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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says a decision on Woodside’s North West Shelf extension will happen in “accordance with the law”.
During his fleeting visit to WA on Wednesday afternoon en route to Indonesia, Albanese rejected suggestions a decision on Woodside’s plans to extend the life of its North West Shelf operations by another 50 years should be new Environment Minister Murray Watt’s first act in the portfolio.
“I’d like to see it done in accordance with the law, is what I would like to see occur,” he said.
“The state government considered it over a long period of time. This is an issue that’s relevant for the 2030s, which is when [the operational extension] is due to commence,” he said.
“Murray Watt will, I’m sure, be briefed on it, and as is appropriate, the law will apply.”
Woodside received state environmental approval for the extension in December last year and the project was transferred to the federal government for assessment on its impact on the nearby Murujuga rock art.
Late submissions of documents from the state to Commonwealth bureaucrats delays the decision until the end of March.
A move in mid-March by Greenpeace and the Conservation Council of WA urging the Commonwealth to consider Woodside’s Burrup Hub plans as a whole pushed out the decision deadline further to May 31.
We’re bringing our blog to a close for the day, thank you for joining us.
For those of you about to embark on the commute north, flooding on the westbound entry to Wanneroo Road from Joondalup Drive in Tapping has closed the road as Water Corp works to fix the issue.
Main Roads WA urges drivers to seek an alternate route as delays are expected. And no, you still can’t drive on the road if your four-wheel-drive has a snorkel.
Here’s what made headlines elsewhere today:
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says a decision on Woodside’s North West Shelf extension will happen in “accordance with the law”.
During his fleeting visit to WA on Wednesday afternoon en route to Indonesia, Albanese rejected suggestions a decision on Woodside’s plans to extend the life of its North West Shelf operations by another 50 years should be new Environment Minister Murray Watt’s first act in the portfolio.
“I’d like to see it done in accordance with the law, is what I would like to see occur,” he said.
“The state government considered it over a long period of time. This is an issue that’s relevant for the 2030s, which is when [the operational extension] is due to commence,” he said.
“Murray Watt will, I’m sure, be briefed on it, and as is appropriate, the law will apply.”
Woodside received state environmental approval for the extension in December last year and the project was transferred to the federal government for assessment on its impact on the nearby Murujuga rock art.
Late submissions of documents from the state to Commonwealth bureaucrats delays the decision until the end of March.
A move in mid-March by Greenpeace and the Conservation Council of WA urging the Commonwealth to consider Woodside’s Burrup Hub plans as a whole pushed out the decision deadline further to May 31.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has landed in Perth this afternoon for a brief stop-off to welcome WA’s new MPs before jetting off to Indonesia this evening.
Watch his press conference live below:
Opposition leader Basil Zempilas has insisted he never gained any financial benefit from billionaire Gina Rinehart.
The former Perth lord mayor’s relationship with the mining magnate was thrust into the spotlight after revelations he cast the deciding vote that saw a 120-year-old property fall off the city’s heritage register in 2023.
The property is now facing demolition to make way for Rinehart’s $250 million West Perth development, prompting questions about the nature of Zempilas’ relationship with its influential proponent at the time.
Within months of the vote, Zempilas attended a Roy Hill function as Rinehart’s guest of honour, attended meetings she organised as part of a bid for the Commonwealth Games, and MCed her 70th birthday.
A year later, his wife Amy Zempilas was on Rinehart’s company Rossi Boots’ payroll.
During a press conference today, Zempilas confirmed he had checked his records and insisted no money had changed hands.
He reiterated that their relationship was a byproduct of his 30-year career as a broadcaster, having interacted with her at social functions.
“I have MCed events for the Hancock group of companies in my role as somebody who has done that for a living, but I have not received payment for those events,” he says.
“I have the kind of relationship of someone with a 31-year broadcast career in Western Australia.
“I’ve been to events where Mrs Rinehart has been. I have spoken to her at some of those events. Occasionally I was sat on the same table. I have introduced her to speak. That’s the relationship I have had with Mrs Rinehart, and I have no reason to be embarrassed by that or over celebrate. It is what it is.
“I have been a West Australian in a high-profile position for most of my life and people like me are going to come into contact with people at Telethon, through sporting events, and through other community events with people like that all of the time.”
The WA Police Union has just released a statement following the guilty verdict of a man who ran over and killed constable Anthony Woods.
Reagan Chown will be sentenced in July over the 2023 incident. He was initially charged with murder, but that was downgraded to manslaughter just before his trial commenced.
Chown’s defence argued he accidentally reversed over the officer because he was Tasered by him at the end of a police pursuit through Ascot.
Here’s what the union had to say.
The Western Australian Police Union welcomes the jury’s decision delivered yesterday in the case concerning the tragic death of Constable Anthony Woods.
However, the Union remains appalled by the actions of the accused and the conduct of the defence throughout the proceedings.
“Any individual who steals a vehicle and then deliberately evades police demonstrates a complete disregard for the safety of both the community and our officers,” said WAPU President Dave Flaherty.
WAPU is deeply concerned and remains outraged at the decision to downgrade the charge from murder to manslaughter.
Our member and colleague was unlawfully killed as a result of the unlawful actions of Reagan Chown.
Manslaughter gives the message that this was a tragic accident. It wasn’t.
The Union will continue to engage with government and the Commissioner to seek ways how this can be addressed.
We are aware that life in prison is an available sentence for manslaughter, and we will watch with interest the sentencing in this matter.
Seven-time Eurovision winner Sweden has emerged as the country to beat as 32 countries remain in the race for the 69th annual Eurovision Song Contest.
The Swedish group Kaj dazzled the audience at the first semi-final, held overnight in Basel, Switzerland.
Whether Australia has a shot at wresting the trophy from its European rivals remains to be seen, but buzz for Australian singer Marty Zambotto, known professionally as Go-Jo, is incredibly strong on the ground.
A clear fan favourite, the 29-year-old West Australian is drawing crowds and generating strong radio airplay across Europe.
Though the competition is known for its signature hectic blend of European disco pop and campy eccentricity, the reality is that a shrewdly prosecuted marketing strategy is now as important as a dazzling stage performance; any potential winner must earn a high score from the TV audience as well as the professional juries.
Australia is competing in the second semi-final, held Friday morning Australian time (3am Perth time), in which 10 more countries will be selected to move into the final, and six more countries will be sent home.
A man has been accused of grabbing and assaulting a woman as she walked along a street in Broome on Monday night.
A WA Police spokeswoman alleged the 43-year-old old man, from Kununurra, grabbed a woman in her 40s from behind at around 6.40pm.
“It will be further alleged the man physically assaulted the woman before attempting to sexually assault her,” she said.
“The woman managed to get away from the man and report the incident to police.
“Broome Detectives immediately commenced an investigation and on Tuesday 13 May 2025, they apprehended and charged the accused.”
The man has been charged with deprivation of liberty, aggravated indecent assault and assault occasioning bodily harm.
Kimberley District Superintendent John Hutchison said the incident was isolated.
“I would like to reassure our community, the WA Police Force treat any offence involving violent or predatory behaviour very seriously and a team of specialist detectives from Perth travelled to Broome to assist with investigative actions,” he said.
Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis has received a suspended sentence over the “tragic accident” that led to the death of his wife, Perth-raised Olympian Melissa Hoskins.
Dennis, 34, appeared at the South Australia District Court this morning after pleading guilty to a charge of committing an aggravated act likely to cause harm.
He was arrested after his wife was struck by his vehicle near their home at Medindie, in Adelaide’s inner north, on December 30, 2023.
Hoskins suffered serious injuries and died in Royal Adelaide Hospital.
The court was told the couple had argued over kitchen renovations before Dennis left their home and drove away.
Hoskins had jumped onto the car bonnet in an attempt to stop him leaving. She then dismounted and held on to the car door and fell under the vehicle as Dennis accelerated away.
Prosecutors said Dennis, who immediately got out of the car to help, was not being held criminally responsible for his wife’s death.
He was sentenced to one year, four months and 28 days in jail, to be suspended for two years.
The sentence was reduced from two years and two months because of his guilty plea, and he’s been placed on a two-year good behaviour bond.
His licence was also suspended for five years.
Fremantle ruckman Luke Jackson could be heading back to Melbourne next season, with reports the Docker star wants to return to the club he won a premiership with, and will request a trade at the end of the year.
It’s understood Jackson, 23, is going through some significant off-field issues.
Sports commentator Brad Hardie told our colleagues at Radio 6PR this morning that the ruckman could be a straight trade for fellow West Australian local, and current Demon, Kysaiah Pickett.
The small forward will be a free agent at the end of the 2026 season.
Jackson is contracted to Fremantle until 2029.
Geraldton is on a hot streak with thecoastal city topping the charts as the best-performing regional centre for the March 2025 quarter, according to fresh figures from REIWA.
Median house prices jumped by 6.5 per cent to hit $490,000, up from $460,000 just three months earlier.
It was the second consecutive quarter that the regional centre recorded the strongest price growth.
REIWA regional spokeswoman Peta McKenzie said the Geraldton market recorded continued growth over the March quarter, driven by strong investor activity.
“There was significant interest from eastern states investors, particularly for dwellings in the $400,000 to $600,000 range,” she said.
“They were looking for well-presented homes offering reasonable yields. These properties generally attracted multiple offers and, in some cases, sold well above the asking price.”
But McKenzie said investor activity had placed pressure on local buyers.
“REIWA members report investors often secured properties ahead of local owner occupiers by offering slightly more,” she said.
“However, since the March quarter, the level of investor activity has softened slightly, and we’re hearing reports of a more even mix of buyers again.”
Eight of the regional centres recorded price growth over the quarter. Port Hedland was the only regional centre where the median house sale price declined.
Annually, Bunbury saw the highest growth, with the median house sale price rising 25.9 per cent to $616,995. Geraldton followed closely, up 25.6 per cent over the year to $490,000.