Good afternoon loyal readers, and thank you for following along today.
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Hot off the press is this new piece from Holly Thompson about a world-class new exhibition opening at Boola Bardip: Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor, the largest and most complex exhibition WA has ever had, with 230 artefacts, some only recently unearthed, including eight of the famed terracotta warriors themselves. Just under half the pieces have never left China and 90 per cent have never been displayed in Australia.
That’s it from us for today, but the blog will be back on Monday morning. Until then, stay safe and have fun this weekend.
Montemurro unveils Matildas squad
By Joanna Guelas
Matildas coach Joe Montemurro has named 14 A-League Women players in a 33-strong squad for games against Slovenia and Panama as he plots a path to the 2026 Asian Cup.
Matildas captain Steph Catley, forward Caitlin Foord and midfielder Katrina Gorry are taking leave so will not be among those facing Slovenia on June 26 and 29, then Panama on July 5 and 8.
Caitlin Foord (left) and Steph Catley (centre) are both sitting out upcoming friendlies in WA. Credit: Getty
Turning to the ALW is no surprise, given Montemurro’s intimate knowledge of the domestic league.
Australia’s national women’s team have slumped to their equal-worst position, down to No.16, after disastrous Olympics and SheBelieves Cup campaigns.
“When you have this amount of time, you can start to infiltrate some good ideas and make a statement in terms of the way we want to play,” Montemurro said.
Reigning Julie Dolan Medallist Alex Chidiac and Victory striker Emily Gielnik return to the national team after being overlooked regularly by Tony Gustavsson and Tom Sermanni.
Cortnee Vine remains on leave after, but Montemurro said she was “definitely in sight after this camp and beyond.”
Brisbane Roar midfielder Tameka Yallop and recent debutant Kahli Johnson are ruled out with leg and thigh injuries.
In their place are Roar forward Grace Kuilamu and Western United’s Adriana Taranto.
They join five uncapped players who have been selected, while 16 players have fewer than 10 senior international appearances.
Vice-captain Ellie Carpenter returns from personal leave and Mackenzie Arnold, Hayley Raso and Sharn Freier from injury.
Midfielder Jacynta Galabadaarachchi also returns to the Matildas for the first time since June 2022.
* Participating in Slovenia series only** Participating in Panama series only
AAP
Police call for help to find missing man
Darren Garwood.Credit: WA Police
Mundaring Police have concerns for 38-year-old man Darren Garwood, who has been missing since early in the morning on Sunday, May 25.
He left from a residence on Kirkstall Way in Sawyers Valley in a 2023 white Ford Ranger utility, with WA registration SW18692.
He is described as 175 centimetres tall, of medium build, with short brown and grey hair, blue eyes and earrings in each ear.
WA Police are urging anyone who sees Garwood or his vehicle, or who has any information relating to his whereabouts, to call police immediately on 131 444.
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Detectives continue to hunt for clues on Rockingham bikie shooting
Detectives are still searching for information after a man with links to the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang was dropped at the Rockingham Hospital emergency department with multiple gunshot wounds and burns to his legs.
CCTV of one of the vehicles involved. Credit: WA Police
They have released now released a series of CCTV footage containing vehicles and people, which they believe can assist with the investigation.
The first and second piece of the CCTV footage shows people at Aubin Grove Train Station, from just before the incident, where it is believed several people met and swapped vehicles.
The third piece of CCTV footage – from after the incident – depicts one of the vehicles from Aubin Grove Train Station entering the Rockingham Hospital emergency department carpark.
Detectives believe the vehicle used to convey the 51-year-old man to the place where he was attacked, then to hospital afterwards, is a white and grey Holden dual-cab utility, with WA registration 1BFC417.
The other related vehicles in the footage are believed to be a black Nissan Navara and a white Hyundai Tucson.
Gang Crime Squad Detective Senior Sergeant Todd White said police would not tolerate brutality, intimidation, or any other form of coercive or threatening behaviour.
“This is another clear reminder to the community that OMCGs are not harmless motorcycle clubs – they are violent criminal gangs causing harm and disruption across our country,” he said.
“Their actions undermine public safety and will not be tolerated.”
No relief for small business in budget: Opposition
By Hamish Hastie
Turning back to the budget wash up and shadow treasurer Sandra Brewer has been out this morning criticising the WA government for not providing any relief to small businesses by letting payroll tax receipts surge.
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“Payroll tax is set to grow to $6.133 billion this year, and it’s forecast to grow to over $7 billion in this term of government,” she said.
“Treasurer Rita Saffioti’s default setting when it comes to tax is to take more and spend more, and it has a really hard impact on WA businesses.
“The government is unwilling to concentrate on any tax reform or restraint they continue to spend which is funded by hardworking WA businesses.”
Brewer said she would have liked to see the payroll tax threshold – which is the earnings of a business that determine when the tax kicks in – to be increased from $1 million.
Brewer was joined by small business owner Jay Sidhu who said he was disappointed to not see an uplift in the threshold.
“It’s been a hindrance for us to even look at potentially hiring more people, it’s something that we have to consider very strongly before we actually think of growing sustainably,” he said.
Eagles announces retirement of premiership great
The West Coast Eagles held a press conference to announce the retirement of club veteran Jeremy McGovern.
You can hear him speak below:
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West Coast’s Jeremy McGovern medically retired after concussion
By Hamish Hastie
West Coast Eagles great Jeremy McGovern has been medically retired after accepting a recommendation from the AFL’s concussion panel.
McGovern, a modern legend at the club, is the reigning John Worsfold medallist and a five-time All-Australian.
Jeremy McGovern has been medically retired from the game. Credit: Getty Images
The Albany raised defender played 197 games as an Eagle after being picked number 44 in the 2010 draft and debuting in 2014.
He was key to the Eagles iconic 2018 Grand Final win. Here is his statement in full:
It’s been an absolute honour to pull on the West Coast jumper for the past 15 years and it’s something that I will forever be grateful for.
As much as this isn’t the way I would have liked to go out, I respect the decision.
I’m gutted I don’t get to pull the jumper on and run out one more time, but sometimes this is the way the game goes, and I am forever grateful to the West Coast supporters who have also shown me love and respect.
I would like to thank everyone who has been involved with my career over the journey.
My family – Mum and Dad, my brother Mitch, my wife Madi and my three kids Hudson, Marlee and Lewie – have been my biggest supporters, as well as my friends who have been amazing through my whole time in the AFL.
To the Club, I can’t explain how much you have given me over my time here and I can’t thank you enough for drafting a fat kid from Albany and giving him a crack.
I’ve always loved the game and winning a premiership is every kid’s dream, but the lifelong friendships and relationships you build through footy mean more to me than anything.
I will forever be indebted to West Coast and I will always bleed blue and gold.
WA budget spruiking continues at battery manufacturer
By Hamish Hastie
The budget sell has continued this morning in at battery manufacturer Magellan in Bibra Lake where Treasurer Rita Saffioti and Premier Roger Cook spruiked the $50 million to boost local battery manufacturing to service its $337 million $5000 home battery rebate promise.
Saffioti denied her government had “cooked the books” by omitting last year’s $400 power credit from its calculation on the change in household fees and charges from last year to this year.
Saffioti said yesterday the average WA household would save $52 per year but with the power credit included in that calculation, homes are being slogged $348 more.
The opposition blasted the “financial trickery” but Saffioti said it was normal accounting to not include “one off payments”.
“The household model is used every year, and we normally try and exclude one off payments. It didn’t include also the student assistance payment,” she said.
“For example, we could have included the student assistance payment, which under the household model has two secondary high school students. So that would be another $500 we could have added in 2025-26,” she said.
The power credit has featured in the past four budgets.
Man charged over threats, common assault in Karawara
A 34-year-old man has been charged with being armed to cause fear, common assault and carrying a prohibited weapon after allegedly threatening another man at a construction site in Karawara.
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About 2.30pm on Thursday, police received a report that a 21-year-old man was approached and threatened by the 34-year-old.
The pair knew each other.
Police have alleged the victim believed the other man was armed with a firearm, and that the victim was struck in the face and suffered minor injuries which did not require treatment.
The accused man then left the area.
A number of resources were deployed to the area including Tactical Response Group, Regional Operations Group and Police Air Wing.
The 34-year-old man was arrested at a premise on Corfield Street in Gosnells and a gel blaster was located at the scene and seized by police. No gun was found.
He was refused bail and will appear at Perth Magistrates Court today.
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Man dies after crash in Perth’s north
WA Police have just revealed that a 67-year-old man who was riding a motorcycle when he was involved in a crash in Perth’s north in May has now died as a result of his injuries.
Around 8.16am on May 28 the man was riding in an easterly direction on Joondalup Drive, near Wanneroo Road.
A collision occurred between the motorcycle and a Hyundai SUV, which was travelling in the same direction.
The 67-year-old man was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.
Yesterday, he died from those injuries.
Officers from the Major Crash Investigation Section are now investigating and are appealing for anyone who has any information, or dashcam, mobile phone or CCTV footage, to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report the information online at crimestopperswa.com.au.
