Home
Search
thewest.com.au
NewsChevron Right Icon

Social Affairs

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
alarming numbersPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Major concerns raised over homeless vax rate

There are grave concerns Perth’s homeless community has been left behind in the vaccination race.

Briana Fiore

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Swan & only CommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Should WA ditch the Union Jack on the State flag?

A new campaign — spearheaded by non-profit organisation Ausflag and celebrated WA businesswoman Janet Holmes a Court — is urging State politicians to do just that.

Charlotte Elton

Online abuse CommentsSocial media inquiry to put big tech under the microscope

Big tech is being put under the microscope as Federal Parliament holds its first social media hearing for the year — looking into toxic material on online platforms and the dangers it poses to Australians. 

Kimberley Caines

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
COVID chaos CommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
New builds put on hold as rental market tightens further

One third of approved apartments developments have been placed on ice amid skyrocketing labour and supply costs, stoking fears of a ‘crisis in housing supply’.

Josh Zimmerman

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
rough numbers CommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Perth’s homeless population now the size of a small town

A homeless tracker identifying rough sleepers by name and recording what happens to them has found Perth’s homeless population has swelled to more than 1000.

Briana Fiore

FilthyPremium Deep clean of Perth’s dirtiest strip to be expanded

A trial that has removed the ‘grime and gum’ from late-night revellers from Perth’s filthiest strip could be expanded throughout the City.

Jake Dietsch

Social AffairsNo new farm workers on agricultural visa

A new visa to bring temporary agricultural workers into the country is yet to deliver more workers as negotiations continue to sign countries up to the deal.

Jack Gramenz

Staff shortage fears PremiumState’s doctors back re-think on 14 day isolation

WA’s peak doctors’ group says it would back halving isolation guidelines for health workers exposed to COVID-19 to ease pressure on hospitals — if evidence shows it could be done safely.

Bethany Hiatt

opinion
opinion
Racial InjusticeCommentsPremium
opinion
Why kneeling for our national anthem was the right decision

It’s been a horror year for racial vilification in Australian sport and the sight of our athletes kneeling for our national anthem last weekend showed just how bad the situation has become.

Craig O'Donoghue

Social AffairsDual name adopted for major NSW river

A major NSW waterway will now officially go by its traditional Aboriginal name as well as the one given to it by European settlers.

Gina Rushton

Festive fearCommentsPremiumChristmas heartache for many Aussie families

More than a third of Australians are concerned about how they will pay for Christmas celebrations and are feeling pressured to spend more than they can afford.

Briana Fiore

Social AffairsEmployee alleges bank 'games' Fair Work

A current casual employee at Commonwealth Bank alleges management deliberately change rosters to avoid having to offer conversion to permanency.

Maeve Bannister

Social AffairsCasual academics underpaid, undervalued

Casual academics have told a parliamentary committee Fair Work laws have failed them and kept university staff in insecure work.

Maeve Bannister

Social Affairs278,000 Aussies sought homelessness help

More than 278,000 Australians sought assistance from specialist homelessness services in the past year, but without JobKeeper it may have been worse.

Melissa Meehan

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
‘A disgrace’ CommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
The Perth homeless hostel that’s barely being used

The $6.7 million homeless hostel in the heart of Perth was supposed to shelter 100 people a night - but less than 40 referrals have been processed since it opened four months ago.

Briana Fiore

16 Days in WAPremiumWA’s rental crisis could cost women their lives

The rental crisis is causing a bottleneck situation in refuges with women not being able to leave to go to more long-term housing due to affordability and competition.

Colleen Brown

Social AffairsPremiumInquiry hears impacts of casual contracts

CFMEU, Glencore and Hunter Workers representatives have told a parliamentary committee about the impacts of casual contracts on workers in the Hunter Valley.

Maeve Bannister

Social AffairsChild deaths in NSW state care rise to 100

Aboriginal children are disproportionately represented in the number of children who died last year while known to the Department of Communities and Justice.

Jack Gramenz

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Christmas ruined CommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Family split after ‘selfish’ disability staff refuse jab

Anti-vax disability support staff have been blamed for the sudden closure of a home that has left a heartbroken family facing the prospect of being separated at Christmas.

Briana Fiore

Social AffairsPremiumTas Public Trustee 'misunderstood role'

Tasmania's Public Trustee has misunderstood its role for 26 years, according to an independent report that has made 28 recommendations to improve the service.

Ethan James

‘Very disappointed’VideoCommentsPremiumPM slams Senator responsible for ‘growling’ at Lambie

Scott Morrison has slammed the behaviour of one of his Liberal senators, who was accused of growling and ‘making dog noises’ at Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie.

Sarah Ison

Criminal code callPremiumBash victim wants gay hate crims to face full force of law

A Perth man who was lured and bashed by a group of thugs because of his sexuality wants gay hate crimes woven into WA’s criminal code to ensure perpetrators are more harshly dealt with.

Briana Fiore

Juvenile detentionPremium ‘Screaming for help’: Banksia Hill ‘brutality’ in spotlight

Social justice advocates behind an historic lawsuit against the State Government over the treatment of children at Banksia Hill Detention Centre will rally outside the facility this week.

Emily Moulton

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
HOUSING CRISIS CommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Queue for public housing grows as waitlist blows out

Nearly 18,000 West Australians will head to Christmas still unable to get public housing, as the waitlist for State accommodation hits a five-year high.

Joe Spagnolo