As it happened: WA news on Wednesday, March 5

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

As we leave you, communities in the state’s South West remain under a bushfire emergency warning, with people in Windy Harbour Camping Ground, D’Entrecasteaux Drive, Salmon Beach, Tookalup and Point D’Entrecasteaux told it is too late to leave.

Those who do not have anywhere to shelter have been urged to take shelter on the beach. An evacuation centre has been set up at Pemberton Sports Club for those unable to return to their homes.

For the latest information, visit Emergency WA, call 13 DFES (13 3337), follow DFES on Facebook, listen to ABC Local Radio, 6PR, or news bulletins.

Thank you for tuning in, and we’ll see you again tomorrow for more news you need to know.

In case you missed it, the high-tech search ship working to solve one of the world’s greatest aviation mysteries – the location of MH370 – docked at Henderson yesterday to refuel after completing a new scan of the Indian Ocean floor.

The Armada and its crew are searching a new area 1500 kilometres west of Perth.

Watch 9 News Perth’s story on it below:

And in other news, WA Labor has revealed its election promises would total $3.4 billion, increasing net debt by almost $500 million dollars over the current forward estimates period.

The treasury-assessed figures show net debt would rise to almost $41 billion at the end of the forward estimates, slightly higher than had been forecast in 2024.

On Wednesday, WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti staunchly defended Labor’s handling of the state’s finances when grilled about how she justified net debt reaching levels she criticised while in opposition, pointing out the figure was still $2.7 billion lower than forecast by the previous government.

She also highlighted that the party had been able to reduce debt while delivering $62 billion in infrastructure and its election commitments.

The treasurer lauded WA’s triple-A credit rating from both Moody’s and S&P Global as evidence of its credibility and pointed out the state would still have the lowest net debt as a share of gross state product of any jurisdiction in the nation.

And she played down concerns about figures that pointed to a slowing down in the state’s economy, attributing the figures to a conservative budgeting system — particularly when it comes to commodity prices.

Under treasurer Michael Barnes considered the party’s costings across almost 200 commitments to be “reliable” and did not uncover any significant differences.

But opposition leader Shane Love claimed the agency was running the ruler over commitments using figures inconsistent with those Labor had announced publicly, with promises like the $107 million Metronet on Swan project pencilled in at almost one-quarter of the price.

Love accused WA Labor of an “egregious” attempt to mislead WA voters over discrepancies it claims to have uncovered between the party’s public promises and those submitted to Treasury.

He demanded Saffioti explain discrepancies he claimed totalled $2 billion while raising concerns about preferential treatment, concluding the handling of the election costings process further demonstrated the need for an independent Parliamentary Budget Office.

Figures collected by WAtoday have Labor’s election commitments as delivered to the public at more than $6 billion.

Saffioti explained the list of commitments only covered the current forward estimates, and did not account for the 2028/29 financial year — which would mark the final year of the next term of government.

WA Labor has been contacted for comment.

Saffioti had used the briefing to launch another attack on the WA Liberal Party, which she berated for failing to reveal who was costing election commitments Labor has estimated to be worth $6.3 billion.

The treasurer also claimed the party had crunched the numbers of the commitments of the WA Nationals, which are currently before treasury and which Labor expects to come in at $4.3 billion.

“It is now just a few days before polling day, which everyone knew was going to be March 8, and [The Liberal Party] haven’t done their homework,” she said.

The release of the costings coincided with fresh economic data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which showed WA’s economy grew by 3.7 per cent in 2024 – more than double the national rate.

With this year’s AFL season opener just days away, one of the best journalists in the game has revealed his predictions, with reporter Jake Niall saying he thinks the Dockers will finish fourth on the ladder.

“The Dockers should be entering a period of prosperity. They’ve gained Shai Bolton’s flamboyant talents and have a solid, well-constructed team, with few structural holes provided Josh Treacy stays upright,” he said.

“Bolton is needed to add sparkle to what can be a milquetoast unit. Huge season for coach Justin Longmuir, who can release the throttle. I’m punting on the Dockers vaulting upwards.”

It’s less prosperous for Eagles fans though, with Niall tipping them to finish 17th, ahead of wooden spooners Richmond.

“Andrew McQualter might have coached the Tigers and it’s debatable which job – that or this one – holds a higher degree of difficulty,” he said.

“The Eagles’ experienced players, led by Jeremy McGovern, recruit Liam Baker and forwards Oscar Allen and Jake Waterman, provide a reasonable infrastructure. Harley Reid is a barnstorming presence in the middle, and there are other youngsters who will be blended in.

“Overall, the demographic black hole in the mid-20s places a ceiling on West Coast’s progress.”

The Dockers have achieved a record number of members this year, with 62,237 fans signing up.

The Eagles have 103,498 members.

Premier Roger Cook has just held a press conference in Albany where he has again been asked about calling US Vice President JD Vance a knob during an interview yesterday that has since gone on to make international headlines.

A journalist said many people were remarking the comment had “won them over” before Saturday’s state election.

“It was an off-hand, perhaps an unprofessional comment in the moment, and it was a light-hearted moment and I didn’t mean any offence and if any offence was taken, I obviously apologise for that,” he said.

“I think consensus after 24 hours since I made those comments is that it was a very poor choice of words, and a very popular choice of words.

“But, you know, these things happen from time to time and no malice was meant by it, maybe I’m the knob.”

Cook was also asked about the 16-year-old WA boy who has been charged after allegedly posting to Instagram he wanted to “christ church 2.0” a new Sydney mosque.

“My understanding is this is not known behaviour in terms of this individual and obviously being a juvenile, we don’t want them to be locked up if at all possible,” he said.

Read more here.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Credit: Dan Peled

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has changed plans for the coming days after visiting Queensland to meet state leaders and officials over preparations for the landfall of Cyclone Alfred within days.

While the prime minister was due to come to Perth this weekend to campaign with Labor volunteers at the state election and join Premier Roger Cook on the final day of campaigning, he has cancelled the trip to keep an eye on the potential natural disaster on the east coast.

A federal official confirmed the change after Sky News reported the cancellation earlier today.

People in the seasonal holiday settlement of Windy Harbour in the state’s South West region are being told it is too late to leave as a fire, burning out of control, has blocked off evacuation routes.

The fishing area, located on the coast 80km south of Manjimup, is home to 230 cottages leased to holidaymakers, as well as a camping ground.

The emergency zone. Credit: DFES

It is surrounded by the D’Entrecasteaux National Park.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services says those still within the settlement need to identify a room in their home where they can shelter.

“It should have running water, such as a kitchen or laundry, and have a clear exit so you can easily escape,” the emergency alert read.

The fire, caused by lightening, has so far burnt through 28,000 hectares.

To the WA Supreme Court now, where the trial of four people accused of murdering Midland teenager Cassius Turvey, 15, continues.

During the fourth week of hearing witness accounts, a boy has taken the stand to recall the day in October 2022 when a group of young men accused a group of school children of smashing their car windows and chased them into bushland.

CCTV footage of Cassius Turvey on a bus on the day of his assault in October 2022.Credit: Supreme Court of WA

The 14-year-old recalled he had a knife in his pants, which he got out as he was fleeing the older group, but claimed he never used it.

“I just remember the pole getting swung at my cousin ... after that I fled from there,” he said.

“I ran to the creek, jumped into the creek, crawled out of there and ran towards a fence.

“As soon as I got to the fence I heard another person say, ‘Cassius, they’re behind you’. I turned around and saw him get hit, he got hit multiple times.

“I went into shock ... for a good 30 seconds ... in that moment I knew I couldn’t do nothing by myself, so I ran and got everyone else.

He said a “skinny white guy” was hitting Cassius, who died in hospital 10 days later.

Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 23, her boyfriend Jack Steven James Brearley, 23, and his mates Brodie Lee Palmer, 29, and Mitchell Colin Forth, 26, are on trial charged with murdering Cassius.

It’s alleged Brearley chased Cassius down and struck him on the head at least twice.

The trial continues.

WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch has revealed how it was an Instagram post allegedly made by a 16-year-old Bunbury boy, threatening to “Christchurch 2.0” a Sydney mosque that led to him being arrested and charged overnight.

Speaking with Nadia Mitsopoulos this morning on ABC Perth, Blanch said the mosque made a complaint to NSW Police about the social media post who then traced it back to a computer in Bunbury.

WA Police then searched the home and arrested the boy, Blanch said.

He added that the investigation was “yet to determine” whether the boy had been radicalised or not but stated that there was “no way he could carry out that threat” and that there was no ongoing threat to the Islamic community.

Blanch also said the boy’s parents were “horrified”.

“They’re fully cooperative with police,” he said.

“I think they are just sitting there wondering, how did this happen to us? And again, the messaging for parents out there – and it’s difficult parenting at the best of times, but be plugged into your children’s activities online because if they go down this pathway, having people in blue, and in this case, probably people in black, turn up to your house and come through the front door is a nightmare that no one wants.”

To Saturday’s upcoming state election now, and nearly one fifth of West Australians have already placed their vote.

It’s anticipated up to half of eligible voters will head to a pre-polling station before the weekend, with 317,000 out of 1.86 million having already done so, according to this morning’s updated figures by the WA Electoral Commission.

Liberal leader Libby Mettam outside a pre-polling booth. Credit: Ross Swanborough

Experts are tipping a comfortable win for Labor, which holds 53 seats of 59 seats in the lower house with the Liberals and Nationals holding three each after Labor’s unprecedented landslide victory in 2021.

Its massive majority is likely to shrink, however, with the Liberals expected to win back about 10 lost seats.

Labor could also lose control of the upper house.