Chinese snap up Perth property

Chinese interest in the Perth property market is booming. Picture: Supplied

CHINESE interest in the Perth property market is rising rapidly with buyers targeting apartments in South Perth, Canning Vale, East Perth and Thornlie.

According to the founders of what claims to be the biggest Asian website for Mandarin speakers buying international property, searches for Perth listings soared by more than 1000 per cent in the first half of this year.

The Shanghai-based directors of Juwai.com, Andrew Taylor and Simon Henry, originally from Queensland, said that 12 months ago Perth didn't rate at all. But since then it had experienced the biggest gains in listing searches in Australia.

Mr Henry said buyers were attracted by Australia's stable government and economy, reputation for a good lifestyle and good education centres.

"And everything just got 20 per cent cheaper with the devaluation of the Australian dollar," he said.

 He predicted mid-range apartments in Perth ($300,000 to $800,000) would be increasingly popular among the growing Chinese upper-middle class buying accommodation for their children.

"Those buyers are putting about 70 per cent of their disposable income into their children's education and sending them to universities overseas," he said. "They're mostly looking to buy, rather than rent."

Australian foreign investment laws prohibit the sale of established homes to overseas investors unless they plan to demolish the home and build new. Off-the-plan apartments and new dwellings may be bought, but foreign applicants must first apply to the Foreign Investment Review Board.

Mr Henry said with that in mind, off-the-plan apartments and new builds were both popular, though established homes for students who would be temporary residents were sometimes bought through a local family.

"They will buy through a family already resident, so the sale might start with an overseas client and the transaction will go through a local Chinese resident," he said.

L.J. Hooker was one of the first WA agencies to advertise with Juwai.com.

Hooker's regional manager, Ken Preston, said education was one of the main reasons Chinese buyers were looking at Perth. The most sought-after areas were close to universities and strong local amenities, he said.

"Murdoch and Nedlands are popular and to a lesser extent Joondalup," he said.

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WA voters kept in dark on light-rail election promise

Voters were not told of a review of the WA Government's light rail plan in the lead up to the state election. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

COLIN Barnett's showpiece light-rail election promise was under review in the lead-up to the March 9 poll - but the concerns of transport officials were kept secret from voters.

A document obtained by The Sunday Times reveals that on February 1 the Department of Transport launched an investigation into whether a cheaper rapid bus service was a better option than light rail between Perth and Mirrabooka.

"It is necessary to consider the option of providing an equivalent public transport service using a Bus Rapid Transit model over the currently proposed 22km light-rail route," the document says. "A BRT option was discounted previously in the early stages of the development of the Public Transport Plan for Perth, however, more investigation is now required to understand if the earlier assessment is correct."

The investigation  with an evaluation phase of four to six weeks  was to determine if the bus system could be built cheaper and faster and still carry the same number of passengers.

The Sunday Times has been told the evaluation is "ongoing".

But well-placed sources claim the bus system could save taxpayers up to $800 million  money that could go towards putting another storey on the new children's hospital.

Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said the Barnett Government lied to voters during the election campaign by not revealing that light rail was still up in the air.

"Why wasn't the public told about these inquiries? Instead, they were told the light rail was a sure thing," he said.

"It was a significant election issue and these reviews are done at public expense (so) I think the public deserved to be told."

Mr McGowan called on the Barnett Government to immediately release the findings of the DOT investigation when it was concluded. The document was obtained by The Sunday Times under a Freedom of Information request. Initially, the application was totally denied, but on appeal the newspaper was granted access to three out of 28 relevant documents.

Transport Minister Troy Buswell said he was aware that the department was putting together a comprehensive business case for the light rail.

But he said the Government was committed to delivering light rail and BRT "is not an option".

"Light rail is more efficient than a bus rapid transport system in areas of congestion and $15.8 million has already been allocated by state and federal governments to the engineering and design studies," he said.

A DOT spokeswoman said the February investigation was commissioned as part of standard business case process.
 
 

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WA drivers can't deal with rain

Wet weather makes it more dangerous on the roads. Picture: Alf Sorbello Source: PerthNow

IT'S no longer an urban myth - West Australians can't drive in the wet.

Figures released by Main Roads show there are 16 per cent more crashes in winter than summer.

Are WA drivers the country's worst wet-weather drivers? Leave a comment below

That's why the RAC, the state's biggest car insurer, is calling for drivers to adjust their road habits to cope with the wet weather.

"The roads are going to be slippery, you're going to need extra distance to stop and visibility will be reduced," RAC head of member advocacy Matt Brown said.

 Readers used the PerthNow Facebook page yesterday to vent their frustration with careless wet-weather drivers.

"Safer to stay off the roads, too many speeding soccer mums in SUVs that don't know how to control their vehicle," John Dix posted.

Kerrie-Lea James said drivers on the Kwinana Freeway were easily the most dangerous.

"It's the people that slow down too much that cause the problems," she wrote. "If people don't have the confidence and defensive driving skills to maintain their speed at least within 20km/h of the limit, then they shouldn't have a licence."

Another user, Liam Lk Kenny, posted: "The amount of people who drive around with their lights off and then flip you off when you flash them really baffles me."

Mr Brown said that on rainy days drivers should be extra vigilant of motor bike riders, cyclists and pedestrians, who should do everything they could to make themselves more visible.

 "Everybody needs to be extra cautious when driving in wet conditions. Turn your lights on so others can see you, be courteous to other road users and be patient," he said.

The Main Roads statewide data show there were 10,294 crashes in winter last year compared with 8871 in summer.

The seasonal increase was more pronounced in the metropolitan area, where there were 8757 crashes in winter compared with 7441 in summer.

Parts of the state were battered by a double-barrelled storm this week, which brought destructive winds and heavy rain.

SES crews received nearly 40 calls for help for storm damage in the past three days.

About 60 volunteers were called out on Friday night to make temporary repairs to homes, fix roof damage and remove fallen trees from homes, cars and fences. Damage was reported in Banksia Hill, Heathridge, Beldon, Swan View, Halls Head and Silver Sands.

Strong winds and heavy rain also caused damage in Kalgoorlie, Moora and York.

A dangerous weather warning is active this weekend between Lancelin and Windy Harbour, in the state's south.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that a deep low-pressure system could bring 100km/h winds, hail and possibly thunderstorms.

Are WA drivers the country's worst wet-weather drivers? Leave a comment below

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MPs given script for claims scandal

MPs were sent scripts on how to deal with questions about Deputy Premier Kim Hames' accommodation claims errors. Picture: Supplied

DUMPED tourism minister Kim Hames is a "very loyal" and "wise" member of the Barnett Government leadership team who "let himself down" by falsely claiming accommodation allowances, according to a PR script created for Liberal MPs to use if asked about his demotion.

The spin cheat sheet, emailed to MPs on Monday by Premier Colin Barnett's media gurus, tells them to refer to the disgraced minister as an "effective" tourism minister who had made an "impressive impact" in the portfolio during his reign.

The script also advises politicians to stress that there was a silver lining to the demotion as Dr Hames would now be able to "concentrate" on his other portfolio  health.

Meanwhile, the Barnett Government "has been a stable, honest and determined" team.

The script said politicians should say: "We have always striven to maintain the highest standards of accountability and ethical standards."

Under the heading, "Dr Hames background in tourism", it said: "Kim Hames has made an impressive impact in the tourism portfolio. He has ensured events get the funding they deserved.

"On his watch there has been millions of dollars of additional funding pumped into a whole new range of unique WA events."

Under the heading, "Points for local members," the document said: "Kim Hames has been a very loyal and effective minister, but he admits he has let himself down by not meeting the standards the Premier has set for our government.

"The Premier said Dr Hames has been a wise deputy, and a key member of our leadership group which makes today's decision all the more difficult and disappointing.

"This Government has set the bar very high for all members in terms of ethical and accountable behaviour. The Premier has consistently insisted on the highest levels of propriety. In this instance, by Minister Hames's own admission, he hasn't met those standards."

Under the heading "Dr Hames to concentrate on Health", it said: "The Government has undertaken an unprecedented building and refurbishment program, with $7 billion allocated to hospital projects.

"Dr Hames has ensured a record investment in the health budget."

A Liberal source told The Sunday Times the leaked email had been sent to MPs to "tell them what to say to the public".

The Government yesterday confirmed it had sent the email to its MPs, but claimed it "simply outlines the facts of the issue, rather than MPs having to rely on media reports".

"It does not, in any way, purport to tell MPs what to say," a spokesman for the Premier said.

Opposition Leader Mark McGowan yesterday called for an independent inquiry into the allowances scandal. Dr Hames admitted to The Sunday Times last weekend that there were four occasions when he falsely claimed accommodation allowances  including claiming $1013 for staying in Perth when he was overseas, interstate or in the north. Mr Barnett sacked him as tourism minister on Monday, but allowed him to keep the health portfolio and remain as Deputy Premier.

The email, sent to Liberal MPs on Monday, also alludes to "one or two" further instances of Dr Hames falsely claiming accommodation allowances. Yesterday, Dr Hames admitted to The Sunday Times he claimed a further $240 for being in Perth when in truth he was in Kalgoorlie on March 25, 2009.

"The review of my claims is still under way," he said. "However, other errors, including the claim made on March 25, 2009, have been identified and will be included in a public statement I will release when the review is finalised.

"This statement will also provide the full amount of what I will refund."

THE PR GUIDE GIVEN TO LIBERAL MPS BY THE PREMIER'S OFFICE TO DEAL WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT KIM HAMES:

Points for local members :

-    Kim Hames has been a very loyal and effective Minister, but he admits has let himself down by not meeting the standards the Premier has set for our government
-    The Premier said Dr Hames has been a wise deputy, and a key member of our leadership group… which makes today's decision all the more difficult and disappointing.
-    This Government has set the bar very high for all members in terms of ethical and accountable behaviour.
-    The Premier has consistently insisted on the highest levels of proprietary … in this instance, by Minister Hames's own admission, he hasn't met those standards.
-    Dr Hames has advised there may be one or two further instances but he and his office are continuing to scrutinise and review all his claims to double check that there are not any further errors

Background:

-    This has been a stable, honest and determined government.
-    We have always striven to maintain the highest standards of accountability and ethical standards
-    November 2010 – Colin Barnett tells Parliament the imprest system (introduced 1980) will be retained but modernised to tighten up eligibility for the scheme
-    August 2013 – a general determination from the SAT is due
-    Premier has now undertaken to do a review of the living away from home allowance which allows members to claim for nights they must spend away from their electorate in order to attend to parliamentary business in Perth.

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Barnett won't budge on schools plan

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and WA Premier Colin Barnett shake hands after their meeing in Perth, despite not reaching a deal on education reforms. Picture: Richard Polden Source: PerthNow

WA will not be part of the Federal Government's education reforms despite a last ditch plea from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Premier Colin Barnett today officially refused the $920 million carrot, claiming that signing up to the plan would have effectively given Canberra control over WA schools.

However this afternoon's meeting between the Premier and the Prime Minister was not all bad, with Mr Barnett saying Mr Rudd was more "conciliatory" than his predecessor.

"It was a good conversation," Mr Barnett told reporters after the 90-minute meeting.

Pictures: Kevin Rudd's day in Perth

Gillard: I was loyal to Rudd

"Obviously we talked in detail about the disability care proposals. I am hopeful we can reach agreement on the trial site here in Western Australia. The Prime Minister has said he would have a look at that.

"We also talked about schools and the major point of difference was the way the Commonwealth legislation has been put together does give the Commonwealth a huge degree of control over education at a school level.

"I am happy to have more funding into schools, particularly those that might be disadvantaged. That is admirable.

"But the West Australian government will retain control and management of its school systems."

Earlier in the day Mr Rudd said it was "just nonsense" that the states would have to report to Canberra.

"Schools are run locally," he said.

"What we simply have done with other states is agree on a line of sight for the extra money that we put into schools so that school improvement plans can be developed and then measured over time, so that you get better education outcomes for each kid. It's actually a co-investment."

Under the Better Schools funding plans, WA would have received $920 million over the next six years. $590m would have come from then federal government and $330 from the state government.

Mr Rudd said this equated to just under a million dollars extra for every WA school.

However this was not enough to convince Mr Barnett.

Despite not signing up to the education reforms, the two leaders were able to reach some understanding over the federal Government's disability care program.

Mr Barnett said the Prime Minister had agreed to consider a similar program that is currently operating the state's south-west as a trial site for the national program.

The Premier also said he found Mr Rudd to be more open to different views compared to former PM Julia Gillard.

"He was far more conciliatory," Mr Barnett said.

"Julia Gillard was very difficult to get her to change her position on anything. Some might say stubborn.

"Kevin Rudd was at least very prepared to talk very frankly and openly about the issues and I appreciate that."

Mr Rudd later launched the candidate for Perth Alannah MacTiernan's official campaign. He will be the guest speaker at a private fundraising dinner at Crown Perth tonight.

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Dying fan will never walk alone

Terminally-ill Feyenoord fan Rooie Marck is serenaded by the club's fans at a training session. Image: YouTube

IF you thought the rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' at the MCG this week was enough to bring a tear to the eye, wait until you see this.

A terminally ill fan of Dutch club Feyenoord was given the greatest surprise of his life when he turned up to watch his side being put through their paces ahead of the new season, the Daily Mail reports.

Lifelong fan Rooie Marck (which means "Red Mark") was told he had terminal cancer and had days to live, and his dying wish was to see Feyenoord again.

His friends brought him to the club's first pre-season training session in his bed, but little did he know that the huge crowd would be chanting his name, lighting flares and unleashing a huge banner of him.

Watch this touching 'You'll Never Walk Alone' tribute to a terminally-ill fan at Dutch club Feyenoord's training session.

In floods of tears, Rooie met his heroes before being helped to meet the crowd, who serenaded him with a stirring version of You'll Never Walk Alone.

Rooie died three days after the footage was filmed late last month.

You can watch it below. It's filmed on a mobile phone and is more than 10 minutes long, but believe us, it's worth the watch.

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Search for CCTV of 'train oral sex'

The Public Transport Authority is investigating claims that a woman performed oral sex on a man in front of other passengers on an Armadale Line train yesterday. Picture: Sean Middleton Source: PerthNow

PERTH transport bosses are trying to trace CCTV footage to verify claims by a commuter that she witnessed a young woman performing oral sex on a man on a peak-hour train.

A witness to the incident, who only wanted to be known as Kerry, called into radio station 6PR this morning to say the incident occurred on the Armadale line about 5.30pm yesterday.

She also said transit guards had not intervened.

``We all make jokes about the Armadale line, it is so bad, and once again it's just proven to me that it's just getting worse and worse,'' she said.

The incident comes just weeks after PerthNow exposed the extent of foul language, sexist and racist comments and shameful behaviour on Perth's train network.

David Hynes, of the Perth Transport Authority, said officials were investigating the matter ``very seriously'', and would be attempting to access the CCTV vision to back up the claims.

``This is the sort of stuff people should not have to put up with, whether you're in the Hay Street Mall, or in Northbridge or on a train, so we'll be looking into it,'' Mr Hynes said.

``We have CCTV vision on all trains; we'll track down the carriage and download the vision, find out what we can and we'll be looking into it pretty seriously, including whether our transit guards could've behaved better.''

Locating the vision could take some time, as images can only be downloaded directly from the train's hard drive, which can only be done when the train is out of service.

The shocked woman commuter told 6PR: "I witnessed a group of young…middle aged people, sitting in the middle carriages on the Armadale line."

"I was a few feet down from them and in the corner there were two people, male and female with the female giving the older male oral sex, in front of everyone in the carriages.

"The other ones (in the group) were all drinking.

"It was quite intimidating, the kids there (in the group) were very vocal and a little bit aggressive."

Kerry said there were two school children on the carriage when the incident took place.

She said there were transit guards on the train in another carriage at the time, but they did not intervene and actually walked away from her after she confronted them as she got off the train.

"I don't want my children on the Armadale line…it's just so bad, it's getting worse and worse," Kerry said.

Opposition transport spokesman Ken Travers said the incident demonstrated the need for a text messaging service for passengers that people can use when they need help.

Currently passengers on Perth trains can call a dedicated number if they witness anti-social behaviour occurring.
"Who is going to ring that number and say there are two people having sex?" Mr Travers asked.

"What I have consistently said is to have a phone number the passengers can text to say we need assistance.

"This woman said she was too intimated to ring the (current) number.

"Yesterday's incident completely highlights the benefits of such a system."

 The PTA today hit back at calls for an SMS emergency system and said a trial in 2007 found it to be unsuitable.

"The SMS is unsuitable because there can be a delay between the text being sent and the information being received," spokesman David Hynes said.

"In practice, the information supplied via SMS was usually insufficient for our security people to know precisely where the incident happened.

"In the trial, we often had to send a message back to the passenger to get these details, this is not possible if the sending number is blocked which can be the case, especially with private phones even if it is not blocked, the passenger might not know the required details, or be in a position to respond to a text.

"In summary, our trial found that an SMS emergency service would be unreliable. An unreliable service is possibly worse than none at all as it leads to the expectation that help is on the way, when this may not be the case."

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Perth cops another night of wild weather

Wild winds, thunderstorms, heavy rain, and possible hail are forecast for Friday night. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

THE second part of a double-barrelled storm system will bring destructive winds, heavy rain and possible hail to Perth and the South West overnight.

The weather bureau is warning of thunderstorms, wild winds whipping up to 110km/h in parts, heavy rain and possible hail on Friday night.

It comes after a storm battered the metropolitan area and the South West in the early hours of Friday.

Friday night forecast

Cloudy. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. Damaging winds possible. Possible hail and heavy falls. Winds westerly 30 to 40 km/h, decreasing to 25 to 30 km/h in the late evening.

Saturday forecast

Max: 19. Min: 9. Partly cloudy. Scattered showers contracting to the coast in the late afternoon. Isolated thunderstorms in the morning with possible hail and gusty winds. Damaging winds possible in the morning. Winds westerly 30 to 45 km/h tending southwesterly in the morning then becoming light in the late evening.

DFES warning

At 3:30pm the Bureau of Meteorology advises that a cold front lies just off the west coast with an associated deep low to the south of the state.

The front will move across the region this evening and the deep low will move towards the southern coastline towards sunrise on Saturday.

The passage of the front is likely to result in widespread damaging winds to 110 kilometres per hour that could result in damage to homes and property over an area west of a line Kalbarri to Dalwallinu to York to Bunbury extending to west of a line Kalbarri to Paynes Find to Hyden to Bunbury in the evening.

This system is likely to produce high sustained winds and frequent squalls with showers and thunderstorms.

Conditions are expected to ease towards midnight as the front moves inland and weakens but as the deep low approaches the south coast, showers and thunderstorms are again likely to produce widespread damaging winds to 110 kilometres per hour that could result in damage to homes and property over an area southwest of a line Gingin to York to Walpole between 4:00am and 10:00am.

Small hail is also possible with thunderstorms.

Large swells will lead to dangerous surf conditions which could cause significant beach erosion along the west coast south of Kalbarri.

SES crews kept busy

SES volunteers are on standby ahead of the oncoming severe weather.

The SES received 22 requests for assistance in the Perth metropolitan area caused by the Friday morning storm activity, including eight calls from Wanneroo and five from Mandurah.

The most significant damage was a patio blown off a house in Heathridge and a chimney collapse in Como.

Southern capes, Perth coast lashed by high winds

The South West capes and Perth coast were lashed by high winds early on Friday morning with Cape Leeuwin recording a maximum gust of 98km/h at 8.35am with consistent gusts up to 82km/h since about 6am.

Nearby Cape Naturaliste has also been buffeted by 50km/h-80km/h winds most of the night with a top gust of 78km/h at 8.40am.

Rottnest Island has been buffeted by gusts to 96km/h mid-morning after repeated gusts up to 85km/h from around 9.45am. Ocean Reef recorded a gust of 89km/h at 10.09am after an earlier 82km/h gust.

Mandurah was blasted by 65km/h wind gusts.

DFES warned residents in the south-west of corner of WA to prepare for dangerous weather last night.

See PerthNow weather for the latest live radar, storm warning and seven-day forecast

Mt William, in the Dwellingup state forest, had the state's highest fall with 36mm.

In the South West, most centres recorded 10mm to 20mm with Boyanup 23mm, Henty Brook 22mm, Collie 21mm, Witchcliffe 18mm and Busselton 15mm.

Rainfalls, between 5mm-12mm got through to the Great Southern, while farmers in the Central Wheatbelt got 5mm-10mm. Grain growers will by buoyed by recent rains which have revived hopes of a successful harvest.

RAINS ADD LITTLE TO DAMS

Despite heavy rains in the last two weeks, Perth's dam levels remain at their second lowest since 2006.

A Water Corporation spokeswoman said recent rains had made "minimal difference" to the dam levels, which currently sit at 155.66 gigalitres.

In 2011, the July dam levels were at their lowest since 2006, with just 149.27 gigalitres.

"The ground is just so dry, it's acting like a sponge, there's no run off," the spokeswoman said.

She said in the last few years, run off from winter rains had been so lacking, rainfall was no longer the primary water source for Perth which is why there had been such a large investment in desalination plants.

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WA economy to slow

The WA economy is facing a slowdown, according to the CCI WA. Picture: Supplied

WA'S peak business body says economic growth will ease in the next two years as business investment continues to slow down.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA today released its quarterly outlook downgrading the state's economic growth to 5.75 per cent in 2013-14 from 6.5 per cent previously forecast.

The chamber, which has lobbied both State and Federal Governments to help deal with the high cost of doing business in the state, said a second wave of investment projects was less likely because of the "high cost environment".

CCI WA chief economist John Nicolaou said while there was a strong investment pipeline many of the projects were moving to the final stages of construction and business investment levels would return to "normal levels".

Business investment jumped by 10 per cent in 2012-13, fuelling the state's economic growth of 6.25 per cent, according to CCIWA predictions.

Though investment in expanding projects may be over the business body expects the additional capacity created to result in a 9 per cent growth in exports during 2013-14 and 8 per cent in 2014-15.

Dwelling investment, which grew by 4 per cent in 2012-13, is also tipped to jump by 8 per cent this financial year and 2 per cent the following year.

The state's booming population will also help increase consumer spending, forecast to grow by 4.5 per cent in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Unemployment was also predicted to average 4.5 per cent over the next two financial years.

Despite that CCIWA warned the decline in business and consumer confidence was a potential risk to the state's economic growth.

"An extended period of low confidence could work to reduce investment, particularly in the SME sector, as well as spending and dwelling investment by consumers," it said.

However, Mr Nicolaou said the lower rates of growth in coming years were not "a cause for alarm" as the fundamentals of the economy remained strong.

"We have an environment of low interest rates, increasing incomes, strong population growth and low unemployment," he said.

"This is already providing the conditions for stronger activity across other sectors of the economy, which will set us on a more sustainable growth over the longer term."
 

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Boy, 11, dies 'driving to meet bus'

A young boy died last night in WA's Great Southern after the car he was driving on a rural property hit a tree and overturned.

An 11-year-old boy has died in the car he was driving on a farm in Frankland River, about 340km south-east of Perth. Source: PerthNow

A YOUNG boy died last night in WA's Great Southern after the car he was driving on a rural property hit a tree and overturned.

The incident occurred about 4.30pm in the small town of Frankland River, about 340km south-east of Perth.

It is believed 11-year-old boy and his nine-year-old sister were driving on the property's driveway to meet the school bus when they crashed.

The girl was flown to Perth for medical treatment to an arm injury.

Frankland River is a small farming community about 46km west of Cranbrook, and 18km north of Rocky Gully.

In a separate incident late yesterday a 27-year-old Margaret River man died after the Holden Commodore he was driving hit a tree in Binningup, about 150km south of Perth.

Police say the man was travelling south on Old Coast Road about 7pm when he lost control and hit a tree on the centre median strip.

The man, who was the only person in the car, died at the scene.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or the vehicle prior to the crash is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The latest deaths bring the road toll this year to 94, compared to 100 at the same time last year. It is believed the 11-year-old's death won't be counted in the statistics as it occurred on a farm.

 

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