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‘Santa won’t deliver a lump of coal — that’s being phased out — but the New Year will deliver a dose of political reality,’ writes Jessica Page.

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analysis
State PoliticsCommentsPremium
analysis
Xmas report card: How politicians fared in class of 2025

An historic third term and a bigger-than-expecting winning margin gives Roger Cook high marks, but there are storms ahead. 

Jessica Page

Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby has told motorists to use common sense after AI cameras captured wild behaviour behind the wheel, including a drive who clipped their finger nails behind the wheel.

WA NewsCommentsPremiumMinister urges drivers to use common sense to beat AI fines

Reece Whitby has scolded ‘ridiculous’ behaviour behind the wheel after AI cameras picked up people eating meals, drinking hot coffees and grooming themselves while driving.

Oliver Lane

United Nations inspectors have been denied access to Perth’s juvenile detention centre and the controversial Unit 18, angering Cleveland Dodd’s mother the same week that a coroner investigating his death branded conditions inhumane.

state politics PremiumUN inspectors blocked from visiting controversial Unit 18

United Nations inspectors have been denied access to Perth’s juvenile detention centre and the controversial Unit 18 at Casuarina prison, the same week that a coroner branded conditions there inhumane.

Jessica Page

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the site would be provided with subsidised clean energy. NewsWire/ Adam Yip

NewsPremium‘A future’: Workers celebrate Tomago plan

Workers say they are “going to have a future” under a federal government plan to keep Tomago smelter open, but details remain scarce.

Nathan Schmidt

Roger Cook has admitted his own regret about ‘drunk tweeting’, as he publicly reprimanded a Minister over her dancing TikTok video boasting about extra funding for women fleeing abuse.

state politics CommentsPremiumLabor’s social media push to win over young voters

Roger Cook has admitted his own regret about ‘drunk tweeting’, as he publicly reprimanded a Minister over her dancing TikTok video boasting about extra funding for women fleeing abuse.

Jessica Page

SailAbility WA vice president Graham White said he feared the safety risks of a ferry terminal at Matilda Bay.

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WA NewsCommentsPremium
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Decision made on controversial Perth ferry project

A decision on the controversial ferry terminal at Matilda Bay has been made by planning authorities, but not before the meeting was briefly adjourned due to audience members calling out.

Oliver Lane

Premier Roger Cook and Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk announced the rollout of a cost of living relief measure for Western Australian families ahead of the at the WA Museum Boola Bardip Perth Culture Centre.

state politics Comments$200 school holiday relief for WA parents feeling the pinch

More than 100 WA venues have signed up to the voucher program.

Jessica Page

The Greens' amendments to the State Development Bill failed, as the legislation passed a Parliament vote at 2:58am on Thursday

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state politicsCommentsPremium
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MPs react to 3am finish after 17-hour fast-track laws debate

MPs have reacted to Roger Cook’s overhaul of State development laws to fast-track key projects which passed a key vote in State Parliament after a debate that stretched until almost 3am. 

Jessica Page

NSW Opposition Kellie Sloane says a “reset” in negotiations with the government led to a breakthrough in workers compensation reform. NewsWire / Brendan Read

NewsPremiumBreakthrough for state’s businesses, workers

NSW’s new opposition leader Kellie Sloane says a “reset” in negotiations with the government led to a breakthrough in workers compensation reform.

Nathan Schmidt

The NSW government will introduce a permanent $60 toll cap for hundreds of thousands of motorists. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

NewsPremium‘Inequity’: Huge decision on Sydney toll

Thousands of motorists will continue to benefit from Sydney's toll cap – but for some, there is a catch.

Nathan Schmidt

The State Government announce AC Milan will visit to play Perth Glory at HBF Park in July. Sport Minister Rita Saffioti.

State PoliticsCommentsPremiumAC Milan plan on life support but Saffioti still clinging on

Rita Saffioti’s dream of hosting a historic Italian football league game in Perth is hanging by a thread, as the world game’s powerful governing bodies baulk at the idea. 

Jessica Page and Ben Smith

Jessica Stojkovski has been forced to apologise after posting a video of herself dancing to a Taylor Swift song while boasting about the money spent on refuge accommodation.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
State PoliticsVideoCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
WATCH: Tone-deaf minister boasts DV funds in dance video

Jessica Stojkovski has been forced to apologise after posting a video of herself dancing to a Taylor Swift song while boasting about the money spent on refuge accommodation.

Shannon Hampton

Health Minister Meredith Hammat no offer has been made for the facility, and that other private operators were also interested in it.

state politicsCommentsPremiumDoctors push for Labor to buy-out Mount Hospital

Doctors have pushed the State Government to take over Perth’s Mount Hospital to add much needed beds into the public health system.

Jessica Page

The Governor of Western Australia Chris Dawson gets into the Christmas Spirit ahead of Government House’s free open weekend this weekend.

WA NewsCommentsGovernment House opens doors to begin Christmas countdown

The countdown to Christmas has started at WA’s Government House, which will have its doors thrown open to the public this weekend for two days of festivities.

Nadine Dodd leaves Dumas House after a meeting with Premier Roger Cook.

WA NewsPremiumCleveland Dodd’s mum has ‘empathetic’ meeting with Premier

The mother of Cleveland Dodd has shared an emotional meeting with Roger Cook days after the coroner laid down their findings into the boy’s death in custody.

Oliver Lane and Jessica Page

Minister Meredith Hammat speak to the media during a press conference at Dumas House on Thursday.

HealthCommentsPremium‘Complex’ care blamed for WA’s worst-ever ED wait times

The State Government has blamed ‘complex’ patient care for new figures confirming WA has the worst emergency department wait times in the nation.

Jessica Page

WA Premier Roger Cook said the State Development Bill would allow WA to keep pace with industry.

WA NewsCommentsHelp to Buy vote passed in WA upper house crunch

WA Labor has been forced to make a last minute change of plans for the year’s final two upper house sitting days to bring forward debate on legislation enabling a national Help to Buy home-ownership scheme.

Oliver Lane

Royal Perth Hospital pictured on Friday.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
HealthCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Shocking scale of disrepair at Royal Perth Hospital exposed

Figures obtained by The West Australian reveal the scale of disrepair — and suspected black mould — at WA’s main trauma hospital.

Hannah Cross

The West revealed asbestos was detected in up to 18 fire doors at the new Edith Cowan campus in the city.

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ConstructionCommentsPremium
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Call for asbestos audit after ECU campus discovery

Suppliers and regulators are scrambling to uncover the full extent of asbestos in fire doors amid revelations it was used in construction projects across the country for two years.

Matt Mckenzie

Mining cars fill the carpark at Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport on Tuesday.

Capped airfares PremiumResidents to pay higher capped airfares in busy FIFO times

Goldfields residents will have to pay more to fly to Perth during “popular FIFO times” and holiday periods under the updated Regional Airfare Zone Cap scheme coming in next year. 

Tegan Guthrie

‘Blaming a “legislative backlog” for its failure to pass necessary legislation for Anthony Albanese’s help to buy scheme is the equivalent of the Cook Government blaming the dog for eating its homework,’ writes Jessica Page.

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opinion
Jessica PageCommentsPremium
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WA housing help on hold while Labor stalls debate

The Cook Government is blaming the dog for eating its homework. The legislative backlog was of its own making.

Jessica Page

Jessica Page

Silent Vigil for Cleveland Dodd outside of the Perth Magistrates Court.

state politics PremiumPressure mounts over Unit 18 closure in wake of Dodd inquest

Amnesty International has joined calls for the immediate closure of Unit 18, in the wake of an inquest that blamed ‘punitive punishment’ for WA’s first juvenile death in detention.

Jessica Page

Treasurer Rita Saffioti has defended her handling of Labor’s regional airfares cap amid a growing backlash online and Opposition claims it amounts to a ‘shameless’ broken promise. 

state politics CommentsPremium‘Shameless’: Backlash over school holiday airfare price hike

Treasurer Rita Saffioti has been forced to defend her handling of Labor’s regional airfares cap amid a growing backlash online and Opposition claims it amounts to a ‘shameless’ broken promise. 

Jessica Page

Rita Saffioti has urged critics of Labor’s State Development Bill to be “real,” as debate over the news laws to fast-track approvals for major projects heats up during the last days of Parliament. 

state politicsCommentsPremiumBill debate exposes ‘unholy’ Greens alliance with One Nation

Rita Saffioti has urged critics of Labor’s State Development Bill to be ‘real,’ as a debate over the new laws to fast-track approvals for major projects heats up during the last days of Parliament. 

Jessica Page