'Untidy' hair causes race stir

WA school was forced to apologise over a racial discrimination complaint lodged by a family whose child was told their hair was "untidy". File image. Source: Supplied

A WA school was forced to apologise over a racial discrimination complaint lodged by a family whose child was told their hair was "untidy".

The child's mother argued that "because of her child's mixed cultural heritage, the child had naturally curly hair".

She pulled the student out of the school before lodging the complaint with the Equal Opportunity Commission.

The school apologised over the incident and agreed to change its hair policy "to recognise that while students do need to retain high standards of grooming, students do have different cultural and ethnic characteristics".

The incident was among a growing number of complaints lodged by young West Australians aged under 19 years with the commission.

In the past year, 43 complaints have been made by that age group, with impairment, age and sex discrimination making up the majority of incidents. That total was up from just 22 complaints three years ago.

Acting Commissioner Allanah Lucas said many educational institutions and organisations were developing cultural awareness, but many needed to work more with parents, teachers and students.

"It doesn't give you all the answers but if you don't know anything about the changing demographic around you then, yes, you're going to make assumptions - and then, of course, there are these continued stereotypes in our community," she said.

"That's the one thing that has hit me - when people are themselves ignorant they will act in an ignorant way. It's actually ignorance we need to deal with and somehow give people the information, the opportunity to get some sort of understanding."

Ms Lucas said she was concerned that pregnancy discrimination was emerging as an issue for young women in the workplace.

"There is that unconscious bias there, which is very sad to hear in 2013," she said.

Ms Lucas said the greatest challenge was proving complaints, urging young West Australians to document possible discrimination and keep any paperwork or text messages.

Among the other complaints included a grandmother who claimed that her grandmother was not allowed to attend a school camp because of her impairment. That issue was resolved after discussions were held.

Another young student received a $1000 ex-gratia payment from her employer and a written apology after saying she was subjected to unwanted sexual comments while working as a waitress and over text message.

yasmine.phillips@news.com.au

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Hayley mum shocked by rape connection

Hayley Dodd's mother Margaret pictured in Mandurah. PICTURE: Daniel Wilkins Source: News Limited

THE mother of missing teenager Hayley Dodd says she had no idea the Badgingarra property being searched for her daughter's body was once owned by a convicted rapist.

Margaret Dodd said the first she heard about the connection was through the media on Friday.

It is the latest twist in the Mandurah mother's 14 year fight for answers over her daughter's disappearance.

Yesterday, on what should have been Hayley's 32nd birthday, Ms Dodd issued a new plea for anyone involved in her daughter's disappearance to come forward.

She thanked police for carrying out a fresh search of the Badgingarra property, 220km north of Perth.

The property in less than 1km from where 17-year-old Hayley vanished in 1999.

"I don't know who police think is responsible, but they have got significant information that has made that place of interest," Mrs Dodd told The Sunday Times.

"If it is someone who used to live at that property, I would say, 'C'mon, it's been long enough now. Tell us where Hayley is. We just want her home. It would mean absolutely everything to the whole family'."

WA Police returned to Badgingarra on Wednesday to search a rural property once owned by 57-year-old Francis John Wark.

Wark is serving a 12-year jail term for the abduction and rape of a 32-year-old woman in North Queensland in 2007.

Court documents reveal Wark offered the woman a lift after seeing her walking along a north Queensland highway.

He then took her to his house, where he hit her over the head twice with a piece of wood before sexually assaulting her for several hours.

The ordeal only stopped when the woman managed to break free from a rope restraint and reach a neighbour's house for help.

Wark sold the Badgingarra property shortly after Hayley's disappearance. It has been reported he told neighbours he was suffering from lung cancer and wanted to be near family in Queensland.

WA police are remaining tight-lipped as to whether or not Wark is a suspect in Hayley's disappearance.

Ms Dodd said she believed the developments in the case were the most significant to date.

"At least police are investigating it and they're doing it thoroughly and I thank them for that," she said.

"I've only ever wanted them to do the job."

Ms Dodd said she was trying not to get her hopes up.

"If there's nothing in it (then) I'm going to come down with a real big bang," she said.

"People say time heals. No it doesn't. You just learn to live with the hurt.

"If we find Hayley we know where she is, and we know what's definitely happened to her.

"But she's not here. It's never going to end because she's never going to be back here're with us. She's not going to come down and take her nieces and nephews out. She's never going to come and have a cup of coffee."

WA police Commander Scott Higgins said the search at the Badgingarra house was based on "new facts", which had led to several people being interviewed also.

"We can't legally conduct this kind of search without facts - and we have some significant information,'' Commander Higgins said on Thursday.

Police have so far been reluctant to give details of the people being questioned, only to say there is more than one and some of them had been interviewed before.

They also confirmed they had visited the property before, but had not searched it in detail.

Yesterday, Hayley's sister Toni Dodd said she was feeling "mixed emotions".

"It's been really hard because you don't know if it's another false hope," she said.

"We want her to be found so we can lay her to rest.

"I'm just hoping they find something and they find something soon because every day that goes past is just longer and longer that we're waiting for answers."

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Doctor qualifications can't be verified

Report says there are "systemic" problems with the credentialling protocols across the public health system. File image. Source: News Limited

A SECRET report reveals there is a high risk that WA doctors are treating patients without proper skills because there is no statewide database to track their qualifications.

The report says there are "systemic" problems with the credentialling protocols across the public health system, including a shortage of staff to monitor doctor qualifications and lack of oversight for foreign doctors.

It warns the process is so bad there is also a "high" risk the Health Department is breaching the State Records Act.

The report, obtained by The Sunday Times through Freedom of Information laws, said an audit was "unable to sight" evidence verifying the skills of four doctors working at regional hospitals.

Another 18 doctors in the WA Country Health Service were given jobs before the credentialling process had started.

The audit said the state of the 22 doctors should be investigated "urgently".

Fears about the qualifications of four doctors at Royal Perth Hospital were also raised.

"Senior management may be unaware of any clinicians operating within the health system without the appropriate credentials," the report said.

The audit said administration support for the credentialling committee was poor.

At King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women there is no dedicated support person for the committee. There is also no formal training provided to credentialling staff.

The report has been kept secret since it was given to Health Department executives in April 2012.

"While there are varied methods of recording medical practitioner credentialling data, there is no system-wide data base," it said.

"The absence of a system-wide credentialling data base is seen by (the) Audit as the most pressing matter."

Opposition health spokesman Roger Cook said the findings were "explosive".

"West Australians should be able to go to their local hospitals confident that the doctor they see is qualified to treat them," Mr Cook said.

A Health Department spokesman said work on a database had progressed since the report.

"Following a competitive tender process, a company has been selected to supply a Credentialling and Scope of Clinical Practice data system to WA Health," he said.

"The launch of the new system will be staged, with the South Metropolitan Health Service expected to use the system in early 2014."

The spokesman said other than those identified in the report, no other medical practitioners had been found to be working without proper credentials since the report.

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Register for 'high risk' e-drivers

Mitchell Walsh-McDonald leaves Perth Magistrates Court in August. The review into the EDL system was sparked after The Sunday Times revealed the Dot didn't oppose an e-licence application from him last year. Source: News Limited

A NEW register will be set up to vet "high risk" drivers applying for extraordinary licences to curb the number of dangerous motorists getting back on our roads.

The high risk applications would be referred to the State Solicitors Office so the state's top lawyers could argue against their case.

The tough new approach comes after The Sunday Times revealed the Department of Transport did not do enough to stop a notorious driver, whose reckless actions behind the wheel killed a young girl, from successfully applying for an E-Licence.

Transport Minister Troy Buswell ordered a review after these revelations.

A DoT memo obtained by The Sunday Times shows the review found a litany of problems with how E-Licences were granted, including:

- Important documents, like character references from doctors and employers, are not made available to Dot prosecutors until moments before court proceedings.

- There are "major inconsistencies" with regards to how long offenders must wait before applying for an EDL were also identified. For example, a person convicted of dangerous driving causing death can apply within 21 days yet a person charged with drink driving must wait one month.

- Regional courts are not routinely updating the DoT on the success of applications.

The review made several recommendations, including the new high risk register and for DoT prosecutors be mentored and coached by more experienced lawyers.

It comes as latest figures show 71 per cent of all E-Licence applications lodged in WA this year have been approved - a slight increase from the 69 per cent approved in 2012.

The Sunday Times revealed in August that the DoT didn't oppose an E-Licence application by serial drink-driver Mitchell Walsh-McDonald last year.

Walsh-McDonald was granted the licence despite a history that included knocking down and killing schoolgirl Jess Meehan 10 years ago. He was acquitted of a charge of dangerous driving causing Jess Meehan's death but admitted driving under the influence and driving without a licence.

The department initially claimed it opposed his application last year. But an investigation by The Sunday Times found the department gave the court reasons why it should be granted.

As a result Walsh-McDonald was able to get back behind the wheel until he was caught drink-driving again, his seventh offence. Four months ago he pleaded guilty to drink-driving, talking on his mobile phone while driving and breaching two conditions of his licence.

A DoT spokeswoman said this week: "The purpose of DoT's internal vetting process is to identify applications that could be deemed high risk to the public, based on consideration of the applicant's driving record and the circumstances of the case."

The spokeswoman said the DoT would refer applications to the SSO as necessary, but the "majority" of applications would still be processed "as routine business".

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Tenant feels wrath over DJ letter

The original letter sent to tenants (left) and the response Unit 14 received. Source: PerthNow

The letter left for a tenant in a Northbridge unit complex after he informed them of a party he was having. Source: PerthNow

A NORTHBRIDGE man has suffered the wrath of his neighbours after announcing he will have a DJ perform at his rented unit over two days.

Retail manager Cina Ghiassi thought he would be "courteous" and place a notice in the elevator of the large residential complex, announcing his plans.

"Hey Neighbours," he wrote.

"Just letting everyone know we'll (unit 14) be having a party on the 30th Nov and 1st Dec from 12pm-3pm for the Stereosonic Festival.

"If you'd like to get in touch about any details or make a complaint about it being too loud, better tell us than the police."

The 26-year-old retail manager said he was shocked by the response.

"Take that s*** outside," one neighbour wrote on the note.

"R U OUT OF YOUR MIND?" wrote another.

One neighbour popped a letter under his door addressed "To the idiots living in Unit 14".

But Mr Ghiassi, who moved into the unit complex one month ago, said he can't understand what all the fuss is about.

He said an updated note, explaining that the DJ would perform on the balcony, didn't help.

"It's just kind of blown out of proportion at the moment," he said.

"I couldn't imagine the cops rocking up at a party at 12 to 3 in the afternoon."

Mr Ghiassi has since said he will no longer be using a DJ, after the building strata manager contacted his landlord - who happens to be his sister.

But he still plans to pump out the music.

"What's the difference between having a DJ and having loud music?

"It will be on par.

"You'd think when you live in Northbridge, right between Rosie O'Grady's and the Paramount, the last thing you'd complain about is the noise.

"But if a neighbour knocks on the door and complains about it, I will turn it down out of courtesy."

A City of Perth spokesman said whether the proposed noise might be in breach of the regulations is assessed on a range of factors associated with the particular location such as proximity to neighbours.

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Rapist link to Hayley Dodd case

The massive search for the remains of teenager Hayley Dodd, who vanished 14 years ago was sparked by significant new information, police say. Courtesy: Nine News

THE Badgingarra property being searched by police near where near where Hayley Dodd went missing in 1999 used to be owned by a convicted rapist.

Francis John Wark, 57, is reportedly serving a 12-year jail sentence for abducting and repeatedly assaulting a 32-year-old woman in Queensland in 2007.

The victim of the Queensland attack was hitch-hiking on a lonely country road when she was taken - just like Hayley.

It's been reported that she was offered a lift and then taken back to the offender's home, where she was hit over the head and tied up.

The ordeal last hours and only ended when she managed to break free and run away from the offender.

Hayley Dodd, who disappeared from remote North West Road, near Badgingarra in July 1999.

Seven News reported that in the months after Hayley's disappearance the former property owner left town after telling neighbours he had lung cancer and wanted to be near his family.

A WA Police spokesman told PerthNow he could not comment on operational matters of the case.

Police won't confirm or deny if the Wark is a suspect in the Dodd case.

For the past few days police have been scouring a farming property on North West Road in Badgingarra near where Hayley went missing in July 1999.

Police search a property near Badgingarra this week after a break in the Hayley Dodd case.

Hayley was 17 when she was last seen in July 1999 walking along North West Road about 200km north of Perth, after picking up a lift while hitchhiking from Dongara.

Nobody has ever been charged in relation to her disappearance.

Police officers descended on the Badgingarra property on Wednesday and are using ground penetrating radar machines looking for Hayley's remains.

Earlier today, Hayley's sister posted a heartfelt tribute to her sibling on Facebook writing "I really hope this time we get some answers", as police continue searching a property near where the teenager went missing 14 years ago.

Police search a property near Badgingarra this week after a break in the Hayley Dodd case.

In an emotional Facebook post last night Hayley's sister Toni wrote: "Hayley my beautiful sister … I really hope this time we get some answers."

"I wish we didn't have to go through this but we are and it's real, we are hurting, we are hoping, we are praying.

"I don't know what to think or what to do, I don't know what to feel, I'm lost, I'm hurt nothing makes sense, I want my sister back.

"I want to see your smile again, I know deep down that's not going to happen but I just want it to all be a nightmare that we haven't been able to wake up from."

WA police Commander Scott Higgins confirmed yesterday the search at the Badgingarra house was based on "new facts", which had led to several people being interviewed also.

"We can't legally conduct this kind of search without facts - and we have some significant information,'' Commander Higgins said on Thursday

Police have so far been reluctant to give details of the people being questioned, only to say there is more than one and some of them had been interviewed before.

They also confirmed they had visited the property before, but had not searched it in detail.

In an interview with PerthNow in June this year Hayley's mum Margaret Dodd said she hoped a coronial inquest, set down for January next year, would finally bring her and her family some closure.

Mrs Dodd described the past 14 years without her daughter as "mentally challenging'' and said there was no doubt in her mind Hayley had been abducted.

"It's been absolutely traumatic for the family and I find it heartbreaking that my other children have to live without any answers," Mrs Dodd said in June.

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Ex attacked mum before she vanished

Police show a picture of Nicole Bates at a press conference. Source: News Limited

A MOTHER who was found buried in an unmarked bush grave 18 days after she vanished was attacked by her ex-boyfriend in a shopping centre car park the day before she disappeared, a court has been told.

Bradley Wayne Harvey is on trial in the Supreme Court charged with the murder of his former partner Nicole Bates in February 2012.

His co-accused Michael Kurdziel is also on trial, fighting a charge of grievous bodily harm and being an accessory to the alleged murder of the 32-year-old mother of four.

The pair are accused of luring Ms Bates to Mr Kurdziel's home where she was killed, then driving her body to the Gnangara pine plantation where it was buried.

This morning, Ms Bates' housemate at the time of her disappearance, Grant Cherry, told the jury she came to live with him in Morley after she was kicked out of a home she was staying at with Mr Harvey and another friend.

He said she moved in about a month and a half before her disappearance on February 28, 2012.

Mr Cherry told the jury that the day before Ms Bates' disappearance, the housemates went to Morley Galleria shopping centre.

He said as they were getting out of the car, Mr Harvey "appeared out of nowhere" and "tackled" Ms Bates.

"Nicole was just hysterically screaming," Mr Cherry said.

"I got between them to stop him from doing what he was doing to Nicole."

Mr Cherry said as Mr Harvey backed away from them, he had a clenched fist "like he was going to hit me" and then walked off.

The jury then heard Mr Cherry read out two text messages he received from Mr Harvey that same day.

One of the messages threatened Mr Cherry with "you better start fixing her bill".

"He has accused her of owing him money," Mr Cherry said.

Later that day, the front window of Mr Cherry's house was smashed with a rock by a man Mr Cherry recognised as knowing Ms Bates.

He said Nicole had another friend come over and his work car was parked on the verge.

"We were out the back and we heard smashing, we ran through the house and looked out the front of the house and heard another smash," Mr Cherry said.

Both the windscreen and side window of Ms Bates' friend's car had been hit.

The next day, February 28, Mr Cherry said he took Ms Bates to the Stirling Central Shopping Centre in Westminster after she asked him to drive her to Westminster to give drugs to Mr Kurdziel.

He told the court he parked in the shopping centre car park that connected to Rotherfield Road by a footpath.

Mr Cherry said he told Ms Bates he would drive from the centre to Rotherfield to pick her up once she was done and she walked up the footpath.

Mr Cherry said he never saw Ms Bates come out of a house.

He started driving up and down Rotherfield Road to find her when he saw Mr Harvey walking.

He said he kept following Mr Harvey in his car, asking him about Ms Bates, when eventually Mr Harvey told him "the next time you see Nicole she may be dead".

"I was yelling at him, 'what do you mean?'" Mr Cherry said.

Earlier this morning, counsel for Mr Harvey and Mr Kurdziel gave their opening addresses.

Mr Harvey's barrister Simon Freitag made admissions that his client had done "a disgusting and abhorrent" by burying Ms Bates' body, but that did not make him a murderer.

"There are other reasons why you might want to conceal a death, and one that springs to mind is you might be unjustly blamed for the death," Mr Freitag said.

Mr Kurdziel's lawyer Steven Shadgett said his client got dragged in to the crime because he had been threatened by Mr Harvey.

"He saw Ms Bates get punched, he saw he saw her stabbed, he saw her hit the floor," Mr Shadgett said.

Mr Shadgett said Mr Kurdziel then was "obliged" to help bury the body because "of the sheer horror of what he had seen".

The trial continues.

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Man killed on freeway

A man has died after being hit by a truck on the Mitchelle Freeway.

Traffic backed up on the Mitchell Freeway after fatal crash. Source: Supplied

The traffic chaos building on the Mitchell Freeway after a man was hit by a truck earlier today. Picture: Ten News Perth Source: Supplied

A man has died after being reportedly hit by a truck on the Mitchell Freeway. Source: News Limited

A MAN has died after being hit by a truck on the Mitchell Freeway, causing peak hour traffic chaos.

It's believed the man was hit just before 3pm after stepping into the path of traffic while holding a fuel can.

The victim, believed to be in his 40s, was taken to Joondalup Health Campus but has since died from his injuries.

Northbound lanes of the freeway have been closed between Hepburn and Whitfords Ave. Traffic is being diverted from the freeway onto Hepburn Ave.

Latest Main Roads information shows heavy traffic from Vincent to Powis St and Warwick Rd to Hepburn Ave.

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Is this the world's tiniest bikini?

Miranda Kerr donned that famously tiny Chanel bra for i-D magazine. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

IS it a bra or is it a bikini?

We're not entirely sure. But it's certainly teeny tiny, and our very own Miranda Kerr is wearing it.

The Aussie beauty posed in the barely-there item for fashion publication i-D magazine to celebrate the launch of their new digital venture.

The bikini first became famous when British model Stella Tennant wore it on the runway back in 1996, instantly boosting her to supermodel status.

British model Stella Tennant braved an even tinier version back in 1996. Picture: Fashion Channel Source: Supplied

Kerr, 30, was joined by model of the moment Cara Delevingne, Lara Stone, Natalia Vodianova, Joan Smalls, Lindsey Wixson and 20 other models for a short film covering the mag's favourite slogans over 33 years of covers, the A to Z of Wink.

Unsurprisingly, Miranda was B for 'Babewatch'.

Super models Miranda Kerr and Cara Delevingne have helped i-D launch its new digital platform by shooting a video called the 'A-Z of Wink!'. Courtesy i-D.com

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'Grumpy old man' not serious about hit

Brian Vincent Attwell (left), 73, and his son leave the Albany Courthouse, where Attwell is facing trial. Picture: AAP. Source: AAP

THERE is compelling evidence an elderly, wealthy businessman made arrangements to have his estranged daughter-in-law killed and his suggestion it was all "huff and puff" is ridiculous, a West Australian court has heard.

The Albany Courthouse trial of Brian Vincent Attwell, 73, is nearing its end, with closing submissions made on Thursday morning.

Attwell has been charged with the rare offence of attempting to procure the commission of a crime, namely the murder of Michelle Patreena Attwell, who has been embroiled in a bitter legal dispute with the accused's son following their marriage break-up.

While Attwell has testified that hateful comments he made - including to an undercover policeman posing as a hitman named "Josh", saying he wanted her strangled, buried 30 feet under or burnt in her car - were all "huff and puff".

But state prosecutor James MacTaggart said the expression was ridiculous and meaningless.

The court has heard Attwell paid the policeman $10,000 as a down payment on a $30,000 hit, a sum dismissed by the accused as "minuscule".

Attwell just wanted his target frightened and viewed the payment as a "trifling matter", defence lawyer Tom Percy said, "... a deposit of little significance designed to keep the lines of communication open".

But Mr MacTaggart said the policeman had been "paid to do one thing, and one thing only".

Attwell had turned intent into execution that was "more than preparatory", he said.

Despite Josh being provided with Ms Attwell's address and general description, the accused was not committed to having her killed as he had not provided a photograph, Mr Percy argued.

Mr MacTaggart said the suggestion that the policeman wasn't provided with sufficient information was preposterous.

"By the time he'd had two meetings with Josh, he'd done all he could ... to have Ms Attwell murdered."

He said the policeman had even given Attwell an opportunity to back out, saying: "You want her gone, yeah?"

"Yeah, without a doubt," Attwell replied, not realising the conversation was being recorded.

Mr Percy said the accused was just frustrated with his son's ex-wife and was prone to exaggeration, bravado, fanciful bluster and big talk.

"He talked the talk, but the question for you is if he was ever going to walk the walk," he told the jury.

"Had he crossed the Rubicon?

"Had it got to the point of no return? No.

"The decision not to give Josh a photo was intended to ensure he couldn't find Michelle.

"Without a photo... without a final phone call, nothing was going to happen."

Mr Percy said the case was an artifice, constructed by police. And his client was "a crotchety old bugger", but was not homicidal.

"You may think he's a classic grumpy old man, but he's not on trial for that."

The trial continues.

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