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Follow our live coverage here.
Turning to Perth Magistrates Court now, where new details have emerged about the foiled protest outside the home of Woodside boss Meg O’Neill, including the extraordinary police response and allegations an undercover officer pulled a gun on a protestor days prior.
Jesse Noakes, 36, Gerard Mazza, 33, Matilda Lane-Rose, 20, and Emil Davey, 24, were arrested and charged in August 2023 after WA Police thwarted a plot to throw paint at O’Neill’s home in Perth’s affluent western suburbs and chain themselves to a gate to prevent her leaving in protest against the company’s mega gas project in the state’s north.
The court was told as many as 10 officers swooped on the group as they arrived at the City Beach home shortly after 6.45am on August 1, 2023 – with the entire incident caught on camera by the crew of ABC’s flagship investigative program Four Corners.
All four defendants pleaded guilty to attempted trespass and attempted unlawful damage last month after having the more serious charge against them – conspiracy to comment an indictable offence – dropped.
O’Neill later took out violence restraining orders against all four of the protesters, branding the incident “extreme”.
The court heard the group had been captured on CCTV scoping out the premises three days before the planned protest and later purchased four litres of yellow paint and three cans of yellow spray paint.
Lane-Rose’s lawyer Zarah Burgess told the court it appeared police had been tracking the group for at least a week prior to the incident and dismissed concerns about the risk to O’Neill and her 18-year-old daughter, maintaining authorities would have evacuated the home if they believed the group posed a genuine threat.
Davey’s lawyer Anthony Elliott branded the police response an “extraordinary overreaction” to a nonviolent protest, which included his client having a gun pointed at him.
Elliott told the court Davey had been canvassing O’Neill’s residence in a Toyota Hilux in the days before the planned protest when an unmarked police car pulled in front of him, claiming the passenger got out of the car and pointed a gun at his client’s face.
“My client was worried he was about to be robbed or assaulted or both. And didn’t get out of his car. He was extremely fearful,” Elliott told the court.
Lawyers for all four defendants maintained the offending was “at the lower end” and worthy only of a small fine, pointing out that “not a single drop of paint was spilled” in the course of the protest.
But they were divided when grilled by the judge about whether the group’s decision to take its Disrupt Burrup Hub campaign from Woodside’s corporate headquarters to the personal residence of its boss crossed an ethical line.
State prosecutors argued there was a very strong need for both personal and general deterrence in any sentence handed down, stating it was planned, carefully coordinated and aimed at gaining publicity.
The judge reserved his decision.
Lane-Rose, Davey and Noakes are expected to be sentenced next week, while Mazza is due to be sentenced on February 24.
The group exited flanked by supporters, declaring they did not hold remorse for their actions while addressing the media and maintaining they did not cross a line.
As Matildas striker Sam Kerr fights to clear her name in court, Interim Australia coach Tom Sermanni says he expects the team’s captain to be back playing next month.
The 31-year-old is in court in the UK this week, facing a charge of racially aggravated abuse of a police officer following a night out in London in 2023.
Footage played in court in England on Monday showed the Matildas star labelling a police officer “stupid and white”.
Kerr denies the charge.
The striker is still recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury and wasn’t included in a Matildas squad named by Sermanni for SheBelieves Cup fixtures in the USA later this month.
Sermanni, however, is confident the 128-cap international will be ready to play as soon as March.
AAP
A 25-year-old man has died in Perth’s south after the motorcycle he was riding and a car crashed this morning.
The black Kawasaki motorcycle and red Hyundai Elantra sedan collided at the intersection of Safety Bay Road and Arpenteur Drive in Baldivis, about 7.05am on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old received critical injuries and was rushed to Rockingham Hospital, where he later died.
The 34-year-old woman in the Hyundai received minor injuries and was taken to the same hospital as a precaution.
Officers from the Major Crash Investigation Section are asking for help from the public to gather ore information about the fatal crash.
They have urged anyone who saw, or has information relating to the crash, or who saw either vehicle travelling in the area prior to the crash, to contact Crime Stoppers.
During the 12 months ending December 2024, WA recorded an 17 per cent increase in road deaths.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by a road crash, contact Road Trauma Support WA on 1300 004 814.
The police homicide squad is at the scene of a serious alleged family violence incident in Clarkson this morning.
Emergency services were called to the home on Elsbury Approach about 6.25am on Tuesday, arriving to find a 72-year-old man and 52-year-old woman with serious injuries.
The woman was rushed to hospital by St John Ambulance, but the man died at the scene.
A man in his 30s – believed to be the elderly man’s son – was arrested at the scene and is assisting police with their inquiries.
“All parties are known to each other and at this stage police believe the incident is family violence related,” a police spokeswoman said.
Anyone with information that could help police, or CCTV or dashcam vision of the area between 5.30am and 6.30am on Tuesday, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or make a report online.
To the election campaign trail now, where WA Labor has promised to “cool the schools” with an $89 million promise to upgrade the air-conditioning of 45 public schools if re-elected.
Speaking at Newborough Primary School in Karrinyup, which will be one of the first schools to have its evaporative air-conditioning replaced with reverse-cycle, Premier Roger Cook said some classrooms were recording temperatures of 30 degrees, which was impacting learning.
The work would begin this year and be complete by the end of the next term of government, he promised.
Education Minister Tony Buti said about 500 schools across the state required air-conditioning upgrades and Labor had committed to completing that work over the long term.
Perth’s median house sale price rose 1.4 per cent in January to $750,000, a heart-palpitating 23.0 per cent higher than January 2024, according to REIWA.
The median unit sale price also rose, increasing 1 per cent, and 20.5 per cent year-on-year to $500,000.
REIWA chief executive Cath Hart said prices were rising slower than last year.
The softer market at the moment was typical of festive season activity but also reflected the easing of “FOMO” seen in the latter part of 2024.
Members were reporting that buyers were being more discerning and generally taking more time.
Well-presented homes in sought-after areas were still seeing good numbers at home opens and selling quickly, while other properties could see less interest and take longer.
“While conditions still favour sellers, it is important for them to listen to their agent regarding presentation and appropriate pricing,” she said.
The suburbs that saw the most growth in January:
Houses in Perth sold in a median 22 days in January, seven days slower than December and 13 days slower than a year ago.
Units sold in a median 17 days, two days slower month-on-month and four days slower than January 2024.
Again, Hart said, this was partly the festive season slowdown but also reflected the change in sentiment.
Autumn might still be busier, but she expected to see days on market increase further over 2025.
Active listings were 8.5 per cent higher than at the end of December and 25.5 per cent higher than a year ago.
Rents also still rising, but slower
Perth’s median rent rose 3.1 per cent to $670 per week in January, 8.9 per cent higher than the same time last year.
“What is of note is the significant decline in the annual growth rates,” Hart said.
“A year ago, the annual growth rate was 18.3 per cent for dwellings, 16.4 per cent for houses and 20.8 per cent for units.”
Listings for rent were also 24.1 per cent higher than December and 17.4 per cent higher than the same time last year.
A painter in his 60s has died after falling from a ladder in Mandurah on Thursday.
He was taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital but died on Monday of his injuries.
Worksafe are investigating.
CFMEU WA secretary Mick Buchan expressed condolences to the man’s family and said the incident highlighted the need for new working-from-heights legislation to take effect immediately.
In September, the transitional period to adhere to the new laws was extended following concerns from industry that employers were not ready.
“We have campaigned tirelessly to create awareness around the inherent dangers of working at heights, and to prevent needless deaths resulting from inaction and the abuse of basic safety guidelines that exist solely to put a stop to tragic outcomes such as these,” Buchan said.
“With the state government, Housing Industry Association and Chamber of Commerce and Industry extending a transitional period for new falls-from-heights legislation, you have to ask – what are we waiting for? How many more lives and families need to be destroyed before somebody gets the message?
“This is a dire situation, the numbers continue to climb … another day, another incident. It’s just not good enough.
“We urge everyone to be vigilant in protecting themselves and the safety of others on site. It’s simple: if it doesn’t feel safe, don’t do it.
“There is nothing more important than everyone returning home safely at the end of the day.”
WorkSafe is also investigating an incident in which a young worker suffered serious injuries when he fell approximately nine metres at a community centre in Brentwood, also on Thursday.
Eighteen years after an armed robbery at a Southern River home offence, cold case detectives have used advances in forensic technology to charge a 54-year-old man.
They allege that about 8pm on October 9, 2006, he turned up dressed as a maintenance worker, claiming he was sent to repair structural damage at the front of the home, then allegedly threatened the home’s occupants with a knife and tied them up before stealing various items and fleeing.
A 54-year-old man from Ferndale was charged with three counts of aggravated armed robbery, three counts of deprivation of liberty, and one count of aggravated burglary and committing an offence in a dwelling.
He is due to appear at Perth Magistrates Court today.
In other police news from overnight, officers have charged a 40-year-old man over an alleged hit and run in Kununurra on Friday evening, which left the 39-year-old female pedestrian with serious injuries.
The 40-year-old man from Kununurra was charged with failing to stop and ensure assistance was received after an incident occasioning grievous bodily harm, and failing to report an incident occasioning death or grievous bodily harm.
He is due to appear before Kununurra Magistrates Court today.
The man who drowned at Bremer Bay while attempting to save two children from a rip last month has been identified as a father of three and former member of the Royal Australian Navy.
Ricky Harris had entered the water at Native Dog Beach with a group of four people to save two young children – including his own son – from a rip when he found himself in trouble on January 14.
Harris was taken to shore, where he was given emergency first aid as police and paramedics rushed to the scene.
He was taken by ambulance to Bremer Bay Nursing Post, but could not be revived.
A GoFundMe page set up at the end of January described Harris as “a loving son, brother, brother-in-law, son-in-law, and uncle” who dedicated 12 years of his life to the navy, before joining mining contractor Linkforce.
The fundraiser, organised by David Hodgson on behalf of Harris’ wife, Aurelie, aimed to raise money for funeral costs, day-to-day expenses and to provide a foundation for the Harris family.
“Ricky was more than a hero in his final moments—he was a loving father and husband, a dedicated colleague, a loyal friend, and someone who always put others before himself,” the post read.
As of Monday night, almost $60,000 had been raised of the $100,000 goal.
Harris’ death came within an hour of another drowning tragedy in Perth’s east, after 17-year-old Tyler Jury died while swimming at Lake Leschenaultia.
WA has had a tragic start to the year in this regard, with 40-year-old Olya Tikhanova also drowning after being swept off rocks near Esperance, and Dr Mohammad Shahidul Hasan Swapan and his wife Sabrina Ahmed drowning while trying to save their daughter at Conspicuous Cliff beach near Walpole. Another man died last week after being pulled from the water in the Mandurah estuary.
Here’s what’s making headlines today:
