Climate change will hit the South West region hard over the coming century, the latest report published by the CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology says.

The reports projections which have been touted as the most accurate ever produced have outlined a bleak future for the South West region with higher temperature and lower rainfall becoming the norm and droughts becoming more frequent.

Dr Penny Whetton the co-author of a new Climate Change in Australia report says "the modelling done in the report showed rainfall was also expected to decrease in parts of Australia, particularly in southwestern Australia." and went on to says "rainfall in the South West is expected to drop by as much as 10 per cent by 2030 and up to 35 per cent by 2070."

By 2070 the South West will face 80% more drought months compared to an estimated national rise of 40%.

Dr Whetton says the climate of 2070 depends on the choices governments around the world make now. "The sooner we take action globally, the more we'll be able to limit that warming in the future," she said.

Abalone Season begins today for recreational fishers in the Southern abalone zone.

The Southern abalone zone is located from the Busselton Jetty to the South Australian border. The season runs till 15th May, 2008 and fishing can take lace at all hours. Abalone fishers should take note of the new bag and size limits this season, these are listed below.

Every year approximately 20,000 recreational abalone licences are taken up and around 20 and 40 tonnes of Roe's abalone and about 10 tonnes of greenlip and brownlip abalone combined are taken.

For further information go to the Department of Fisheries website (link)

Limits

New abalone limits were have been implemented by the Department of Fisheries for the 2007/08 season.

Bag Limit

Possession Limit

A possession limit of 20 Roe’s and 10 greenlip/brownlip abalone (combined) applies everywhere except in your permanent place of residence. The maximum number of abalone that a person may have at their permanent place of residence is:

• 80 Roe’s abalone
• 20 greenlip/brownlip abalone

Boat Limit

A maximum of 5 greenlip/brownlip abalone per fisher per day (or 10 where there are 2 or more fishers) may be carried, or held, aboard a vessel.

The Western Australia Health Department has issued a Ross River Virus (RRV) alert for the South West Region.

The alert has been brought forward this year due to increased numbers of mosquitoes capable of carrying RRV. Department of Health Medical Entomologist Dr Mike Lindsay said that the higher than usual numbers are "due to recent good winter rains and high tides".

Increased numbers of mosquitoes have also been detected in the Peel Region igniting fears that if desirable breeding conditions remain the virus may spread Perth's southern suburbs.

The similar mosquito borne virus, Barmah Forest virus (BFV) will also be prevalent in the South West this year. Both viruses have very similar symptoms which can include painful or swollen joints, sore muscles, skin rashes, fever, chronic fatigue and headaches. The viruses can last for weeks or months and can only be diagnosed by a blood test.

The Parliamentary Secretary for the South West and Member for Collie, Mick Murray has apologised in parliament today after receiving a drink driving offence yesterday. Mick Murray was fined $100 and lost three demerit points after recording a blood alcohol level of 0.06 at a booze bus on Kwinana Freeway. Murray was driving back to Collie after drinks with parliamentary colleagues.

This offence comes only months after he was fined $4,400 for illegally taking abalone out of season.

Opposition member's today called for Murray to be sacked as Parliamentary Secretary for the South West. Premier Alan Carpenter who was informed yesterday of the offence stood by Mr Murray saying that "What Mick Murray has done is very foolish and he has acknowledged that".

Murray has donated $1,000 to a road safety organisation and called on the Premier to increase to penalty for 0.05 offences.