Home
Search
thewest.com.au‌‌

  1. WildlifePremiumplans for the South West Wildlife Hospital taking shape

  2. PHOTOGRAPHYPremiumWorld-renowned Head On Photo Awards set for Margaret River

  3. Renewable EnergyPremiumControversial Scott River wind farm gets go-ahead

  4. CHEERS!PremiumSouth West beers prove stout-standing at awards night

  5. FESTIVAL FUNPremiumCabin Fever returns with biggest ever line-up for 10th year

Margaret River is a stand-out spot for stargazing new research shows.

GlampingPremiumMargaret River noted as standout stargazing spot

Margaret River has been noted as a stand-out location for stargazing in a new study of glamping spots across WA.

Craig Duncan

Participants can opt for a 20km or 35km course from Yallingup to Dunsborough for 2026 Coastrek Margaret River.

MENTAL HEALTHPremiumCoastrek Margaret River to return in 2026

Trekkers are being invited to lace up their hiking boots for this year’s Coastrek Margaret River, returning in October with its most challenging South West route yet.

Madelin Hayes

Margaret River’s Mind-Ed has been named the National Communities in Action Award winner at the 2026 Suicide Prevention Australia LiFE Awards on April 29 at a prestigious Sydney event. 

Mental HealthPremiumMargaret River’s Mind-Ed earns national award

Margaret River’s Mind-Ed has been named the National Communities in Action Award winner at the 2026 Suicide Prevention Australia LiFE Awards on April 29 at a prestigious Sydney event. 

Craig Duncan

Nature Conservation’s Friends of Wooditjup Bilya program officer Lauren Scanlon.

ConservationPremiumConservation group to host nature celebration festival

Nature Conservation Margaret River Region is inviting the community to roll up their sleeves on June 7 for a new one-day tree planting festival — Together with Nature.

Craig Duncan

South West tourism operators have a cautious outlook for the months ahead.

TOURISMPremiumHoliday hesitation slows South West visitor spending

Tourism operators in the South West are reporting a downturn in trade ahead of winter, as global uncertainty and rising costs reshape visitor behaviour.

Madelin Hayes

Margaret River Senior High School students Olive Hardy, Flynn Anderson, Poppy Redman-Carr, Grace Cook, Ry Vincent, Ethan Ahola (back), Zenn Hammond, Ethan Anderson and Taylor Flynn (front) that competed at the 2026 Australian Interschools Surfing Championships.

SurfingPremiumLocal junior surfers fall agonisingly short of glory

Young South West surfers have taken on the best across the country at the 2026 Australian Interschools Surfing Championships.

Jack Penniment

Housing Minister John Carey.

Social houses PremiumPremiumCity of Busselton still on waiting list for social houses

The soil was turned in Bunbury last week for a social housing project in Dalyellup but the City of Busselton is still on the waiting list for new social houses. 

Margaret River and Harvey courthouses are among 20 regional courthouses set to close for three months.

REGIONAL COURTSPremiumPremiumMargaret River, Harvey among 20 regional courts closed

Margaret River and Harvey courthouses are among more than 20 regional court facilities set to close for three months after the State’s top judges warned that security of the sites could no longer be guaranteed.

Sarah Wilson.

READERS & WRITERS FESTPremiumPremiumReaders, writers and big ideas take stage at festival

The Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival has wrapped up another standout year, filling venues from Margaret River to Busselton.

Busselton's 2 Oceans Tackle manager Stephen Norman.

FISHERS REELINGPremiumSouth west fishers reel over “cheap trick” rebate offer

A South West tackle shop has dismissed the State Government’s new $50 fishing rebate as a “cheap trick”, saying it does little to offset the impact of demersal fishing restrictions.

Madelin Hayes

Forrest MP Ben Small speaking in Parliament.

Federal BudgetPremiumBudget cuts $10 million wine tourism and cellar door program

This week’s Federal Budget has brought “nasty” cuts to a popular tourism incentive to the wine industry in a move Forrest MHR Ben Small has called a “betrayal”.

Craig Duncan

Subscriber Exclusive

Plans for the new OBH site in Cottesloe, by owner Stan Quinlivan.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Commercial propertyCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
OBH’s controversial $800m facelift hangs in the balance

The Ocean Beach Hotel redevelopment and an estimated $800 million in apartment sales now looks uncertain as ballooning costs threaten the build.

Kim Macdonald

The Bald Hill lithium mine is located approximately 50km south east of Kambalda in the Goldfields region of Western Australia.

MiningPremiumMinRes to restart WA lithium mine, hire 370 more workers

Mineral Resources is looking to boost its headcount by about 370 after pressing the restart button for its Bald Hill lithium mine in the Goldfields.

Adrian Rauso

The Kalgoorlie Courthouse.

Courts & justicePremiumTeacher stalked escort who refused her services

A Kalgoorlie-Boulder teacher said he was drunk when he stalked and acted “erratically” towards an escort who refused her services to him. 

Isabella Davis

The identity of the man who was found dead on a Katanning street in the early hours of Wednesday morning has been revealed as Katanning Senior High School teacher Luke Russell.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Great Southern HeraldPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Local school teacher revealed as man found dead in Katanning

The identity of the man who was found dead on a Katanning street in the early hours of Wednesday morning has been revealed.

Amy Towers

Promotional

In Case You Missed It

The ABS is building a 30,000-strong workforce for Census 2026, and they will be required right across the country.

CENSUS 2026VideoThousands wanted for Census jobs - no experience needed, top wages offered

Here’s how much you could earn as the ABS takes a new snapshot of the country.

Bryce Luff

A GoFundMe launched for Komalpreet Kaur has raised more than $67,000 in less than 24 hours.

Disaster and EmergencyPremiumIndian expat named as young victim of fatal Bentley crash

A young woman killed when she was struck by a car in Bentley has been remembered as a kind friend who was full of life.

The Bald Hill lithium mine is located approximately 50km south east of Kambalda in the Goldfields region of Western Australia.

MiningPremiumPremiumMinRes to restart WA lithium mine, hire 370 more workers

Mineral Resources is looking to boost its headcount by about 370 after pressing the restart button for its Bald Hill lithium mine in the Goldfields.

The identity of the man who was found dead on a Katanning street in the early hours of Wednesday morning has been revealed as Katanning Senior High School teacher Luke Russell.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Great Southern HeraldPremium
The West Australian exclusive
PremiumLocal school teacher revealed as man found dead in Katanning

The identity of the man who was found dead on a Katanning street in the early hours of Wednesday morning has been revealed.

Dr Jacqueline McGowan-Jones is Commissioner for Children and Young People.

state politicsCommentsPremiumCommentsPremiumWA’s children’s commissioner told not to reapply for job

WA’s Commissioner for Children has questioned whether she’s being ‘punished’ for speaking out after being told not to reapply for her job. 

Regional News

The homicide squad have charged a man a week after a high school teacher was found dead on a Katanning street. 

Courts & JusticePremiumMan charged over teacher’s death in Katanning

The homicide squad have charged a man a week after a high school teacher was found dead on a Katanning street. 

Claire Sadler

Lobster seized by fisheries officers in search warrants.

Black market crimePremiumFisheries investigating alleged black market rock lobster

Boats, fishing equipment and 150 western rock lobsters have been seized by fisheries officers as investigations into the alleged rock lobster black market ramp up. 

Imogen Wilson

The horse arena off Piccadilly Street will be closed down by the end of May.

Horse arenaPremiumUnauthorised horse arena removed by end of month

The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder has confirmed an unauthorised horse arena will be removed by the end of the month and acknowledged “community frustration” regarding the initial short notice. 

Isabella Davis

The Kalgoorlie-Boulder council failed to reach an absolute majority decision on a 3.5 per cent pay increase on Monday night.

Pay rise unclear PremiumPremiumCouncillor pay rise unclear after motions fail to pass

It remains unclear whether councillors will receive a 3.5pc pay increase in the next financial year after no absolute majority decision was reached over whether to accept or reject it at Monday night’s meeting.

West Australian students were fined more than $821,000 for not using a student SmartRider card.

Public transportPremiumPremiumGeraldton students incorrectly charged on public transport

Geraldton MLA Kirrilee Warr called out incorrect fares, after students were hit with unexpected SmartRider costs at the beginning of the year due to a software issue. 

The Pemberton Community Hub.

Art workshopsPremiumPremiumWOW weekend to warn up Pemberton’s winter calendar

Pemberton’s winter calendar is set to receive a creative boost, with early bird tickets now on sale for WOW Pemberton 2026. 

More Stories

Wegovy semaglutide tablets.

CNBC newsCommentsPremiumWeight-loss wars go global as Novo Nordisk bets big on pill

The battle for dominance over the lucrative market has so far focused largely on the key US market, currently accounting for more than half of both Novo’s and Eli Lilly’s respective sales.

Elsa Ohlen

Vladimir Putin's visit to China is expected to include talks with Xi Jinping on trade and defence.

CNBC newsCommentsPutin’s ‘long game’: Why he’s visiting China after Trump

These are the three key areas where Russia’s leader would like to deepen ties and extract concrete pledges.

Emily Williams

A lack of high-quality feedback could also lead to attrition.

Workplace MattersCommentsPremium‘Be honest?’: Why workers don’t tell their bosses the truth

Leaders say that they want to hear the honest truth about what’s happening but almost half of executives surveyed said that a lack of honest feedback is their primary concern.

Sophie Caldwell

Strategists such as Galloway can charge more than $15,000 a month for their services.

CNBC newsCommentsPremiumMeet the YouTube whisperers behind the biggest video names

With thousands of YouTube creators relying on the platform for income, many are turning to strategists as essential advisors on how to keep videos viral.

Alex Sherman and Zach Vallese

WA News

A man has died after crashing an e-scooter while riding on a footpath in Perth’s north. 9News

NEWSPremiumMan killed in e-scooter crash

A man has died after his e-scooter crashed on a Perth footpath, closing off a street for several hours.

Harvey Constable

Fremantle will once again turn into a hub of community, culture, and creativity to celebrate WA Day on June 1. 

WA Day celebrationsCommentsFreo hosts free rides and entertainment for WA Day fun

Fremantle will once again turn into a hub of community, culture, and creativity to celebrate WA Day on June 1. 

Claire Sadler

Australia’s biggest ever drug sting involving 2.4t of Mexican cartel cocaine was stricken by a cross-agency battle, as the AFP took extraordinary action to cast doubt over the covert operation by WA Police.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
‘Sheer jealousy’CommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
CommentsPremiumHow WA’s global cocaine sting had Australian police at war

Australia’s biggest ever drug sting involving 2.4t of Mexican cartel cocaine was stricken by a cross-agency battle, as the AFP took extraordinary action to cast doubt over the covert operation by WA Police.

Behind the White Line dives into the tense turf war following Operation Beech — a sophisticated police sting which stopped 2.4 tonnes of cocaine from reaching the WA coastline.

Behind the White LineCommentsCommentsNew true crime podcast dives into cop drama behind $1b sting

LISTEN NOW: Behind the White Line dives into the tense turf war following Operation Beech — a sophisticated police sting which stopped 2.4 tonnes of cocaine from reaching the WA coastline.

Hannah Beazley Press Conference at Dumas House. Sandra Jackson

state politicsCommentsPremiumCommentsPremiumMinister blasts ‘tone deaf’ Perth council as collapse looms

Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley has blasted the Perth Lord Mayor and councillors for a ‘let them eat cake approach’, after the City’s CEO was sensationally suspended, apparently without notice.

Perth locals are being warned to brace for a Thursday thunderstorm.

WeatherCommentsBrace yourselves, Perth, the thunderstorms are coming

Perth locals should be dusting off their rain jackets as thunderstorms are tipped to hit the city ahead of next week’s wave of showers. 

Fraser Williams