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  1. Commercial propertyCommentsPremiumEPA backs $280m Smiths Beach development after heated debate

  2. SALTWATER BUSSELTONPremiumSaltwater Busselton announces opening in ‘stages’

  3. WIND FARMSPremiumBusselton community voices concern over proposed wind farms

  4. CricketPremiumBulls suffer first defeat of the season

  5. AUSTIN APPELBEE PremiumJoanne Appelbee reacts to fundraiser surpassing $40K

Swimmers hit the water for the 2026 3.6km solo swim.

BUSSELTON JETTY SWIMPremiumSEE THE PHOTOS: 2026 Busselton Jetty Swim

Around 5700 swimmers and plenty more spectators flocked to the Busselton Foreshore over the weekend as the Busselton Jetty Swim made a splash for it’s 31st year. 

Madelin Hayes

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

Bunbury Fringe is among the recipients of the State Government arts funding.

ARTS AND CULTUREPremiumSouth West communities receive State Gov arts funding

Regional communities have received a boost for arts and festivals following a $780,000 State Government funding announcement. 

Madelin Hayes

Banana growers fear cyclonic winds could destroy much of their state's crops in an instant. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)

WeatherBanana growers hoping cyclone bends around farming hub

Residents in an isolated agricultural hub are bracing for the arrival of a tropical cyclone that could flatten a banana crop which supplies an entire state.

Robyn Wuth

Busselton Vinnies volunteers Mercia O’Donohue and Sandy Gilmore have highlighted the importance of friendship this Galentines Day.

GALENTINE’S DAYPremiumBusselton Vinnies volunteers get into the Galentine’s spirit

While Valentine’s Day is traditionally a celebration of romance, two Vinnies Busselton volunteers have proven that some of the greatest love stories are built on friendship. 

Madelin Hayes

The winner of the 2024 Acquisitive Prize, Spirit of the Sea by Wayne Smith.

LOCAL COUNCIL PremiumPremiumCouncil fixes budget error to keep sculpture prize fixture

The Busselton council has agreed to implement an amendment to restore funding for a major local arts prize that was accidentally left out of the 2025-26 budget.

Busselton residents have expressed their dismay over proposed offshore wind projects.

WIND FARMSPremiumPremiumBusselton community voices concern over proposed wind farms

The Busselton community has expressed their dismay over the possibility of offshore wind projects vying for a spot along Geographe Bay.

City of Busselton mayor Phill Cronin said he was proud to see Saltwater nearing completion.

SALTWATER BUSSELTONPremiumPremiumSaltwater Busselton announces opening in ‘stages’

After years of anticipation and delays that have tested community patience, Saltwater Busselton will finally open its doors on May 9, albeit in stages.

World Gym Busselton sales and marketing co-ordinator Erin Fisher said she wasn't suprised by Busselton being ranked WA's fittest city.

FITTEST IN THE WESTBusselton flexes as WA’s fittest city

Busselton has flexed its muscles, being named Western Australia’s fittest city, according to new research that highlights the community’s strong focus on diet and exercise.

Madelin Hayes

POOPS client Lilian Hester and POOPS volunteer Martha Ging with dog, Bobby.

WHO LET THE DOGS OUTPremiumPOOPS call out for more Busselton vollies

POOPS Busselton is calling for more vollies to keep more pets at home with the elderly.

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

A creeping deluge of human waste has seeped into Perth’s Swan River.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
State PoliticsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Perth water pipes hit crisis mode after years of neglect

Water Corporation is struggling to provide a basic level of service to customers amid a maintenance backlog of at least five years and urgent repairs including decaying sewerage and lead leaking into pipes.

Charlton Hart

Captain James Rakich with the Leeuwin II (inset).

Sails upCommentsLeeuwin II shipshape and setting sail after horror crash

The Leeuwin II is sailing again after suffering ‘catastrophic’ damage when it was struck by a container ship nearly two years ago.

Eliana Hullett

Premier Roger Cook has announced new protest laws in WA.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
New LawsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
CommentsPremiumHate symbols and masks to be banned in new WA protest laws

WA Police will be given new powers to deal with ‘intimidating’ protests — including the ability to strip protestors of masks and banned symbols and flags — as part of new legislation.

RSPCA WA Inspectors Florence Maude and Shaye Barrow check on the condition of dogs behind the fence of a Perth property on Thursday. Carwyn Monck

PoliticsCommentsPremiumCommentsPremiumGovernment slow to act on tougher animal cruelty laws: RSPCA

The WA Government claims they are working to introduce tougher laws for RSPCA inspectors as a ‘priority’ despite promising to do it five years ago.

RSPCA WA Inspectors Shaye Barrow and Florence Maude pictured with dog Thunder at RSPCA WA’s Malaga facility, Perth, on Thursday. Carwyn Monck

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
CrimeCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
CommentsPremiumRSPCA inspectors face machetes, axes protecting WA animals

The West joined RSPCA inspectors to reveal their jobs’ dangers and delights, from saving pups to being threatened with machetes.

The Great Southern town of Gnowangerup has been shaken by a series of earthquakes on Saturday, after five quakes were registered in the space of six hours just outside the small town.

Disaster and EmergencyCommentsWA town shaken by five earthquakes in one day

A WA town has been rocked by five earthquakes within 10 hours on Saturday morning, registering just kilometres below the surface.

Katherine Kraayvanger