Monday, 31 October 2016

• ​Three Olympians and three Paralympians to visit nine regional towns
• Champions 2 Country tour starts in Kalgoorlie today

Olympic fever hits the Goldfields today as the Champions 2 Country tour arrives in the region.

Sport and Recreation Minister Mia Davies said as part of the regional tour, six Western Australian Paralympic and Olympic athletes from the Rio games would take part in a series of community visits.

"The Champions 2 Country tour is a chance for regional communities to be inspired by a very special group of athletes," Ms Davies said.

"These athletes are ambassadors and role models and I am sure they will be warmly welcomed everywhere they visit.  This tour is about inspiring young people to overcome adversity and build resilience, to dream and make those dreams come true and be motivated to work hard to get there."

Athletes participating are Paralympians Brad Ness (wheelchair basketball), Adam Deans (wheelchair basketball) and Brad Scott (athletics) and Olympians Ryan Bailie (triathlon), Zoe Arancini (water polo) and Maddison Keeney (diving).

"We know sport can be a great boost to self-esteem, help you make new friends and do better at school and these Olympians and Paralympians will share their experiences during their visits," the Minister said.

The athletes will visit nine regional towns - Laverton, Leonora, Kalgoorlie, Menzies, Kambalda, Coolgardie, Norseman, Salmon Gums, Esperance - during the four-day tour, including visits to 25 schools and more than nine sporting and community events.

One of the main objectives of Champions 2 Country is to provide inspiration on issues including healthy lifestyle, leadership, team work, respect, motivation to achieve goals, and to share their sporting experiences.

The tour is a partnership between the Department of Sport and Recreation, the Western Australian Olympic Council Inc and the Australian Commonwealth Games Association (WA Division).

Fact File

• Champions 2 Country runs from October 31 to November 3

31/10/2016 1:30 PM

• ​2016 survey finds passengers are overwhelmingly happy with Transperth services
• Passenger Satisfaction Monitor surveyed 4,300 Transperth passengers

The 2016 Transperth Passenger Satisfaction Monitor has found an average of nine in 10 passengers are happy with the services.

Announcing the survey findings today, Transport Minister Bill Marmion said the results were among the best ever and showed consumers believed the Liberal National Government was on the right track when it came to public transport.

"Passenger satisfaction with services in terms of frequency, reliability and safety is at an all-time high," Mr Marmion said.

"In support of the Passenger Survey Monitor, national consumer research company, Canstar, recently declared Transperth the winner of its City Trains - Most Satisfied Customers award for the fifth time in succession.

"These results reflect the State Government's commitment to providing a world-class transport service for West Australian commuters, families and visitors to WA.

"This Government has invested heavily in new railcars, stations, a new rail line to Forrestfield via the airport, new buses and bus priority lanes - improving frequency and capacity to the existing bus network has also been a priority.

"Transport capital and infrastructure in WA has never been better funded."

Key findings from the survey include:

• 92 per cent satisfaction among train passengers (91 per cent peak, 94 per cent off-peak)
• 89 per cent satisfaction among bus passengers - a new all-time high
• an average of 96 per cent satisfaction among CAT bus passengers - an equal all-time high result
• 95 per cent satisfaction among ferry passengers
• SmartRider use is at an all-time high with 98 per cent of users satisfied with the system
• the 950 Superbus was the second-highest rated non-CAT service, with 96 per cent satisfaction, just beaten by Joondalup bus passengers who said they were 97 per cent satisfied
• Perth CAT received the highest satisfaction rating from passengers at 98 per cent.

Fact File

• Transperth bus punctuality in 2015-16 was at its best level in five years - 85.2 per cent
• Train on-time running was 95.5 per cent in 2015-16

Monday, 31 October 2016

• ​Mandurah's crabbing season open from November 1, 2016 to August 31, 2017
• Fisheries officers will be watching closely to ensure the rules are followed

Fisheries Minister Joe Francis has urged crab fishers to do the right thing when Mandurah's blue swimmer crab fisheries reopen tomorrow after the seasonal closure.

"The Peel-Harvey crab fisheries are the first in the world to receive a joint Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) eco-tick for both the recreational and commercial fisheries," Mr Francis said.

"The MSC certification means that the Department of Fisheries' management, compliance and research efforts supporting these fisheries are in line with the global gold standard.

"Recfishwest and the Mandurah Licensed Fisherman's Association can be rightly proud of what they have achieved for the community by ensuring the fisheries continue to be sustainable.

"With the season opening tomorrow, recreational fishers can play their part in keeping the fisheries sustainable by sticking to the rules.

"I'm sure most crab fishers will do the right thing, but Fisheries and Marine Officers will be cracking down on anyone who doesn't, and the penalties can be severe.  Recently, a fisher was fined more than $5,000 for taking undersize crabs." 

The Minister said environmental conditions, including the recent cold and wet weather, meant many crabs that fishers came across in coming weeks would probably be undersized.

"In the early part of the season, it may take recreational fishers a little longer to gather a feed of legal-size blue swimmers and I urge fishers to measure their crabs carefully," the Minister said.

"The minimum legal size is 127mm and any undersize crabs must be returned to the water immediately and unharmed, so they can be left to grow and moult as the weather warms up."

Department of Fisheries compliance and education officers will hand out free crab gauges to recreational fishers at many popular Peel-Harvey crabbing locations.

Fact File

• Peel-Harvey crab fishing season is open from November 1, 2016 to August 31, 2017
• Free crab gauges will be available at the Department of Fisheries' Mandurah office
• Find out more about MSC sustainability certification at http://www.wamsc.com.au

30/10/2016 6:30 AM

• ​Three fixed speed cameras installed on country roads in a WA first
• Point-to-point average speed camera test period to begin
• Wheatbelt targeted in line with the Wheatbelt Highway Safety Review

For the first time in Western Australia, permanent speed cameras will be installed on regional roads as part of the Liberal National Government's strategy to improve road safety.

Deputy Premier and Road Safety Minister Liza Harvey also revealed the State's first point-to-point speed camera, which measures average speed over a distance, would begin being tested tomorrow (October 31).

"Last year, speed was a factor in nearly 40 per cent of fatal crashes, and these new cameras are being installed in black spots which have had a history of people being killed or seriously injured in crashes," Ms Harvey said.

"There is simply no excuse to drive over the posted speed limit.  The vast majority of West Australian drivers obey the rules, but for those who don't, there is now more chance than ever that they will be caught and receive a hefty penalty."

The fixed speed cameras will be located at:

• Great Eastern Highway, Wundowie
• Great Eastern Highway, Northam
• Indian Ocean Drive, Gabbadah

The Deputy Premier said there had been 100 crashes, six fatalities and 34 people injured along the stretch of Great Eastern Highway between 2011 and 2015.  During the same period, 15 people were injured in 33 crashes along Indian Ocean Drive.

Ms Harvey said point-to-point cameras were a new technology for Western Australia and would be tested over a six-month period before becoming a permanent feature of WA's speed and red light camera network. 

The camera is located along a 26-kilometre stretch of Forrest Highway near Lake Clifton, where seven people have died and 43 people have been injured in the past six years.

"The rate of fatalities reduced 34 per cent between 2008 and 2015.  Speed cameras and enforcement are only one part of our road safety strategy, which also includes education and safer roads," she said.

Fact File

• The new regional fixed speed cameras will become operational by December
• 100% of speed and red light camera fines go into the Road Trauma Trust Account to fund proven road safety initiatives
• In 2015-16, the Liberal National Government allocated a record $148.5m from the RTTA

Thursday, 27 October 2016

Page Content

• Alarm over failure to follow full immunisation program
• Year 8 students offered free human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to guard viruses that cause most cervical and genital cancers 

Thousands of West Australian teenagers are missing out on cancer protection because they are not completing their full course of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

Health Minister John Day today highlighted the importance of the target group - Year 8 students - receiving all three HPV vaccine doses.

"This is a potentially lifesaving decision, so I encourage students and parents to get involved, to tell your friends and share the message," Mr Day said.

"While a majority of students received the first vaccine, studies show more than 2,500 failed to finish the three-dose program last year."

Statistics show that 99 per cent of students who consented to receive the HPV vaccine had the first dose, but the rate dropped to 97 per cent of females and 96 per cent of males for the second dose and only 90 per cent of females and 89 per cent of males for the third dose.

"These numbers are concerning because they show that up to 10 per cent of participants are not getting the maximum protection," the Minister said.

"The vaccine will help prevent cancer and disease later in life, and it is important that both students and their parents realise the value of completing the entire immunisation course."

The vaccine protects against two HPV types that are known to cause 70 per cent of cervical cancer in women.  It protects males from 90 per cent of HPV types that cause cancers of the penis, anus and throat, and against 90 per cent of genital warts in both sexes.

The free vaccine is available to every Year 8 student whose parents consent.

Students who miss a vaccination at school should visit their GP or immunisation provider to receive the full course.  Some providers may charge a fee for administering the free vaccine.

Fact File

• 25,974 Year 8 students received the HPV1 vaccine in 2015, 25,180 received HPV2 and only 23,422 received HPV3
• Between 12 and 14 per cent of Year 8 students do not consent to HPV vaccination
• A video detailing the value of school-based immunisations can be found on the Healthy WA website at http://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/immunisation  

​

Wednesday, 26 October 2016
 
Page Content

• Grants support creation of entry-level jobs in metropolitan local governments
• More career development opportunities for young local government employees 

The Liberal National Government is spending $400,000 to create traineeships and career and development opportunities for young people in the local government sector.

Local Government Minister Paul Miles encouraged Perth councils to apply for funding under the Metropolitan Local Government Youth Development Program, to help attract and retain young people in the sector.

"The local government sector provides a variety of rewarding opportunities for young people who want to make a difference at a local level," Mr Miles said.

"Local government has an ageing workforce, so it is important we counter this by providing a great incentive for young people to stay in local government in the long term."

Through the traineeship program, local governments will be provided support to employ young people, aged 24 years or under, through access to grants of up to $5,000 per trainee to pay course fees and $15,000 per trainee as a wage subsidy.

In addition, scholarships of up to $10,000 are also available for employees aged 30 years or under to participate in nationally accredited training.

The Minister said the initiative followed on from the success of the Country Local Government Fund Youth Development Program, which provided $1.2 million to fund new traineeships and training scholarships in regional councils.

"These grants can provide valuable training to young local government employees, giving them knowledge, insight and experience which will benefit them throughout the rest of their lives," the Minister said.

Fact File

• For more information, visit https://www.dlgc.wa.gov.au/GrantsFunding/Pages/All-grants-programs.aspx 

Wednesday, 26 October 2016
 
Page Content

• 4,000 competitors in Perth for 2016 World Masters Athletics Championships
• WA community to benefit through visitor spending and venue activation
• Supported by the State Government through Tourism Western Australia 

More than 4,000 competitors and 3,000 supporters from 92 countries have arrived in Perth for the 2016 World Masters Athletics Championships, which begin today.

Over the next 12 days, athletes aged between 35 and 97 will compete in 25 sports at venues across the city.  The Liberal National Government, through Tourism Western Australia, is the event's major sponsor.

Premier and Tourism Minister Colin Barnett said the State Government's successful bid to host the event would deliver an economic windfall for Western Australia.

"I'm delighted to welcome so many talented and inspiring older athletes to Perth for these championships, which encourage fitness and friendship across the world," Mr Barnett said.

"Mass participation events such as this bring thousands of competitors, supporters and officials to Western Australia.  These visitors are also likely to explore other areas of the State before and after the championships, bringing in valuable tourism dollars."

Sport and Recreation Minister Mia Davies said the event would also activate venues across the city and leave a lasting legacy for the West Australian community.

"The track events will be at the WA Athletics Centre in Mount Claremont and the Ern Clark Athletic Centre in Cannington, while road events will take place along the picturesque Swan River," Ms Davies said.

"Western Australia takes great pride in providing outstanding sport and recreation facilities for people of all ages and abilities.

"We're expecting some fierce competition during the championships, matched by a strong community spirit and the enjoyment of participating."

Fact File

• The World Masters Athletics Championships run from October 26 to November 6, 2016
• For more details, visit http://www.perth2016.com
• One of several mass participation events sponsored through Tourism Western Australia that are expected to bring a combined 20,000 people to WA this year.  Other events include the Australian Junior Athletics Championships, UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, Australian University Games and SunSmart Ironman Western Australia