As it happened: WA news on Wednesday, July 30

If you noticed a big police presence on the roads this morning - this is why.

Police say a stolen car led them on a pursuit from Perth’s south to north in the early hours of this morning.

The car was stolen from a home in Beechboro about 4.30am, and was spotted about three hours later in North Fremantle.

The police chopper tracked the car all the way to Burns Beach, where the driver allegedly led police on a short chase before he stopped and was arrested on Whitehorses Drive.

“A 16-year-old male has been arrested and is assisting police with inquiries,” a WA police spokesperson said.

“Two other male occupants of the vehicle fled on foot.

“A 14-year-old male has since been arrested.”

Police say they’re working to find the third occupant of the car, and anyone with information should contact them.

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

Here’s what made headlines today:

• An international oil tanker, suspected of carrying Russian crude, docked at Kwinana port overnight after sitting off the coast for two days.

• Emergency crews rushed to a house in High Wycombe where a man has been burnt in a fire.
• More than 800 West Australians have reported feeling a 4.8 magnitude earthquake in the state’s Wheatbelt region at 2am this morning.

• WA Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas has once again been peppered with rapid fire questions over his stance on net zero – and has once again remained steadfast on his position that he supports the “status quo”.

• Police say a stolen car led them on a pursuit from Perth’s south to north in the early hours of this morning.

• Football fever continues to build in WA, as Perth prepares to host the Matildas, as well as rivals Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, India, Chinese Taipei, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026.

• Shadow Treasurer Sandra Brewer has announced she will be calling for an independent Parliamentary Budget Office – similar to ones in other states – to improve transparency around ongoing major spending proposals.

• After nine months acting in the role, Bruce Reynolds has announced his push to become the City of Perth’s next lord mayor.

Thank you again for joining us today, readers. We’ll see you back here tomorrow for more news you need to know.

After nine months acting in the role, Bruce Reynolds has announced his push to become the City of Perth’s next lord mayor.

Reynolds just spoke to Oliver Peterson on 6PR, where he put safety in the city at the forefront of his campaign.

City of Perth Deputy Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds, who is currently acting in the top job.Credit: City of Perth

“When I talk to residents, ratepayers and businesses, that is always the number one priority, and people probably don’t have an understanding of how much we already invest in this space,” Reynolds said.

“The fact that, this year, we’ve committed in our new budget for another $5.5 million in enhancements into lighting and more CCTV. It is something that I’m a big believer through my own experience in life that what you focus on grows.

“We know that by bringing more people to the city, does create vibrancy. It does create an opportunity for businesses to thrive, and it does in create increased safety.

“We need to get up to around about 50,000 to 55,000 people in the next 10 years.

“That starts to create an ecosystem within our own economy as a city ... that allows businesses to thrive and for extended trading hours to really come into play.

“Our malls and our retail Well, that is a Rubik’s Cube problem that needs to be solved. And I do have some ideas around that I’ll unlock in my campaign proper.”

Reynolds was elected deputy lord mayor almost a year ago, and has been acting in the top job since former lord mayor Basil Zempilas moved into state politics.

Fellow City of Perth councillor Catherine Lezer has also put up her hand to run for lord mayor.

Fremantle veteran Nat Fyfe could reprise his supersub role as early as this week as the two-time Brownlow Medal winner prepares to make his latest comeback from injury.

Fyfe missed the start of the season as he built back from knee surgery, then missed more time with a hamstring tear before making his AFL return in round 12 as the sub.

Nat Fyfe of the Dockers acknowledges supporters after winning the round 14 AFL match between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Fremantle Dockers at Optus Stadium.Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images

The 33-year-old managed just three games before straining his calf while warming up as the sub at halftime of the round 16 win over St Kilda.

Fyfe is now ready to return to playing duties, and a comeback via the WAFL is one viable option.

But Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is also weighing up whether to bring Fyfe back as the sub for Sunday’s clash with Carlton at Optus Stadium.

“He offers us a lot as the sub, with his leadership, his maturity, his calm presence on the bench,” he said.

“I’m open to a variety of different roles Fyfe can play, but the No.1 thing is to get is body right and confidence in his body.

“It’s about making sure we build his footy and confidence in his body so he can really make the most of the last period of the season.”

Shadow Treasurer Sandra Brewer has announced she will be calling for an independent Parliamentary Budget Office – similar to ones in other states – to improve transparency around ongoing major spending proposals.

Brewer said, “a succession of infrastructure blowouts” by the state government demonstrated the need for independent oversight.

Liberal MP Sandra Brewer. Credit: Colin Murty

The state government’s Metronet project was one that came under scrutiny for cost blowouts – climbing each year since the project was announced to more than $12 billion.

“A Parliamentary Budget Office in WA is long overdue. New South Wales legislated one in 2010, the Commonwealth in 2011 and Victoria in 2017,” Brewer said.

“The 2018 Special Inquiry into Government Programs and Projects, led by John Langoulant, recommended the creation of a Parliamentary Budget Office in Western Australia and a standing committee of the Legislative Council also made the same recommendation in 2020.

“These recommendations have been made under Labor’s leadership, but we’ve seen no progress to date. That’s why I’m taking the initiative to put this back on the agenda,” Brewer said.

Brewer said her proposal would enable any member of parliament to have their policies independently costed, in order to improve their credibility at elections.

“Premier Roger Cook recommitted to a Parliamentary Budget Office in 2023, and I am hopeful the government would support this,” she said.

Treasurer Rita Saffioti said Parliamentary Budget Offices across the nation were filled with treasury officers.

“They (the WA Liberal Party) refused to use treasury officers last time, said they don’t trust them, so I look forward to seeing the model, because if they’re not using treasury officers, I don’t know who they’re using,” she said.

Sticking with the press conference, Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti has claimed there is “deep divisions and chaos” among the Liberals over net zero targets (see our blog post from earlier today).

“It continues. It has continued in Western Australia for many years, that division,” she said.

Minister Rita Saffioti.Credit: Hamish Hastie

“The cultural wars that are happening within the Liberal Party again demonstrate that they have not learnt anything from the past.

“Their division, their chaos, was on full display in both the state and federal elections, and again, that seems to be continuing.”

Saffioti said the party had not heard the messages from the election.

“People don’t want debates about issues that don’t confront them on a day-to-day basis,” she said.

“The public wants sensible policies for the future … they don’t want commentators, they want people who are in there delivering on key services.”

On that, it seems her and Zempilas agree at the very least.

Football fever continues to build in WA, as Perth prepares to host the Matildas, as well as rivals Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, India, Chinese Taipei, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026.

The official tournament draw was livestreamed globally yesterday, revealing the match-ups across host cities Perth, Gold Coast, and Sydney.

Charlotte Grant of the Matildas celebrates a goal during the International Friendly match between Australia Matildas and Panama at HBF Park on July 08.Credit: Getty Images

Perth will host the opening match on March 1, 2026, with the Matildas to go head-to-head with the Philippines.

At a press conference this afternoon, Sports and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti said the 2026 tournament was expected to attract thousands of out-of-state visitors to WA and generate millions in economic impact.

Tourism Minister Reece Whitby said WA were the “big winners” from the draw and he “couldn’t be happier”.

In other soccer-related news, both ministers also touted the MC Milan vs Perth Glory game to be held in Perth tomorrow night.

If you noticed a big police presence on the roads this morning - this is why.

Police say a stolen car led them on a pursuit from Perth’s south to north in the early hours of this morning.

The car was stolen from a home in Beechboro about 4.30am, and was spotted about three hours later in North Fremantle.

The police chopper tracked the car all the way to Burns Beach, where the driver allegedly led police on a short chase before he stopped and was arrested on Whitehorses Drive.

“A 16-year-old male has been arrested and is assisting police with inquiries,” a WA police spokesperson said.

“Two other male occupants of the vehicle fled on foot.

“A 14-year-old male has since been arrested.”

Police say they’re working to find the third occupant of the car, and anyone with information should contact them.

WA Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas has once again been peppered with rapid fire questions over his stance on net zero – and has once again remained steadfast on his position that he supports the “status quo”.

At the weekend members of the state party voted in favour of dumping its net zero by 2050 policy at a meeting hosted by federal member Andrew Hastie.

Basil Zempilas is the new opposition leader in WA.Credit: Hamish Hastie

In a newsletter sent out to his supporters, Hastie said he was “disappointed” in Zempilas’ position, which is to continue supporting the existing policy (i.e. “the status quo”).

“Andrew is entitled to his own positions, his own views, and to do what he thinks he needs to do,” Zempilas said.

“What I’m interested in doing is taking the best position for the state Liberal team that gives us the best chance in 2029.

“How do we do that? We do that by connecting with the voting public, and more specifically, with the elements of the public that previously have not shown support for the Liberal Party.

“There is data from two elections, a state election and a federal election. There’s lots of research available in there that can help all of us guide our thinking as we go forward, and so I’d say, have a look at those election results and then consider all of the information contained within those election results, and then make up your mind.”

He said he was confident the state Liberal parliamentary party was on the same page as him when it came to net zero, but said “any position can change”, including his own.

Did you feel the earth shake last night?

So far, more than 800 West Australians have reported feeling a 4.8 magnitude earthquake in the state’s Wheatbelt region at 2am this morning.

The quake occurred in Wyalkatchem, 192 kilometres north-east of Perth, with tremours being felt in the city and several other regional areas.

Geoscience Australia Senior Seismologist Trevor Allen told Radio 6PR the Wheatbelt region was one of the most active seismic areas in Australia.

“In the last 12 months, we’ve actually recorded around 130 earthquakes in the Wyalkatchem area,” he said.

“The rocks out in the Wheatbelt area are some of the oldest in the world … and they’re faltered and fractured everywhere so it’s possible that that stress has built up and is now being relieved along a fault line that just happens to be in that area.”

Listen to the full interview here:

West Coast chief executive Don Pyke has just been interviewed on SEN WA Mornings, saying he believes the Eagles are in a position to request a leg-up from the league.

The club is facing another wooden spoon this season, and have won just 11 of their past 91 games since late 2021.

Pyke said the poor results mean the club is “well and truly in the window” to ask the AFL for draft compensation, although he says he is yet to formally make the request.

West Coast CEO Don Pyke.Credit: Getty Images

“I’m mindful of people saying, ‘Well, West Coast got into this problem, so they should just work their way out of it’,” he said.

“But this is the essence of equalisation. The equalisation across the comp is designed to allow clubs to not spend a long period of time either at the top or at the bottom.

“I think we’d not be doing our duty if we didn’t ask the question about ‘How do we get any assistance we can?’ if it’s available to help us get out of this and get back to playing competitive, strong footy week-on-week.”