As it happened: WA news on Friday, June 7

Thank you for joining us today as we brought you the news you needed to know.

We leave you with the latest on the tragic death of toddler Sandipan Dhar at Joondalup Health Campus, including claims from Ramsay Health Care state manager Dr Shane Kelly that a panel review has found the standard of care he received appropriate.

Sandipan’s parents, who have fronted the media this afternoon, say they visited doctors in the lead up to his death but their requests for a blood test to determine the cause of a fever were refused.

A post-mortem reportedly found he had died of leukaemia.

In other news, the Corruption and Crime Commission has confirmed it will oversee the WA Police probe into the actions of officers in the lead-up to the Floreat murders.

Meanwhile, gaming authorities and WA Police have carried out a raid on a suspected illegal gaming house, shutting down a poker event in Wangara’s industrial precinct.

And, on a lighter note, Laura Jones has won the Archibald Prize with a portrait of West Australian author and climate activist Tim Winton.

Don’t feel like cooking? Why don’t you check out Max Veenhuyzen’s review of the Druk Cafe now open at Waterford Plaza?

We look forward to your company next week. Have a wonderful weekend.

Ramsay Health Care state manager Dr Shane Kelly has spoken about the death of toddler Sandipan Dhar at Joondalup Health Campus.

He extended his sympathies to the Dhar family, saying no family should have to go through the death of a child.

Kelly said on the first occasion at the hospital the child presented with symptoms of a viral illness and improved when given fluids and oral analgesia.

Sandipan Dhar died aged 21 months.

“The doctor has to make an assessment as to the appropriate treatment and if any investigations are required at that time,” he said. The child was taken home after being assessed by a doctor and reviewed by a more senior doctor.

He was seen rapidly when he was brought back on Sunday after deteriorating.

He said the hospital had been adequately staffed on these occasions.

Kelly would talk with the family about their contention that they requested a blood test, but hospital staff did not report that a blood test was refused.

Whether or not an earlier blood test would have enabled treatment that would have made a difference and possibly saved Sandipan’s life was a matter for health experts.

An investigation into the child’s treatment continues. Kelly said a panel had reviewed the care and treatment given on the first presentation, with two independent specialists involved. They concluded the care was appropriate, and that there wasn’t an indication at the time that a blood test was needed.

He would visit the family on Monday.

To some crime and court news now and Geraldton detectives have charged a 21-year-old man with sexually assaulting a teenage girl last year.

The man from Jurien Bay had already been charged with 11 offences against three other teenage girls, and has been remanded in prison since his arrest.

He is next due to appear before the Geraldton District Court on these 11 offences on July 31.

His new charges regarding the fourth alleged victim include aggravated sexual penetration without consent, sexually penetrating a child over 13 and under 16 and having persistent sexual conduct with them and impeding a persons breathing by apply pressure to their neck.

The investigation is ongoing, and Geraldton detectives have urged anyone with information relating to this matter, or any similar incidents, to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via crimestopperswa.com.au.

If you have been a victim of sexual abuse, or if you have information about someone being abused, please contact police on 131 444, or report the information via the Safe2Say online reporting platform.

Those looking to buy a used car now have more confidence the vehicles they purchase from dealers are safe and reliable, after new regulations aimed at tightening up sales of written-off vehicles were introduced today.

Motor vehicle dealers in WA must legally now disclose to prospective buyers whether a vehicle under 15 years old is a repairable write-off.

Dealers must tick ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, using the checkbox on the updated form that must be displayed in the window of every second hand car for sale.

Failure to do so may result in a $2,000 penalty, while false or misleading statements or representation may attract a fine of up to $5,000.

It would also be a breach of the Australian Consumer Law if dealers and auctioneers failed to disclose the true history of the vehicle when asked.

A $2 search of the Personal Properties Securities Register will also reveal if a vehicle under 15 years old is a repairable write-off, has been stolen and is free of outstanding debts.

Commerce Minister Sue Ellery had this to say:

Buying a car is a significant investment and consumers should have confidence their chosen vehicle is safe, reliable and fit for purpose.

A repairable write-off may not be a good or safe investment, especially for families, as it can mean potential safety concerns and very little resale value for the vehicle down the track.

Starting today, it is illegal for dealers to not disclose this information, which will put a stop to the number of repairable write-offs being sold to unsuspecting buyers.

The Corruption and Crime Commission has confirmed it will oversee the WA Police internal investigation into the actions of officers in the lead-up to the Floreat murders.

Mark Bombara killed Jennifer Petelczyc, 59, and her 18-year-old daughter Gretl at their home on Berkeley Crescent on May 24, before turning the gun on himself.

Ariel Bombara said she told police her father was dangerous. Credit: ABC Perth

His daughter Ariel Bombara later released a statement claiming she and her mother raised concerns with WA Police about her father and his guns for months in the lead up to the deaths.

“Between March 30 and April 2, I spoke with police on three separate occasions to raise the alarm about my father,” she said.

“On each occasion I alerted officers to my father’s guns, and told them my mother and I felt there was a real and imminent threat to our lives.”

Bombara said she specifically mentioned a Glock handgun that was unaccounted for, which police said was found at the scene where the two women were murdered.

“I also asked the police if we would be able to take out a 72-hour temporary protective order. We were told no, and that there was nothing police could do about the situation at that time,” she said.

“The CCC confirms it will actively oversight the WA Police internal investigation. This will be carried out pursuant to sections 40 and 41 of the Corruption, Crime and Misconduct Act,” a Commission spokeswoman said.

Back to the tragic death of little Sandipan Dhar, who died at Joondalup Health Campus.

His parents say they visited doctors in the lead up to his death, and the boy was not given a blood test to try and find the cause of a fever, which is what they requested.

Sandipan Dhar died aged 21 months.

Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson has just commented on the case, and extended her condolences to the Dhar family.

She said it was a major concern to hear that Sandipan’s parents felt they were not listened to by health professionals.

“It’s certainly the case that the family feel that they weren’t heard,” she said.

She said it must be remembered that parents knew their children best, but that Ramsay Health Care have launched an investigation into what happened and it would be best to wait for the results of that before commenting.

She said Sandipan was suffering a very serious illness that he would have had for a period of time.

It has been reported that a post-mortem found he had died of leukaemia.

Sanderson said hospital management would meet the Dhar family on Monday to discuss the findings of the investigation.

“What has occurred here is incredibly devastating, but very very rare,” she said.

The family deserved a proper investigation, as do the hospital staff involved, she said.

Gaming authorities and the WA Police force have carried out a raid on a suspected illegal gaming house, shutting down a high-stakes poker event at an industrial premises in Wangara.

Gaming and Wagering Commission chair Gary Dreibergs with Police and Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia.Credit: Charlotte Vinson

On April 14, officers from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries executed a search warrant, with eight players who attended the event issued with infringement notices.

A professional-grade poker table and casino-style gaming chips were seized in the raid, along with $2,800 in cash. Chips worth $13,000 were allegedly being wagered.

This latest bust was the third carried out in the past 12 months.

Police and Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia said they were focused on stamping out unlawful gaming operations in the community.

Here’s what he had to say:

The consequences for organisers and dealers who get caught taking part in these unlawful gaming events can be considerable - with the loss of their licence comes a loss of their employment or business income, not to mention their reputations.

Anyone thinking about organising a gaming event to make a profit, in violation of their licences or permits, as well as those attending as players, should think again.

Gaming and Wagering Commission Chair Gary Dreibergs said the unlawful gaming events targeted by authorities were not harmless social poker nights.

“They can be well-organised underground events that may attract money launderers and people who have been banned from the casino for various reasons,” he said.

Laura Jones has won the Archibald Prize with a portrait of West Australian author and climate activist Tim Winton.

Laura Jones’ Archibald Prize-winning painting ‘Tim Winton’.

Early this morning, the 10 trustees of the Art Gallery of NSW met early to choose the winners of the three prizes, which collectively make up the gallery’s most popular annual exhibition.

They voted and the gallery media team was told their decision at 8am – around the same time the winners were contacted.

The $100,000 103-year-old Archibald Prize for portraiture was first awarded in 1921.

This year, it attracted more than 1000 entries, reduced to 57 finalists.

“This is such an incredible thrill. I never expected to be the winner of the Archibald Prize,” Jones said on Friday.

“I was shocked I won the Archibald. As a little girl in Kurrajong, I dreamed of winning the Archibald.

“I’m only the 12th woman to win the Archibald I hope this inspires more young girls to paint.”

Djakaŋu Yunupiŋu has won the $50,000 Wynne Prize – Australia’s oldest art prize for Australian scenery or sculpture, first held in 1897.

Naomi Kantjuriny has won the $40,000 Sulman Prize for painting or mural projects, the award dating back to 1936.

A young boy just shy of his second birthday died from pneumonia at Joondalup Health Campus, after his parents claimed the hospital refused to run blood tests to diagnose a fever, despite multiple pleas from his parents.

Advocate Suresh Rajan spoke with Gary Adshead on Radio 6PR on Friday morning and said Sandipan Dhar’s family had insisted that their cries for help went unheeded.

Sandipan Dhar died aged 21 months.

The fever started after Sandipan’s parents took him to get his 18-month immunisations at a clinic in Clarkson.

“[He was] very energetic, very bright and incredibly above all of the markers that are set for people at that age, so when … they saw him listless, immediately it creates a concern,” he said.

Panadol was initially prescribed, and while there were discussions on whether blood tests should be taken, the parents said they were never done even after the parents went back to the clinic several times to request them.

Ethnic Communities Council WA president and advocate Suresh Rajan.Credit: Marta Pascual Juanola

His parents then decided to take him to the hospital. They were sent home, they said, assured their boy was fine.

As Sandipan’s condition worsened, they returned to the hospital. He could not be treated by that stage and tragically died.

Rajan said the case had similarities with that of Aishwarya Aswath, who died in hospital after her families calls also went unanswered.

“It is very much the case that it appears again that the family’s concerns have been dismissed,” Rajan said.

The winter storm Perth was warned about packed a punch on Thursday, bringing down trees and flooding roads as the rain continued into the evening.

Although the severe thunderstorm warning for the Greater Perth area was cancelled, more than 20 millimetres of rain still pelted the city.

While the rain has now stopped, there was heavy fog in the early hours of Friday morning particularly in the northern suburbs, making for dangerous conditions on the roads.

Hundreds of people are still without power – the majority in Joondana and Hazelmere – with the restoration timed estimated to be around 11am and 5pm respectively.

Thankfully, there was no damage to homes.

Check out some of the wild weather pictures from 9 News Perth below: