Lunchtime briefing: Canning Vale bus crash, Mt Lawley apartment plans and State election turns dirty
Victorian Premier Dan Andrews in intensive care, students have been injured in a serious school bus crash, and a $15 million apartment plan has been revealed for a historic Mt Lawley site.
In other news, the State election has turned dirty in WA’s South West and the Prime Minister has confirmed Christian Porter won’t be returning to parliament before the next sitting fortnight.
Check out five of The West Australian’s must-read stories from the morning.
Daniel Andrews in intensive care after fall
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews will remain in intensive care for a few days after breaking several ribs and suffering vertebrae damage in a fall.
In a statement, Mr Andrews confirmed he was admitted to hospital on Tuesday morning "after slipping and falling on wet and slippery stairs”.
“A CT scan has revealed several broken ribs and vertebrae damage, and subsequent medical advice has recommended I remain in intensive care for the next few days,” he said.
‘We were all screaming’: School bus crash terror
A Perth student has recounted the terrifying moment her school bus was hit by another bus in Canning Vale on Tuesday morning.
The crash happened just before 8am when the St Norbert College bus collided with a Transperth bus on Ranford Road, near Brennan Avenue.
Department of Fire and Emergency Services crews removed the door and back window of the school bus to get students out to safety.
Molly Williams, 11, was among the seven students on the bus at the time of the crash.
“All I just felt was going straight forward and back and I hit my head on the metal pole,” Molly said.
Old Mt Lawley hatchery site in $15m apartment plan
The former Albany Bell Hatchery site in Mt Lawley will be transformed into an eight-storey serviced apartment building despite nearby residents’ concerns over its bulk and impact on the local area.
The hatchery at 88 and 90 Guildford Road is a State-heritage listed site and is next to the historic Albany Bell Castle, which is home to residential apartments.
It was one of the first dedicated chicken hatcheries in Perth and was built in 1943.
Prior to subdivision, the hatchery was part of Peter Albany Bell’s estate which included the Castle.
‘Disgraceful’ fake pamphlet turns WA election dirty
The fight for a Labor-held country electorate has turned dirty, with the distribution of a fake pamphlet suggesting the Liberal challenger has the endorsement of the local shire.
A number of residents in the electorate of Murray-Wellington have received the double-sided leaflet that contains a Shire of Harvey shire logo and letter, as well as campaign material for Liberal candidate Michelle Boylan, who also sits as a councillor at the shire.
The shire, Mrs Boylan and WA Labor deny any responsibility for the pamphlet.
Harvey shire president Paul Gillett said the local government had not distributed the document and strongly disputed any suggestion the shire endorsed the WA Liberal Party.
Porter won’t be back for parliament: PM
Scott Morrison says he has spoken to Christian Porter and is still providing his total support to the embattled Attorney General, who won’t return to Federal Parliament before the next sitting fortnight.
Mr Porter has taken medical leave to seek psychological support after vehemently denying the historical rape allegations levelled against him.
The Prime Minister admitted he did not know when Mr Porter would return to parliament, but said he deserved the presumption of innocence.
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