2011年7月3日星期日

Business deal alleged motive for Puddy murder

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Updated July 1, 2011 17:30:00

The Supreme Court in Perth has heard that thwarted business deals are alleged to be the motive for the murder of a man who has been missing for more than a year.

Forty-five year-old Craig Puddy disappeared in May last year and his business partner Cameron Mansell is due stand trial in September for his murder.

Mr Mansell has now applied to be released on bail because he and his lawyers say they cannot prepare his defence properly.

They say the motive that is being alleged means Mr Mansell has to examine a vast amount of material which he cannot do in jail.

Prosecutors have opposed the application, arguing there was a risk Mr Mansell would flee the State, because not long after Mr Puddy disappeared, he travelled to the eastern states using a false name.

However Mr Mansell's lawyer Tim Saayman says at the time his client was free to leave WA and he did so because he believed there were people who wanted to do him serious harm.

Mr Saayman made only a brief comment as he left court.

"Well I can only make the comment that was made in the media release, that it's his right to apply for bail as per every defendant's right."

Justice John McKechnie will hand down his decision next week.

Tags: police, murder-and-manslaughter, wa, perth-6000

First posted July 1, 2011 17:05:00


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Police cleared over shootings

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Posted June 30, 2011 13:46:00

Two police officers involved in separate shootings in Perth in May, have been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Investigations by the police internal affairs unit found the officers acted in self defence and the use of firearms appropriate in the circumstances.

In the first case, an officer shot and wounded a man twice in Applecross when he was threatened with a knife.

In a separate incident, an officer shot a woman in the stomach in Armadale after she charged at him with a replica firearm before threatening him with a knife.

Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan says the officer's actions were justified despite the woman's family ringing police and warning them she was suicidal before the incident.

"The police officer thought the woman was carrying a firearm when she came out of the building with a replica firearm and it's perfectly reasonable for a police officer to respond to firearm force with a firearm, so that's fine," he said.

Tags: police, perth-6000


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Burswood site could prove a costly option

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Updated June 30, 2011 11:33:00

An engineer has claimed a new sports stadium built at the Burswood site could cost millions of dollars more than if it was built in a different location.

The Premier Colin Barnett this week announced a 60,000 seat, multi-purpose stadium will be built at the Burswood site, which was once a mud-flat and sewage farm.

Mr Barnett says the stadium will cost $700 million but admits no geo-technical drilling has been done on the site.

Structural engineer Tim Fisher says building such a large facility on an unstable site will be an expensive task.

"The site's complicated because we've got muds from the previous river cards and we've also got some contamination areas that have been contained that limit how far you can dig into the ground there," he said.

"Compared to a sandy or a rock site, the sort of site we've got at Burswood will cost more, exactly how much we'll have to find out when they've managed to do the testing on the particular area that they're going to build the stadium on."

The Premier says he is confident the stadium will not cost more than the estimate.

Yesterday, the former head of a taskforce charged with selecting the best site for the stadium, John Langoulant, said the issue was not the cost of the stadium, but whether the site holds geo-technical concerns.

"I think his estimates are in the ballpark, the big issue is going to be - are there geo-technical issues that haven't been fully identified at this time and the work of the taskforce will determine that," he said.

In 2006, the Labor-appointed taskforce selected Kitchener Park in Subiaco as the best potential site for the stadium.

The City of Subiaco is calling on the State Government to reconsider the proposed location.

It says the government needs to do a full costing and risk assessment of Kitchener Park in Subiaco against the proposed site at Burswood so it can make an informed decision.

Mr Langoulant says he just wants to see the project go ahead.

"This (Burswood) was one of the three final locations we identified for a new stadium, it was third but nevertheless it was one of the three," he said.

"The fact that the government has a plan for the development of the stadium, we're very pleased about."

Tags: event, wa, burswood-6100

First posted June 30, 2011 11:23:00


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Accused people smuggler to plead not guilty

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Updated June 30, 2011 15:44:00

The Perth Magistrates Court has been told a man accused of organising the asylum seeker boat involved in the Christmas Island tragedy will be pleading not guilty.

Ali Khorram Heydarkhani, 40, was extradited from Indonesia earlier this year to face 89 charges of people smuggling.

He is accused of organising boatloads of asylum seekers to travel from Indonesia to Australia between June last year and January this year.

One of the boats smashed into rocks at Christmas Island in December, killing about 50 people.

Heydarkhani appeared in court via video link from prison this morning.

His lawyer said his client would be pleading not guilty to all the charges.

Heydarkhani was remanded in custody and will appear in court again in September.

Tags: courts-and-trials, perth-6000

First posted June 30, 2011 15:02:00


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Bouncers attacked at Freo hotel

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Posted July 1, 2011 11:08:00

Police say two crowd controllers have been admitted to hospital after being attacked at a hotel in Fremantle.

A 45 year-old man and a 27 year-old woman were set upon when they tried to evict three men from Rosie O'Grady's last night.

Police say hospital staff cannot assess the victims' injuries until their facial swelling recedes.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the attack to come forward.

Tags: assault, fremantle-6160


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Growing concern for missing Lesmurdie girl

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Posted July 2, 2011 10:45:00

Police are concerned for the welfare of a 14 year-old girl who has been missing from her home in Lesmurdie for four days.

Laura Ruth Stirling is described as being fair skinned, 166cm tall, of slim build with brown eyes and black and red dyed collar-length hair.

She was last seen wearing her school uniform - a white polo shirt and blue tracksuit pants.

Anyone with information regarding Laura's whereabouts is asked to contact police.

Tags: crime, lesmurdie-6076


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Prime export lambs and sustainable farming were among its focus

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By Kathryn Diss

Posted June 29, 2011 20:16:00

It is a station that played a key role in discovering which sheep breed would provide prime export lambs and also came up with the variety of barley still being grown today.

Researchers at the Avondale station not only cultivated new crops, they also developed vaccines for cattle diseases, experimented with sustainable farming practices and discovered which plant species were toxic and how to combat them.

The Avondale research station was established on the outskirts of Beverley during the 1920's by the state's Department of Agriculture.

Robin Goulder worked on the Wheatlbelt farm for 12 years, beginning as a plant breeding technician during the 1950's.

He says it played a significant role in developing the state's agriculture industry.

"It was very important; it offered pedigree seed production and a range of research plots which were required for testing commercial crop strains such as flax, linseed, barley and wheat," he said.

"On top of that we crossbred different varieties which is also important because we discovered many new strains, including the variety of barley which is still used today, more than 40 years later."

The achievements are being documented by the National Trust of WA which has launched an oral history initiative.

Trust historian Kate Gregory says the initiative is the first of its kind.

"We're holding a number of workshops in the community to assist them in the process of recording, storing and collecting their memories of the Avondale station," she said.

The station was home to number of significant farming breakthroughs.

These included the discovery that cross bred sheep produced significantly more prime export lambs than the pure bred 'Merino'.

Retired veterinary pathologist Mal Nairn led a team which developed a vaccine to treat a common sheep disease called 'cheesy gland'.

"The disease had a major impact on Australia's sheep trade internationally and actually led the UK to ban Australian imports during the 1930's and the 1970's," he said.

"It's a bacterial infection which affects the lymph nodes and lungs of sheep and while it doesn't often kill them it causes ill-thrift and fatigue.

"So the vaccine, which is still used across the world today, had a huge impact on restoring Australia's export market and trade."

Another researcher Dr Harold Bennetts who was the state's first veterinary pathologist, developed a vaccine to treat the deadly "Braxy-like disease" in sheep.

The disease led to stock losses of up to 30 per cent across the state and had run unchecked for more than 15 years before the vaccine was developed.

It is still used today to combat the infection.

Avondale was first established as an estate in 1830 and was originally given to the first Governor of Western Australia, Captain James Stirling as a grant from Queen Victoria.

It passed through many hands during the 1800's before being purchased by the Lands Department in 1911 and was subsequently divided into nine farms to be given to soldiers returning from World War 1.

In 1924, part of the estate was given to the Department of Agriculture and Food for research.

Ms Gregory says the station conducted many trials.

"We're discovering how the department grappled with notions of sustainability and really always sought to try and achieve sustainable farming practice; Avondale was a laboratory for that kind of experimentation," she said.

"I think we're only just starting to understand its importance in terms of agricultural experimentation and the reach that had across the state, across the nation and across the world."

Ms Gregory hopes the initiative helps preserve the station's history for decades to come.

"The oral histories will be archived at the National Trust for future researchers and we hope to be able to hold some of the recordings at local and state libraries," she said.

"Hopefully the archives will also be used to educate school students about WA's rich agricultural history."

Dr Nairn says it's important to understand how researchers helped shape the way WA's agriculture industry developed.

"Agriculture has always been important for Western Australia and will continue to be," he said.

"I think it's great that schoolchildren and the general public will now have the opportunity to see what went on at those places and what continues to be important for agriculture."

"It was a significant station, I think it's really nice that it's got this heritage connection now and that some of the early work there and the importance of it will be more widely understood by people."

The National Trust now oversees Avondale station.

Tags: rural, agribusiness, agricultural-crops, science-and-technology, wa, beverley-6304


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Monckton lashes out at media coverage

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Updated June 30, 2011 13:15:00

Controversial climate change sceptic Christopher Monckton has lashed out at the Australian media at a mining conference in Perth.

Lord Monckton made headlines last week for comparing the Government's climate change adviser Ross Garnaut to a "fascist".

He told the crowd at today's Association of Mining and Exploration Companies forum that global warming had been used by Governments as an excuse to raise taxes.

After his speech he slammed recent media coverage.

"Only last week one of your leading newspapers, leading columnists, wrote a column saying that people like us should be gassed," he said.

"No apology and none of you have gone round to her house and thrust microphones in her face and said don't you think you're being a bit unfair.

"So there is very plainly a nasty double standard here."

The CSIRO, which is included in AMEC's list of sponsors, would not comment on whether it had received complaints about the organisation's involvement with the conference.

A spokesman told the ABC that the agency is not interested in getting involved in a debate about Christopher Monckton and that the CSIRO was only at the event to promote its science.

He said the CSIRO was supporting one session at the conference non-financially.

Meanwhile, another Western Australian university is under fire for allowing Lord Monckton to speak on its campus.

It has now emerged that the University of Western Australia will provide a venue for another address by the British peer next week.

The vice chancellor of the University of Western Australia says the event planned on its campus on behalf of Lord Monckton next week, in no way reflects the views or values of the university.

Notre Dame University in Fremantle has defended its decision to allow Lord Monckton to deliver a lecture tonight.

More than 50 Australian academics have signed a letter urging the university to cancel the lecture on the grounds Lord Monckton spreads discredited fiction about climate change.

The university's Dean of Business, Chris Doepel, admits his views on climate change are contentious.

"But he also has a range of views on public policy responses and we are happy to provide a climate where those views, particularly the ones of public policy responses and that is the gist of much of his talk this evening can be aired and be tested," he said.

Professor of Sustainability at Curtin University Peter Newmann says universities should not be bought over by big business.

"This is a memorial lecture that is given to the University of Notre Dame and they have to be careful that they're not seen to be being bought by money that purchases opinions," he said.

Tags: university-and-further-education, perth-6000

First posted June 30, 2011 09:09:00


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ASIC brings criminal charges against Westpoint founder

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Updated July 1, 2011 17:29:00

Australia's corporate watchdog has brought criminal charges against the founder of failed property group Westpoint, who faces a maximum of five years' jail if convicted.

Westpoint collapsed in 2006, owing 4,000 investors about $300 million.

The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) has charged founder Norm Carey, along with company secretary Graeme Rundle, with breaching their duties as officers of Westpoint.

ASIC also alleges this came while the pair executed deeds extending the time for Westpoint to exercise an option to purchase the Warnbro Fair Shopping Centre in Perth.

The move is the latest in a series of legal actions between the two.

On Monday Carey said he had taken out a misfeasance action against ASIC, arguing it had relied on incorrect evidence and withheld information from the court as part of its bid to shut down Westpoint.

In a statement, Carey said that ASIC applied to wind up York Street Mezzanine knowing it would trigger defaults in Westpoint's lending covenants which would systematically cause its collapse.

He also said ASIC withheld from the Federal Court the Deloitte solvency review which found that Westpoint and its entities, including YSM, were solvent.

The trial for those allegations is set down for November.

Tags: business-economics-and-finance, company-news, consumer-finance, industry, housing, law-crime-and-justice, courts-and-trials, fraud-and-corporate-crime, management, australia, wa, perth-6000

First posted July 1, 2011 17:16:00


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Eagles lock away Mackenzie, Schofield

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Posted July 1, 2011 13:44:00

West Coast defenders Eric Mackenzie and Will Schofield have extended their contracts by a further two years, tying them to the AFL club until at least the end of 2013.

Schofield has played 12 of 13 possible games this season after taking the field in the last 20 matches in 2010.

The 22-year-old has shown he can play a number of roles in defence and his versatility has proved invaluable to the side.

Mackenzie returned to senior action in last week's shock win over Carlton after missing six games with a foot injury.

The 23-year-old has notched 46 games since making his debut in 2007, developing into the club's second best key defender behind Darren Glass.

The pair join vice-captain Beau Waters, ruckman Dean Cox and Shannon Hurn as others to have re-signed this year.

-AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, wa, perth-6000


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Pair nabbed smuggling lizards in teddies

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Updated June 30, 2011 20:44:00

A Hong Kong couple has been arrested in Perth for attempting to smuggle wildlife out of Australia concealed in teddy bears.

In a joint operation between Customs and the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), officers raided a home in the southern Perth suburb of St James on Wednesday night.

They seized 31 lizards in the raid - 24 bobtails, six crevice skinks and one sand swimmer skink - along with several soft toys, packaging and postage material.

Rick Dawson, a senior wildlife investigator with the DEC says bobtail lizards can fetch up to $7,500 on the Asian black market.

"While common in Western Australia, these lizards are highly sought after in Asia because they are easy to care for, attractive, and exotic," he said.

"In some instances the reptiles' eyes had been taped up, and the cold and cramped conditions they would have had to endure on a long journey without food or water in a cargo hold is abhorrent."

Last night's seizure was the result of a 12-week investigation into the alleged wildlife smugglers.

The 27-year-old man and 30-year-old woman were being monitored by officials after allegedly making several attempts to post teddy bears containing lizards overseas.

Environment Minister Bill Marmion has congratulated the authorities for the arrest, describing it as a significant bust.

"Wildlife smuggling is not only illegal, it is cruel and poses a risk to the state's native plants and animals, including rare or threatened species," he said.

"The success of this operation sends a strong warning to people that if you attempt to smuggle wildlife out of Western Australia, the chances of getting caught are very good indeed."

The maximum penalty for illegally importing and possessing wildlife under WA's Wildlife Conservation Act is $4,000 and smugglers can face up to 10 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $110,000 under environmental legislation.

Tags: endangered-and-protected-species, perth-6000

First posted June 30, 2011 18:21:00


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Wind farmers dismiss Monckton comments

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Updated July 1, 2011 12:09:00

A wind farm group on the South Coast says the opinions of British climate change sceptic Christopher Monckton, should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Lord Monckton yesterday described wind farm technology as useless, polluting and expensive after speaking at the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies conference in Perth.

He also made headlines last week for calling the government's climate change adviser, Ross Garnaut, a fascist, for which he later apologised.

The Chairman of the Denmark Community Wind Farm Craig Chapelle says his comments are ridiculous.

"The evidence would clearly point to him being wrong, because there are thousands and thousands of wind turbines in action and have been for some years throughout the rest of the world," he said.

"And turbine manufacturers can't keep up with the orders for turbines, so I think that's fairly clear evidence that they do work."

But Lord Monckton told reporters after his AMEC speech yesterday, that wind farms are a waster of time and money.

"Windmills are highly problematic - they have nothing whatever to give in terms of changing the world's weather or climate and they are very expensive," he said.

"They entail an enormous welfare loss both in environmental terms. Large game birds in particular are being driven almost to the point of extinction in California, in Scotland and Spain.

"Spain has just closed down it's largest wind farm at the instigation of one man who went every day and took pictures of the dead birds at the foot of the windmills and emailed them around the world and eventually the Spanish Government in utter humiliation had to climb down and shut the wind farm.

"In the end, because of the concrete bases you have to build; the burning of the lime to make the concrete, emits more carbon dioxide per wind mill than that wind mill is likely to save in its lifetime.

"Particularly if you take into account the spending reserve that must be maintained at the generating stations - the fossil fuel stations - to cover for the times when the wind doesn't blow.

"Because I can assure you that windmills don't deliver power then."

Tags: university-and-further-education, albany-6330, denmark-6333, geraldton-6530, perth-6000

First posted July 1, 2011 10:13:00


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Qantas engineers to extend next week's strike

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Posted June 30, 2011 21:29:00

Qantas says it will try and avoid flight disruptions next week during strike action which the union says it is likely to extend.

The Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association will stop work for two hours in Melbourne on Monday, Perth on Tuesday and Brisbane on Wednesday.

The Association's federal secretary, Steve Purvinas, says they are also planning to take action on Thursday.

"We certainly intend to send another letter to Qantas tomorrow for some action on Thursday," he said.

"We might give it a break on Friday because our members won't be able to sustain this forever, and we don't expect Qantas to come to the table with a generous offer any time in the near future."

The work stoppages are part of an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions.

Qantas says it will try to avoid disruptions to its flight schedule by using larger planes and combining services.

Qantas group executive Olivia Wirth says they will try to keep to schedule during the stop work meetings.

"Qantas will be consolidating services and putting on larger aircraft including our 767 which will ensure that we make sure that the majority of our customers who will be impacted by the union dispute and strike on Monday in Melbourne will be taken care of," she said.

In May Qantas was forced to cancel more than 30 flights ahead of a strike by the engineers, however the action ended up being cancelled.

Tags: business-economics-and-finance, company-news, industrial-relations, air-transport, australia, brisbane-4000, melbourne-3000, perth-6000, perth-airport-6105


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Dolphins killed by rare disease

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Posted July 1, 2011 10:13:00

A new report has revealed that a rare disease most likely caused the deaths of several dolphins in the Swan River in 2009.

The Swan River Trust has released findings into the deaths of six dolphins over a period of five months.

The report found that the rare disease morbilli-virus was detected in two of them and could not be ruled out in the others because their bodies were so badly decomposed.

It is the second confirmed case of the disease being found in marine mammals in Australia.

Tags: mammals, perth-6000


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2011年7月2日星期六

'It's real': Priest reveals exorcism rituals

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By Amy Simmons

Updated June 30, 2011 16:18:00

Apart from heads spinning in 360-degree circles and streams of flowing green vomit, real-life exorcisms are remarkably similar to what you see in the movies, an Australian exorcist says.

Father Barry May - an Anglican priest, exorcist, author and former police chaplain - has performed dozens of exorcisms in his 40 years of ministry.

The 73-year-old Perth man says more Australians are seeking exorcisms, and as such, over the past four years he has dedicated his life solely to ridding people of their demons.

Father May tells anyone sceptical about the ancient Catholic ritual to "get real" and psychologists have backed the man, saying exorcism "has its place" in society.

"I've been spat at, yelled at, grabbed at, sworn at, had people trying to rip my crucifix off my throat, gouge my eyes out, fighting, assault. I get all that stuff and you tell me it's superstition?" Father May said.

"No, get real. And that's exactly what it is, it's real.

"Forget the head spinning and the green vomit you see in the movies, but the rest of what you see in the movies is damn close to being real, it's not funny.

"It takes a lot out of me, I sweat profusely. It's a real exercise-and-a-half I tell you."

Father May says his first calling into the world of demons came in the 1970s when a woman at a funeral he was conducting asked him if he believed in ghosts.

"I thought it was a rather strange question to ask," he said.

"I told her 'yes', and she said 'well I've got a ghost in the house next door to me'. So I went to her house and dealt with it."

Since then he has developed an expertise in exorcism - casting the "evil one" out of people - and is approached by hundreds of people each year who claim to be possessed by a demon - or two.

"I remember I did one with a girl who was about 23 years of age and I kept saying to her 'are you free yet?'.

"And she would say 'no I'm not', in her own voice.

"It took hours and hours to deliver her and as soon as I said 'spirit, reveal yourself', she would growl and spit and cross her eyes.

"She threw about 12 of the demons out and she was free."

The Catholic Church's Lismore Bishop, Goffrey Jarrett, says Catholicism recognises various forms of exorcism.

He says they were first performed by Jesus Christ.

"Minor exorcism ordinarily takes place in many of the church's rites and sacraments, using the sign of the cross, and in the blessing of people and material things such as holy water," he said in a recent statement in response to the increasing number of requests for exorcisms.

"Major exorcism, however, may be required in rarer cases where it is established by appropriate investigation that the victim's claim to be tormented by a demon is really true."

Father May says he performs both types of exorcism, but major exorcisms are his specialty. He says the ritual requires a crucifix, candle, holy water and most of all, a commanding voice.

But he says he will only perform one if, after several interviews and meetings with the person, he deems them to be possessed, rather than psychologically ill.

"I might see somebody every two weeks but generally I might have only done 20 exorcisms in my life," he said.

"The ancient rite of exorcism is only used after a lot of investigation and the person needs to agree to it... not everybody has demons. I think that's a mistake people make."

In a successful exorcism, Father May says the demon is sent straight to hell. But he says there is always the risk it will inhabit another person in the room.

"About 10 years ago I had a lady who was very erotic, getting on her hands and knees - I won't go into the details on that - but she was making barking noises, thrusts with her body, it was just ghastly to watch," he said.

"I had her husband there with me - thank goodness. But I cast this thing out of her, and then on the other side of the curtain this bloke started doing the same thing.

"He started barking and yelling and shouting and screaming, it was just a ghastly experience."

Father May says one of his worst experiences has been with women and men who claim to have been raped by demons while lying in their beds at night or watching TV.

"It's rather a mystery because although intercourse doesn't take place they feel as though it has. They feel absolutely ravished and raped, and several women have had that problem," he said.

"I've had two men tell me they've had that same problem with female demons who try to have sex with them."

Lismore's Bishop Jarrett puts the issue down to "a widespread preoccupation with Satanism and various occult practices", and Father May agrees.

"People are messing around with stuff they don't know," he said.

"They're not all crackers, they're not all psychos, they're those ordinary people who live in our streets, they've done something they shouldn't have done and they've got their fingers burnt."

Psychologist Dr Mitch Byrne from the University of Wollongong says while he does not believe in demons, the method of exorcism has its merits.

"Oddly enough, I'd say yes there is a place for these people," he said.

"If you are a person who is possessed of a delusional belief or a psychiatric disability, and you have a strong religious belief, and that belief can be marshalled to help you overcome your distress then why not?"

"I wouldn't say it is the best call or should be the first call in terms of a way of dealing with psychological disturbance, but people should never underestimate the power of belief.

"Suicide bombers and Kamikaze pilots are evidence that the power of belief is beyond any sort of rational argument, so perhaps working within someone's belief system is the best way to help them recover from their disability or distress."

He says he has no doubt people who believe they are possessed do incredible things, but he attributes this to the mind - not demons.

"There is an enormous amount of power and energy in the human body that we don't usually exert, and people under the right sort of circumstances can marshal that power for a very brief and short period of time, usually at some physiological cost," he said.

"They can marshal it to engage in acts of human strength and agility and so on.

"So if a person is possessed of a delusional belief or a psychotic condition they may evidence some degree of excessive or unusual behaviour which we might interpret as being possessed or as evidence of a demon."

Dr Gerard Stoyles, also from the University of Wollongong, is both a psychologist and a Catholic priest.

Unlike Dr Byrne, Dr Stoyles believes in the existence of demons, or an "evil presence", as he describes it.

He says there is a place for exorcism provided all other possible psychological, psychiatric and medical conditions have been ruled out.

"As a psychologist I'd have to say that somebody who is giving out all the indications of being evil and bad... I would not automatically say that person is possessed," he said.

"My first inclination would be that this person has somehow gone right off the rails.

"But I believe also that there are instances where people can end up being caught up in behaviours that are outside the realm of the normal, that they don't want, are not conscious of, that are not like them personally, and for which there is no explanation either in the physical world or in the world of medical and psychological and psychiatric science.

"Once you turn around and say there is no scientific explanation for this person's behaviour... then you're confronted with the question of what the hell is it?"

Dr Stoyles says too often, people seeking exorcisms are not given proper medical treatment.

"I get very concerned when people are denied good physical, psychological and psychiatric treatment simply because someone is convinced that they are possessed and therefore they must go down this route of exorcism and ignore the route of medical care," he said.

"That is just playing a game with people's lives, so it angers me and it concerns me.

"This issue is something that has to be very, very carefully addressed with a rational and scientific mind that seeks out what is really going on rather than what is exotic and what is fantastic... I think too much of that sort of stuff goes on."

Tags: community-and-society, religion-and-beliefs, anglicans, catholic, witchcraft, health, diseases-and-disorders, mental-health, psychology, spirituality, rites-and-ritual, psychosis, australia, nsw, wa, perth-6000, university-of-wollongong-2522

First posted June 30, 2011 14:18:00


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AFL says players rejected $1.1b offer

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Updated June 30, 2011 17:27:00

AFL players have been offered $1.1 billion over five years for their new pay deal but have rejected it, says league chief Andrew Demetriou.

Demetriou said the players had offered a deal which could be either taken up front in salary or split as part-wages, part-pension plan.

But instead they are holding out for a percentage of between 25 and 27 per cent of total AFL revenue.

Demetriou said he believed agreement would eventually be reached between the league and players' union.

Players all but ruled out strike action at a meeting in Melbourne on Wednesday night, although they remain united in their demands for a percentage-based cut of AFL cash.

Demetriou said he would be happy to address players directly on the issue, and on the AFL's opposition to a fixed percentage pay deal.

"The more we can inform them the better," he said.

"The package we've offered is around the $1.1 billion (mark) and that really equates to what the broadcast rights cash component is.

"We'll work collaboratively and constructively to get an outcome."

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, nsw, sydney-2000, qld, brisbane-4000, sa, adelaide-5000, vic, melbourne-3000, wa, perth-6000

First posted June 30, 2011 17:09:00


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Senate committee backs shipwreck response

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Updated June 29, 2011 19:25:00

The Senate committee investigating the Christmas Island asylum seeker boat wreck has found authorities reacted as effectively as possible under atrocious weather conditions.

A boat carrying up to 90 asylum seekers smashed into rocks on the island and sank in heavy seas in December, claiming up to 50 lives.

The committee says Navy and Customs vessels moved as quickly as they could to save the lives of the asylum seekers, and it says the crew members did everything possible to help.

The committee has endorsed previous reviews that have identified ways the response could be improved, and says the Government has made the necessary changes quickly.

The committee as a whole only made three recommendations, mainly concerned with ongoing support for survivors and rescuers.

It says the Government should consider establishing a memorial for the victims of the wreck on the island.

Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor says the Government has already implemented the majority of recommendations from an earlier internal report prepared by Customs.

"Seven of the eight recommendations have been met and there's one still being trialed," he said.

But Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says the Senate committee's report did not do a thorough enough job.

"I think the committee, the majority report and the three recommendations that are outlined there - while they are important recommendations - I think it's very disappointing that an inquiry into the tragedy on the coast of Christmas Island, which saw the loss of 50 lives has only come up with three recommendations," she said.

"I am extremely disappointed that the committee wasn't able to do more thorough work."

Senator Hanson-Young says the committee heard evidence the surveillance systems designed to detect boat arrivals were not foolproof.

"There is another question and that is of course how we operate our interception, detection, surveillance and monitoring in those high seas," she said.

She says the Greens want an independent review into Australia's border protection surveillance.

Senator Hanson-Young has also called for funding for an emergency services volunteer coordinator on Christmas Island.

Meanwhile, a human rights lawyer says at least one survivor of the shipwreck may be called to give evidence at an inquest.

George Newhouse is representing 20 family members on the boat and says counsel assisting the coroner has asked him if any of the survivors want to give evidence.

Mr Newhouse says he understands coroner Alistair Hope did not intend to call any of those on the doomed boat as he did not want them traumatised any further.

But he says he asked his clients if they wanted to testify at the inquest and so far only one shipwreck survivor has indicated he is willing to do so.

He says an Iraqi man being held at Christmas Island who claims he warned authorities that the asylum seeker boat was on its way may also be called to give evidence.

The inquest, which has held hearings in Perth, moves to Christmas Island on July 11.

Tags: community-and-society, defence-and-national-security, navy, disasters-and-accidents, accidents, maritime-accidents, law-crime-and-justice, courts-and-trials, refugees, australia, perth-6000, christmas-island

First posted June 29, 2011 13:53:00


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ASIC charges former Westpoint directors

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Posted July 1, 2011 17:11:00

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has charged the former directors of the failed Westpoint group, Norm Carey and Graeme Rundle, with breaching the Corporations Act.

Thousands of investors lost a total of $400 million when Westpoint's complex property schemes were shut down in early 2006.

ASIC alleges Mr Carey and Mr Rundle breached their duties during financial transactions relating to the purchase of the Warnbro Fair Shopping Centre in 2006.

The matter will return to court in two weeks.

The charges carry a maximum jail term of five years.

Tags: fraud-and-corporate-crime, perth-6000


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Illegal drug lab in the back of a ute

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Posted June 30, 2011 11:23:00

Police are questioning two men about a drug laboratory found in the back of their utility in the Perth suburb of Maddington.

The men came to the attention of authorities while acting suspiciously in a service station on Albany Highway.

Police say the back of the utility was set up to manufacture prohibited drugs.

It is the 95th drug lab to be found in Western Australia this year.

Tags: law-crime-and-justice, crime, drug-offences, maddington-6109


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Dockers kick clear of Suns

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Updated July 2, 2011 18:31:00

Fremantle's mid-season resurgence continued at the expense of the lowly Suns as Gold Coast squandered a narrow half-time lead to crash by 50 points in their seventh straight defeat.

AFL legend Gary Ablett was again superb individually but he found helping hands in short supply as the Dockers turned up the heat after a slow start to cruise home 17.10 (112) to 9.8 (62).

Fremantle has now consolidated its spot in the top eight with a third win in four, turning around a form slump that had previously seen the club lose four matches in five weeks.

Veteran Matthew Pavlich was in terrific touch in his 250th match with three goals and 25 touches, with Greg Broughton busting his gut to churn out 32 disposals and 11 tackles.

Jonathon Griffin laid four tackles and accumulated 26 possessions, but it was his 30 hit-outs and two goals that rounded out a best-on-ground performance.

By contrast, the Suns had only Ablett (33 touches, 14 tackles, three goals) as an outlet with their next best David Swallow (28 touches) a clearly distant second.

The Suns will be sweating on injuries to Sam Day, who locked up his knee while taking a sliding mark, and ruckman Zac Smith, who was left nursing a sore head following a heavy but fair bump from Alex Silvagni.

Fremantle will enter next week's bye with an 8-6 record, but its finals credentials will go on the line over the next five games when it faces Sydney (away), West Coast, Hawthorn (home), St Kilda (away) and Carlton (home).

"It (the milestone) is a nice moment but more important we're 8-6 heading into the bye," Pavlich said.

Gold Coast made the most of its chances in a scrappy opening term to take a five-point lead into the first change, but an arm injury to no-nonsense defender Nathan Bock early in the second quarter helped swing momentum Fremantle's way.

Pavlich booted three goals within the space of five minutes while Bock was off the field receiving treatment, helping the Dockers establish a handy 13-point advantage.

But Bock's return to the fray halted the damage as Gold Coast booted three of the next four goals to take a three-point lead into half-time.

Ablett had 18 possessions, nine tackles and two goals to his name by half-time, but Griffin was just as prominent for the Dockers with 18 disposals, 16 hit-outs and two goals.

Gold Coast sub Brandon Matera came on just before half-time and took less than a minute to make his presence felt, snapping a goal to give the Suns the lead.

But with the game on the line in the third quarter, Fremantle goalsneak Ballantyne stepped up to the plate, booting two goals for the term and setting up a number of others to help take the game away from the visitors.

Mzungu's move forward also paid dividends with a couple of goals, while Hill's work in the midfield broke the game open as the Dockers headed to the final change with a 27-point lead.

The Dockers were never challenged in the final term, kicking four goals to one in front of a poor crowd of just 28,646.

Fremantle: 17.10 (112) - H Ballantyne 3, M Pavlich 3, T Mzungu 3, J Griffin 2, N Fyfe 2, J Mellington, M De Boer, M Johnson, N Lower

Gold Coast: 9.8 (62) - G Ablett 3, T McKenzie 2, B Matera, D Stanley, J Fraser, J Wilkinson

- ABC/AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, qld, robina-4226, wa, fremantle-6160

First posted July 2, 2011 18:00:00


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Players won't strike over AFL pay deal

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Updated June 30, 2011 09:10:00

The AFL Players' Association (AFLPA) sent a strong message to the AFL by staging an historic mass meeting over a pay claim, but the players stopped short of threatening strike action.

About 400 players attended a 90-minute meeting in Melbourne and another 300 were involved via video links in Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth and Adelaide.

"I want to emphasise that strike action is the last things on players' minds," AFLPA chief executive Matt Finnis said after the meeting at Crown Casino.

"Players very clearly indicated to us their commitment to securing a partnership agreement with the League whilst continuing to play football for their fans.

"The players want to be dealt with fairly and with respect."

"All these things are really last-ditch things," AFLPA vice-president Luke Ball said when asked if players would consider withdrawing their labour from events such as autograph sessions.

"We're not really entertaining that at the moment at all.

"We want to get it done in a fair and respectful way so that we can keep playing footy and the fans can keep enjoying the footy and hopefully the ideal result for everyone.

"That's the idea of tonight, to update the players on the AFL's position and to get the majority's feeling on which way we should proceed."

AFL chief Andrew Demetriou is opposed to the AFLPA's demand for 25-27 per cent of AFL revenue to be locked in for players.

Demetriou said on Wednesday he believes players are entitled to their fair share of the new $1.253 billion TV rights deal.

But he added while players deserved a pay rise, it should not be tied to revenue.

Demetriou said the AFL faced a balancing act between its stakeholders.

"Getting that balance right and speaking to each group to get them to understand that here's a pot of money that's available, here's what your fair share is, and we don't link that to percentages, we link that to what's fair," he said.

"Whilst we're looking after the players I must continue to invest in grass roots football. I must continue to put money into Auskick programs and facilities and work with governments to develop school sport."

Finnis said the players felt the AFL's proposals to date had failed to address the key objectives of their claims.

The players voted to back the AFLPA's bid to seek a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the AFL.

"If a satisfactory resolution cannot be achieved, the association is instructed to explore and, to the extent it considers appropriate, utilise the rights and process available to players under the Fair Work Act to facilitate an agreement being concluded," he said.

AFLPA president Luke Power said players had never come together before in such a show of unity.

"What came through strongly tonight was that players want to enter into a true partnership with the AFL and to get to this point we need negotiations that are based on respect for the contribution which players make to the game," he said.

Finnis said June 30 had been set as a nominal deadline but the AFLPA remained committed to seeking a new CBA before the current one expires at the end of the 2011 season.

"The players are committed to continuing to play footy for their fans for the duration of the agreement and beyond," he said.

"The reason why the players have asked to affirm that position is because inevitably there is a lot of talk about strike action and strike action is not on the agenda tonight.

"Players could not be more committed to playing footy for their fans and their clubs and they'll continue to do that."

The AFLPA wanted to ensure that being an AFL player remained the "number one sporting career for young men in this country for years to come", Finnis added.

He said the players were seeking a three-year deal.

Demetriou has claimed AFL players are receiving "mixed messages" on the pay issue.

Finnis hit back by saying: "We think there's been a lot of misinformation.

"There has been a portrayal of aspects of our claim which are different to the reality," he said.

Finnis declined to nominate what options were available to the players through the Fair Work Act. He said he did not want to negotiate through the media.

"We're certainly committed to getting back together (with the AFL) but we haven't put a firm date on that," Finnis said.

Essendon ruck great Simon Madden addressed the meeting as a representative of the past players.

Power said the AFL chiefs were highly skilled with negotiations, as they had shown in the past.

"There's no anger towards the AFL. The AFL are doing their job," he said.

"We want a fair resolution and to represent our players properly, we need to explore all avenues."

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, nsw, sydney-2000, qld, brisbane-4000, sa, adelaide-5000, vic, melbourne-3000, wa, perth-6000

First posted June 29, 2011 21:06:00


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Police officer denies doing 70km above speed limit

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Updated June 30, 2011 17:15:00

A police officer has been allegedly clocked driving at more than 70 km above the speed limit.

Senior Constable Timothy Ralli is on trial accused of driving at 172 km an hour in a 100 km an hour zone along Tonkin Highway in Wattle Grove in 2010.

The officer was off duty at the time and has pleaded not guilty to a charge of reckless driving.

Senior Constable Travis Taylor told the court he was on patrol when he caught Constable Ralli using a hand-held speed detector.

He said Constable Ralli appeared pale and told him he had been doing overtime.

But Constable Taylor said his demeanour then changed and he denied he had been speeding.

Constable Taylor testified that he was flabbergasted and told Constable Ralli that his was the only car on Tonkin Highway at the time.

Tags: courts-and-trials, midland-6056

First posted June 30, 2011 16:51:00


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Late night train trial draws mixed response

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Posted July 1, 2011 10:13:00

The RAC says the State Government's late night train trial could reduce drink driving among young people.

The government will trial a free 4:00 am weekend train service for six months from November.

Trains currently stop running at 2:00 am.

The RAC's Matt Brown says the extra service would give young people who have been drinking a way of getting home.

But he's also warned that those who have been drinking could be tempted to drive home from their local stations.

"We'd hate to see it pushing the problem out into the suburbs," he said.

"We'd hate to see young people think it's okay to get on the train and then get to their local station and then jump into their cars to drive home.

"Drink driving is dangerous at all times and it's simply not acceptable."

The Transport Minister Troy Buswell announced the trial yesterday in response to an online campaign calling for more options for people travelling home in the early hours of the morning.

However, the Opposition transport spokesman Ken Travers has criticised the trial, saying it will be ineffective.

Mr Travers says adding just one train will make little difference and would not help people working in pubs and clubs.

"This trial is not going to demonstrate or find out when we need trains on Friday and Saturday nights," he said.

"The only way you can do that is to trial a train every hour on the hour for Friday and Saturday nights."

The trains will depart from Perth at 4:00 am on Saturday and Sunday mornings on each of the Fremantle, Joondaloup, Mandurah, Armadale and Midland lines.

Mr Buswell says he will evaluate the success of the trial and then make a decision on future services.

Tags: transport, perth-6000


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Players won't strike over AFL pay deal

在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中,找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件,或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中,找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件,或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
Updated June 30, 2011 09:10:00

The AFL Players' Association (AFLPA) sent a strong message to the AFL by staging an historic mass meeting over a pay claim, but the players stopped short of threatening strike action.

About 400 players attended a 90-minute meeting in Melbourne and another 300 were involved via video links in Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth and Adelaide.

"I want to emphasise that strike action is the last things on players' minds," AFLPA chief executive Matt Finnis said after the meeting at Crown Casino.

"Players very clearly indicated to us their commitment to securing a partnership agreement with the League whilst continuing to play football for their fans.

"The players want to be dealt with fairly and with respect."

"All these things are really last-ditch things," AFLPA vice-president Luke Ball said when asked if players would consider withdrawing their labour from events such as autograph sessions.

"We're not really entertaining that at the moment at all.

"We want to get it done in a fair and respectful way so that we can keep playing footy and the fans can keep enjoying the footy and hopefully the ideal result for everyone.

"That's the idea of tonight, to update the players on the AFL's position and to get the majority's feeling on which way we should proceed."

AFL chief Andrew Demetriou is opposed to the AFLPA's demand for 25-27 per cent of AFL revenue to be locked in for players.

Demetriou said on Wednesday he believes players are entitled to their fair share of the new $1.253 billion TV rights deal.

But he added while players deserved a pay rise, it should not be tied to revenue.

Demetriou said the AFL faced a balancing act between its stakeholders.

"Getting that balance right and speaking to each group to get them to understand that here's a pot of money that's available, here's what your fair share is, and we don't link that to percentages, we link that to what's fair," he said.

"Whilst we're looking after the players I must continue to invest in grass roots football. I must continue to put money into Auskick programs and facilities and work with governments to develop school sport."

Finnis said the players felt the AFL's proposals to date had failed to address the key objectives of their claims.

The players voted to back the AFLPA's bid to seek a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the AFL.

"If a satisfactory resolution cannot be achieved, the association is instructed to explore and, to the extent it considers appropriate, utilise the rights and process available to players under the Fair Work Act to facilitate an agreement being concluded," he said.

AFLPA president Luke Power said players had never come together before in such a show of unity.

"What came through strongly tonight was that players want to enter into a true partnership with the AFL and to get to this point we need negotiations that are based on respect for the contribution which players make to the game," he said.

Finnis said June 30 had been set as a nominal deadline but the AFLPA remained committed to seeking a new CBA before the current one expires at the end of the 2011 season.

"The players are committed to continuing to play footy for their fans for the duration of the agreement and beyond," he said.

"The reason why the players have asked to affirm that position is because inevitably there is a lot of talk about strike action and strike action is not on the agenda tonight.

"Players could not be more committed to playing footy for their fans and their clubs and they'll continue to do that."

The AFLPA wanted to ensure that being an AFL player remained the "number one sporting career for young men in this country for years to come", Finnis added.

He said the players were seeking a three-year deal.

Demetriou has claimed AFL players are receiving "mixed messages" on the pay issue.

Finnis hit back by saying: "We think there's been a lot of misinformation.

"There has been a portrayal of aspects of our claim which are different to the reality," he said.

Finnis declined to nominate what options were available to the players through the Fair Work Act. He said he did not want to negotiate through the media.

"We're certainly committed to getting back together (with the AFL) but we haven't put a firm date on that," Finnis said.

Essendon ruck great Simon Madden addressed the meeting as a representative of the past players.

Power said the AFL chiefs were highly skilled with negotiations, as they had shown in the past.

"There's no anger towards the AFL. The AFL are doing their job," he said.

"We want a fair resolution and to represent our players properly, we need to explore all avenues."

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, nsw, sydney-2000, qld, brisbane-4000, sa, adelaide-5000, vic, melbourne-3000, wa, perth-6000

First posted June 29, 2011 21:06:00


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Perth to trial free 4am weekend train

在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中,找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件,或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中,找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件,或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
Posted June 30, 2011 16:00:00

The State Government will trial a free 4:00 am weekend train service for six months from November.

Trains currently stop running at 2:00 am.

The Transport Minister Troy Buswell says the trial is in response to an online campaign calling for more options for people travelling home in the early hours of the morning.

Mr Buswell says he will evaluate the success of the trial and then make a decision on future services.

Tags: transport, perth-6000


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