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  1. AFLCommentsPremium‘Absolutely beautiful’: Vic star gushes over WA’s South West

  2. CRIMEPremiumMan charged following Margaret River scrub fires

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

  4. DEMERSAL FISHING BANPremiumReeling fishers set to have their say at Busselton forum

  5. WIND FARMSPremiumBusselton community voices concern over proposed wind farms

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

SALTWATER BUSSELTONPremiumSaltwater 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.

Madelin Hayes

Margaret River Hawks' batsman Rumesh Silva.

CricketPremiumBulls 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.

Jack Penniment

Joanne Appelbee and Austin Appelbee.

AUSTIN APPELBEE PremiumJoanne Appelbee reacts to fundraiser surpassing $40K

The mum of Austin Appelbee – the 13-year-old who captured global attention for his extraordinary bravery – has spoken of her overwhelming gratitude.

Madelin Hayes

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

Flights between Busselton and Sydney at the Busselton airport started in 2024.

BUSSELTON AIRPORT Fuel issues force cancellation of a Busselton flight

Despite ambitions to take international flights one day, an interstate flight leaving Busselton failed to get off the tarmac last week after issues with the airport’s fuel services

Rose Patane

The Busselton Beach Resort is anticipated to open in July, 2026.

RESORT REVIVALPremiumPremiumRevamp nears completion for Busselton Beach Resort

The finishing touches are falling into place at the newly renovated Busselton Beach Resort, with opening anticipated for July this year.  

Alanah and Jesse Pesch at the Busselton Jetty on their wedding day. Inset: The proposal underneath the Busselton Jetty.

WHALE YOU BE MINE?PremiumPremiumBusselton Jetty dive ends in ‘I do’

For Busselton divers Alanah and Jesse Pesch, it was only right for them to get engaged under the Busselton Jetty. 

Dunsborough police have charged a 36-year-old man with assault occasioning bodily harm. 

CRIME PremiumPremiumMetricup man charged after erratic driving

A 36-year-old man has been arrested by Dunsborough police after allegedly driving erratically and acting in a threatening manner. 

The Collie Eagles and Warren-Blackwood Bombers have combined to form a team in the SWFL women’s competition.

SWFLPremiumAll 11 clubs now with representation in the women’s league

The SWFL is ready to celebrate its 10th year of the women’s competition with all 11 clubs represented

Jack Penniment

Vasse Bush Fire Brigade attend the scene of the vehicle fire in Abbey. Inset: smoke from the vehicle fire.

WA NEWS PremiumPolice call for information after vehicle fire in Abbey

Busselton police are investigating a vehicle fire in Abbey on Monday afternoon. 

Madelin Hayes

Subscriber Exclusive

Grant and Alana Williams.

RACINGCommentsPremium‘Deeply confronting’: Top trainers open up on horror month

WA’s No.1 trainer Grant Williams has opened up on the ‘deeply confronting’ uncertainty over his and wife Alana’s suspension from racing, as the pair won an appeal and further declared their innocence.

Hayden King

Mandurah mum identified as Kwinana Freeway crash victim

TrafficCommentsPremium‘Loving mum’ identified as Kwinana Freeway crash victim

The horrific crash closed the freeway for more than 10 hours.

Rachel Fenner

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

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

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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

Mandurah mum identified as Kwinana Freeway crash victim

TrafficCommentsPremium‘Loving mum’ identified as Kwinana Freeway crash victim

The horrific crash closed the freeway for more than 10 hours.

Rachel Fenner

A young man died on Valentine’s Day after the car he was driving slammed into a tree in Pingelly. 

Disaster and EmergencyPremiumPremiumValentine’s Day tragedy as man dies in Wheatbelt crash

A young driver has been killed after his car hit a tree in Pingelly.

Underground workers employed by Barminco.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
MiningCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
CommentsPremiumFIFO 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.

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

Herd on the TerracePremiumPremiumKemerton 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.

Regional News

Fishers gathered at the demersal forum in Jurien Bay.

Demersal banPremiumDemersal fishers attend forum in Jurien Bay

About 100 people gathered in Jurien Bay on Wednesday last week to air their grievances about the ban on demersal fishing, and the impact it will have on the tourism town. 

Sally Q Davies

Banana plantations were the hardest hit in last week’s cyclone.

Mitchell’s impactPremiumGrowers yet to unpeel full extent of cyclone damage

As Carnarvon’s overall clean up efforts from last week’s ex-tropical cyclone Mitchell are winding up, the full extent of damage to the town’s banana plantations are still unclear one week on. 

Rebecca Ruthven & Sally Q. Davies

Pool change rooms at Goldfields Oasis will get a major makeover.

Pool upgradePremiumOasis pool changerooms will be renovated

The pool changerooms at the Goldfields Oasis Recreation Centre will undergo a $1.15 million renovation.

Isabella Davis

City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder chief executive Andrew Brien.

CEO contractPremiumPremiumCity chief will not renew contract past March 2027

The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s chief executive will not renew his contract, which expires in March 2027, and is yet to provide a return-to-work date from his extended personal leave.

Dr Carla Morkel.

RADIOLOGY CLINICPremiumPremiumNew radiology clinic to up the Bunbury scanning game

A new chapter in local healthcare has begun with the opening of Perth Radiology Clinic Bunbury, a comprehensive medical imaging clinic now operating in the South West city. 

Badminton players Des Arrow, Michelle Watson and Rhett Eiffler.

Big tournament Olympian Setyana Mapasa heads field for bicentenary event

The biggest badminton tournament to come to Albany for decades has attracted an Olympian and the State’s top players, who are all on the hunt for a share in the $22,000 prize fund.

News Flash

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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

Regulators have cracked down on the South-West hotel at the centre of the Dunsborough sea scare, issuing compliance notices after it hired water sports equipment to a family who were subsequently swept out to sea.

WA NewsCommentsWorkSafe halts hotel water gear hire after Appelbee scare

Regulators have cracked down on the South-West hotel at the centre of the Dunsborough sea scare, issuing compliance notices after it hired water sports equipment to a family who were swept out to sea. 

Nick Overall 7NEWS

Denmark Gymnastics Club coaches, members, and committee with their sign after it was taken down from their old premises.

new home neededPremiumDenmark Gymnastics Club forced to close without a new home

The future of gymnastics in Denmark is in limbo with a local club’s lease on their previous home ending and their bid to find a new venue so far unsuccessful. 

Jacki Elezovich

Rockingham was named the safest Local Government Area to live in the State.

CRIMECommentsPremiumCommentsPremiumOnce crime-ridden town named safest place to live in WA

Just eight years after it was the Perth suburb with the most car thefts, a surprising town has claimed the top spot for being Western Australia’s safest Local Government Area. 

Police presence at the Burville Street unit has been scaled back.

CrimePremiumPremiumUnit at centre of homicide investigation still under guard

Police activity at the scene of a suspicious death in Spencer Park has been scaled back more than a week after a 69-year-old woman was found dead in her home.

Bluey and her family have arrived in Perth ready for adventure and hijinks as Bluey’s Big Play opened at the Regal Theatre in Subiaco on Wednesday.

EntertainmentCommentsCommentsGiant Bluey arrives in Perth ready to take fans on adventure

Bluey and her family have arrived in Perth ready for adventure and hijinks as Bluey’s Big Play opened at the Regal Theatre in Subiaco on Wednesday.

Nationals MLA Lachlan Hunter and Education Minister Sabine Wintonare at loggerheads.

State PoliticsVideoCommentsPremiumSenior minister in hot water for calling MP an ‘arsehole’

A senior Cook Government minister called an Opposition MP an ‘arsehole’ in Parliament while responding to what she thought was a racist sledge to her colleague.

Jessica Page and Oliver Lane