Green light for Roe Hwy truck toll

An Abbott Government source said it strongly favoured a toll on commercial heavy vehicles. Source: News Limited

WA is set to get its first toll road as part of a deal that would see the controversial Roe Highway extension in the southern suburbs go ahead with hundreds of millions of dollars from the Federal Government.

The Sunday Times can reveal the Barnett and Abbott governments have been working on an agreement ahead of the Federal Budget that would see the Commonwealth pay for the bulk of the $600 million project on condition that a toll on commercial heavy vehicles using the road is introduced.

The Premier has repeatedly said he is against the introduction of tolls to alleviate traffic congestion in WA.

But, it is understood his government is open to a toll that doesn't affect "mums and dads".

The 5km extension – which connects Roe Hwy from the Kwinana Fwy in Jandakot to Stock Rd in Coolbellup – is considered the most contentious road project in WA.

Environmentalists and the Opposition argue it is a waste of money and will cause significant damage to the sensitive Beeliar Wetlands.

Where the proposed Roe 8 road will be built.

But supporters say it is necessary to get heavy trucks travelling to and from Fremantle Port away from suburban areas and reduce traffic congestion on major roads like Leach Highway.

Main Roads predicts up to 75,000 vehicles could use the extension every day by 2031.

Premier Colin Barnett said late last year the project would not be built "in this term of Government".

However, The Sunday Times has been told by several Liberal sources the Federal Government is willing to pay for the "bulk" of the project if Mr Barnett agrees to the introduction of the toll.

The deal would be contained in the Federal Budget on May 13.

Transport Minister Dean Nalder, whose electorate could benefit from the Roe Hwy extension, confirmed he was in "ongoing" discussions with the Abbott Government about the project.

His office also confirmed it was "exploring" what contributions the commercial heavy vehicles industry could make in exchange for "increased productivity and road use".

Would you support a freight toll to extend Roe Highway?

An Abbott Government source said it strongly favoured a toll on commercial heavy vehicles. Mr Nalder has not ruled out such a toll.

"Our position on tolls is very clear: There will not be a toll for private cars," Mr Nalder said.

"I would expect any additional charge to the freight industry would need to be a win-win for government and industry."

A spokeswoman for federal Treasurer Joe Hockey said: "We don't comment on Budget speculation."

Labor's transport spokesman Ken Travers said it would "open the door" to the State Government introducing more toll roads across WA.

"Mr Barnett promised public transport at the last state election and that is what he should be demanding Mr Abbott funds for WA," he said.

In the state's north, a concessional loading scheme sees some mining companies pay for a special permit to carry extra loads.

Transporters pay a set number of cents per tonne per kilometre when they run on state roads. This funding is then used to maintain the road.

WA Treasurer Mike Nahan, whose Riverton electorate is also affected, said the Barnett Government would welcome a "significant contribution" from the Abbott Government.

The Greens' Lynn MacLaren said the Liberal governments had signed up for a "large environmental battle".

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Disgraced Troy was living it large

Election coverage in the seat of Vasse in Western Australia. pictured is Liberal Candidate Troy Buswell Source: News Limited

TROY Buswell and his chief-of-staff were living it large on a taxpayer-funded credit card, escaping to the French countryside during a "fact finding" light rail mission — at the same time that WA lost its prestigious AAA credit rating.

Credit card documents, obtained under Freedom of Information laws, show that the fallen Treasurer and Rachael Turnseck racked up almost $14,000 on hotels, meals, laundry and airport transfers during the two-week trip in August-September last year, which included time in Asia.

At one point, Mr Buswell and Ms Turnseck toured the French countryside, staying at the tiny hamlet of Vrigny in the famous Ardennes region — which is world acclaimed for its fine dining and champagne houses, including Moet-Chandon and Veuve Clicquot.

They also dined at nearby Tinquex where the bill for Mr Buswell, Ms Turnseck and Public Transport Authority director Mark Burgess's dinner blew out to more than $780.

Vineyards near Fuisse, Burgundy, in France Source: Supplied

The region, although well known for its French champagne and culinary experiences, is, according to the State Opposition, less famous for its public transport infrastructure. "While there are no trams or light rails operating in outlying villages like Vrigny, the major regional centre of Reims does have a tram — one of 26 tram or light rail transit systems operating across France," shadow treasurer Ben Wyatt said.

"Let's not forget that Mr Buswell went on this junket days after presenting the 2013-14 Budget where he abandoned election promises, cut services and increases State taxes.

"I think any Western Australian would be aghast that Mr Buswell demanded cuts to frontline services, then dashed off to the champagne headquarters of France to spend $781 for a meal."

The two-week jaunt to Europe and Asia happened just after last year's August State Budget and during September — the same month WA lost its AAA credit rating.

It is understood that two public servants — the head of Fisheries and the managing director of the Public Transport Authority — also went on the taxpayer-funded trip.

Premier Colin Barnett promoted the trip as "investigating light rail systems in Europe".

Prior to taking the trip, Mr Buswell told West Australians a "very tough fiscal environment" required "short-term belt tightening".

He had also announced that "non-essential" government travel would be temporarily banned to help WA "live within our means".

The full cost of Mr Buswell's trip is not known.

The office of Mr Barnett yesterday refused to release a report on the trip, which was submitted in January.

A spokeswoman said the report would be "tabled shortly".

The August-September study trip to Switzerland, France and Germany with stopovers in China was the former treasurer's second trip looking at light rail.

In 2011, he visited Germany, Singapore, Sweden and Norway — costing the taxpayer $33,559.

But in December last year, Mr Buswell shelved the light rail project after a review of the state's finances.

Mr Wyatt called on Mr Barnett to "immediately release the entire details of the cost" of the trip.

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Illegal workers target of dawn raids

Over 180 foreign nationals are being questioned after a massive organised crime bust involving nine government agencies in Perths north.

MORE than 180 foreign nationals are being questioned after a massive organised crime bust involving nine government agencies in Perth's north.

Police seized cashed and firearms during dawn raids as part of what they described as a complex investigation involving money laundering and illegal foreign workers.

Officers from WA Police, the Australian Federal Police, Australian Crime Commission, Department of Immigration, Corruption and Crime Commission, Customs and Border Protection, the tax office, Australian Securities and Investments Commission and the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre are involved.

Simultaneous raids were carried out in Victoria in connection with the same operation.

Carabooda organised crime raids. Police smashed down heavy metal gates of a Carabooda tomato farm and executed search warrants this morning. Pictures: WA Police

In Perth, most of the attention was focused on the semi-rural suburb of Carabooda, north of Joondalup.

Early this morning police smashed in the heavy metal gates of a Carabooda tomato farm on Safari Place and executed a series of other search warrants.

Just after 10am, a mini bus arrived escorted by a police car. The bus had half a dozen people on board who hid their faces from media, while one waved his arms.

Carabooda organised crime raids. A strong police presence remains at the property. Picture: WA Police.

Computers have also been seized and property searches are continuing.

Police are working with staff from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection to identify suspected illegal workers.

Police issued a statement which said: "Government agencies attached to Project Tricord and Operation Polo executed a series of search warrants this morning as part of their ongoing efforts to identify, target and dismantle organised crime syndicates operating in WA.

Carabooda organised crime raids. Infra-red image of police raiding a Carabooda property early this morning. Picture: WA Police.

"Members of the public are advised not to be concerned by the increased police presence, which is expected to remain in place in Carabooda for a number of hours."

Staff at nearby Benara Nurseries, also on Sarafi Place, said police locked them out of their workplace early this morning.

But the business is trading as normal now.

Carabooda organised crime raids. Police raid a property at Safari Place, Carabooda. Picture: Theo Fakos

Staff said the bulk of the police attention was focused on a neighbouring tomato farm.

"They're pretty private. They mainly keep to themselves. You don't really see them much," said one staff member when asked about the people who owned and worked on the neighbouring property.

A WA Police mounted unit was also at the scene, as well as uniformed and plain clothes police officers conducting interviews with residents.

Carabooda organised crime raids. A mini-bus being escorted by police. Picture: Theo Fakos

Several roads remain blocked off this afternoon.

Police bosses in Perth will this afternoon release more details about the raids.

Carabooda organised crime raids. People waving from a bus being escorted by police. Picture: Theo Fakos

Carabooda organised crime raids. Police on a property at Safari Place, Carabooda. Picture: Theo Fakos

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Factory ablaze in Balcatta

Roads closed in an industrial area of Balcatta. Source: News Limited

A MASSIVE factory has forced the Department of Fire and Emergency Services to issue a health warning to four northern suburbs.

The fire is in the Waterco building. The business sells pool chemicals and filtration systems.

At least 10 fire trucks are battling to put out the blaze, which started at the Balcatta factory at 7.44pm.

Flames and smoke are billowing from the building.

The factory is at the corner if Ledger Road and Stretton Place.

Police have blocked off surrounding streets, and residents in Gwelup, Carine, Hammersley and Balcatta have been told to keep their windows closed against toxic fumes.

The ChemCentre and the Department of Environment and Regulation Pollution Response Unit have been alerted to the incident.

On arrival they will conduct air monitoring and analysis.

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The call that brought Buswell down

POLICE have released the audio of a seven minute phone call to the police assistance line on February 23, reporting the erratic driving of former Treasurer Troy Buswell. Courtesy WA Police

POLICE have released the audio of a seven minute phone call to the police assistance line on February 23, reporting the erratic driving of former Treasurer Troy Buswell.

Mr Buswell hit four parked cars and a telephone pole in Subiaco as he drove home from a Kings Park wedding in the early hours of that morning.

Police have released the audio recording from a man who witnessed Troy Buswell driving erratically the night he crashed his ministerial car in Perth.

● Premier slams Mark McGowan's Troy Buswell 'bikie' slur

The Vasse MP resigned from the Barnett Cabinet after the crash was made public and this week pleaded guilty to 11 driving charges. He was fined $3100 and disqualified from driving for 12 months.

The damaged front of Troy Buswell's ministerial car, which was towed away for police examination. Picture: Nine News

FULL CALL TRANSCRIPT

Operator: "Assistance, how can we help you?"

Caller: "Yeah, I'm just ringing up. I'm just driving down Roberts Road and I've just had this car pull out in front of me. He's reversed out and he's backed up the whole front end of his car and he's swerving all over Roberts Road."

Operator: "Has he stopped or is he still driving?"

Caller: "He's actually gone into a premises on Roberts Road. We actually pulled right up because he was all over the place. We kept an eye on him. And he's got out of the vehicle and he's struggling to stand up, he was struggling to stand up a fair bit."

Operator: "So he got out of the car, has he?"

Caller: "Yep, to open up his gate, and he's got like a gate out the front of his premises, by the look of it he's got back in again, and after fumbling with the gate key, and then drove into his gate and then drove inside and gave us a weird-ass look. He's smashed up all of his front end, and we've been down Roberts Road because we thought he might have hit a couple of cars on the way up but we couldn't find anything but we thought we'd let you know anyway. We've got a rego."

Operator: "Yeah, do you know where the house is?"

Caller: "Yeah, it's . . .(caller supplies address)

Operator: "Do you know what the plate number is?"

Caller: "And the plate number . . (caller supplies registration)

Operator: "What sort of car is it?"

Caller: "It's a white Commodore, it's um, like a Statesman or something like that. A Caprice, I think it was. But it's white in colour. The bloke was dolled up to the nines and clearly couldn't stand on his own two feet."

Operator: "So he was driving erratically on what road? On Roberts Road?"

Caller: "He wasn't driving erratically, he was driving all over the place, on Roberts Road."

Operator: "Swerving all over the road?"

Caller: "Yeah. He was taking up two lanes and nearly hitting everything on the side as well. And when we pulled up behind him out the front of his premises his whole front bumper was hanging off. The whole front end looked like it had been pretty smashed up. We just went up — after we watched him go into his premises, after a little while — we just went down Roberts Road to have a look at a couple of the cars that were parked up … but there seemed to be no damage there. I thought he might have done a hit and run."

Operator: "So the front end has been all damaged. I'll just write down you're not sure if he's been involved in an accident with another vehicle."

Caller: "Yeah, not too sure what it's been involved in."

Operator: "Has the driver … has the driver arrived, or parked up on his property … possibly inebriated, and seems very intoxicated, and could barely stand, is that right?"

Caller: "Yes, he could barely stand, we actually watched him give it about three or four goes trying to get his gate open with the number pad. Then he's actually walked out of his gate, jumped in his car, reversed up in front of my vehicle — and by that stage I was blocking one lane, I was a bit unsure of him — and then he's gone forward, rammed his grate on the left hand side of his vehicle, sat there with his foot on the accelerator, and then finally realised, after a probably good minute and a half, and then reversed back up again and went and parked his car inside."

Operator: "So he rammed into the gate, did he?

Caller: "Yeah, he rammed into the gate in front of us. There's two of us in the vehicle here."

Operator: "..Rammed into the gate. And realised that he's driving a car or realised where he was, is that right?"

Caller: "Yeah, so he was … he had his foot on the accelerator, he basically rammed into the gate, and he's just sitting there with his foot on the accelerator, the back wheels were spinning. And then he's realised that he wasn't going anywhere and he's reversed up, turned to the right, and then driven through the gate and then parked up inside of the property. Yeah he wasn't getting up his stairs very quickly."

Operator: "Can you describe him?"

Caller: "Yeah, he's probably about five foot 10 to about six foot? He's probably late 40s early 50s, grey hair, thinnish, very thin. He was wearing glasses. Very chubby in the face and also probably really … yeah, we actually joked between ourselves and we thought it looked like Troy Buswell."

Operator: "OK. And what about, what was he wearing?"

Caller: "He was wearing a pair of black suit slacks and there was a tux suit shirt underneath, a white tux shirt, and a bow-tie. So he'd been somewhere flash."

(tape edited to cut out caller's identifying details.

Operator: "This was in the last five minutes?"

Caller: "Probably about 10-15 now. It's probably not worth sending anybody out to have a look."

Operator: "I'll speak to my supervisor anyway. Leave it with me. Thanks for your call [name removed], if we need to task police to respond I'll organise it from here … we'll call you if we need a statement.

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‘We can’t have a do-nothing Budget’

Alan Kohler sits down with the Commission of Audit chairman Tony Shepherd to chat about the recommendations to fix the budget.

Treasurer Joe Hockey gets fired up about talk of the broken promise of no tax increases.

AN EXTRA fee of $15 to see the doctor, raising the pension age to 70 and measures to axe the jobs of 15,000 public servants are among recommendations to the Abbott Government to fix the budget.

ANALYSIS: Age pension firmly in COA's sights

The Commission of Audit's much-anticipated final report has been released, laying out 86 recommendations, offering savings of about $70 billion a year within a decade.

They include slowing minimum wage growth, a slower roll out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and abolishing whole government agencies.

Document ... the Commission of Audit's much-anticipated final report has been released Source: News Corp Australia

The lengthy report warns if the government continues a "business as usual" approach, Australia would face 16 years of consecutive deficits with net debt rising to $440 billion by 2023-24, up from $190 billion today.

SLASHED: SA could end up with lowest minimum wage on mainland

Following the release of the report, Treasurer Joe Hockey got fired up about reports the government might break its promise not to bring in new taxes by introducing its deficit levy.

"Frankly, can I say to you something - I mean, all this talk about broken promises and so on, of course we are endeavouring to keep our promises and we will," Mr Hockey told reporters in Parliament House.

Promises ... Treasurer Joe Hockey got fired up after the release of the Commission of Audit report. Source: News Corp Australia

"But the bottom line is the Labor Party promised the Budget would get back to surplus and it never will. It never will," he said.

"So please this idea, somehow, that everything we have ever said is going to be held against what has moved on us because the previous Government basically misled the Australian people about the state of the budget, is kind of ridiculous."

"However, we are keeping our promises, we are keeping our solemn promises."

Political editor Malcolm Farr says that many of the painful spending cuts the Commission of Audit report recommends are unlikely to appear in the upcoming federal budget.

Mr Hockey insisted that would mean that some of the initiatives it wants to roll out will have to be introduced after the next election, "so we can get a new mandate".

"But we can't have a do-nothing Budget and we will not have a do-nothing Budget."

Change needed ... the Commission of Audit report warns if the government continues a "business as usual" approach, Australia will face 16 years of consecutive deficits with net debt. Source: News Corp Australia

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten attacked the report, saying it showed how "twisted" Tony Abbott's priorites were for Australia.

Mr Shorten said hard-working Australian familes were today realising that "Tony Abbott's Budget will cost you more".

He labelled the report a "blueprint for Tony Abbott's broken promises" and a "plan to make sure that families get less while millionaires get more".

"This is an attack on health care, make no mistake about it," the Opposition Leader told reporters in Sydney.

"It is the argument for a new GP tax, a new hospital tax and more expensive medicines which Australians desperately needs."

He criticised the proposal to cut the pension and include the family home in a new means test, as well as the recommendation to put a "hand-brake" on the NDIS.

Anger ... Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says the report shows how "twisted" Tony Abbott's priorites are. Source: News Corp Australia

"I understand that in Budgets, tough choices do have to be made, but Tony Abbott is making is wrong choices for our future."

Greens Leader Christine Milne attacked the proposals, which she argued would hit every Australian family.

"This is a report that Tony Abbott wanted," she told reporters in Melbourne.

Senator Richard Di Natale, who had been chairing a committee into the audit, singled out the Commission's chair Tony Shepherd who he will be calling to demand answers.

"I'll be calling him in to a special hearing of the Commission of Audit inquiry to explain why he's prepared to give a kick in the guts to families right around the country and let the big end of town off scot-free."

"It's not good enough."

Not good .. Greens leader Christine Milne says the changes will hit every Australian family. Source: News Corp Australia

He claimed the process was "rigged", as the Commissioners were "handpicked" by the Abbott Government.

Mr Hockey refused to comment directly on the measures proposed in the report.

"We're not in the business of ruling in or ruling out today and why? Because we've got a process that we're going through in relation to this report and the first answer will be on Budget night."

The Government has already said some of the Commission's recommendations will be able to be implemented, others will be looked at and some will be ignored completely.

There won't be an immediate response to each recommendation, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said.

Instead more will be revealed on Budget night in less than a fortnight.

Waiting game ... Finance Minister Mathias Cormann says there won't be an immediate response to each recommendation from the Commission of Audit. Source: News Limited

Here's a snapshot of where and how the Commission of Audit believes the Abbott Government can save its pennies:

WORK UNTIL 70

The pension age should be lifted to 70 by 2053, up on the current scheduled increase of 67.

The current assets test should be scrapped it argues, and replaced with a means test for new recipients from 2027-28.

The family home should be included in the new test for those above $500,000 for a single pensioner in today's terms and $750,000 for couples, according to the report.

It also suggest the rate be wound back over time, in line with average weekly earnings.

EXTRA FEE FOR BULK-BILL SERVICES

Patients should be hit with a $15 co-payment for services currently covered by bulk billing, with the extra fee then halved to $7.50 after 15 visits a year.

Concession card holders would pay $5.

It would not only cover seeing a GP, but also services like blood tests.

Amid fears it would encourage people to turn up to emergency wards, it recommends State Governments consider bringing in a similar co-payment.

MINIUMUM WAGE REDUCED

The minimum wage should be scaled back, slowing growth in line with 44 per cent of national average weekly earnings.

It argues each state should also have its own, to avoid its workers being disadvantaged.

WELFARE SHAKE-UP

The Commission recommends Family Tax Benefit B be scrapped and recipients be rolled into Family Tax Benefit A, with the eligibility cap reduced.

Changes should be made so the Disability Support Pension is given to those in genuine need.

New assessment criteria should be implemented it, with the current income and assets test axed.

It should be replaced with a means test, like the age pension, which would include the family home for singles above $500,000 and $750,000 for couples.

Young people aged between 22 and 30, without children, who have been pocketing benefits for a year should lose their benefits if they don't move to high employment areas, the Commission also recommends.

PUBLIC SERVICE CUT

The Commission argues 15,000 fewer public servants would be needed if its recommendations, including cutting agencies and handing over some responsibilities to the states, were adopted.

That would represent five per cent of the current public service.

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SCRAPPED

Seven government agencies, should be abolished, another 35 merged with others, 22 consolidated and nine potentially privatised.

It also recommends the Immigration Department and Customs be rolled into a mega agency.

POWER BACK TO THE STATES

The Commission proposes states be given "all policy and funding responsibility" for government and non-government schools.

It also argues more the States could pick up more responsibility in funding public hospitals.

PAID PARENTAL LEAVE WOUND BACK

The Government is being encouraged to lower the wage replacement cap to average weekly earnings, currently $57,460 a year, instead of Tony Abbott's plan which is based on the current salary.

Money saved should go towards childcare, the Commission recommends.

SLOWER NDIS

The Commission believes the current roll-out of the National Disability Scheme is "highly ambitious" and should be slowed down.

The recommendation would require the states to go back to the drawing board on agreements already struck.

HELP LOANS CHANGES

Students should have to start paying back their HELP loans when they earn the minimum wage, currently $32,354 instead of the current threshold of more than $51,000, the Commission recommends.

CAR INDUSTRY

Holden is leaving anyway, so industry assistance to them should stop now, the report recommends.

Abolishing the Automotive Transformation Scheme and a $215 million grant to Holden could be on the cards.

"Rather than relying on industry assistance, commercial discipline drives firms to reduce costs and improve quality to better meet customer demands," the report says.

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Charges over violent CBD bar brawl

Two men have been charged over an assault outside a Perth nightclub that left one man in a coma and another with a broken nose and eye socket. Picture: File image Source: News Limited

TWO men have been charged over a weekend assault in front of a Perth nightclub that left one man in a coma and another with a broken nose and eye socket.

In the early hours of April 27, a brawl broke out in front of the Lost Society club in Hay Street.

It will be alleged a 23-year-old Maddington man punched a 21-year-old man, causing the younger man to fall and hit his head on the pavement.

The punch then allegedly caused the victim's 21-year-old friend to get into an altercation with the attacker and his friends.

Police say this resulted in a 21-year-old Morley man receiving a broken nose and fractured eye socket.

The 21-year-old who was hit to the pavement was taken to Royal Perth Hospital and put in an induced coma. He remains in hospital in a critical, but stable condition.

The 23-year-old Maddington man has been charged with grievous bodily harm and acts or

omissions with intent to harm cause bodily harm and will appear before the Perth

Magistrates Court on May 15.

A 22-year-old Duncraig man has been charged with acts or omissions, with intent to harm cause bodily harm. He is due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on May 9.

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Battle of giants — shark chases whale

A large shark has forced the closure of several Perth beaches, just a day after the controversial drumlines were removed.

The great white shark cruising off the Perth coast, which appears to be following a whale north. Last seen between Scarborough and Trigg at 12.47pm. Picture: Surf Life Saving WA Source: Supplied

AN ambitious shark has been chasing a big whale along the Perth coast today — just a day after the controversial drum lines were removed.

Surf Life Saving WA said a four metre great white shark was spotted 100 metres off the Floreat Groyne at City Beach just before 11am this morning.

The shark is believed to have been attracted by a six metre whale that was spotted 25 metres off City Beach, 500 metres south of the groyne, earlier this morning.

The whale which is being followed by a shark. First sighted off Swanbourne and last seen off Waterman. Picture: Surf Life Saving WA Source: Supplied

The shark was reportedly seen swimming near the whale, with both animals tracked by SLSWA's helicopter as they headed north.

Several Perth beaches, including City Beach, Scarborough, Brighton and Trigg, were closed today but have now been reopened as the animals moved away.

• 'NEVER AGAIN': Drumline removal should be 'permanent end'

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Where exactly is Flight MH370?

Officials say the chance of finding floating debris from missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 is highly unlikely, announce new phase of the search will focus on a far larger area of the Indian Ocean floor. Mana Rabiee reports.

IT HAS reportedly been sighted in the Bay of Bengal, the Gulf of Thailand and the Indian Ocean - and even as far afield as the Maldives - but seven weeks after Flight MH370 went missing, searchers still have no firm clue where the Malaysia Airlines plane actually is.

The disappearance of the Boeing 777 has become one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries.

And as the search drags on, the theories about what actually happened to the jet continue to fly thick and fast.

In an extraordinary departure, Adelaide-based resource survey company GeoResonance said today it may have detected debris from the plane in the Bay of Bengal — 5000km from the current search area.

But the Joint Agency Coordination Centre, which is co-ordinating the Indian Ocean search, denied the claims and said the team was "satisfied that the final resting place of the missing aircraft is in the southerly portion of the search arc".

"The location of MH370 suggested by the GeoResonance report (in the Bay of Bengal) is not in the Australian search and rescue zone, the JACC said in a statement.

"The Australian-led search is relying on information from satellite and other data to determine the missing aircraft's location. The location specified by the GeoResonance report is not within the search arc derived from this data."

The speculation over the plane took another turn yesterday with the Gulf of Thailand theory.

New York pilot Michael Hoebel claims he has an image of what appeared to be the plane's wreckage in the Gulf of Thailand.

Using the online satellite imagery website TomNod, Hoebel said he was shocked to find the plane resting in what appeared to be an unbroken state.

All of this is of little consolation to the relatives of the 239 people on board the flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. As the search continues, relatives of the Chinese victims aboard the plane have been given information on the serial numbers of the black box on the Boeing 777 aircraft and the voice recording of the communication between the Malaysia Airlines plane and air traffic control, the Straits-Times reports.

During a briefing at the Lido Hotel in Beijing, one of the slides presented to the families revealed that the serial number of the flight data recorder was 08636, while that of the cockpit voice recorder was 2677.

Meanwhile, Malaysia has appointed Mr Kok Soo Chon, former director-general of the civil aviation department, to lead an international investigation team tasked to find the cause of the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.

The team is made up of experts from the US National Transport Safety Board, Britain's Air Accidents Investigations Branch, China's Aircraft Accident Investigation Department, France's Land Transport Accident Investigation Bureau, the Australia Transport Safety Bureau, aircraft manufacturer Boeing and British satellite communications company Inmarsat.

It also has representatives from Singapore and Indonesia.

"I would like to stress that this investigation is not aimed at apportioning blame or liability," Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said in a statement.

Search for answers ... Pilot Michael Hoebel says he found this image, which he says could be MH370, after spending hours trawling throughcrowd-sourcing website TomNod.com. Source: Supplied

As for the wreckage claims by GeoResonance, Malaysian officials said they are assessing the information.

"We're not trying to say it definitely is MH370, however we feel it is a lead that should be followed up by the authorities," GeoResonance director David Pope told Channel 7 News.

The company used imaging, radiation chemistry and other technologies to search the 2 million square kilometres of the ocean floor for chemicals that are found in Boeing 777 jets, and discovered aluminium, titanium, jet fuel residue and other elements in the Bay of Bengal.

GeoResonance compared images taken on March 5 and 10 — before and after the plane's disappearance — and found differences that could indicate a crash site.

The location is about 190km south of Bangladesh.

The company has been contacted by Malaysian officials, and was asked to give a presentation on its finding, Channel 7 reports.

"We're a large group of scientists, and we were being ignored, and we thought we had a moral obligation to get our findings to the authorities," Mr Pope told CNN.

Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said China and Australia were aware of the announcement.

"Malaysia is working with its international partners to assess the credibility of this information," a statement from his office said.

Still waiting ... Relatives of Chinese passengers on-board the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 plane listen to a briefing on the searcha hotel in Beijing. Picture: AP Source: AP

AIRCREWS THANKED FOR MH370 SEARCH

"Need more corroboration n verification b4 we deploy assets," Mr Hussein later tweeted.

GeoResonance said it began trying to find the plane before the official search area moved to the southern Indian Ocean.

"The only motivation is to help the families of the missing passengers and crew, knowing the company has the technology capable of the task," it said.

Flight 370 was carrying 239 passengers and crew from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it disappeared the morning of March 8.

India, Bangladesh and other countries to the north have said they never detected the plane in their airspace.

GeoResonance said it gave its preliminary findings to investigators on March 31 and was surprised by a lack of response. That claim could not be confirmed.

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Majority against return of shark drum lines

A shark has been caught on a WA drum line one hour before the catch and kill trial ended.

THE overwhelming majority of PerthNow readers never want to see the State Government's controversial shark drum lines back in WA waters.

The drum lines were removed from Perth beaches today after their first summer in operation.

Late this afternoon, more than 3100 readers had voted in a PerthNow poll that asked should the drum lines be used again – and 87 per cent said no.

About 12 per cent wanted the drum lines used again, while less than one per cent did not care about the issue.

Marine groups monitoring the removal of WA's shark drum lines say the controversial policy should never be used again.

WA's controversial drum-line baits, which have caught hundreds of sharks, are being removed from the water today. Picture: Animal Amnesty

An application by the WA Government to extend the drum line policy for three years is being assessed by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Fisheries staff checked the lines as normal today and begun pulling them out at 2pm, starting at Ocean Reef.

There were 30 baited lines at five beaches in Perth, and more in the South West. Removing them was expected to take three hours.

A full report on the number and type of sharks caught on the lines is expected to be released next week

Sixty six sharks — mostly tiger sharks — were caught on the baited drum lines and killed in the first three weeks of operation.

Should the State Government's shark drum lines be used again?

The vast majority of sharks caught off Perth and the South West were tiger sharks, but a blacktip and dusky whaler were also caught and released alive. Two makos were also caught.

No great white sharks, which are responsible for most fatal attacks on humans, were caught.

While the controversial catch-and-kill policy targeted great white, bull and tiger sharks bigger than three metres, all but two of those that were found dead on hooks were smaller, including the makos, which measured only 1.7m and 2m.

Activist group Sea Shepherd said that as of Friday its spotters had seen 161 sharks caught on drum lines and 54 drowned or killed.

Of those, 50 were caught in the South Weston, with 28 killed. The rest were around Perth beaches.

The Australian Marine Conservation Society said the removal of the drum lines today should mark a "permanent end" to the policy.

The society's marine campaigner, Tooni Mahto, said the government was yet to provide a "fundamental justification" for the program.

"At no stage has the WA Government provided evidence that killing sharks will improve public safety," Ms Mahto said.

Ms Mahto called on the Government to release the final figures for the shark cull.

WA received an exemption under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to conduct the cull, allowing Department of Fisheries staff to catch and kill any protected great white, tiger or bull shark larger than three metres long if it was found in certain zones.

The cull has already survived a legal challenge, with the WA Supreme Court refusing to grant Sea Shepherd and injunction to stop the cull.

Premier Colin Barnett hailed his government's controversial shark baiting policy a success – with drum lines set to be removed today.

"With respect to great whites they tend to be more prevalent during spring, early summer. We didn't have drum lines in during that period," he said.

"The program finishes today. There will be a report prepared and that will be released publicly.

"I think it has been a success and maybe there will be a fair bit of contention about that, but we have caught some very large sharks close in to popular swimming areas."

Mr Barnett said 100 sharks had been caught by the drum lines, 40 of which were destroyed or "died on the hook."

He labelled the behaviour of some of those opposed to the baiting program was "vulgar and obscene".

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