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The train line in the Mid West region.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
State PoliticsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Movement at the station in WA’s bid to buy back railways

The State Government’s mission to buy back WA freight railways from a Canadian investment behemoth has advanced beyond a seemingly frosty start earlier this year.

Simone Grogan

The parents of Christian Jensen, Jess Broad and Hilary Smith at the Yarramony rail crossing where the three were killed by a train. Pictured are their parents Catherine and Laurie Jensen, Merrilea and David Broad and George and Sally Smith. Kelsey Reid

TransportCommentsPremiumShining a light on Australia’s train lighting ‘disgrace’

Twenty five years after Christian Jensen, Hilary Smith and Jess Broad were killed by a poorly-lit grain train in the Wheatbelt, their families are still fighting for changes that could save lives.

Cally Dupe

Joe Spagnolo interviews Liberal state president Caroline Di Russo at Vans cafe in Cottesloe

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
State PoliticsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Di Russo stands firm as president as White circles

WA Liberal Party president Caroline Di Russo has declared she isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, announcing she will re-contest the presidency, setting up a showdown with political aspirant Tom White.

Joe Spagnolo

Virgin Australia Holdings Pty Ltd. aircraft at Sydney Airport in Sydney, Australia, on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. Virgin Australia overtook Qantas Airways Ltd. to become Australia’s largest and most reliable airline at the end of last year. Photographer: Brendon Thorne/Bloomberg

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
State PoliticsComments
The West Australian exclusive
FLIGHT FRENZY: Airfares for $199 part of epic WA sale

More than 4000 discounted airfares will be for sale.

Jessica Page

Roger Cook is embarking on his third overseas trip in three months, flying to Japan this weekend to talk up the State’s energy transition. 

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
state politicsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Cook jetting off to fire up overseas mission to sell WA gas

The Premier is embarking on his third overseas trip in three months, flying to Japan this weekend to talk up the State’s energy transition. 

Jessica Page

Minister for Racing and Gaming Paul Papalia.

State PoliticsCommentsPremiumPapalia concedes ‘no value in purchasing’ TAB betting agency

After multiple unsuccessful attempts, the state government has reiterated it does not currently plan to sell the TAB but is keeping the door open.

Liam Murphy

Housing and Works Minister John Carey, Federal Member for Fremantle Josh Wilson and Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk announce a boost to social housing in North Coogee.

state politicsComments‘Kick up bum’ for slow councils to fast-track granny flats

John Carey has declared some local councils need a ‘kick up the bum’ to lift the pace of residential development across Perth.

Jessica Page

Vasse MLA Libby Mettam says it is time to advance longstanding plans for a new fire station at Vasse.

State PoliticsPremiumMettam calls for action on fire stations in South West

Vasse MLA Libby Mettam says the Capes region’s blistering growth demands serious consideration of a full-time professional, paid fire brigade.

Warren Hately

A render of the film studio under construction in Malaga.

Film BoomDon’t Tell the Don

The State Government is moving forward with its plans to grow WA’s screen industry and workforce through incentives, admitting it likely wouldn’t be popular with the US President.

Liam Murphy

Premier Roger Cook has labelled a decision to outsource production of a tourism commercial to an east coast company ‘pretty disappointing’.

STATE POLITICSCommentsPremiumMajor blow to WA tourism ad as work outsourced to east coast

The State Government’s Made in WA policy has taken a hit, with Premier Roger Cook labelling a decision to outsource production of a tourism commercial to an east coast company ‘pretty disappointing’.

Ben O'Shea

Forensic Police inspect graffiti on one of the Harvest Terrace facing doors at Parliament House.

state politicsCommentsParliament’s blind spot sparks security upgrades

An anti-Israel graffiti attack has sparked a review of State Parliament’s security cameras, after revealing a gap in coverage.

Jessica Page

Shadow Health Minister Libby Mettam.

State PoliticsCalls to fund meningococcal vaccine as WA hits seven cases

The Opposition has renewed calls to fund the B strain of the meningococcal vaccine after six out of the seven recorded cases of the potentially deadly disease in WA this year were identified as type B.

Claire Sadler

WA Premier Roger Cook speaks outside Parliament House on Thursday.

state politicsCommentsPremiumExorbitant wages paid to Premier’s staff revealed

Roger Cook has dismissed questions about a big, and expensive, increase in staff numbers in the Premier’s office, insisting he needs two deputy chiefs of staff because he’s running an ‘ambitious’ agenda. 

Jessica Page

Education Minister Sabine Winton.

state politicsCommentsPremiumMinister reassures WA parents after horrific sex abuse case

Education Minister Sabine Winton has ordered the State’s Education and Care Regulatory Unit to conduct a snap review of WA’s childcare system.

Jessica Page

Acting Electoral Commissioner Dennis O'Reilly.

state politicsCommentsPremiumWAEC to confront contractor after state election debacle

A decision whether to break an $86 million contract with a private firm, to staff elections, is on hold until after local government elections in October.

Jessica Page

Ramelius Resources' Penny gold mine.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
GoldCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
‘New gold rush’ heralded through WA scientific breakthrough

Geologists in WA are lauding what they believe is a global breakthrough in gold exploration that could see more royalty-paying mines made viable in concert with record prices. 

Simone Grogan

Attorney-General Tony Buti will on Thursday confirm that legislation is being developed to hold the Church more accountable for abuse committed by priests under its supervision.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
WA NewsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Buti’s bid to hold Church accountable for sex-abuser priests

The WA Government will legislate to make it easier for victims of historic child sex abuse to pursue the Catholic Church.

Kate Emery

State Budget forecasts show Main Roads will spend about a billion dollars a year from 2027 — a drop in real terms from prior spending.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
state politicsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Fears WA jobs are in limbo as road projects linger

WA’s civil construction industry has sounded the alarm over a looming two-year gap in State Government road projects, calling for some to be brought forward to hang on to critical workers. 

Jessica Page

Nationals WA leader Shane Love.

STATE POLITICSPremiumWar of words over Kal vanadium battery project

Nationals WA leader Shane Love has lashed the State Government for not including funding for Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s planned $150 million vanadium-flow battery in this year’s budget forward estimates.

Neil Watkinson

As many as 128 trees had to be cut down at Perth Zoo from the shot hole borer (inset).

state politicsCommentsREVEALED: Grim trail of damage caused by pest at Perth Zoo

A bitter argument has broken out in State Parliament as questions mount over the trail of damage left behind by the shot hole borer and whether it could have been stopped.

Jessica Page

Police CommentsPremiumNew WA police station and car fleet unveiled by top cop

Police have unveiled a brand new station in Perth’s east and a fleet of 12 cars for the crack squad tasked with catching serious offenders fast.

Caleb Runciman

Nicheliving construction site located at 939 Beaufort Street in Inglewood.

state politicsCommentsPremiumMassive crackdown on dodgy builders as WA approvals drop

Dodgy or cash-strapped builders are being put on notice as WA looks likely to fall short of building enough houses to win extra cash from the Federal Government.

Katina Curtis and Jessica Page

WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti.

state politicsCommentsPremiumSaffioti accused of ‘changing tune’ over WA’s debt monster

Rita Saffioti has shrugged off criticism of WA’s rising debt levels during heated debate in Parliament, insisting the State’s AAA credit rating is proof it is sustainable.

Jessica Page

Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti

State PoliticsCommentsPremiumTaxi crackdown after minister victim of meter sting

An undercover blitz of Perth taxi drivers is being planned in the wake of a 40 per cent increase in complaints about drivers refusing to using their meters or charging incorrect fares.

Jessica Page