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Rita Saffioti has promised new housing initiatives will be funded in this week’s mid-year review of the State Budget, as she defended rising debt levels despite a royalties windfall.

state politicsCommentsPremiumWhy WA’s $2 billion windfall won’t be used to pay down debt

Rita Saffioti has promised new housing initiatives will be funded in this week’s mid-year review of the State Budget, as she defended rising debt levels despite a royalties windfall.

Jessica Page

Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti announce a road safety funding package at the Main Roads Road Network Operations Centre.

state politics CommentsPremium‘Idiot’ drivers warned about new cameras, tougher penalties

A mercy rule for drivers with clean records will be decided over the next 12 months, but the Police and Road Safety Minister has warned there’ll be tougher penalties to force repeat offenders off WA roads. 

Jessica Page

Sports Minister Rita Saffioti and Tourism Minister Reece Whitby welcome AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri and captain Mike Maignan to Perth ahead of their game with Perth Glory this Thursday.

state politicsCommentsPerth’s Serie A game in serious doubt

Rita Saffioti has denied she’ll be personally embarrassed if a highly-anticipated Italian football league match in Perth doesn’t go ahead, with the deal in danger of being vetoed.

Jessica Page

Funding for an extra 320 beds at the medium-security Acacia Prison has been labelled too little, too late to stop the release of hardened criminals before Christmas due to over-crowding.

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REVEALED: 90 prisoners released early due to over-crowding

Funding for an extra 320 beds at the medium-security Acacia Prison has been labelled a knee-jerk reaction, too late to stop the release of hardened criminals before Christmas due to over-crowding.

Jessica Page

Rita Saffioti’s Italian soccer dream is hanging by a thread.

State PoliticsCommentsPremiumWA soccer dream hangs by thread amid eleventh-hour reprieve

Rita Saffioti’s Italian soccer dream is hanging by a thread after an apparent eleventh-hour reprieve from the Europeans.

Joe Spagnolo

Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby is considering a radical new rewards system for good drivers.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
State PoliticsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Safe drivers rewarded under radical road safety overhaul

With 2025 one of the worst years in decades for road fatalities, the government says it’s now looking outside the box to find new ways to save lives — including rewarding drivers who do the right thing.

Joe Spagnolo

‘Rita Saffioti’s hopes of winning over the hearts and minds of the east coast whingers who reckon WA doesn’t deserve its current GST take just got a little harder — $2.4 billion harder to be exact,’ writes Joe Spagnolo.

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analysis
JOE SPAGNOLOCommentsPremium
analysis
The fight for fair share GST gets harder

Rita Saffioti’s hopes of winning over the hearts and minds of the east coast whingers who reckon WA doesn’t deserve its current GST take just got a little harder - $2.4 billion harder, to be exact.

Joe Spagnolo

WA’s aerial firefighting fleet has been given a $14 million boost with the Cook Government providing extra funding to keep specialist helicopters in the air for the next three years.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
State PoliticsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Pair of Black Hawk helicopters to fight WA fires until 2029

WA’s aerial firefighting fleet have been given a $14 million boost with the Cook Government providing extra funding to keep specialist helicopters in the air.

Oliver Lane

Rita Saffioti has confirmed a $2.4 billion boost to State coffers thanks to a bonanza of iron ore and gold royalties.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
State PoliticsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Saffioti insists on GST deal despite $2.4b Christmas present

The Treasurer has confirmed a $2.4 billion boost to State coffers thanks to a bonanza of iron ore and gold royalties but insists WA still needs its lucrative GST deal to make ends meet.

Joe Spagnolo

Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales have been encouraged to visit WA during their expected visit to Australia next year.

Royal FamilyCommentsRoyals invited to visit WA next year for historic milestones

The Prince and Princess of Wales have received a special festive season invite from WA – encouraging them to come west as part of their expected visit to Australia next year.

Joe Spagnolo

IR Minefield illustration :Don Lindsay

State PoliticsCommentsUnder-16 social media ban takes effect

Among those cheering Wednesday’s start of the Albanese Government’s groundbreaking ban on social media accounts for under-16s was former Liberal MP David Coleman, who lost his seat in May.

Michelle Grattan

‘Santa won’t deliver a lump of coal — that’s being phased out — but the New Year will deliver a dose of political reality,’ writes Jessica Page.

analysis
analysis
State PoliticsCommentsPremium
analysis
Xmas report card: How politicians fared in class of 2025

An historic third term and a bigger-than-expecting winning margin gives Roger Cook high marks, but there are storms ahead. 

Jessica Page

Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby has told motorists to use common sense after AI cameras captured wild behaviour behind the wheel, including a drive who clipped their finger nails behind the wheel.

WA NewsCommentsPremiumMinister urges drivers to use common sense to beat AI fines

Reece Whitby has scolded ‘ridiculous’ behaviour behind the wheel after AI cameras picked up people eating meals, drinking hot coffees and grooming themselves while driving.

Oliver Lane

United Nations inspectors have been denied access to Perth’s juvenile detention centre and the controversial Unit 18, angering Cleveland Dodd’s mother the same week that a coroner investigating his death branded conditions inhumane.

state politics PremiumUN inspectors blocked from visiting controversial Unit 18

United Nations inspectors have been denied access to Perth’s juvenile detention centre and the controversial Unit 18 at Casuarina prison, the same week that a coroner branded conditions there inhumane.

Jessica Page

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the site would be provided with subsidised clean energy. NewsWire/ Adam Yip

NewsPremium‘A future’: Workers celebrate Tomago plan

Workers say they are “going to have a future” under a federal government plan to keep Tomago smelter open, but details remain scarce.

Nathan Schmidt

Roger Cook has admitted his own regret about ‘drunk tweeting’, as he publicly reprimanded a Minister over her dancing TikTok video boasting about extra funding for women fleeing abuse.

state politics CommentsPremiumLabor’s social media push to win over young voters

Roger Cook has admitted his own regret about ‘drunk tweeting’, as he publicly reprimanded a Minister over her dancing TikTok video boasting about extra funding for women fleeing abuse.

Jessica Page

SailAbility WA vice president Graham White said he feared the safety risks of a ferry terminal at Matilda Bay.

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WA NewsCommentsPremium
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Decision made on controversial Perth ferry project

A decision on the controversial ferry terminal at Matilda Bay has been made by planning authorities, but not before the meeting was briefly adjourned due to audience members calling out.

Oliver Lane

Premier Roger Cook and Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk announced the rollout of a cost of living relief measure for Western Australian families ahead of the at the WA Museum Boola Bardip Perth Culture Centre.

state politics Comments$200 school holiday relief for WA parents feeling the pinch

More than 100 WA venues have signed up to the voucher program.

Jessica Page

The Greens' amendments to the State Development Bill failed, as the legislation passed a Parliament vote at 2:58am on Thursday

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MPs react to 3am finish after 17-hour fast-track laws debate

MPs have reacted to Roger Cook’s overhaul of State development laws to fast-track key projects which passed a key vote in State Parliament after a debate that stretched until almost 3am. 

Jessica Page

NSW Opposition Kellie Sloane says a “reset” in negotiations with the government led to a breakthrough in workers compensation reform. NewsWire / Brendan Read

NewsPremiumBreakthrough for state’s businesses, workers

NSW’s new opposition leader Kellie Sloane says a “reset” in negotiations with the government led to a breakthrough in workers compensation reform.

Nathan Schmidt

The NSW government will introduce a permanent $60 toll cap for hundreds of thousands of motorists. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

NewsPremium‘Inequity’: Huge decision on Sydney toll

Thousands of motorists will continue to benefit from Sydney's toll cap – but for some, there is a catch.

Nathan Schmidt

The State Government announce AC Milan will visit to play Perth Glory at HBF Park in July. Sport Minister Rita Saffioti.

State PoliticsCommentsPremiumAC Milan plan on life support but Saffioti still clinging on

Rita Saffioti’s dream of hosting a historic Italian football league game in Perth is hanging by a thread, as the world game’s powerful governing bodies baulk at the idea. 

Jessica Page and Ben Smith

Jessica Stojkovski has been forced to apologise after posting a video of herself dancing to a Taylor Swift song while boasting about the money spent on refuge accommodation.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
State PoliticsVideoCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
WATCH: Tone-deaf minister boasts DV funds in dance video

Jessica Stojkovski has been forced to apologise after posting a video of herself dancing to a Taylor Swift song while boasting about the money spent on refuge accommodation.

Shannon Hampton

Health Minister Meredith Hammat no offer has been made for the facility, and that other private operators were also interested in it.

state politicsCommentsPremiumDoctors push for Labor to buy-out Mount Hospital

Doctors have pushed the State Government to take over Perth’s Mount Hospital to add much needed beds into the public health system.

Jessica Page