Detention centres are 'dysfunctional'

THREE asylum seekers escaped a Western Australia detention centre in 45 seconds last week, exposing major security flaws at the facility, a leaked report has revealed.

The January 12 breakout was the third escape from the Yongah Hill Detention Centre in five months and an embarrassment for Serco, which manages Australia's detention centres and WA's prisoner transport system.

Documents reveal security weaknesses including asylum-seeker access to the internet for maps, to book plane tickets and organise getaway cars through social media.

Detainees had also become more confident as a result of the number of recent escapes and the lack of penalties, while the voltage on the 3.2-metre electric fence at Yongah Hill was not strong enough to shock escapees and was easy to climb.

A Serco insider described the entire system as "dysfunctional" and said he was speaking out against "incompetence".

"There is no training given and everything is about money," he told The Sunday Times newspaper.

"Every time we have these incidents the main effort isn't improving, but more so passing the buck and looking for someone to blame."

Two of the Vietnamese detainees from the January 12 breakout have been caught, but the third remains on the run.

A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said recommendations made by Serco following any escape incident were considered and implemented if appropriate.

"There are service standards in place with regard to performance against the department's contract with its detention service provider, Serco, and compliance with these standards is regularly reviewed," she told AAP.

"Security is a key performance indicator under the contract and there is provision for abatement for such breaches."

The incident happened a week after a rapist and alleged armed robber kicked their way out of a prison van at Geraldton Airport, prompting a 36-hour manhunt.

A third prisoner escaped from Serco's custody while being treated at Joondalup Health Campus on Friday afternoon and was caught on Sunday.

The prisoner ripped a metal rail off a wall and threatened staff, so guards shut him in a bathroom and it is believed he then climbed through the ceiling to escape.

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Fires near NSW homes, but ease in Vic, SA

HOMES in southern NSW are at risk as a bushfire intensifies but Victoria and South Australia look to have avoided large-scale disasters.

Deteriorating conditions have helped fan a fire threatening the isolated rural NSW properties.

An emergency warning has been issued for the Humula, Carabost and Little Billabong areas after a southwesterly wind change on Sunday afternoon put homes "under immediate threat" from the out-of-control Minimbah fire, which is "burning quickly and erratically", the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) says.

It has blazed through more than 8000 hectares.

"Firefighters are actively undertaking property protection," the RFS said on its website.

"There are reports of property losses, however, due to dangerous fire conditions, firefighters are unable to enter a number of fire-affected areas."

In Victoria, a favourable wind change spared the tourist town of Halls Gap from widespread destruction when it stopped an advancing bushfire four kilometres shy of the town's boundaries.

Ten homes were destroyed by the blaze and more than 51,800 hectares burnt, and Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said that number would increase.

Across Victoria 35 fires are still listed as burning, with 130,000 hectares burnt.

Easing conditions have helped firefighters in South Australia battling the Bangor fire in the southern Flinders Ranges.

The blaze has destroyed six homes and burnt more than 19,000 hectares of grassland, and is the only fire in the state that remains on a watch and act alert.

The SA Country Fire Service (CFS) says while the fire has not grown significantly on Sunday, it is still not controlled.

Residents in the area are urged not to return as the fire is still burning in steep terrain with conditions changing continually.

A blaze in Eden Valley that burnt through more than 24,000 hectares has been downgraded to advice level.

Meanwhile, more than 60 RFS firefighters, with heavy machinery and water-bombing aircraft, are trying to control another NSW fire at Redbank, near Bathurst.

The bushfire, which has scorched more than 300 hectares, is burning through a pine plantation and "is proving difficult to contain", the RFS said.

An emergency warning was issued at 4.30pm (AEDT) for the fire burning out of control in the Copperhannia National Park area, near Bathurst.

The 100-hectare fire is heading east towards Trunkey Creek.

Frantic work to build containment lines for another bushfire at Minjary, between Canberra and Wagga Wagga, is also underway.

The scrub fire has burnt 2675 hectares and is being controlled.

About 900 firefighters have been deployed across NSW to battle 50 fires sparked on Saturday by lightning strikes.

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Order out to arrest PNG opposition leader

ORDERS have been issued for the arrest of Papua New Guinea's opposition leader amid allegations he threatened the police commissioner.

The country's top cop, Tom Kulunga, on Saturday ordered the arrest of Belden Namah on allegations the former deputy prime minister threatened him in a letter.

In the letter Mr Namah allegedly demanded Mr Kulunga reinstate four policemen who were suspended after a warrant was issued for the arrest of Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.

A police spokesman told AAP the order for Mr Namah's arrest was issued on Saturday morning.

Further comment is being sought from police.

Mr Namah is expected to give a press conference on Saturday night.

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Twelve homes lost in SA fires

TWELVE homes have been lost in South Australia as thousands of hectares continue to burn out of control across the state.

An emergency warning was issued for residents at the small town of Truro on Saturday afternoon, as the Eden Valley fire made a run towards the Sturt Highway.

The SA Country Fire Service (CFS) warned that the blaze, which has burnt through more than 22,000 hectares since Friday, was putting lives and homes at risk.

About 160 firefighters were supported by nine aircraft at the fire, a CFS spokesman told AAP.

It was not known how many homes were under threat, he said.

The fire was one of five blazes in the state on Saturday.

Of concern was a fire at Bangor in the southern Flinders Ranges, where the CFS said conditions were continually changing.

A watch and act alert was issued in the afternoon with residents urged not to return to the area until advised.

But the CFS spokesman said crews had experienced a "pretty reasonable day" with milder conditions allowing firefighters to get the better of some blazes.

"We have had a day where we have been able to consolidate a lot of fires and nothing new has kicked off."

A band of lightning seen in the morning over the top of the state had caused concerns, however, that seemed to have stabilised, he said.

So far five homes are confirmed to have been lost in the Bangor blaze, with two destroyed in the Billiat park region and five lost in Eden Valley.

However, the CFS said the number could increase as damage assessment crews were deployed.

There has been substantial stock losses.

Premier Jay Weatherill said it would be an achievement if the state came through the fires without loss of life or substantial property loss.

"And it's an achievement which is entirely due to the professionalism and education of our emergency services," he told reporters.

He said the government would meet the needs of families who had lost their homes.

"It's obviously devastating for the families ... we are here making sure we can provide support for those families," he said.

Due to the relatively small number of people affected at this point, he said services expected to be able to contact each of the families to ensure they received direct support and assistance.

About 10 firefighters were injured battling the blazes in the past few days, including for heat-related illness and smoke inhalation.

The Bureau of Meteorology says weather conditions are moderating.

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Relief on the way at last for SA

Adelaide residents are in for their fifth straight day of extreme heat tipped to soar past 40C. Source: AAP

SOUTH Australians are set to get relief after enduring the third worst heatwave in the state's history.

A cool change began to creep across the state on Friday and Adelaide will have top temperatures of just 29C over the weekend.

The break in the weather brings an end to five days of sweltering conditions when the mercury surged past 40C each day.

Only in 1908 and 2009, when Adelaide sizzled through six days above 40C, have there been worse heatwaves.

Bureau of Meteorology acting regional director John Nairn said the change moved into some coastal areas by midday on Friday but would take time to penetrate further inland.

He said Adelaide was not likely to feel any significant relief until close to midnight.

"It is a very shallow, typical summertime change so it is going to be difficult to see it penetrate far inland," he said.

"It will take some time for it to go through."

On Friday Adelaide's top temperature hit 42.7C after tops of 42.1C on Monday, 45.1C on Tuesday, 43.7C on Wednesday and 44.2C on Thursday.

The hottest spot in the state was Port August with 45.4C.

Despite the looming relief, emergency services urged people to continue to be vigilant with hydration and also with taking care in places where they seek relief including swimming pools and at the beach.

No deaths have been directly attributed to the severe conditions but chief public medical officer Stephen Christley says determining in which cases heat was a factor will likely take some months.

The ambulance service says it has taken an extra 400 calls for assistance over the past four days with demand up about 17 per cent.

There have been 275 presentations to hospitals across the state for heat-related conditions.

Power regulators said while electricity demand remained high the state's power network had coped without the need for rolling blackouts.

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Indonesia 'deplores' border breaches

Asylum seekers say they were given a boat by Australian authorities to return to Indonesia. Source: AAP

INDONESIA has demanded the Abbott government immediately suspend its policy of turning asylum seeker boats back after the Australian navy breached its territorial waters.

The Indonesian government say it deplores the breaches and its navy will also ramp up patrols in areas where the incidents occurred in what appears a serious decline in already fractured relations.

A stern warning from Indonesia, contained in a statement issued on Friday afternoon, came after Immigration Minister Scott Morrison confirmed Australian navy vessels had entered Indonesian waters without permission while conducting border protection operations.

"The government of Indonesia deplores and rejects the violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity by the Australian vessels," the statement read.

"The government of Indonesia underlines that any of such violation of whatever basis constitutes a serious matter in bilateral relations of the two countries.

"Indonesia therefore demands that such violation will not recur in the future.

"The government of Indonesia has the right to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with international laws and the charter of the United Nations.

"Indonesia demands that such operation conducted by the Australian government that led to this incident to be suspended until formal clarification is received and assurances of no recurrence of such incidents has been provided."

"While we take note such assurance that Australia fully respects Indonesia's territorial sovereignty, Indonesia rejects the so-called 'turn back boats' policy and ... any unilateral action which risks the recurrence of similar incidents in the future."

The statement, which was released by the office of Indonesia's Co-ordinating Minister for Politics, Security and Law, also demanded a more detailed explanation as to how Australian navy vessels had strayed into Indonesian waters.

The statement came after a spokesman for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono earlier suggested Indonesia was dissatisfied with Australia's response to the incidents.

Teuku Faizasyah, the president's spokesman on foreign affairs, confirmed to AAP that Dr Yudhoyono had been briefed on reports of the territorial incursions.

He said Dr Yudhoyono had also been made aware of Australia's "expression of regret" in relation to the incidents.

Despite the government repeatedly promising to respect Indonesia's territorial sovereignty, Mr Morrison on Friday admitted to a number of incursions by Australian vessels during Operation Sovereign Borders.

It is unclear whether the navy ships were turning back asylum seeker boats when they entered Indonesian waters.

"This was done unintentionally and without knowledge or sanction by the Australian government," Mr Morrison said.

"The Australian government takes our shared commitment with Indonesia to mutually respect the sovereignty of each nation very, very seriously."

An Indonesian spokesman warned the latest incident was likely to put further strain on relations between Jakarta and Canberra, already at their lowest point in more than a decade in the wake of last year's spying row.

"If they entered Indonesian waters like that, this will only worsen the situation and the relationship between Indonesia and Australia," Agus Barnas said.

A rapprochement between the countries following Jakarta's decision late last year to freeze co-operation with Australia in the wake of the spying row is now in serious jeopardy.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop apologised to her Indonesian counterpart Marty Natalegawa on Thursday, while Mr Morrison said a more formal apology will be provided to the Indonesian government via the Australian embassy in Indonesia.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says the government needs to stop blaming the navy and take responsibility for its own border protection policy.

"These service men and women do an extremely tough job under very difficult circumstances and they shouldn't be blamed for the failings of the Abbott government and its policies," Mr Shorten said.

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Forecaster says heatwave a class act

ADELAIDE'S heatwave is a "class act" as it challenges records dating back more than 70 years, a senior forecaster says.

Adelaide sweltered through 45C on Tuesday, just one degree short of its all time high of 46.1C set on January 12, 1939.

The heatwave was also forecast to give the city five consecutive days above 40C, making it the city's third longest hot spell.

In 1908 and 2009, Adelaide recorded six days above 40C, but Bureau of Meteorology acting regional director John Nairn said they both came at a time when Australia was gripped by drought.

"It's a class act in terms of a heatwave, so it does deserve our attention," Mr Nairn said.

While Adelaide sizzled, the hottest spot in SA on Tuesday was Keith, in the southeast, where the mercury hit 47.2C while at Pallamana, east of Adelaide, it reached 46.3C and at Lameroo and Port Augusta 46.2C.

The conditions prompted Premier Jay Weatherill to convene a special Emergency Management Council meeting to allow the government and emergency services to discuss the threats posed by the high temperatures.

"People need to closely monitor the weather in their area and ensure they are prepared for extreme circumstances," Mr Weatherill said.

The premier said forecast thunderstorms in some districts were also increasing the risk of major bushfires.

On Tuesday the Country Fire Service battled a string of incidents, including fires in the Adelaide Hills, on Kangaroo Island, on Eyre Peninsula, at Cape Jervis and in the mid-north.

In the Barossa Valley about 1000 homes and businesses lost power while almost 4000 suffered a cut to services across Adelaide's inner-northern suburbs.

The state's ambulance service reported a 12 per cent rise in demand for its services with about 20 heat-related admissions to local hospitals in the 24 hours to 8am (CDST) on Tuesday.

An ambulance service spokesman said Wednesday and Thursday were likely to be the worst days for heat-related calls.

Temperatures are expected to hit 45C on Wednesday and 46C on Thursday before a cool changes sweeps across the state on Friday.

After the Emergency Management Council meeting, Mr Weatherill said he was confident the situation remained under control.

"But there are great concerns about the very extreme weather conditions which are quite changeable," the premier told Network 10.

He said emergency services still had plenty of spare capacity and were liaising with interstate authorities to supplement resources if necessary.

"We're well placed at the moment and everybody understands the nature of the threat and is well prepared to respond to it," Mr Weatherill said.

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Locals return to Perth hills devastation

The Perth hills bushfire is officially under control as residents prepare to tour the area. Source: AAP

THE flames may be out, but the recovery for the Perth hills after Sunday's devastating firestorm is just beginning as residents who lost homes return to view the damage.

As firefighters mopped up in Stoneville, Parkerville and Mt Helena, the toll of properties lost was finalised at 52, with more than $13 million in damage already reported by insurers.

And those worst affected made the grim trip back to what remained of their houses, to literally start picking up the pieces.

"The glass didn't shatter, it melted," Stoneville resident Stacey Delich told AAP.

"We will have to contact the insurance company and see if we can salvage anything. If we can find anything, that's a bonus.

"But they're things that can't be found any more ... they're all gone."

Counselling services have been made available to the dozens of people confronted with the reality of their loss.

"To be told verbally is one thing, to see it visually is quite another," said Deputy Fire Commissioner Brad Stringer.

The loss was mixed with growing frustration for other residents, who were asked to prove their address before being given a permit to be allowed to return to their homes to assess the damage.

Fire commissioner Wayne Gregson, a Hills resident himself, said he could understand the heightened emotion.

"I accept that as a potential possibility, some people will say bugger the authorities and go back in," Commissioner Gregson said.

"They are putting themselves at risk by ignoring the roadblocks, but I can understand that - if it was my house I'd be equally as anxious to know."

Nearly a dozen people were forced to sleep at the emergency evacuation centre set up in nearby Swan View, with dozens more displaced families relying on the goodwill of friends and family.

The generosity of locals had been so overwhelming with donations of clothes, toys, blankets, and personal items that people have been asked to use a local Salvation Army depot to drop off donations, or donate money to a disaster fund instead.

The fire is being blamed for the death of one man, 62 year-old Ron Shaw, who collapsed as he stood on the roof of his Hovea home to prepare for the flames.

Insurance assessors began reviewing claims in the bushfire-affected communities, with more than 300 claims topping $13 million.

Power remained out for around 450 homes late on Tuesday.

As the emergency response gave way to investigation, Commissioner Gregson confirmed the fire was most likely sparked by a fallen power pole on private property, which remains the responsibility of the homeowner to maintain.

Thousands of private power poles are spread across the state, and have already been blamed for sparking a bushfire last January which threatened houses in Chidlow.

Mr Gregson suggested the time had come to review the responsibilities placed on homeowners to maintain poles on their land.

"Is it fair and reasonable to expect an owner to be responsible for that type of infrastructure?" he said on ABC radio.

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Sydney train cleaners opt for redundancies

THE NSW government is accused of trying to privatise Sydney's public transport "via stealth", as it flags redundancies for bus and train cleaning staff.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) says that after three years of "restructures", Sydney's train cleaners have had enough, and more than 60 per cent of staff have applied for redundancies.

It says 437 of 713 staff have expressed interest in taking a redundancy, as the government plans to outsource about 35 per cent of its cleaning of the network.

RTBU State Secretary Alex Claassens said the outsourcing had stoked concerns the government was "silo-ing divisions of the network, gutting them and then moving to privatise them".

"Workers and the union have long suspected the government's privatisation plans, but outsourcing jobs within the cleaning division is the first public move to privatise jobs and sell off the network," he said in a statement on Monday.

The RTBU said the government sent out expressions of interest for redundancies or redeployment in December to more than 100 cleaners working on Sydney's buses.

However, the union's acting state secretary, David Woollams, said he did not believe the take-up of redundancies would be as high by bus employees as those on trains.

"The buses haven't gone through major restructures like the rail has," he told AAP on Monday.

Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian has defended the move on Sydney's trains, saying that "having the same staff doing the same old thing is not working".

"Anyone who thinks trains are as clean as they can be is kidding themselves," she said in a statement.

She said the push to outsource one-third of the workforce would drive innovation and improved service.

"Successful tenders will have to meet market-leading standards of cleaning, so our customers will notice even more improvement."

Sydney Trains said work practices meant a number of senior cleaning staff spent more time filling out reports than cleaning trains and stations.

In a position statement, Sydney Trains claimed it was time to review practices to give customers cleaner trains and taxpayers better value.

Tenders for cleaning functions are expected to be released to the market in coming months.

New arrangements are expected to be implemented by September 2014.

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SA swelters through day one of heatwave

Emergency services are on alert as much of SA faces a severe heatwave over the next week. Source: AAP

South Australia has escaped relatively unscathed after the first day of an expected five-day heatwave with temperatures pushing into the 40s in Adelaide and many regional centres.

The conditions prompted a severe heat warning from the State Emergency Service and the Country Fire Service (CFS) is on high alert.

Conditions in some centres were hotter than the forecast highs.

CFS crews were deployed to a stubble fire near Stansbury, on Yorke Peninsula, which they quickly brought under control.

Among the hottest spots in SA on Monday were Port Augusta, in the mid-north, with 45C, while Tarcoola, in the far north, and Wudinna, on Eyre Peninsula, reached 44.2C.

Roxby Downs topped 44C.

The coolest spot in SA was Stenhouse Bay, on the tip of Yorke Peninsula, where the mercury peaked at 27.8C.

In Adelaide the temperature reached 42.1C at 3.39pm (CDST), two degrees above the forecast.

The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts tops of 42C on Tuesday, 43C on Wednesday and Thursday and 40C on Friday before a cool change sweeps across the state.

Premier Jay Weatherill has urged all people to take care of those most vulnerable in the heat, including elderly relatives, friends and neighbours.

He says people without air-conditioning at home should consider heading to cooler public facilities such as cinemas, shopping centres and libraries.

The air-conditioned Adelaide Central Bus Station will be open at all hours to provide respite.

Transport Department staff will distribute bottled water to public transport commuters while the extreme conditions persist.

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