Latest news with #Western Australia
The Standard
35 minutes ago
- Science
- The Standard
Some Australian dolphins use sponges to hunt fish, but it's harder than it looks
In this photo provided by the Shark Bay Dolphin Research Project, a bottlenose dolphin wearing a marine sponge on its nose to forage swims in Shark Bay, Australia, 2023. (Meredith MacQueeney/Shark Bay Dolphin Research Project via AP)
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
British backpacker, 25, 'who killed father-of-two by crashing into him on an e-scooter after drinking' appears in court in Australia
A British backpacker accused of ploughing into a father-of-two while riding an e-scooter after drinking has faced a court in Western Australia. Alicia Kemp, 25, from Redditch in Worcestershire, allegedly struck 51-year-old engineer Thanh Phan while riding a hired e-scooter through Perth 's city centre on the night of May 31. Mr Phan suffered a brain bleed and died in a hospital two days later. Police allege Kemp had been drinking from 2.30pm that afternoon with a friend and was kicked out of a bar for being too drunk. Later that evening, she hired an e-scooter around 8.30pm. According to officers, she was the main rider while her friend was illegally riding as a passenger. Kemp has been charged with dangerous driving causing death under the influence of alcohol and dangerous driving causing bodily harm under the influence of alcohol. According to prosecutors, she was driving in an 'inexplicably dangerous' manner, caught on CCTV. She has not yet entered a plea. The 25-year-old appeared via video link at Perth Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, after being refused bail at a hearing in June. The psychology graduate will remain in custody until her case returns to court on August 11 for legal argument. Under Western Australian law, the charge of dangerous driving causing death carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The tragedy prompted a response from city officials, who suspended the public e-scooter hire scheme. Meanwhile, the head of trauma services at Royal Perth Hospital revealed a disturbing rise in e-scooter injuries, many linked to alcohol. Mr Phan's grieving family and friends are now demanding a permanent ban. Lee Carroll, a close friend of the Phan family, told ABC News: 'E-scooters for hire are motorised vehicles that require no licence to operate and are often stationed outside bars and clubs, inviting use by people who may be intoxicated. 'We call on the City of Perth and the minister for transport to take decisive action.' The fatal crash has reignited debate over whether the convenience of shared e-scooters is worth the risk. Under current Western Australian regulations, riders must be over 16, wear a helmet, remain sober and ride solo. But critics say these rules are regularly flouted, especially in nightlife hotspots.
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Redditch woman in court over Australia e-scooter crash death
A backpacker accused of causing the death of a man in Australia, after she allegedly hit him while riding an e-scooter under the influence of alcohol, has appeared in Kemp, from Redditch, Worcestershire, is alleged to have collided with Thanh Phan, 51, while riding through Perth's city centre on 31 May. He died in hospital two days later after suffering a brain Kemp was charged with dangerous driving causing death under the influence of alcohol, as well as dangerous driving causing bodily harm under the influence of 25-year-old, who has yet to enter a plea, appeared at Perth Magistrates' Court via video link on Tuesday, court officials said. She was remanded in custody in Australia until her case returns to court on 11 August for legal charge of dangerous driving causing death carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in western Australian law, e-scooter riders must wear a helmet, be sober, carry no passengers and be older than 16. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
ABC News
a day ago
- Business
- ABC News
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins denies 'flying under the radar' with live export transition announcement
The federal agriculture minister has rejected suggestions she is avoiding sheep farmers and industry representatives during a lightning visit to Western Australia. Julie Collins was in the state on Tuesday to reveal more details of the transition assistance package underpinning the ban of live sheep exports by sea. Ms Collins travelled to the saleyards at Muchea, 50 kilometres north of Perth, to reveal a $139.7-million package minimally changed from a draft leaked in April this year. The package includes $40m for WA's processing supply chain capacity, $30m for farmers transitioning away from sheep, $2.2m to assist shearers looking for different work and $1.5m for the transport industry. The announcement, made alongside WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis, was immediately criticised by farmers and industry representatives who suggested Ms Collins was trying to "fly under the radar". After the announcement Ms Collins told the WA Country Hour the industry had been fully informed ahead of the visit. "We've now engaged with over 300 people in 16 workshops to map out the best way forward for the Western Australian sheep industry," she said. Ms Collins said the package highlighted the government's commitment to farmers affected by the ban. "This package has always been about ensuring there is a sheep industry in Western Australia," she said. "We think $139.7 million is significant and we have a transition advocate who will continue to play a role on the implementation to make sure this money goes to where it needs." WAFarmers chief executive Trevor Whittington said Ms Collins had "taken the lead from the prime minister" in "running scared from dealing with 'difficult people". He said WAFarmers had not been made aware of the minister's announcement, but decided to drive to the saleyards uninvited to hear the details first-hand. "There was no detail today — we got more out of that leaked document," Mr Whittington said. "This is a failed roll out, it's going to be a failed transition — it would have been nice to get an invitation." Livestock and Rural Transport Association executive officer Jan Cooper said she found out about the visit early on Tuesday morning and that the organisations suggestions for the transition had been ignored. "The department said this morning they would be prepared to talk further about our ideas," she said. But the WA Shearing Industry Association welcomed elements of the plan. "This is not a position we wanted to be in, but it's where we are," President Darren Spencer said. "If we can't keep our shearing teams employed then we will lose a lot of people out of our industry and our local towns — no-one wants that. "The answer we settled on was by them having other work that aligns around the shearing seasons." Details are still being finalised, but the $2.2m provided for shearers is expected to allow them to get trained in other high-demand agricultural skills. Katanning Shire President Kristy D'Aprile said the council had been working with the community to work out how best to work through the transition. The shire is home to the largest undercover sheep saleyards in the southern hemisphere. "We have land behind our saleyards, we are thinking outside the box and looking for every opportunity that we can," Ms D'Aprile said. "There has been suggestion around maybe a feedlot and how we can further develop some opportunity between growers and processors." She had already noticed a "rapid change" in Katanning as producers moved away from sheep. "This is happening a lot quicker than anticipated, so we just need to know how to support our farmers going forward," Ms D'Aprile said.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
British backpacker faces court over fatal e-scooter crash in Australia
An English backpacker accused of fatally crashing into a father-of-two while riding an e-scooter under the influence of alcohol has faced court in Western Australia. Alicia Kemp, 25, from Redditch, Worcestershire, allegedly collided with Thanh Phan, 51, while riding through Perth's city centre on May 31. Mr Phan died in hospital days later after suffering a brain bleed. Kemp has been charged with dangerous driving causing death under the influence of alcohol, as well as dangerous driving causing bodily harm under the influence of alcohol. She is yet to enter a plea. Court officials said Kemp, who was denied bail at a hearing in June, appeared at Perth Magistrates' Court via video link on Tuesday. She will remain behind bars until her case returns to court on August 11 for legal argument. The charge of dangerous driving causing death carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Under Western Australian law, e-scooter riders must wear a helmet, be sober, carry no passengers and be aged over 16 years old.
