As it happened: WA news on Thursday, February 20

We’re bringing our blog to a close for today. Thank you for joining us.

Here’s what made headlines today:

• Multiple streets in Bullsbrook remain in lockdown this afternoon as WA Police search for an alleged gunman.
• A 40-year-old man has had his arm completely severed during an altercation at a home in Kalgoorlie.
• A ‘mini tornado’ caused major damage as it swept through the Perth Hills overnight, with the SES receiving 60 calls for assistance and deploying 100 volunteer crews.
• Energy Minister Reece Whitby has blamed a “nerdy bureaucrat in Canberra trying to cover his butt” for the delays in the federal environmental assessment of Woodside’s $30 billion North West Shelf extension.
• WA Labor has vowed to drop $75 million to help establish Perth and Bunbury manufacturing hubs to create the metal frames that will be used to carry new powerlines as the state decarbonises its grid.
• Hundreds of mourners have gathered in Bunbury today to farewell former Eagles player Adam Hunter, who died earlier this month.

Thank you again for tuning in.

We’ll see you again tomorrow for all the news you need to know.

Turning to some breaking news now, and multiple streets in Perth’s north have been plunged into lockdown as authorities search for an alleged gunman.

WA Police were called to a report of a disturbance in the area of Almeria Parade near Turner Road in Bullsbrook about 1.30pm between several men who are known to each other.

It is understood there was an unconfirmed report of a firearm being sighted, prompting a police manhunt.

Two men have been taken into custody as the search for the other persons involved continues.

The trial into the death of indigenous schoolboy Cassius Turvey has heard that one of the accused, 23-year-old Aleesha Gilmore, allegedly threatened to bash a teenage boy’s mother over the head with a metal pole in the hours before Cassius was struck.

One witness told the court on Thursday that Gilmore, who was 21 at the time, was threatening his then 13-year-old brother, saying she would bash his mother over the head with a metal pole.

That day, the brothers had engaged in an altercation with Gilmore’s younger brothers over a girl and arranged a fight at Midland train station on October 13, the day Cassius was injured.

The brothers both told the jury on Thursday that it was Aleesha inciting violence towards them via voicemail messages which had since disappeared after they blocked her number.

A Facebook message was shown to the jury from Aleesha Gilmore to the witness’s younger brother, which read “Oi do you want your mother dragged out?”

Gilmore’s lawyer Simon Freitag put to the brothers that they were lying about the voice messages, a claim they denied.

Freitag has previously claimed Gilmore was only ever trying to stop a fight between her brothers and the other brothers from escalating, which it is alleged Cassius travelled to Middle Swan to watch on the day he was fatally hit with the metal handle of a discarded shopping trolley.

It’s the state’s case that 23-year-old Jack Brearley was the person physically responsible for hitting Cassius over the head, with three other people; Brodie Palmer, Aleesha Gilmore and Ethan Forth also charged with murder because they were encouraging violence and failed to stop the assault.

The trial was also shown footage of Cassius on the bus after he travelled to Middle Swan with a group of other children from Swan View Senior High School shortly before he was assaulted.

Cassius died 10 days later from his injuries.

The trial continues.

Strap in ladies and gentlemen and as we recap another fast-paced day on the state election campaign.

Premier Roger Cook and Energy Minister Reece Whitby were out first this morning announcing $75 million to help establish Perth and Bunbury manufacturing hubs to create the metal frames that will be used to carry 4000 kilometres of new powerlines as the state decarbonises its grid.

Premier Roger Cook at this morning’s announcement.Credit: Hamish Hastie

Cook said the hubs would be similar to the Bellevue train manufacturing facility that is pumping out trains for the Metronet program.

Meanwhile, when she wasn’t fielding questions about the questionable behaviours of her candidates, Liberal leader Libby Mettam managed to squeeze out two law and order policy announcements including a promise to expedite elder abuse reforms and create a Judicial Commission that would be a watchdog of the state’s justices.

Mettam also pledged to fly to Kuwait within 100 days of becoming premier to assess the conditions of WA live export sheep as she again backed the industry in the face of the Commonwealth’s upcoming ban.

And Opposition and Nationals leader Shane Love was in Perth and Collie making several announcements including throwing his support behind a South West Agribusiness Precinct, pledging to create a new agency and ministerial position for Northern Western Australia and spruiking major changes to education including reducing class sizes to help retain teachers.

Check out our promise tracker below:

The car was involved in a fatal crash on Saturday night.

Hundreds of mourners have gathered in Bunbury today to farewell former Eagles player Adam Hunter, who died earlier this month.

Among those who spoke at the funeral service were former West Coast coach John Worsfold and former West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett.

The funeral service for former Eagle Adam Hunter, 43, was held in his home town of Bunbury.Credit: Getty Images

Hunter, 43, played 151 games for the Eagles over a decade-long AFL career from 2000-09, before injuries led to his premature retirement.

Hunter kicked a career-best 29 goals in 2006, including a crucial major in the final stages of that year’s epic grand final battle against Sydney.

His iconic celebration was etched in Eagles folklore as they gained revenge on the Swans for their defeat in the previous year’s decider.

Lifeline 13 11 14. Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636.

Aerial footage from our 9 News Perth helicopter is starting to flow through to the newsroom now, showing the extent of the storm damage across suburbs like Gidgegannup, Sawyers Valley and Mount Helena.

A man has had his arm completely severed during an altercation at a home in Kalgoorlie yesterday.

WA Police have confirmed they are investigating after they were called to an address on Collins Street, Piccadilly just after midday.

A spokesperson said that when officers attended the house, the injured man was not there but later self-presented at Kalgoorlie Hospital.

The 40-year-old was later flown to Perth by the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

St John Ambulance crews then rushed him from Jandakot Airport to Royal Perth Hospital where he was presented in a critical condition.

It’s understood that he underwent surgery this morning and remains in a critical condition in the intensive care unit.

WA Energy Minister Reece Whitby has blamed a “nerdy bureaucrat in Canberra trying to cover his butt” for the delays in the Commonwealth environmental assessment of Woodside’s $30 billion North West Shelf extension.

On Tuesday, federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s office revealed the process had been delayed from February 28 until at least the end of March, pointing the finger at a late submission of paperwork by the WA government.

The WA govenrment has approved the extension of the North West Shelf plant near Karratha.Credit: Woodside

But this morning Whitby denied the WA government, which approved the project in December, had submitted documentation late and had been asked for more documents in January which were provided within five business days.

“Within that time, and excluding the two days for the weekend, I reckon we did pretty well,” he said.

“I suspect that there’s a nerdy little bureaucrat in an agency in Canberra somewhere, who’s trying to cover his butt.

“He might have thought that was his excuse to his superiors in Canberra, but he’s been caught out hasn’t he?”

Premier Roger Cook reiterated comments yesterday that he didn’t think the delay of a few weeks would hurt Woodside’s proposal – which has been going through the approvals process for more than six years – also piled on Canberra.

“I’m angry that someone, some boffin over in Canberra sort of said, ‘Oh, we didn’t get the paperwork in time.’ It’s just not true,” he said.

Woodside’s proposal will see the life of its North West Shelf infrastructure extended for more than 50 years. It has been vehemently opposed by environmental groups over its impact on the country’s emissions until the 2070s.

The delay puts a potentially controversial decision by the Commonwealth and Plibersek beyond the state election and possibly beyond the federal election.

A public housing block of 24 apartments in Inglewood has come under the spotlight after neighbouring businesses began complaining about the anti-social behaviour in the area, including violence, drugs, and people having sex on balconies in the middle of the day in full view of nearby restaurant patrons.

Business owner Maria was among a group of residents who raised the issue at a recent City of Stirling council meeting.

“We’re terrified, and have been terrorised by the public housing residents and their visitors for the past several months, and we need your help,” she said.

“I believe this whole situation would have been avoided by making the complex of mixed tenure, which is a combination of private, affordable and social housing. It’s 100 per cent state housing and the disastrous effects on the community are glaringly obvious.”

The block was privately owned until a few years ago when it was purchased by the state government.

Listen to Maria’s full comments on Radio 6PR this morning, and City of Stirling mayor Mark Irwin’s response below: