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  1. Climate ChangePremiumUpper house lock in Collie’s coal mine extension

  2. TOP 10 PremiumBunbury teenager continues to see success on Australian Idol

  3. WINEPremiumSouth West winery celebrates 40 years of community produce

  4. Regional WAPremiumWA servo asks customers for keys to prevent drive offs

  5. Scathing ReportPremiumBusselton city appeals Smith Beach resort approval

The driver of the red Toyota LandCruiser drove the wrong way on Margaret River's main street, narrowly missing onlookers.

RECKLESS DRIVINGPremiumMan charged after reckless driving spree in the South West

A 31-year-old man has been charged with a number of serious offences after a reckless driving spree in the South West – including allegedly tailgating another vehicle causing it to hit a tree. 

Madelin Hayes

Alishia Newling and Keely Smartt at the 2026 Busselton Senior High School ball.

IN PICTURES Year 12 students in Busselton gathered for their school ball

Year 12 students at Busselton Senior High School arrived in style at the Hilton Garden Inn as the kicked off their final year with their annual school ball celebrations. 

Rose Patane

Top: Waroona shire president Mike Walmsley, Capel shire president John Fergusson and City of Bunbury mayor Jaysen Miguel. Bottom: Bridgetown-Greenbushes shire president Stephen Carstairs, Nannup shire president Tony Dean and Manjimup shire president Donelle Buegge.

SHIRE MERGERSPremiumSouth West shires cautious to consider amalgamations

A number of shire and city leaders have voiced their opinion on whether future shire amalgamations are on the cards, with varying results. 

Will Corbett

Connor Wright celebrating as he crosses the finish line during stage three of the Tour of Tasmania.

CyclingPremiumLocal cycling wizard earns development team selection

After an outstanding summer on the bike local Connor Wright has earned selection for the AusCycling 2026 Under-19 European road development project.

Jack Penniment

528 patients were retrieved by the RFDS in the South West region in 2025.

ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR New report shares data on Royal Flying Doctor Service

A new independent report has found the Royal Flying Doctor Service is delivering double its value of funding invested, with the South West seeing an increase in patients retried in a 12-month period. 

Rose Patane

Shire of Capel has appointed a new chief executive officer, Samantha Chamberlain

Local government PremiumSamantha Chamberlain Capel’s new CEO

The Shire of Capel has a new chief executive running the region, with former Director of Community and Corporate Services Samantha Chamberlain taking on the role. 

Craig Duncan

Lyn Nixon’s artwork Pernicious.

EXHIBITIONPremiumPremiumBRAG to showcase South West artists in the new exhibition

Bunbury Regional Art Gallery will host artworks by 26 South West artists from March 21 for South West Biennial 2026.

Shire of Dardanup councillor Ruby Trevathan and senior ranger Paul Sydney-Smith, on-site at the new 24-hour caravan and RV stopover at Ferguson Hall.

NEW TRIAL New trial for 24 hour stop over bay

The Shire of Dardanup will be launching a three-month trial aiming to provide those traveling through the region a new spot to stop and rest. 

Queen and king of the ball Shae Barnett and Beau Falloon at the 2026 Australind Senior High School ball.

STARRY NIGHT PremiumPremiumAustralind Senior High School hosts annual ball

It was all glitz and glamour as students from Australind Senior High School it the red carpet at the weekend for their Year 12 school ball

Bunbury’s Nicola ‘Nick’ Bucchino died on December 9. 2025.

Local LegendPremiumNicola ‘Nick’ Bucchino remembered for his ‘heart of gold’

A titan of the Bunbury community, Nicola ‘Nick’ Bucchino, has been remembered as a loving husband, son and father with a heart of gold.

Craig Duncan

Connor Wright celebrating as he crosses the finish line during stage three of the Tour of Tasmania.

CyclingPremiumLocal cycling wizard earns development team selection

After an outstanding summer on the bike local Connor Wright has earned selection for the AusCycling 2026 Under-19 European road development project.

Jack Penniment

Subscriber Exclusive

Former NBL1 West basketball player Roosevelt Aaron Williams Jnr has been jailed for sexual assault.

CourtPremium‘Sexual piece of meat’: WA basketballer admits raping friend

Vile text messages a NBL1 basketballer sent to his mates after raping a female friend have been aired in court as he’s jailed for the horrific crime. WARNING: DISTRESSING DETAILS

Hannah Cross

Dramatic images captured the bloodied aftermath of a light plane crash in Broome, showing a person being airlifted from the wreckage by a rescue helicopter and blood smeared across a wing. 

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
WA newsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Bloodied photos taken moments after Broome plane crash

A man who escaped the wreckage managed to pose for a photo on the wing as blood was dripping from his head. 

Caleb Runciman, Cain Andrews and Simone Grogan

Brodie Jake Dewar is accused of attacking the respected Labor strategist outside the Paramount nightclub in Northbridge about 5.30am on December 27.

Court & JusticeVideoPremiumTim Picton’s accused killer allegedly breaches strict bail

The 20-year-old man charged with fatally coward-punching Tim Picton has allegedly breached his strict bail conditions, prompting prosecutors to call for his return to custody.

Rebecca Le May

The RAC Rescue helicopter was sent to a road crash in Beaufort River to airlift one woman, while the other died at the scene.

updated
updated
fatal crashCommentsPremium
updated
Crash kills woman, second being airlifted to Perth

A woman has died after a serious car crash on Albany Highway in Beaufort River, with a second woman flown to Perth with critical injuries. 

Jacki Elezovich

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In Case You Missed It

More children are surviving cancer now but the toxic treatment they endure leaves most of them facing a lifetime of health problems, and even an early death.

Health+MedicineCommentsPremiumInside the devastating reality of surviving childhood cancer

More children are surviving cancer now but the toxic treatment they endure leaves most of them facing a lifetime of health problems, and even an early death.

Angela Pownall

Standing on the rooftop of Yagan Square, Nokturnl co-founders Ross Drennan and Drew Flanagan have quite the view of Perth’s city centre.

RetailCommentsPremiumPerth’s ‘dark corridor’ campus boost lights up as hotspot

Nokturnl co-founders Ross Drennan and Drew Flanagan harness power of new ECU campus to breathe life into once-faltering Yagan precinct.

Cheyanne Enciso

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has had a kite in the air for some time now as he prepares his next Budget

opinion
opinion
EditorialCommentsPremium
opinion
CommentsPremiumCapital gains tax kite continues to fly

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has had a kite in the air for some time now as he prepares his next Budget

ROSÉ has collaborated with Levi's on a new campaign.

STM Loves A few of our favourite things for this week

Our tips for the week include a new boutique hotel in a favourite area of Freo, toasting Paris with a special glass of bubbles and a cool denim collaboration with a K-pop star.

Adam Voges has finished as WA head coach.

CRICKETCommentsCommentsVoges has always been a step ahead of the game

Every coach eventually has to put their own stamp on a team. Adam Voges did that through his communication style and his honesty. Players respect coaches who are clear and genuine in their approach.

Regional News

Katherine Meinberg and Gert Jurisoo of Borden with one of Meinberg's handmade 2026 Wagin Woolarama special candles.

Woolly CandlesPremiumWoolly Wanderer candles a hit at Wagin Woolorama

A chance meeting between Estonian couple Katherine Meinberg and Gert Jurisoo on the other side of the world from home sparked a love of farming and a unique business idea for candles

Georgia Campion

Social work students Jaden Delaney, Radha Sivasankaran and Myfy Walster-Jones

Social workPremiumPerth social work students get experience in Kalgoorlie

A group of Perth-based social work students are learning what it’s like to work in regional health as part of a Curtin University placement program in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

Isabella Davis

Peter Young addresses the Harmony Week crowd in St Barbara’s Square on Thursday night.

Harmony WeekCultural song and dance in St Barbara’s Square

A vibrant display of culture and community transformed St Barbara’s Square on Thursday night as part of the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s Harmony Week celebrations.

Isabella Davis

Federal Liberal Member for O’Connor Rick Wilson.

OPINIONPremiumPremiumWhen Canberra overspends, regional WA pays the price

Regional West Australians understand financial discipline. They live within their means and expect their government to do the same, Rick Wilson says.

Kalgoorlie Courthouse.

Courts & Justice PremiumPremiumDV-accused to be electronically monitored on bail

A Kalgoorlie-Boulder man who unsuccessfully sought to have the court closed when he appeared on domestic violence charges has been released on bail but will be electronically monitored. 

Psychology student Kalie Ashenden with occupational therapy students Amy Donaldson and Phoebe Gaudoin.

Occupational therapyPremiumPremiumOT students sing praises of Full Circle Therapies

Occupational therapy students completing practical work placements in Kalgoorlie-Boulder say working at Full Circle Therapies is “the most incredible experience”.

News Flash

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Rising oil prices are lighting a price fire under local petrol prices.

EnergyCommentsPremium$US166 a barrel? Middle East clue on where oil is heading

Traders are looking at Dubai’s price as potential harbinger of what could be ahead for other crude benchmarks if the situation doesn’t improve.

Alex Harring

People look at collectable designer art toy Labubu at a Pop Mart pop-up store in Siam Center shopping mall in Bangkok on May 6, 2025. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)

CNBC newsPremiumLabubu movie on the way as Pop Mart expands toy franchise

Collectible toy maker and IP powerhouse Pop Mart is teaming up with Sony Pictures to bring its wildly popular Labubu doll to movie theatres. 

Justin Solomon

A cargo ship sails in the Arabian Gulf towards Strait of Hormuz in United Arab Emirates.

CNBC newsCommentsPremiumWho’s moving through Hormuz and who’s still stranded?

Iran’s de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has stoked fears of the gravest disruption to global oil supply in history, as the Middle East conflict stretches into its third week.

Anniek Bao

A general view of the Port of Kharg Island Oil Terminal, 25 km from the Iranian coast in the Persian Gulf.

CNBC newsPremiumOil’s war-driven volatility pulls in record retail money

The Iran war news flow-driven oil moves are drawing retail investors into the world’s most traded commodity, further fuelling volatility.

Lee Ying Shan

WA News

Joseph Banks Secondary College teachers Brittni Balogh, Zack Maley, Sam Creasey, David Webb and Luke Mondy are involved in a trial of an AI tool.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
EducationCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
AI teacher assistant set to roll out across 100 WA schools

WA teachers could soon each have their own robot assistant to take over time-consuming tasks such as setting lesson plans.

Bethany Hiatt

After the State appeal was launched, Mr Barber said all he wanted “was some recognition from the State that they failed me and are responsible”. “Them appealing ... just tells me they still refuse to”.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Courts & JusticeCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
‘Pathetic’: Trailblazing survivor hits out at WA Government

A former ward of the State who was sent back to a sexual predator as a child is being retraumatised by the Cook Government appealing his landmark court win against it.

Rebecca Le May

The Cook Government has been accused of failing to provide WA children with the same protections in day care settings as kids in the rest of the country after it took more than a year to pass new laws aimed at keeping them safe.

WA NewsCommentsPremiumCommentsPremiumLabor ‘fail’ as WA lags behind nation on daycare protections

The Cook Government has been accused of failing to provide WA kids with the same protections in day care as those in the rest of the country, after it took more than a year to pass new laws to keep them safe.

Drivers queue for fuel at Vibe on Rockingham Road, Hamilton Hill.

EnergyCommentsPremiumCommentsPremiumBowser pain as oil shipments turned away from Australia

Six shipments of oil destined for Australia have been turned away since war broke out in the Middle East and disrupted global fuel supplies, Energy Minister Chris Bowen has revealed.

The $2,000 Kids’ Choice Prize was awarded to Drew McDonald for his sculpture titled ‘SOMA’ during this year’s Sculpture by the Sea.

ArtsCommentsCommentsSculpture by the Sea draws 230k after year-long absence

The glistening waters of Cottesloe Beach of course provided the backdrop for this year’s Sculpture by the Sea award ceremony on Sunday afternoon.

Designs for the proposed AI data centre in Hazelmare.

WA NewsCommentsPremiumResidents rage over data centre planned next to Perth school

Residents of a quiet pocket in Perth’s north-east are up in arms as the local council considers plans for a three-storey data centre next to a school.

Fraser Williams