To some tragic news now, and Homicide Squad detectives are investigating after a man in his 50s died at a roadhouse in Salmon Gums.
At about 12:30am today, police were called to a roadhouse on the Coolgardie – Esperance Highway to find a person with a serious injury.
A man aged in his 20s, who is known to the victim, has been taken into custody and is assisting with the investigation.
Returning to yesterday’s tragic workplace fatality, and construction firm NRW Holdings has confirmed the 35-year-old Irish national killed along Mitchell Freeway on Thursday worked for a subcontractor of the company.
Young father Barry Breslin sustained a serious head injury after reportedly being struck by a piece of equipment that fell at the Warwick Road off-ramp. He was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital where he later died.
Barry Breslin, 35, died while working on the Mitchell Freeway.Credit: Facebook
The Belfast Telegraph reported Breslin’s death overnight, revealing he had been living and working in Australia for a number of years.
In a statement released to the ASX on Friday, NRW confirmed it was currently assisting WA Police and WorkSafe with the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident at the Smart Freeway works site and passed on its condolences to Breslin’s family, friends and work colleagues.
“NRW is providing appropriate support to all those affected by this tragic event where possible,” the company stated.
CFMEU State Secretary Mick Buchan said the union was conducting its own probe into the incident.
Booking a holiday on Rottnest Island during the summer holiday is notoriously difficult. In fact, so many people attempt to book as soon as dates are made available that often the website will crash.
That demand is something the latest development, Lodge Wadjemup, is hoping to take advantage of this season.
One year from when works firsts started, and West to West Group have announced they have made significant progress on the new accommodation.
The lodge website states Stage 1 will open during the summer, bringing “a newly built reception with communal eat and drink spaces,” plus rooms in the heritage buildings that have remained on site.
Stage 2 of the development will likely open in mid-2025 and will include new rooms and function spaces.
Dorinda Cox has apologised for any “shortcomings” in her office but hit out at coverage of bullying allegations as two more women allege mistreatment by the Greens senator.
The additional allegations pile pressure on party leader Adam Bandt to address the complaints rather than directing them to a parliamentary support agency powerless to discipline MPs.
This masthead revealed on Wednesday that Cox has lost 20 staff in three years.Credit: James Brickwood
Lou Hendricks, a former journalist with decades of experience, and Vivienne Glance, a current Greens WA state candidate, both said on Friday they had decided to speak to support the 2other staff who went public with allegations against the Greens’ First Nations spokeswoman earlier this week.
Cox, a Yamatji-Noongar woman, said in a statement there was “disappointingly significant missing context,” but “as the employer, I take responsibility for any shortcomings in what has occurred during this period and I apologise for the distress this may have caused.”
State Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson has addressed concerns raised by the Liberal Party over ambulance ramping, at a press conference on Friday.
Deputy Liberal leader Steve Martin on Tuesday said it had been the “worst September on record” for ambulance ramping, with almost 6000 hours recorded. He labelled it as “completely out of control.”
But Sanderson said it had not been the worst September on record, although there had been “very high demand.”
WA Health Minister Amber-Jade SandersonCredit: 9 News Perth
“Certainly since the pandemic, it has been one of our busiest Septembers and what we have seen this year has been a very high viral load – in particular bacterial and viral pneumonia,” she said.
“We are seeing extraordinary levels of pneumonia across all of our hospitals.
“What that brings with it is very sick people who often need to be isolated which puts a load on resources. It is beyond any predicted modelling and has taken us by surprise.”
Sanderson said there was a similar situation in the eastern states.
“Normally in September we would expect the viral load to be tailoring off and for demand to start to ease, unfortunately that has not been the case,” she said.
“Staff continue to work incredibly hard with record demand.”
Back to some more crime news and the man who allegedly threatened multiple people in West Leederville earlier this week has had more charges levelled against him by police.
About 6.15pm on October 1 the man in his 30s allegedly armed with a knife, threatened motorists on Cambridge Street and threw various items including bricks at their vehicles.
You can hear more below.
On top of his initial six charges, the man has now been charged with a further eight offences, including trespass, stealing, unlawful damage, and armed assault with intent to rob.
He will appear in court again on October 9.
Inquiries into this matter are ongoing, and Perth detectives urge anyone who was in the area at the time, or whose vehicle was damaged, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via crimestopperswa.com.au.
Daisy Pearce has brought the winning feeling to West Coast, and star midfielder Ella Roberts says the players are already addicted.
The Eagles, boasting a 4-2 record, have already recorded their finest AFLW season to date.
The Eagles, boasting a 4-2 record, have already recorded their finest AFLW season to date.Credit: via Getty Images
Their previous best return in a season was a mere two wins, but Pearce’s arrival has helped spark a huge and long-awaited turnaround in fortunes.
Seventh-placed West Coast have the chance to climb further up the ladder when they take on Port Adelaide (2-4) at Mineral Resources Park in Perth on Saturday.
Roberts, who kicked a career-high three goals in last week’s 24-point win over GWS, said the squad is enjoying the feeling of being a winning outfit.
“It’s crazy. It changes the vibes completely,” Roberts said.
“I think it’s something that all of us girls have been wanting for ages, and to finally have, we’re kind of addicted to it.
“We’re definitely looking towards the future and looking towards finals.”
So what has sparked the turnaround?
“It’s pretty obvious - the coach,” Roberts said.
“I think having a coach who has so much trust in us and has so much knowledge, like Daisy, she just knows what she’s talking about and can kind of just bring out the best in everyone.”
AAP
Perth’s lord mayor has just joined Gary Adshead on 6PR to discuss a new petition he has launched – his latest attack against the state government over their plans to build a new primary school in the city.
When questioned on whether the petition, which calls for the immediate pause of the introduction of new laws that will allow the school to be built on land previously only zoned for a carpark, Zempilas remained firm on the fact his actions were not politically driven.
WA Planning Minister John Carey and Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas.
“The Libs are jumping on it. I mean I’ve seen emails flying around,” Adshead said.
“They support private property rights. They support the rights of owners of land to be compensated if that land is taken away,” Zempilas replied.
“I know John Carey’s going to come on. The first thing he’ll say is ‘this is the politicisation of this issue … Basil Zempilas is trying to delay the building of a primary school. He doesn’t want a primary school built.’
“It’s not politicising an issue, Mr Carey, to say that there should be a fair negotiation and discussion around compensation for land that the City of Perth owns.
“If it can happen to us, who else can it happen to?”
Carey appeared on the show not long after.
“This is not for a private resort. It’s not for a private enterprise or hotel. We’re talking about $150 million public primary school that is critically needed,” he said.
“What is the game that Basil’s playing, what’s the ultimate interest? Because it’s not about City of Perth ratepayers.
“This is a scenario of the lord mayor who is running a Liberal Party petition, which is being sponsored by the Liberal Party in the upper house.
“His petition reflects how the lord mayor can’t manage his conflicts of interest.”
Police Commissioner Col Blanch says police are well-prepared for this weekend’s snap protest by the Friends of Palestine WA in Forrest Place, which he said carried a heightened risk given recent events in the eastern states.
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch.Credit: Nine News Perth
Blanch told 6PR’s Gary Adshead officers would be on the lookout for racism and speech likely to incite violence and would not hesitate to take action at the protest on October 5, in which the group is calling for an urgent ceasefire of the war in Gaza and the de-escalation of the broader regional conflict.
“I don’t get involved in the politics ... my concern is public safety, and as police we’re prepared,” he told 6PR.
“If you roll out prohibited flags unlawful in Australia, police will take action.
“Everyone there wants to have a lawful, peaceful protest, and they have actually helped police to identify those who are unlikely to do that.”
It comes just days after police reported hearing antisemitic chants and at least six people wielding the flags of Hezbollah during a protest in Melbourne, a designated terrorist group in Australia.
While protests have been held regularly across the country since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, they have gained greater momentum following an escalation of Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon over the past week. (edited)
To some tragic news now and the 35-year-old man who died while working along the Mitchell Freeway on Thursday afternoon has been identified as father-of-one and Irish national Barry Breslin.
Breslin was reportedly struck by a piece of equipment that fell at a work site at the Warwick Road off-ramp, causing a serious head injury. He was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital, but later died.
Barry Breslin, 35, died while working on the Mitchell Freeway. Credit: Facebook
The Belfast Telegraph reported Breslin’s death this morning, and stated he had been living in Australia for a number of years.
They wrote that a tribute from his local Gaelic Athletic Association club in Kilcar said the community was in shock.
“It was a great shock to us all when the news reached us this morning of the untimely passing of Barry in Australia,” the club’s tribute read.
“Barry played underage for the club for many years and is fondly remembered by the players and all who were involved at the time.
“To his mother, a tireless volunteer and supporter of our club over the years, our hearts go out to you and your family, and we pass on our prayers to you all at this sad time.”
WorkSafe investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding Breslin’s death, and CFMEU State Secretary Mick Buchan said the union was conducting its own investigations.
“The CFMEU expresses our deepest condolences to the family and workmates of the construction worker who tragically lost his life while working on the NRW Smart Freeway Works site today,” he said.
“Again we are faced with another fatality that was entirely preventable and should never have happened.
“Everyone deserves to come home at the end of the day, there’s no excuses and there’s nothing more important.”