As it happened: WA news on Monday, December 9

We’re bringing our blog to a close for the day, thanks for joining us.

Scroll back through the blog to read more of the day’s headlines, which included a reshuffle in the shadow cabinet ahead of next year’s election, as well as a flood of donations over a Goldfields workplace death, and a not guilty verdict in the murder trial of a WA mother who killed her toddler son.

If you missed these stories elsewhere on the site, other major news from the day includes the wash-up from a wild weekend on Rottnest Island, where hundreds of teenagers ran amok during “juvie week”.

Meanwhile, Anthony Albanese has returned serve after being papped playing tennis in Perth a day after a synagogue was burned down in Melbourne.

And WA has seen another horror weekend play out on our state’s roads, with seven people killed between Friday and Sunday.

Thank you again for tuning in today, we’ll see you back here tomorrow morning for more news you need to know.

Shai Bolton won’t go so far as to say he’ll be the difference in Fremantle’s chase for the ever-elusive premiership flag.

Bolton has already been heralded as the star who can help make the Dockers genuine contenders next year, after Justin Longmuir’s side fumbled a top-eight finish in the final round of the 2024 home-and-away season.

Shai Bolton will return home to WA.Credit: Getty Images

Fremantle’s prize recruit has a devastating effect on the opposition, with the two-time premiership Tiger and 2022 All-Australian forward kicking 165 goals from 135 AFL games.

Dockers captain Alex Pearce has already lauded Bolton as their “unique” weapon, but the 26-year-old was a humble figure when he fronted the media for the first time since making the move west.

“I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself,” Bolton said on Monday.

“I just want to connect with my teammates and play good football.”

Asked what he envisioned his role to be at his new home, Bolton said: “Whatever the coach wants me to play.

“I’m guessing it’s going to be like a mid-forward or forward. I don’t really mind, just whatever the team needs.”

AAP

Last November was the hottest on record in WA, but this year there has thankfully been a much slower start to summer.

The heatwave map for WA over the next few days.Credit: BOM

But that break seems to be over, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting a heatwave this week.

A severe weather warning is in place for the Gascoyne, Central West, Lower West and Central Wheatbelt districts.

Wednesday is expected to be the hottest day, with a maximum of 38 degrees in Perth.

The temperature is then predicted to drop again over the weekend, down to 28 degrees on Saturday and 25 degrees on Sunday.

It is recommended that you close windows and blinds, and seek places with air conditioning to keep cool and out of the direct sun.

To our courts now, where a West Australian mother has been found not guilty of the murder of her toddler son while in the grip of psychosis.

Sara Jade McCullock was arrested after repeatedly hitting her son’s head on the kitchen floor of their Madora Bay home in a fatal attack on April 26, 2022.

She admitted assaulting 14-month-old Jace McCullock, but pleaded not guilty to murder due to unsoundness of mind.

Sara Jade McCullock has been found not guilty of murdering her 14-month-old son Jace due to mental impairment.

Prosecutors alleged during McCullock’s Supreme Court trial that she had stopped taking the medication which stabilised her mental illness and had voluntarily taken cannabis and drank alcohol in the days and weeks leading up to the tragedy.

However, her defence team argued the 31-year-old’s mental state when she killed her son was due to her deep-rooted schizophrenia.

They claimed cannabis oil McCullock had taken played no role in her actions, an argument Justice Amanda Forrester accepted, noting there was a lack of evidence showing the oil had been taken in the week before Jace’s death.

McCullock was found not guilty of Jace’s murder, but will remain in custody at the Frankland Centre ahead of a hearing next year for a new psychiatric report on her mental state.

Donations have flooded in for the family of Peter Groves, who died while working at a mining site in the state’s Goldfields last week.

Peter GrovesCredit: Facebook

The 29-year-old has been remembered as a “fun filled person”, with “a big heart and someone you could just sit down with and chat to for hours.”

He died in a workplace accident on Thursday at Saturn Metals’ Apollo Hill project near Kalgoorlie.

A GoFundMe page has been set up by a coworker and friend to help his family deal with the sudden loss.

So far, nearly $8000 has been raised.

“The news heartbreaks us, it has taken a toll on everyone around Pete’s life. He was one of them blokes who had non-stop energy from when he woke up ready to go drilling,” his friend wrote.

“There was never a dull morning or day at the rig when Peter was around – that energy, that smile, that laugh you had Pete will not be forgotten and we will miss you so much my friend.”

RSPCA WA have put out an urgent call for help, revealing they had an overwhelming number of animals to look after at their Malaga rescue centre in the lead up to the holidays.

“We have a staggering 375 animals currently in care. No animal should be at a shelter during the Christmas season – they should be in a home,” they wrote in a Facebook post.

“We are looking for people who are able to provide short-term (a few weeks) and long-term (one to two months) foster care for creatures great and small.

“Being a foster carer during this time of year is one of the most rewarding things you can do – you’re giving the gift of comfort, a homely environment, and human companionship for a pet who may have never experienced it before.

“Our staff and volunteers do their absolute best to keep our pets happy and healthy, but the shelter can be an extremely confusing and frustrating place for some.”

To apply to be a foster carer, visit this link.

Sticking with the press conference at Bentley Hospital this morning and Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson has delivered a dressing down of private health insurers and hospital providers for shrinking their offerings to WA insurance policyholders.

WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson.Credit: Getty

Speaking at the opening of the $2.6 million Midwifery Birth Centre at Bentley Hospital, Sanderson said the first public midwife-led maternity service was usually only available in private health settings.

The new service is being opened amidst the backdrop of shrinking private hospital services including the closure of the St John of God Mount Lawley maternity wing and of Bethesda’s 75-bed mental health facility in Cockburn.

When asked whether this would place more pressure on the public system, Sanderson said it was more of a problem for people who pay private health insurance.

She said she raised the problem regularly with hospital operators and insurers and took umbrage with their public lamenting of the financial viability of their services.

Here is what Sanderson had to say.

West Australians take up private health insurance at a greater rate than anyone else in the country.

What we’re seeing is private health insurers and the private hospitals scale down the range of services available.

It is frustrating to me that I often hear private hospitals complain about viability or loss when actually, this is all about patients.

They have very healthy bank balances.

They need to ensure that their customers who pay for their insurance and pay their premiums every year are provided with access to the services that they’re paying for.

Back to political news now and Premier Roger Cook has weighed in on the Liberal Party’s decision to bring Upper House MP Nick Goiran back to the shadow cabinet after nearly two years in exile for not apologising for his role in the “Clan Whatsapp” group.

At a press conference at Bentley Hospital this morning, Cook said Goiran’s return was a sign of the shambolic nature of the WA Liberals.

He demanded party Leader Libby Mettam come clean on what deal was made to bring the conservative politician back into the fold as shadow attorney general.

“What you see today is Libby Mettam has done a deal with Nick Goiran to defend her leadership, she needs to come clean on what took place, what was part of that deal,” he said.

“Nick Goiran, as the minister ... brings extreme views and is clearly in control of the Liberal Party in WA. That should be a concern and an alarm for every Western Australia.”

A 24-year-old man who allegedly bit a police officer on the arm after threatening security guards at a bottle shop with a pair of scissors has been charged with assault.

Around 7.40pm the man arrived on an electric scooter and entered a liquor store on Lake Street in Northbridge, before allegedly stealing some alcohol.

As security tried to stop him, he allegedly threatened them with scissors he was carrying.

Two hours later, police found the man and arrested him. He then allegedly bit a police officer, and told them a fake name.

He has been charged with obstructing officers, armed robbery, assaulting a public officer and giving false details to police and is due to appear before the Perth Magistrates Court today.

Anglicare WA chief-executive Mark Glasson has jumped on 6PR’s Breakfast program this morning to raise concerns over the increasing number of people who are employed, but struggling to keep up with rising costs.

“It’s been one of the biggest problems we’ve seen this year … largely driven by rental prices,” he said.

“The number of people who are coming to us for financial assistance with their bills or their rent that are employed has more than doubled this year, so there’s a whole new group of people that are struggling to keep up.”

You can hear more from Glasson below.

A report from the University of NSW released today has revealed that homelessness has increased nationally by 22 per cent over the past three years.