Perth News

Plan of action in case of an accident

October 10, 2017 by Reporter Leave a Comment

No matter how much of a responsible driver a person is, road accidents are sometimes unavoidable. Road accidents, even minor ones, can be overwhelming to your mind, if not to your body. While being a vigilant and responsible driver is a great way to avoid accidents, it is better to be prepared.

Having a contingency plan for such emergencies will help you keep yourself and others safe. Knowing what you have to do will help you reduce your reaction time to the situation, and when it comes to road accidents, a few seconds can make all the difference. If you ever find yourself in an accident, take the following steps to ensure a safe outcome:

Do not panic

As mentioned earlier, accidents can be overwhelming. It is commonly noticed that people experience a range of emotions right after they have been in an accident. If you experience something similar, make sure you remain calm. Staying calm will help you assess and handle the situation better.

Some people tend to panic and flee from the scene of accident. This is not advisable at all. If you are ever in an accident, never leave the accident scene before it is appropriate to do so. Running away from the scene of accident can have serious legal implications.

Make sure everyone is safe

If it is not possible or safe to get out of the car, make sure you, and everyone else inside the car is properly buckled in. If possible, contact emergency services immediately.

On the other hand, even if the accident is minor, it is your responsibility to first make sure everyone involved in the accident is unharmed.

Contact emergency services

Once you have made sure everyone is safe, contact the emergency services. If nobody requires medical attention, contact law enforcement and your preferred towing company in Perth. If possible, make notes of what happened at the scene. This will help you better illustrate it to the police and to your insurance company.

Bonus tip: Choosing a towing company in advance is a great idea to save yourself from hassle in an already difficult situation. Moreover, doing so would give you time to research and find the most feasible option.

Exchange information

This is crucial. Once you have made sure the emergency services are on their way, start collecting names, numbers, addresses, license plate numbers and insurance information of all the drivers involved. To be on the safe side, exchange the same information with other passengers involved in the accident. Keep in mind that the accident scene is an intense environment for everyone, and try to be cordial and cooperative while exchanging information.

However, being cordial does not mean you need to unnecessarily apologise to anyone. Never ever, intentionally or unintentionally, apologise or accept any mistakes that you think you may have done. Accepting mistakes may later translate into accepting the legal liability of the accident. Moreover, it might create problems with your insurance provider.

Get a medical check-up done

Even if the accident is a minor one and there are no visible injuries or pain in your body, it is advisable to see a doctor. Sometimes, internal injuries remain ignored, and turn into serious problems later on. It is best to be safe and get a doctor’s opinion.

Conclusion

A little preparation goes a long way, especially in case of emergency situations like road accidents. Keeping calm and being able to handle these situations responsibly will ensure your safety, along with the safety of those you care.

Outdoor Patio Trends for 2016

October 29, 2015 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Outdoor Patio Trends for 2016

The backyard has always been recognised as one of the hot spots for entertaining and living. Whether it’s roasting marshmallows by the fire on a cool winter night or getting friends over for a BBQ on a sunny Sunday afternoon, outdoor living is definitely at its peak.

Even as trends continue to come and go, outdoor entertaining still remains as popular as ever. Colours and styles will go out of fashion but the beauty of outdoor living – especially in Australia – stays strong. According to a recent survey porches, patios and decks are the most cherished paces of homes; with 69% of consumers adding a pretty patio to their backyard space. Find out what outdoor patio trends are in store for 2016.

1. Get the Right Furniture Look

For your patio area to truly look complete, you need to get the right furniture look. For 2016, the natural look of Rattan and Wicker is back in fashion combined with clean lines and contemporary shapes. It has the ability to transform your patio into a modern outdoor living space and is durable enough to last the distance and weather conditions too.

Think exquisite sun loungers, chairs, dining and coffee tables made of white fibreglass and Rattan to create that fresh, crisp Mediterranean look. Sofas and chairs should have a high back and padding to promote a high level of comfort and relaxation – perfect for summer days on your patio. Dress your outdoor furniture up with cushions, padding and throws in neon brights with naturally high saturation of colours to create a playful look. This pallet is great for fabrics, bistros, outdoor themes and patio furniture.

2. Popular Patio Designs

Gable patios are still in front as the most popular option in patio designs. Flat roof patios have been declining in attractiveness for a while now as designs like gable are more in vogue. In comparison to standard flat patio roofs, gable designs have much more overhead space to ensure outdoor areas don’t have that horrible closed-in, claustrophobic feel. Gable patios can help a small space to appear larger with the arched height and have a variety of attractive designs to suit all homes.

Dome patio designs have also been booming in popularity with their soft curves and complete protection. Dome patios use curved sections of metal or other materials to produce the desired shape and can complement your home’s architecture beautifully. Whilst they tend to have a more unique design than gable patios, they can have a tendency to trap in more heat because of the curve so be wary of this when choosing the best design for your needs and location. Above anything, make sure you chose a patio design that offers a sufficient amount of shade to boost comfort levels and all-year-round use.

3. Indoor/Outdoor Living

Merging the indoor world with outdoor living is by no means a new thing, but this home design trend is set to boom even more for 2016. It doesn’t matter whether you are living in the city suburbs or nestled out in the country, the indoor/outdoor living trend works with any home design.

Think dining areas that open up to your patio area, a stone fire place or fire pit to make the space versatile for the cooler months and decked out with sophisticated features like built-in speakers and audio and visual equipment for the ultimate entertaining and outdoor living experience. This open space concept is a design that homeowners are craving for in 2016.

The flow between your indoor and outdoor space is an important part of merging these two worlds together so opt for a patio design that works with your home’s current appeal. Complementing colours and design schemes will create that seamless look between the two, even if your patio area is new.

4. Outdoor Patio Colours

Whilst you definitely want the colours of your outdoor patio space to complement your home’s exterior, adding fresh pops of colour will brighten the space. Aqua blues and teals are in for 2016, creating a feeling that’s fresh and welcoming. Complete the look with ocean creatures like beach house seashells, which are set to be a part of outdoor furniture too.

In addition to the bright numbers mentioned in the first point of this article, Tuscan colours and excessive patterns are out for 2016. As people grow tired of Tuscan inspired blends and patterns that are too busy, outdoor designers have advised to keep things a little simpler. Instead, add interest and texture with natural greenery and pops of citrus colours and neon brights. Solid colour choices for pillows and throw blankets are in fashion for the New Year, too. Other colours to watch out for include berry, greys, mango infused orange and vanilla white.

5. Mixing Materials

Mixed material trends are one of the best ways to integrate your indoor/outdoor living space together. In 2016, outdoor living is focused on mixing materials to create contrast and promote a dynamic interplay to outdoor living spaces.

Look for patio furniture and outdoor decors that mixes resin with wood, wood with iron or teak with stainless steel. Natural materials are super-hot; like stone, copper, wood and wicker, and play into different design themes like vintage, rustic and environmentally friendly. This trend of mixing materials has been growing significantly over the year with more homeowners moving away from the matching styles. Don’t be afraid to get those creative juices flowing and blend different textures and colours together to create a unique yet cohesive design that’ll give you patio an updated look and feel.

Which 2016 trends will you be incorporating into your patio design?

Author Bio

This article is written by Jayde Ferguson, who writes for Great Aussie Patios – Perth’s leading patio builders with a solution for every outdoor space and trend. You can catch her on Google+.

The Benefits of Outsourcing Vehicle Maintenance

April 20, 2014 by Reporter Leave a Comment

For a reliable and roadworthy vehicle, regular maintenance needs to be applied to ensure the safety of drivers is not compromised. Vehicle safety and reliability is a major concern for fleet managers, but the headache-inducing task of managing weekly and monthly checks on all fleets can be even more distressing – not to mention time consuming and costly.

The quality of the vehicle’s tyres, brakes, engine oil and fluid levels cannot be overlooked. Whilst some factors may seem irrelevant or easily delayed, it’s this neglect and postponement that will run the risk of fleet vehicles needing major maintenance. Poor vehicle management and significant expenses, combined with having to take your vehicles off the road screams disaster for fleet managers.

To alleviate the risks on your business and fleet vehicles, businesses are opting to outsource maintenance and vehicle management. As the day-to-day tasks of running your business add up, fleet managers are fast realising the positive effects outsourcing has. These benefits of outsourcing maintenance requirements are tied to measureable and intrinsic results. We take a look at how it’s a dependable solution to keeping your fleet on the road.

Gets You Back On the Road – Faster

One of the biggest benefits of outsourcing fleet vehicle servicing is your vehicle is being maintained by a team of qualified experts. Vehicle servicing may not be the core area of your business, but it is for someone else. Repairs will be arranged promptly and paperwork completed to ensure your vehicle is back on the road as fast as possible, in the safest condition with minimal productivity losses to your business. These guys know what they’re doing and will put their resources, energy and TLC into ensuring the vehicles are running smoothly.

The process in getting the vehicles roadworthy is fully managed, with minimal involvement required from you or your drivers. This ensures a time saving process for a fleet manager’s busy schedule.

Improved Company Focus

With less time wasted on worrying about regular vehicle checks, your company’s focus can stay on track for its core business. It’s easy as a fleet manager to get bombarded with constant quality improvements and enhancing your vehicles and this can chew up valuable time and money. Outsourcing vehicle servicing enables you to achieve your fleet’s goals and maintain more administrative and financial control.

Redirected Resources and Local Outsourcing

With the opportunity to redirect personnel and financial resources from non-core business activities to your company’s primary business, human resource productivity is significantly improved. Many companies opt to outsource because they don’t have the required resources within their own company from shop equipment to personnel, expertise and training. Getting a qualified team to take care of this will enhance driver/user satisfaction.

Fleet vehicles that are serviced locally will have the advantage of cutting down the time it takes for drivers to drop off and pick up vehicles. Most servicing companies will have a wide range of preferred suppliers to ensure you can choose one in a convenient location for local maintenance.

Managed Accounts and Cash Flow

Accounts are consolidated into one easy-to-manage monthly invoice when fleet maintenance is outsourced. Instead of drivers having to pay for their vehicle repairs at the point of service, it will be invoiced to your company workshop. Managed monthly accounts saves time with less paperwork and stress and ensures a smoother cash flow.

Vehicle servicing companies will carry all parts required for your fleet vehicles and inventory costs. No parts will need to be paid for by your business until it’s used on your fleet thus, increasing fleet utilisation resulting in increased cash flow and reduction in operating costs.

High-Quality and Approved Servicing

Once vehicle maintenance is outsourced, a team of experts will monitor the quality of any repairs and servicing done. Before any work can commence quotes are signed off by management, checked and approved.

Having repairs completed to the highest of quality by reputable people in the trade ensures money, and time, is saved by unnecessary work. Most companies follow the strictest standards in the industry and this quality assurance gives you a quick turnaround in repairs and improved reliability for your drivers.

Big Fleet Discounts

To further improve your cash flow, fleet management companies have the power to negotiate fleet discounts for vehicle repairs. These substantial discounts allow you to enjoy well-earned savings regardless of the fleet size.

Maintenance Alerts

These days, no one has the time to remember when their vehicle is next due for a service and when managing a fleet business remembering these things can be even harder. Email or SMS reminders are sent to all your drivers when maintenance is due so there are no excuses for services to be missed.

Servicing your vehicles on time is the most important factor to keep your fleet running in a perfect condition. This helps you to avoid nasty surprises and expensive repairs down the track by fixing any issues early.

Records and Reporting

As a fleet manager, your business is run with operational and financial goals to meet so having access to all vehicle operating costs, repair costs and turnaround, KPI’s and downtime is crucial. This in-depth reporting will be provided by the outsourced company after the completion of each job for you to update the fleet reporting system.

A clear picture will be painted on all maintenance and repairs completed across your fleet and this information accessible 24/7. Having accurate documentation will positively help in the resale of any vehicles down the track.

Reduced Risks

Above all, the safety of your drivers is priority so providing them with roadworthy vehicles is a must. The facility and vehicle risks associated with lack of maintenance operations is significant and includes various federal, state and local laws. Working directly with a trusted repair service will ensure your company is compliant with the fluctuating changes in regulations and technologies, and ultimately reduce risks and expenses for you and your drivers.

Author Bio

This article is written by Jayde Ferguson who writes for Fleetcare – Australia’s premier fleet management company based in Perth.

Has The Mining Boom in Western Australia Reached Its Peak?

November 19, 2012 by Reporter Leave a Comment

The mining boom has seen an influx of people move to WA and Perth. What was once a big country town is now a city in its own right. Many families have based themselves in Perth, and fly in and fly out to the mines. It offers an attractive salary and many workers in the mines in WA are paid well above minimum wage. Some miners on the remote gas and oil rigs can earn up to $200,000 a year. Administrators and drivers can earn $100,000. The draw of high salaries has attracted many people to WA, but is the market now saturated?

Mining boom and Jobs

There have been many newspapers speculating that the mining boom has reached its peak and will be over in two years. BHP and Xstrata PLC, two of Australia’s biggest coal exporters, cut 900 jobs in September. BHP closed its Norwich Park mine this year which saw 1,400 employees affected.

Others argue that the demand for iron ore and coal will continue. China is one of Australia’s biggest imports and they are still developing. Many people do not have cars and washing machines and they will still be in need of Australia’s raw materials. To obtain these minerals there is a constant need of equipment such as tools, diesel generators and trucks for the mines to operate.

Those who do not work in the mines are still affected by the boom. The higher wages from the mines has led to increased prices for basic goods. Household bills have increased the cost of rent and for those looking to get on the property ladder, it is nearly impossible with a normal salary. Those living in Port Headland are having to move out as they can no longer afford buy when the median house price has nearly doubled in the past four years. Closer to Perth, house prices are also very expensive. For those who want to live near Cottesloe Beach for example, it will be hard to find a house for less than $500,000. Coming up for a deposit for this type of house means many of the young local residents have to move away from the community have grew up with to an area with more affordable housing.

Australia’s economy depends on mining, one of the reasons why it has managed to ride through the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) which has affected Europe and the United States. Australia is the largest exporter of iron ore and second largest of thermal coal in the world. Although mining has experienced a boom in recent years, it is unrealistic to assume it can continue to grow at such a fast rate, although it will still play a big part of Australia’s economy. While this sector is performing well, the government should be investing in other areas to ensure there is plenty to keep the economy afloat, should the mining industry flatten out.

Article posted by guest author “Robin Sharman”

Cop gets million dollar payout for being bashed while on duty

January 25, 2011 by Reporter 3 Comments

Perth constable Matthew Butcher has been awarded a record $3.3 million ex-gratia payment by the West Australian government to cover injuries sustained during a vicious pub brawl two years ago.

Perth Constable Butcher was left partially paralyzed from severe head injuries after he was struck with a flying head butt when the cops were called to intervene during the fight ( between brawling family members) outside the pub.outside the Old Bailey Tavern in Perth’s northern suburb of Joondalup in February 2008.

The head butt left Constable Butcher unconscious and he was put into an induced coma. He spent several months in hospital undergoing a slow and painful rehabilitation. Constable Butcher continued to work with the WA Police in an administrative role and also lodged a claim with the WA Police Union for compensation of $5 million for various medical expenses.

Some mixed sentiments & comments on this story From watoday & news.com.au

Would a construction worker receive such a payment if injured in thier line of work? Not on your nelly, they have laws and contracts to prevent such payments. So why should the Police be any different? Setting the Police up as separate from the rest of society is dangerous and open for abuse. –Harry (Brisbane)

His dad was being tazered, an over reaction for sure, but not entirely unpredictable. When a family member is attacked, no matter what, your bound to react in some crazy way.
3.3 million, easy street now. Bozo

From what I see in the video, the Police very poorly handled the situation. The man who was tasered was not threatening anyone’s life, and it appears the other family member jumped on the cop to try to save his own father. It did not appear that he intended to cause the officer serious harm, just wanted to save his own father from further harm. Which is probably why he was properly found not guilty. If the cops had handled the situation better, Mr. Butcher probably wouldn’t have been injured the way he was….not that I think it’s his fault, and I do believe he deserved some compo. It looked to be nothing more than a pushing and shoving match and from what I can see, there was no need to start tasering anyone, because at that point no one’s life was in danger.-meinsydney

This cop is a parasite.

If you don’t want to break up fights then don’t become a bloody police officer!So he has to catch taxis now and is most concerned about not ageing gracefully? Pass the bucket please.-battler

I totally support your point of view. The compensation for the miitary is a tiny fraction of this award. It is a State political decision rather than on merit. And I agree the compensation for military personnel sucks.In all cases this award is way over what is reasonable, The guy has a full wage and is at least 80% moblle. Compare that to the diggers who have lost their legs and arms to IEDs – let alone the brain injuries. They get almost nothing.

This award is an insult to military personnel, Reserve and Full-time. –Jerry

I remember seeing the video of this, it was a despicable thing to do to this officer, the culprit should be ashamed of himself & I cannot understand why he got off? God luck to this officer & his wife, blessings for you both and a happy healthy child! – Waylander (posted on news.com.au)

The “ Big Burqa Debate in Australia”

August 8, 2010 by Reporter 2 Comments

A WA Perth judge in Western Australia is set to decide whether a Muslim woman can wear a full burqa while giving evidence before a jury in court in a fraud case.

Burqa In australia

Anwar Sayed from perth WA has been charged with fraudulently obtaining $1.125 million from the state and federal governments by falsifying the number of students at the Muslim Ladies College of Australia in Kenwick in Perth’s south.

The witness in this case , Tasneem, wants to wear a full burqa while giving evidence in court in the fraud trial of Muslim school director Anwar Sayed. The woman is a strict practising Muslim who does not want to show her face to men. Tasneem was an Islamic studies teacher at the Muslim Ladies College of Australia in Kenwick, south of Perth, in 2006. The school is run by Muslim Link Australia, and Sayed is the director.

This is a Burqa ( below)

Burqa – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A burqa (Arabic pronunciation: [ˈbʊrqaʕ]; also transliterated burkha, burka or burqua from Arabic: برقع‎ burqu’ or burqa‘ ) is an enveloping outer garment

Updated News 07/08/2010 :

Burqa case defendant stabbed‎ – 1 day ago

The concerns were raised in Perth’s District Court during legal argument about whether a prosecution witness could wear her burqa while giving evidence

Defence lawyers have raised concerns about how the jury is expected to read the woman’s facial expressions if they cannot see her face.

He said it was believed to be the first time in Australia that a witness had wanted to wear a full burqa

Prosecutor Mark Ritter told the court 36-year-old Tasneem wanted to give evidence, but would feel uncomfortable without her burqa and that could prejudice the way she presented her evidence. District Court Judge Shauna Deane heard lawyers’ submissions on Thursday as to whether the woman, a witness for the prosecution in a fraud trial, should be allowed to wear the full burqa, also known as a niqab. After the jury was discharged, defence lawyer Mark Trowell told reporters a jury would not be able to “make a proper assessment” of the witness if they could not see her face.

Abbott finds the “burqa’confronting”

Tony Abbott says he would like to see fewer women in Australia wearing burqas.

“I don’t want to interfere in the operations of our legal system but I have said it before and let me say it again, I find the Burqa a particularly confronting form of attire,” Mr Abbott said.

PM Julia Gillard enters debate on Burqa

The Prime Minister this morning commented on the case, saying woman giving evidence in court should be forced to remove face-covering burqas. Ms Gillard said she thought it was one of the “limited” instances when it should be removed.

“I worked as a lawyer for eight years, I ran a lot of cases, I interviewed a lot of clients, having done that it can be very difficult to tell whether or not people are telling you the truth,” she said.

So why do muslim women wear burqa ?

The “burqa or niqab” is a piece of clothing that covers a woman from head to foot. There is an opening for the eyes, but the rest of the body, except the hands, are covered. The burqa or niqab is usually made of light clothing, and is essentially outerwear for some Muslim women in some regions. It is worn when women leave their homes, over their indoor clothes. It’s not worn indoors in the presence of family

Related News on Burqa

Spain to debate burqa ban

UK rules out ‘rather un-British’ burka ban

French Parliament approves burqa ban

This is a Hijab ( below)

REF:http://www.defence.pk/forums/pakistans-war/62627-burqa-clad-german-arrested-bannu-bordering-pakistan-s-tribal-area-2.html

Quote from : http://www.youngandgrumpy.com/2010/05/banning-burqa-in-australia.html

Lets get a couple of things straight. Women in Burqas in Australia are not going out of their way to conceal bombs under their clothes. They are not about trying to destroy our way of life. They are doing the same thing that the rest of us do – trying to live their lives in a quiet peaceful way. Live and let live i say.
Its like the whole gay marriage debate. So many people are so passionate about denying gay people the right to marry. Why? How does someone else who you don’t know, nor will ever know give you cause for concern? What does it matter to you what someone else does with their life?

Perth News

Plan of action in case of an accident