-year-old man from East Perth, died in the crash and his female passenger was seriously injured and flown to Royal Perth Hospital.

The female driver and male passenger in the Mazda were also seriously injured and the driver was air-lifted to RPH.

Dunsborough and Margaret River Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service firefighters helped free the trapped occupants of the cars.

The scene of a fatal crash in Margaret River last night.

Bussell Highway is open again this morning after it was closed in both directions for much of last night.

Major crash investigators will head to the crash scene this morning but the investigation will now be handled by Margaret River Police.

State Traffic Operations Acting Superintendent Ian Clarke said last night's crash had a devastating impact on the volunteers.

"They're all members of these small communities and they give their own time, particularly during these holiday periods when the pressure is really on, instead of being at home with their own families, they're actually doing it for no cost at all volunteering their time," he said.

Acting Supt. Clarke said the fatality was a reminder for people to be patient on the road.

"We will have people who will get impatient and do stupid things, try and overtake," he said.

"All I can ask is people is to consider others, consider themselves.

"If you are getting frustrated with a slow moving vehicle, just sit back and take a breath, we want you to get home safely, we want to make sure other people get home safely, because it could be a negligent act on your part that could kill a whole family and you will have to live with that for the rest of your life. And tragically we do see that."

WA's Easter road toll now stands at four, after three deaths in 10 hours at the start of the Easter road campaign.

Anyone with information about the crash or who saw either of the vehicles prior to the crash should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

■ REVEALED: WA's 25 most deadly and dangerous roads

■ ROAD TOLL: Three young men dead in horror start to Easter

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Slain sisters ‘loved and never forgotten’

Two young sisters killed in an Easter Sunday tragedy will be forever loved and missed, their family says.

THE devastated mother of two young girls slain, allegedly by their father, in an Easter tragedy says they will be "forever missed, loved, and never forgotten".

Treasured photos of the playful, smiling sisters, hand in hand, were released by the family last night as their mother spoke of her grief.

"We are utterly devastated at the loss of Savannah and Indianna," she said in a brief statement, released by police.

Savannah, 4, and Indianna, 3, were found dead at their grandmother's home in Watsonia on Sunday.

Family photos of Indiana and Savana, who were killed at Watsonia.

Their father, Charles Mihayo, will face Melbourne Magistrates' Court today charged with their murders.

Mr Mihayo, 35, who was living in a granny flat at the back of the property, was married to the girls' mother, but they separated about a year ago.

The arrangements for custody of the girls is not known.

The little girls, aged 3 and 4, were described by friends as "the mother's world".

The family had gathered at the Longmuir Rd home on Sunday, but about 2.40pm the Easter celebrations quickly turned to horror.

A relative frantically called 000. Emergency services rushed to the scene, but nothing could be done to save the girls.

DEATH OF SISTERS LEAVES A STREET TORN APART

Charles Mihayo has been charged with two counts of murder. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Police have not released details about how the girls died or whether a weapon was used.

The double murder, which brought even hardened police officers to tears, has prompted an outpouring of public anger and mourning.

Grief-stricken family returned to the house yesterday to collect some belongings, but declined to speak to media before leaving.

Savannah, 4, and Indianna, 3, who died yesterday in Watsonia, pictured here with their mum.

Neighbours, and complete strangers touched by the girls' deaths, also came to the house to pay their respects.

Local mother Helen Temple was the first to lay a single white flower on the white fence line.

"I've got a three-year-old daughter too," she said.

Police outside the Watsonia home where two sisters died. Picture: Sarah Matray

"It's so awful. How can someone do this?"

As the day passed, more and more people visited the usually quiet suburban street — where Savannah and Indianna were often spotted playing — to leave the family flowers and messages of support.

One card read: "Two beautiful angels forever in heaven. May they both be surrounded by angels to protect them."

Savannah, 4, and Indianna, 3.

A toddler clutched his mum's leg as he waved at the house, while a girl — no older than Savannah and Indianna — placed a pot plant of pink cyclamen, a plant that symbolises sorrow and sincerity, at the fence.

She held her dad's hand as the two of them stood briefly in silence on the footpath, staring at the unassuming red brick home.

Neighbour Laura Birckel, who lives "just doors away" said her family was devastated by the tragedy.

"Still feeling so sick in the stomach," she said. "Such beautiful little girls, such innocent lives.

"May they rest in peace. Absolute heartbreaking times for the families involved."

A friend of the girls' mother could not believe the news.

"It is such a tragic event," the friend said. "Those kids are the mother's world."

Treasured family photos of the girls, Indiana and Savana. Source: Supplied

rebekah.cavanagh@news.com.au

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WA’s deadliest roads revealed

Booze buses are just one of many police resources blitzing WA roads this Easter. Source: News Limited

THEY are the most lethal stretches of bitumen in the state, the kill or disability zones that motorists need to heed.

A section of the Great Northern Hwy at Newman has the unenviable status of the worst stretch of WA's deadliest road. Of the 82 fatal and serious crashes on the highway in the past five years, 11 have happened close to the Pilbara town.

Closer to Perth, a section of Beaufort Street in trendy Mount Lawley has been the scene of eight fatal and serious crashes. On the Albany Hwy, seven souls have lost their lives or have suffered serious injuries in smash-ups near Maddington. Six people have suffered the same fate a little bit further along at Gosnells.

Also in the southern suburbs, five people were killed or badly maimed on Rockingham Road at Spearwood.

On the South Western Highway, the deadliest section is at Coolup, which recorded eight fatal and serious crashes, followed by Waterloo with five.

The kill zones were revealed in data for 2009-2013 supplied to The Sunday Times, as police mounted an Easter road blitz. These zones will receive special attention from marked and unmarked police vehicles.

And a police tactic, known as the "octopus technique", is being used as part of booze bus operations. It involves as many as six police vehicles being placed within a 10km radius of the booze bus to catch drivers who are speeding, not wearing seatbelts or using mobile phones.

Acting Superintendent Ian Clarke warned the road toll for the year so far was creeping towards a five years high.

"That's extremely disappointing from our perspective," A/Supt-Clarke said.

"There are literally thousands of people already this year who've been affected by road trauma."

Inattention was also killer for many motorists.

"It doesn't matter what day it is, whether it's the holidays or otherwise, the moment you get in a car you've got to switch on," A/Supt-Clarke added.

Meanwhile police officers are increasingly frustrated by lenient punishment dished out to "moron drivers", the WA Police Union said on Friday.

"Our members and the community at large have had enough of offenders who have blatant disregard for the road rules and the safety of others," union president George Tilbury said.

He said people convicted of their second reckless driving offence should be sent to jail for up to nine months.

"We need the support of the judiciary to ensure these morons are kept off our roads," he said.

"Now is the time for the judiciary to get tough and send these recidivist dangerous drivers to jail for the unnecessary risk (they) pose to other road users.

"The community are angry and frustrated and the judiciary need to hand out penalties which will deter these habitual offenders from reoffending."

Twenty-one people were killed on WA roads last year who either had no licence at all, or one which was expired, suspended or cancelled.

The Sunday Times last week revealed a man who caused a fatal quad bike crash in 2012 had 11 prior traffic convictions to his name.

Maida Vale man Joshua Bonjour, 21, was found guilty last month of dangerous driving causing death in the crash which killed teenager Jodie Maree Worthington.

Jodie Maree was a passenger on the quad bike when Bonjour crashed it into a car in Lancelin. Moments before the fatal collision Bonjour had been "fishtailing" the quad.

● Double demerits apply this weekend to speeding, drink and drug-influenced driving, not wearing seat belts, hooning, using a mobile phone and running red lights. The penalties will remain in place across WA until midnight on Monday.

WHERE THE MOST FATAL AND SERIOUS CRASHES OCCURRED:

Great Northern Hwy — Newman (11)

South Western Highway — Coolup (8)

Albany Hwy — Maddington (7)

Albany Hwy — Gosnells (6)

Old Coast Rd — Myalup (6)

Brand Hwy — Cataby (6)

Rockingham Rd — Spearwood (5)

Pinjarra Rd — Ravenswood (5)

Thomas Rd — Oakford (5)

North West Coastal Hwy — Karratha (5)

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Catholic Church to ‘guard’ children

Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe Source: Supplied

CHILD safety officers would be appointed in parishes across Perth under a proposal to eradicate sex abuse in the Catholic Church.

Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe recently outlined to senior church personnel a draft policy to appoint child safeguarding officers with specialist training.

Common in the UK, the officers take a key role in responding to allegations of abuse and advise parishes on child protection policies.

A spokesman for Archbishop Costelloe said he was "keen to act as swiftly as possible" to strengthen the protective measures already in place.

In his Easter Sunday message, Archbishop Costelloe will today reflect on the "terrible history of abuse perpetrated by some of our diocesan clergy".

The sermon comes days after Perth priest Patrick Holmes admitted sexually abusing two young girls more than 30 years ago.

The guilty pleas sparked Archbishop Costelloe to issue a "sincere apology" to the victims.

"We are supposed to be a light for the world and salt for the earth and often we are anything but," the head of the Catholic Church in Perth will tell worshippers at St Mary's Cathedral.

"In my own Church we have a terrible history of abuse perpetrated by some of our diocesan clergy and religious clergy, and an equally distressing history of inaction by some of our leaders.

"We are supposed to be disciples of Jesus and we have failed very badly."

Archbishop Costelloe is overseeing a range of strategies as part of his aim to "ensure the Catholic Church becomes the safest place for children". These include:

● More than 200 clergy, religious and lay staff attending a three-day seminar on the protection of minors and steps to prevent child abuse;

● Examining child protection policies and procedures of the Catholic Education Office;

● Ensuring the continuation of professional psychological assessment of young men who want to become priests;

● Mandate ongoing formation programs to ensure trainee priests mature psychologically, emotionally and spiritually;

● Regular letters to clergy highlighting and explaining critical aspects relating to pastoral boundaries.

Archbishop Costelloe's spokesman said recommendations and feedback relating to the proposal for child safeguarding officers were still being received.

Recommendations from the ongoing Royal Commission into child sex abuse, which will hold its first pubic hearing in Perth on April 28, are likely to be years away.

The Catholic Church's Truth Justice and Healing Council has also recently drafted a discussion paper on reforms to deal with safeguarding.

The paper will be considered at a meeting of bishops and religious leaders in Sydney next month ahead of a broader consultation.

"Archbishop Costelloe is keen to move forward with all that needs to be done in the Archdiocese of Perth while being a part of any national policy being introduced by the Catholic bishops of Australia as a whole," the spokesman said.

"The challenges remain many and yet the Archbishop is determined to do all he can to confront them and to bring about all necessary change."

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