Basil Zempilas: Northbridge morons makes me fear the police are losing the battle to create a safe environment

1. Those images of three morons — allegedly — boxing on and breaking bottles in Northbridge this week make me sick. Sick, because it’s a shocking look for our city. Sick because I know how hard we’ve worked together with WA Police to create a safer environment in our CBD and sick because I fear the police are losing the battle, not with the criminals, but against themselves. Last year more police quit the force than were recruited. While 403 officers resigned and 78 retired, only 377 joined. They’re walking out the blue door. Why? The Government promised 950 extra officers by the middle of this year. That’s not what they are delivering. 2. I’m still struggling to believe my Seven News and Sunrise colleague and Rio Olympics roommate Nathan Templeton is gone. On many away trips calling the swimming for Seven our pool side interviewer proved to be the ultimate team man. He played his role to perfection, and he made everyone else on our team better because he played his role so well. Vale Nath, you were gentleman and a professional and a wonderful friend. 3. I see the Deputy Premier has labelled the idea of Perth hosting an international dance festival a “thought bubble”. Thanks for the encouragement Rita, heaven forbid we might try to create a unique event of our own, rather than pay way over the odds for something we let slip a year ago. The South Australians outplayed their WA counterparts and grabbed Gather Round and LIV Golf, and yes the one-offs like Coldplay are great, but we need a lock-it-in-the-calendar, comes-back-every-year event and based on what we saw with British superstar Fred Again and the reaction to the concept, this can be it. I’m pushing on. 4. Speaking of Gather Round, yes it was touched. But the umps are never going to get all of those sorts of calls right and the idea of a captain’s call umpire review is crazy. 5. It wasn’t that long ago the environment was the number one topic for millennials. I reckon that’s changed. All of a sudden it feels like finding, affording and contemplating somewhere to live (which isn’t mum and dad’s place) is the new number one for young people. 6. Well done to the team behind Yagan Square’s significant refresh, it’s a huge step in the right direction. 7. Everything the CCC needs to know may be contained in this line on the International Ombudsman Institute’s website announcing Chris Field’s resignation: “the IOI feels compelled to clarify that Mr Field’s travel activities in question were neither initiated, expected, nor commissioned by the IOI”. 8. For the second year in a row Curtin University’s mineral and mining engineering course has been ranked at number two of all universities teaching the subject globally. Clever cookies. 9. I’m not sure they’ve got the image of King Charles quite right on the new British banknotes. He’s not that full in the face. 10. Oh, and I don’t know about the Dockers’ “stealth” guernsey either. Doesn’t work on TV.