News

Wood thievesThieves stealing wood from Katanning reserves

The Shire is adopting an educational-based approach to stopping people from “decimating” local reserves by taking firewood, according to Shire regulatory service manager Shane Chambers.

Michael Traill

Kleemann MedalIs the Kleemann Medal a two-horse race?

Four of the six coaches believe this year’s battle for the Kleemann Medal is a race in two.

Cameron Newbold

What a messHotel quarantine failures ‘could have been foreseen’

Counsel assisting the inquiry into Melbourne’s bungled hotel quarantine program has given a damning recap of evidence to the board.

Ellen Whinnett

VIP treatmentTV star jumps travel cap queue into Australia

British Lord and billionaire Alan Sugar is under fire after flying into Sydney to film the new Celebrity Apprentice series while thousands of Australians are stranded overseas.

Stephen Drill in London

Latest‘Struggling since dad died’: Barilaro takes mental health leave

Besieged Nationals leader John Barilaro will go on extended leave from Saturday for mental health reasons, after a week of debate over a koala policy that has torn apart the Coalition government, and a month after his father died.

Linda Silmalis and James O'Doherty

Quarantine breachSecond ankle bracelet fitted to WA COVID breacher

A Secret Harbour man who allegedly breached hotel quarantine by inviting women to his room and going to a party has become the second person in WA to be fitted with a COVID monitoring device.

Sarah Steger

City protest‘Justice for Aunty Sherry’: Protesters spray-paint road

Black Lives Matter protesters have spray-painted slogans on the street outside Brisbane City watch-house after the recent death in custody of an Indigenous woman.

Shiloh Payne

Gary Ablett SrGeelong great’s bizarre COVID-19 conspiracy rant

Geelong great Gary Ablett Sr has posted a bizarre video on YouTube about COVID-19, claiming Illuminati deliberately created and released the virus.

‘Idiot abroad’French backpacker jailed after drug order to WA hostel

An ‘idiot abroad’ whose dream holiday around Australia with his girlfriend turned into a nightmare after he was caught importing party drugs in the mail to his Kununurra hostel has been jailed.

Shannon Hampton

Qld decidesLabor picks minister’s replacement in marginal seat

A new but familiar candidate has been overwhelmingly backed to run for Labor in an outgoing minister’s marginal electorate.

Domanii Cameron

Waiting gameGovernment slammed for waiting times at Albany hospital

In WA, hospitals aim to take in a patient within 30 minutes of their ambulance arriving at the emergency department.

Michael Traill

CAFE REVIEWNew owners reboot former celebrity-owned cafe

When new owners took over a well-loved north Brisbane cafe that was owned by an Australian culinary queen, there were big shoes to fill. Have they got it right? Here’s our verdict.

Anooska Tucker-Evans

Votes countWhy Latino vote could decide US presidential election

The battle for Florida’s Latino voters could decide the entire US presidential election. And the reason may surprise you.

Sarah Blake in Florida

Spent convictionSpent conviction for Albany farmer who assaulted woman

Described as “quite disturbing” by police prosecutor Sergeant Peter Yuswack, the assault was captured on CCTV at the corner of York Street and Stirling Terrace.

Michael Traill

Coach chargedColts coach to front tribunal on misconduct charge

The Great Southern Football League have completed their investigation into Mt Barker’s colts team being removed from the field during the final quarter on August 30

Cameron Newbold

Food safetyLive rodents, other vermin found in bakery

A northside Brisbane bakery known for its generosity to the local community has been slugged with hefty fines over rodents and other pests found on the premises.

Kay Dibben

Gwalia rockfallMine blast causes underground rock fall at Gwalia

The troubled historic Gwalia gold mine at Leonora has suffered another setback with an underground rock fall caused by a mine blast.

Jason Mennell

Bowel busterMan jailed after rolling dice to ‘clear gambling debt’

A 56-year-old drug mule was picked up by authorities in WA after swallowing five heroin-filled pellets he urgently needed to 'evacuate'.

Shannon Hampton

‘You will never be forgotten’Woman who died hiking remembered for smile, positivity

The family of Maree Pollard, who died while hiking in Mount Augustus National Park on Monday, say the fun-loving 53-year-old will be ‘dearly missed’, and praised those who tried to save her.

Rourke Walsh and Sarah Steger

Special reportThe documentary every parent needs to watch

It is the whistleblower doco every parent — and child — should watch. The Social Dilemma confirms everything we suspected — that technology companies wield far too much power and put profits over morality — and reveals the sheer scale of how they have turned teens into addicts.

Duncan Lay and Ben Pike

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Paralysed WAFL star sues over neck-breaking tackle

East Perth footballer Beau Chatley is suing the West Perth opponent whose tackle during a WAFL game in 2016 broke his neck and left him suffering life-long injuries, The West Australian can reveal.

John Townsend

See the videoPowderfinger’s ‘dad dance’ in never-seen-before video

Powderfinger’s first “new” music in a decade is a throwback to the raw, loud rock’n’roll of their early days. And the new music video unearths rare backstage footage of some “special” talents.

Kathy McCabe, National Music Writer

Latest updatesHope for desperate Aussies stranded overseas as cap rises

Australians stranded overseas say they will be financially ruined unless flight caps are lifted so they can get home. It comes as five households were linked to a Melbourne COVID outbreak and Queensland opened its borders to Canberrans.

Stephen Drill in London