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  1. State PoliticsCommentsPremiumLabor slashes WA attraction prices to coax tourist spending

  2. CANCER COUNCIL PremiumCancer Council are urging people to check their symptoms

  3. CricketPremiumHistoric week for Busselton-Margaret River

  4. SWFLPremiumSWFL transfers set to re open on Sunday

  5. Council meetings PremiumCouncil to vote on Barrett Street Weir carpark changes

Margaret River Discovery Co.’s Sean Blocksidge snapped the aurora in the South West.

Southern LightsPremiumSouth West treated as aurora australis lights sky

Residents across the South West were treated to some phenomenal sights on Tuesday night as the aurora australis lit up the southern sky.

Craig Duncan

A men’s mental health and connection group is holding a barbecue next month.

Mental healthPremiumSelf Seen Margaret River to host community gathering

Margaret River men’s mental health and connection group Self Seen is inviting everyone in the community see what their group is all about at a free barbecue next month. 

Craig Duncan

Busselton-Margaret River's Zoraiz Saeed plays a cover drive during last years country week carnival.

CricketPremiumBMRCA a finals chance in country week

Busselton-Margaret River Cricket Association have stormed through their pool games undefeated in A section of senior country week. 

Jack Penniment

The start of this year's wine vintage will be celebrated with a special ceremony.

VINTAGE PremiumCelebration to mark start of Vintage 2026

A welcome to country and a smoking ceremony will mark the beginning of Vintage 2026 in the Margaret River wine region.

Rose Patane

An artists impression of the communal area

Proposal approvedPremiumBunker Bay development approved despite City opposition

A controversial $12-million development proposal along a South West beach has been approved, despite the Local Government pushing against the proposal. 

Craig Duncan

Access matting gives people living with disabilities or low mobility can access WA’s pristine coastline.

ACCESS AND INCLUSIONPremiumDisabled beach access extended for Gracetown Swimmers Beach

The Shire of Augusta Margaret River have announced it will extend the Gracetown Swimmers Beach matting trial until December 23.

Will Corbett

Jacquie Happ is the new chair of Margaret River Region Open Studios.

ARTS AND CULTUREPremiumPremiumJacquie Happ OAM to chair Margaret River art festival.

Margaret River Region Open Studios 2026 is set to come with a new look, with Jacquie Happ taking over as the chair for the arts event. 

Nick Daicos’ thrilling Margaret River adventure - Explore the stunning south-west WA coastline in style with Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos. AAMI AFL Origin will be delivered with the support of Tourism WA, showcasing the best of the state to fans all over the country AFL / Tourism WA

AFLCommentsPremiumCommentsPremium‘Absolutely beautiful’: Vic star gushes over WA’s South West

Nick Daicos won’t get any love from WA fans in Saturday’s Origin blockbuster - but the Victorian star has plenty of love for our State’s South West after wining, dining and jet skiing his way around the region.

Margaret River Hawks' batsman Rumesh Silva.

CricketPremiumPremiumBulls suffer first defeat of the season

Margaret River Hawks handed Cowaramup Bulls their first A-grade loss of the season in the Busselton-Margaret River Cricket Association.

Casey Donovan is set to perform in the South West.

MUSIC Casey Donovan is heading to the South West

The South West will host two performances by iconic musician Casey Donovan as part of her This Is Me tour

Rose Patane

Sculptures by the Bay will return for the 2026 Dunsborough Arts Festival.

ARTS & CULTUREPremiumDunsborough Arts Festival returns for 25th year

The Dunsborough Arts Festival is gearing up for a big return over the March long weekend, marking 25 years of local creativity and music. 

Madelin Hayes

Subscriber Exclusive

Junbo Shim, 22, had only recently moved to WA to work in mining. 

Courts & JusticePremiumBig jail term for ‘callous’ drug-crazed fatal crash driver

A driver who was fleeing police for the second night straight and had been awake for three days when he killed a young South Korean man in a crash in Forrestfield has learned his fate.

Rebecca Le May

Police were called when Mr Wong missed appointments and didn’t answer calls.

CourtPremiumMysterious death in filthy Rockingham home exposes NDIS rort

The mysterious death of a man in his squalid Rockingham home after months of neglect by his NDIS-approved care provider has exposed a shocking six-figure rort.

Rebecca Le May

Police were alerted to Jason William Forbes’ purchase of the doll before a search warrant was conducted at his home.

updated
updated
Courts & JusticePremium
updated
Police foil chilling plan to kidnap, sexually abuse girl

A Perth predator was making intricate plans to kidnap, sexually abuse and hold captive a child in a modified roof dungeon before child exploitation detectives made a most relieving arrest.

Caleb Runciman

Chris Scott will lead Victoria’s Origin squad.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
AFLCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
WA on high alert for ‘ruthless’ Victorian mentor

AFL Origin is just days away and one man who played under Victorian coach Chris Scott and will be part of the WA team has warned the Geelong boss will be at his ruthless best against Western Australia.

Craig O'Donoghue

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In Case You Missed It

Underground workers employed by Barminco.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
MiningCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
FIFO workers with no degree making more than $20k a week

Specialised blue-collar workers on Western Australian mine sites are raking in more than experienced surgeons, thanks to a gold mining boom.

Adrian Rauso

FBR got something of a shoutout from the Reserve Bank this week.

Herd on the TerracePremiumKemerton plan is Carey and maintenance

John Carey may have been a tad ambitious about the future of Albemarle’s lithium hydroxide refinery following Thursday’s news the plant will be closed. Plus: A Perth tech company wins an RBA shoutout.

The scene of a suspicious death in Spencer Park was still under investigation on Wednesday morning.

investigation continuesPremiumPremiumSmall street still full of police four days into death probe

The major investigation into the suspicious death of a 69-year-old woman in Spencer Park entered its fourth day on Wednesday.

Kalgoorlie Courthouse.

Courts & Justice PremiumPremiumMan jailed for raping, secretly recording young nieces

A WA man repeatedly raped and sexually abused his two young nieces, and secretly recorded them in the bathroom for his own sexual gratification. WARNING: CONFRONTING DETAILS

Ben Harvey outlines the confluence of screwups and poor decision-making by governments, which ultimately led to Perth Mum Lena giving birth in the back of Toyota Kluger on Kwinana Freeway.

Up LateVideoCommentsPremiumCommentsPremiumHaving baby on Kwinana Freeway not on anyone’s birth plan

Ben Harvey outlines the confluence of screwups and poor decision-making by governments, which ultimately led to Perth Mum Lena giving birth in the back of Toyota Kluger on Kwinana Freeway. 

Regional News

Rox Resources is developing the Youanmi gold project south-east of Mt Magnet in the Murchison.

Contractor engagedPremiumRox Resources advances $383m Youanmi gold project

Rox Resources has selected MACA Interquip Mintrex to build the processing plant for the $383 million Youanmi gold project south-east of Mt Magnet. 

Neil Watkinson

Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Garry Symonds, KBCCI chief executive Simone de Been, and Ahead of Time owner Annemarie Ryan.

Signage fund PremiumCBD signage fund provides facelift for businesses

Kalgoorlie and Boulder CBD retailers and traders could give their business a facelift thanks to a new signage fund being rolled out.

Tegan Guthrie

Paul Woods with his daughter Hannah.

Astronomy sessionPremiumHigh demand for visiting astronomy experience

An Exmouth-based astronomy business says it has likely found its second home in the Goldfields-Esperance region after being overwhelmed with interest in its stargazing services.

Tegan Guthrie

Artist Lucinda Crimson’s Staying Upright in The New Normal.

Art exhibitionPremiumPremiumArtists find beauty through pain

An exhibition coming to Esperance will display expressive works by artists who have lived with life-altering illnesses or injuries, proving there is beauty to be found even in the darkest of days. 

Peter Dillon with his new book.

History bookPremiumPremiumNew book tells stories of forgotten prospectors

A local history enthusiast and author has published the stories of forgotten Goldfields prospectors in his third book on WA’s gold mining history.

CBH's Mingenew storage facilities.

Harvest haulBountiful season as Geraldton breaks harvest record

Geraldton grain farmers have seen their largest harvest on record, thanks to storage preparation and lucky weather conditions. 

News Flash

More Stories

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

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

Elon Musk's mega-merger

CNBC newsCommentsPremiumSpaceX primed to make Elon Musk the first trillionaire

Elon Musk’s net worth soared past $US800b last week after he merged SpaceX with xAI in a deal that valued the combined entity at $US1.25 trillion.

Robert Frank and Lora Kolodny

The plans were discussed at a “Critical Minerals Ministerial” in Washington this week

CNBC newsPremiumUS proposes minerals trade bloc aimed at countering China

The US on Wednesday unveiled new initiatives to mobilise allies into a preferential trade bloc for critical minerals, including coordinated price floors.

Dylan Butts

WA News

Commerce Minister Tony Buti and Consumer Protection Commissioner Trish Blake warn of a rise in romance scams.

CrimeCommentsPremiumRomance scams steal $3.8m from those looking for love

Romance scams seduced West Australians into parting with millions of dollars last year — while also breaking hearts with their emotional cruelty.

Joe Spagnolo

Mum Joanne Appelbee and Austin Appelbee (13) who swimming 4km back to shore to get them help, resulting in their rescue. Andrew Ritchie

WA NewsAppelbee family navigates a return to ordinary life

A fortnight after Joanne Appelbee and her two youngest children were rescued thanks to son Austin’s heroic 4km swim, the family is now navigating a return to ordinary life. 

Brooke Rolfe

WA Police are refusing to reveal whether they tested a driver for drugs or alcohol after he allegedly ploughed into a Perth home killing Bishnu Kumari Gurung in her sleep.

CRIMEPremiumPremiumCops silent over driver accused of killing Perth grandma

WA Police are refusing to reveal whether they tested a driver for drugs or alcohol after he allegedly ploughed into a Perth home killing a grandmother in her sleep.

The Boddington Hotel 2004 Pty Ltd and an employee appeared in Narrogin Magistrates Court on February on several charges.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
COURTPremium
The West Australian exclusive
PremiumBoddington Hotel employee and business face charges in court

A Wheatbelt pub and one of its employees have come under fire for allegedly contravening licence terms and permitting alcohol consumption outside of trading hours, appearing in court on a host of charges.

Student Cara Mooney described the new ECU campus as ‘unreal’.

State PoliticsCommentsPremiumCommentsPremiumStudents blown away by ECU’s new $853m city campus

More than 7000 students are expected to stream into Edith Cowan University’s city campus for the first week of classes this month, bringing benefits extending well beyond the classroom.

Premier Roger Cook spoke with Albemarle’s CEO before the closure was announced.

LithiumCommentsPremiumCook defends lithium support as US chief laments WA costs

Roger Cook urged Albemarle’s chief executive to at least keep the now-idled Kemerton lithium refinery open to a restart, days before the US giant axed 250 jobs blaming WA’s high business costs.

Simone Grogan