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  1. WIND FARMSPremiumSouth West councils urge community wind-farm consultation.

  2. Road SafetyPremiumThree dead in horror weekend for South West roads

  3. HEARTBREAKPremiumTwo local dogs die in suspected 1080 poisonings

  4. Women’s Asian CupPremiumWomen’s Asian Cup on the road in the South West

  5. New ResearchPremiumFury builds amid mass owl death linked to common rat poison

The Shire of Augusta-Margaret River council.

On the agendaPremiumAMR shire set for second hit out of 2026.

The Shire of Augusta Margaret River council is gearing up for its second hit-out of 2026, with some big-ticket items on the agenda. 

Will Corbett

A man has been charged following two scrub fires in Margaret River.

CRIMEPremiumMan charged following Margaret River scrub fires

A 35-year-old Margaret River man has been charged in relation to two scrub fires in Margaret River at the weekend. 

Madelin Hayes

THere has been an E.Coli spike in Hardey Inlet.

HEALTHPremiumShire urges caution for local swimmers.

The Shire of Augusta Margaret River have urged locals to stay out of the Hardey Inlet near Turner Holiday Park, with bacteria levels spiking. 

Will Corbett

WA man Gary John Bell, 69, pictured speaking with investigators.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
CRIMEPremium
The West Australian exclusive
WA man linked to horror Philippines child sex crimes: AFP

A WA man who allegedly paid a mother in the Phillipines to sexually extort her young children on livestreams has been charged following a major investigation involving the US Department of Homeland Security.

Caleb Runciman

Wil Powell and grandfather Roy.

AFLCommentsPremiumThe Powell family history that changed WA footy

Wil Powell will be representing more than the state when he pulls on the West Australian jumper against Victoria on Saturday. He’ll add another chapter to a family story that is overflowing with footy history.

Craig O'Donoghue

Capes Raptor Centre manager Tara Finch with various safe rodent control products.

Poisonous debatePremiumSouth West raptor centre joins calls to ban insidious SGARs

The Capes Raptor Centre has joined calls to ban insidious second-generation rat poisons, claiming a Federal Government agency has ignored research into their harmful effect on birds and wildlife.

Craig Duncan

A health warning has been issued at the Barrett St Weir.

STAY OUTE.Coli hits second AMR Shire swimming spot.

Another popular swimming spot in the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River has tested positive for nasty bacteria, with the shire urging swimmers to take caution. 

Emma, Leo, 2, Josh and Hamish Ravendale, 3 months.

CULTURAL HERITAGEPremiumPremiumBunuru Fest brings hundreds for First Nations celebration.

Hundreds of South West locals spent their Saturday afternoon at Cowaramup’s Pioneer Park celebrating Bunuru Festival.

The main events line-up for the Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival has been announced.

READERS & WRITERS FESTIVALPremiumPremiumHighlight events announced for Readers & Writers Festival

The Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival is set to return in May, with highlight events now revealed. 

William Jasper sends one down the ground for four

CricketPremiumClose finish and dominant performances in BMRCA A-grade

The Think Mental Health round brought a close finish and dominant performances in the Busselton-Margaret River Cricket Association A-grade on Saturday.

Jack Penniment

Margaret River were inline hockey winners at the Margaret River Skate Fest.

Roller sportsPremiumSkate Fest shined with roller sports action last weekend

Skate Fest shined last weekend at Margaret River Recreation Centre after a full day of exciting roller sports action.

Jack Penniment

Subscriber Exclusive

Hailee Hildebrand was allowed out on day release, only four days after another suicide attempt inside the hospital’s youth mental health ward.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
State PoliticsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Grieving mum’s plea: ‘They were meant to save her’

Stacey Hildebrandt is brokenhearted but insists she wants change — not sympathy — in the wake of her daughter’s suicide while she was an inpatient at Fiona Stanley Hospital.

Jessica Page

Laurence Escalante arrives at the Perth Magistrates Court today. Michael Wilson

Courts & JusticePremiumDramatic scenes as billionaire faces nine new drug charges

Perth billionaire Laurence Escalante has been hit with a raft of new criminal charges as his minder clashed with media outside court in dramatic scenes.

Rebecca Le May

One of seven people charged over a massive cocaine haul found stashed inside a bulk carrier off Perth has had his charge dropped.

Courts & JusticePremiumNew twist as epic trial looms after huge drug bust off WA

One of seven people charged over a massive cocaine haul found stashed inside a bulk carrier off Perth has had his charge dropped.

Rebecca Le May

Marius Sabau, president of the WA Mongols. unknown

Courts & JusticePremiumWA Mongol boss jailed for sophisticated drug operation

Marius Sabau was found guilty for his role in a drug trafficking syndicate, just days after fellow Mongol member David Pye was jailed for organising the assassination of Rebels boss Nick Martin.

Ben Harvey

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In Case You Missed It

Georgia was struck by lightning in Thursday’s storm.

Disaster and EmergencyCommentsPerth teen details scary moment she was struck by lightning

A 16-year-old girl has told of the terrifying moment she was struck by lightning in the city’s north-east, describing the freak ordeal as like being ‘stabbed with 1000 needles’. 

Jessica Evensen

Yu Xiao Feng CREDIT: Maxi Alonso / shipspotting.com

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
AUKUSCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
China sees red over British submarine spy fears

A senior Chinese diplomat has sternly rejected suggestions a cargo ship that recently berthed near the Garden Island naval base is posing any threat to a visiting British submarine.

Andrew Greene

Better Homes and Gardens will now air twice a week.

TVCommentsCommentsMajor change coming to popular Aussie TV show

The development comes in the show’s 32nd year.

An apology letter disgraced obstetrician Rhys Bellinge sent to Elizabeth Pearce’s family and Muhammad Usman just days before his sentencing has been described as ‘terribly inapt’ by a judge

WA NewsPremiumPremiumBellinge’s ‘inapt’ apology to victims days before sentencing

An apology letter disgraced obstetrician Rhys Bellinge sent to his victims just days before his sentencing has been described as ‘terribly inapt’ by a judge, who also noted a degree of self-pity in his remorse.

Lorde deliveres a powerfully raw performance at RAC Arena.

review
review
MUSICComments
review
CommentsPop star Lorde bares all in emotional RAC Arena show

Some might argue she’s drifting out of the mainstream with her recent releases, but can the Kiwi still get a whole arena to dance and sing all night?

Regional News

Go Girls foundation helps women gain skills to become ready for employment.

Employment supportPremiumLimited spots for women empowerment program

Women in the Goldfields will have a one-of-a-kind opportunity to join a free program set to lead them on the pathway to employment. 

Jessica Antoniou

About 7500 people attended the 2025 Coolgardie Outback Festival.

Coolgardie festivalPremiumCoolgardie rodeo festival will return in August

The Coolgardie Outback Festival will saddle up again this August, with organisers hoping to top last year’s record crowd of 7500.

Isabella Davis

Asbestos tailings at Wittenoom.

Mining Banjima Traditional Owners vs the State Government

Traditional Owners of Country including Wittenoom have launched a $1.5 billion legal claim against the Western Australian government

Phoebe Solon

Mid West Academy of Sport athlete Reuben Chapman.

AthleticsPremiumPremiumChapman continues stellar athletics golden run

Geraldton’s golden boy Reuben Chapman has added another gold medal to his season’s tally after blitzing ahead in the 400m hurdles at the Junior Track and Field State Championships in Perth last weekend. 

An 18-year-old has been sentenced after driving at speeds of more than 140km/h.

Courts & Justice PremiumPremium18yo jailed for reckless driving to escape police

An 18-year-old drove at speeds of more than 140km/h in an attempt to escape police before losing control of his car, which was carrying four passengers, and crashing into a road train. 

Geraldton's Callum Williamson prepares for his homecoming this weekend

MotorsportPremiumPremiumLocal racer gears up for weekend speedway action

Local speedster Callum Williamson is gearing up for his homecoming at the Geraldton City Speedway, as the Maddington Toyota Sprintcar Series touches down in the Mid West this weekend. 

News Flash

More Stories

President Donald Trump

CNBC newsPremiumTrump insists trade deals safe as ruling upends tariffs

President Donald Trump defended his tariff agenda during his State of the Union address even as a Supreme Court ruling striking down his emergency tariffs cast fresh confusion.

Anniek Bao

Before the Covid pandemic, Chinese consumers accounted for about one-third of the global luxury goods market.

CNBC newsPremiumLunar New Year gives brands chance to win back big spenders

Luxury brands from Harry Winston to Loewe are going all in on Lunar New Year collections in a bid to attract Chinese customers.

Hayley Cuccinello

China’s property market, once accounting for more than a quarter of the economy, has seen its annual sales volume halve in just four years.

CNBC newsPremiumS&P bets China property slump will be worse than expected

S&P Global Ratings has lowered its forecast for China property sales this year, barely two months into 2026.

Evelyn Cheng

Chinese coffee giant Luckin opened its first flagship with premium drinks as the company takes on Starbucks Reserve.

CNBC newsCommentsPremiumThere’s a coffee war brewing in China (and now in the US)

As Starbucks sells off most of its China business, local rival Luckin Coffee is expanding into higher-priced cold brews and other drinks. It’s also expanding its footprint in the US.

Evelyn Cheng

WA News

Trees and grass on the shores of the Swan River in Perth.

WA newsCommentsPremiumTrees the key to keeping WA path users cool in summer

WA’s leading urban design experts are calling for urgent tree canopy targets as they look for ways to make shared paths cooler in a bid to make cycling, walking and running more comfortable. 

Jessica Evensen

WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said other “like-minded” and “white supremacist” Australians participated in the group discussions on the messaging app Telegram.

CrimePremiumWA Police allege other Aussies in white-supremacy group chat

WA’s top cop says multiple other Australians with links to an encrypted group chat are being investigated by after a Bindoon man was charged with planning mass casualty terror attacks. 

Caleb Runciman

Not Supplied

NewsPremiumPremiumShock new theory on missing MH370 flight

A new possible search location for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has been put forward off Australia’s west coast.

Counterterrorism authorities in Western Australia have disrupted an alleged act of terrorism linked to a group operating on the encrypted messaging platform Telegram. NewsWire/ Sharon Smith

NEWSPremiumPremiumCops used app to stop alleged terror act

WA police have charged a 20-year-old man with preparing an act of terrorism, after intelligence allegedly uncovered activity on an encrypted Telegram chat.

GEN Supplied photo of 18 years old Hailee Hilderbrandt who took her own life. Iain Gillespie

State PoliticsVideoCommentsPremiumCommentsPremiumGrieving mum’s mental health plea: ‘Advocate harder’

A mystery code black has added to grieving mother Stacey Hildebrandt’s questions over her daughter Hailee’s suicide, only hours after she left Fiona Stanley Hospital, while still an inpatient. 

Not Supplied

NewsPremiumHeartbreaking image after teen hit by cars

A tragic incident near a high school in Perth’s south suburbs has triggered a major investigation by WA police major crash unit.

Euan Kennedy