As it happened: WA news on Wednesday, April 9

Thanks for joining us today.

We’re bringing our live blog to a close but here’s a recap of some of the headlines we covered today:

• WA divers left stranded in ocean reveal they ‘thought they were going to die’
• More than 50 cars damaged in western suburbs rampage
• Fremantle independent candidate rescinds dual citizenship with just hours to spare
• Virginia Giuffre’s lawyer speaks after court hearing
• Premier says Ellenbrook school concerns ‘distressing, traumatising’
• Perth council claims to have made shot-hole borer scientific breakthrough

Thanks for joining us. See you tomorrow for more news from around the state.

The state government introduced legislation into parliament today aimed at boosting housing affordability to get more people on the property ladder.

The Bill to amend the Duties Act 2008 is tipped to help around 22,000 first homebuyers over the next four years, with about 8,000 buyers no longer paying any transfer duty when buying their first home or vacant land to build their first home.

State government introduces legislation to boost housing affordability. Credit: Bloomberg

The changes include no duty being payable on homes valued up to $500,000, saving first homebuyers nearly $18,000. There is also a reduced rate of duty on homes valued between $500,000 and $700,000 in the Perth and Peel regions while first homebuyers purchasing vacant land to build their first home will pay no duty on land valued up to $350,000.

The off-the-plan duty concession will be extended until June 2026 with thresholds for the concession lifted by $100,000.

Premier Roger Cook said his government won’t stop working towards ensuring every Western Australian has a home.

“Not only does Western Australia have the fastest-growing economy in the nation, we have the fastest-growing population, which creates pressures in areas like housing,” he said.

“We recognise the challenges first homebuyers face in trying to get a foot on the property ladder and that’s why we’ve committed to this significant change.”

Magpies in Perth and South West WA have increasingly been presenting with a complex paralysis syndrome, unable to stand, lift their heads or breathe.

WA magpies have presented with similar signs since around 2018, but the number of cases and areas affected are growing exponentially.

Magpies in treatment for a complex paralysis syndrome. Credit: Wildlife Health Australia

Murdoch University researchers are collaborating with wildlife centres and organisations, such as Wildlife Health Australia, to gather information and find a cause.

Dr Bethany Jackson from Murdoch University’s Harry Butler Institute said this situation highlighted a common scenario with wildlife health events, where the novelty of problems and the costs of diagnostic tools made diagnoses complex.

“We look forward to diagnosing the cause of this syndrome and being able to share that information with wildlife carers, veterinarians and the public,” she said.

Researchers are urging the public who see a sick magpie to follow this checklist:

• Avoid contact with the bird. Record what you see, including the location and take photos or video if safe. Also see the WHA guidance document for sick and injured wildlife.
• Contact a wildlife rehabilitation group or your local veterinarian.
• If you see any other unusual signs of disease or deaths in wildlife anywhere in Australia, you can report it to your local State/Territory WHA Coordinator

Back to Parliament now, where a response to questions about the housing crisis has descended into a debate about whether the Liberal Party can deliver on its promise of a “reset”, with Minister John Carey imploring them to get their own house in order.

Carey rose to criticise Liberal leader Basil Zempilas for attending a WA Planning Commission meeting to oppose a high-rise development he said would offer “critical new housing supply” and undermining the planning body.

Minister John Carey in Parliament on Wednesday.

But the response quickly became a running commentary on whether Zempilas would make good on his promise of a total reset after his party’s second-worst election result on record.

He used a media interview in which the Churchlands MP denied the existence of an alliance of powerbrokers known as “the Clan” - which included Upper House MP Nick Goiran - while poring over articles covering its extensive links.

And he encouraged Zempilas to find out about the machinations of the group by quizzing newly-elected Carine MP Liam Staltari, who was involved in the Clan WhatsApp group exposed in 2021.

“I thought I was having a metaphysical crisis because I saw Nick Goiran,” Carey told parliament.

“[The Clan] exists, and that’s the reality.

“There is no reset when it comes to planning, when it comes to housing or when it comes to getting their house in order, and finally, in dealing with the powerbrokers that operate in the WA Liberal Party.”

The message thread, which was published in full in the media, exposed the inner workings of the influential conservative faction, its members and how it manipulated the preselection process.

WA Police have provided an update on the car smashing rampage a trio carried out in Perth’s western suburbs overnight.

Initially, police had received reports of around 50 cars being damaged. That figure has now risen to more than 90 as reports have continued to come through today.

WA Police Inspector Geoff Desanges. Credit: 9 News Perth

WA Police Inspector Geoff Desanges said it appeared a group of young men committed the offences over a 10-kilometre radius, driving a car between suburbs and then walking on foot between cars in Dalkeith, Peppermint Grove, Crawley, Fremantle, Wembley and Mosman Park.

“Cars have predominantly had a side window smashed ... all were parked almost exclusively on the side of the road, very few were parked in driveways,” he said.

“There’s no rhyme or reason, its callous offending with total disregard.

“These offences are not only an inconvenience to the community, but also police resources in having to deal with these 90 offences.”

WA Police are calling on the community to help identify the people involved. Anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.

To Parliament now, and it’s been a baptism of fire for the new Member for Cottesloe, who has been greeted with a string of glowing tweets she published about her new political rivals while in her previous role.

Treasurer Rita Saffioti rose to defend the government’s financial management and record on infrastructure delivery after drawing criticism for seeking a $1.9 billion increase on the Treasurer’s advance.

Treasurer Rita Saffioti poring over the tweets Brewer posted in 2019.

It also came after fresh patronage data saw its flagship Metronet program critiqued in the pages of The West Australian and by members of the opposition.

And she seized on the digital footprint of the newly-appointed shadow treasurer Sandra Brewer, taking aim at the praise she lavished on the Labor government while serving in her previous role as chief executive of the state’s Property Council.

Saffioti proceeded to unfurl a booklet containing four tweets the Cottesloe MP published back in 2019 and a photograph of Brewer outside Parliament House clutching state budget papers.

Among them was a post praising the Labor government’s economic management, planning and infrastructure announcements, and another claiming the lobby group’s own research showed “enormous community support” for the Metronet rail projects.

On September 27, 2019, Brewer penned a post claiming she wished she could apply the same fiscal prudence to her own family finances, congratulating the McGowan government on the first budget surplus in five years.

In another, she stared down the opposition in the face of criticism and doubled down on her support of the Labor Party’s performance, stating “credit where credit is due”.

“She speaks proudly of her time at the Property Council, and I remember it too because she wouldn’t leave us alone,” Saffioti told parliament.

“There wouldn’t be a press conference on housing where the Member for Cottesloe wouldn’t ring up and ask to be involved.

“She wanted to be part of the economic narrative of this state.

“So the Member for Cottesloe getting up and critiquing the financial management of this state when year after year she was begging to come to our press conferences... I don’t think this member is genuine.”

The tirade continued until Member for Carine Liam Staltari called a point of order, claiming Saffioti was speaking negatively on the character of the shadow treasurer.

Underground mining services company Northern Star Mining Services Pty Ltd has just been fined $750,000 over an incident in 2023 where a driller sustained spinal and leg injuries.

The company pleaded guilty in Perth Magistrate’s Court to two offences under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 for causing harm to a worker and exposing workers to risk of death or harm.

The incident occurred when a drill operator was helping to repair and service a Sandvik twin boom Jumbo drill at a workshop that was part of the company’s Carusoe Dam operations.

When the drill operator tested the left boom, the boom rail moved uncontrollably due to an internal fault, striking the worker and causing serious injuries.

WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North said the company could have avoided the incident if it had followed proper processes, such as barricading the area when the Jumbo drill’s power was not isolated.

A Perth local council claims it may have made a breakthrough in the fight to stop the insidious march of a tiny beetle that’s killing Perth’s trees.

The polyphagous shot-hole borer, known as ‘the sesame seed of destruction’ due to its appearance, was first discovered in Australia in 2021 in Fremantle, where it’s suspected it may have entered the country from a ship docked at the port.

Since then, the invasive pest has forced thousands of trees to be chopped down, and hundreds of surveillance officers have been employed in an attempt to slow its spread.

But the City of Canning is claiming an Australian-first scientific trial it is running is showing signs it could be a breakthrough to protecting Perth’s urban canopy.

The city said it has used systemically injected chemicals on 131 of its trees, with promising results indicating the formula inhibits the growth of the fungus the beetles eat, which ultimately kills the tree.

“The initial trial results are incredibly encouraging, and are a major milestone for the project
team,” said City of Canning Mayor, Patrick Hall.

“This represents a game-changing approach to preserving our urban forests. It is absolutely vital that we build on this momentum, yet whilst other local governments stand ready to participate in further trials, those trials can only occur if additional government funding and support is provided.”

Premier Roger Cook has been asked to explain why pop star Lady Gaga has left Perth off her Australian tour list.

The singer is one of several international acts to leave the west coast off their itinerary, along with artists like Taylor Swift, Oasis, Dua Lipa, The Weeknd and Paul McCartney.

Cook said the snubs were sometimes unavoidable, but that Perth’s reputation as a global event destination was growing.

“Perth continues to attract global events and that’s one of the reasons why we are emerging as an event destination,” he said.

“We’ve had amazing concerts put on here.

“It is a difficult place for people to bump in a concert, they have to bring trucks across the Nullabor, that has cost and logistical challenges.”

Lady Gaga announced her Australian tour earlier today, with events planned in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in December. ′

Our colleagues over at Radio 6PR recently discussed the problem, take a listen below:

WA Premier Roger Cook has labelled a spate of violent incidents linked to an eastern suburb high school as “distressing and traumatising”, during a press conference this morning.

It follows a second parent coming forward and alleging her 13-year-old son was horrifically bullied at the school, which forced her to remove him due to concerns for his mental health.

The boy attended Aveley Secondary College in Ellenbrook, the same school as another 13-year-old boy who had his jaw broken in a shopping centre bashing last week.

Cook said he understood that parents, who were calling for schools to better protect their children, were upset.

“Kids should be confident that they can go to school knowing that they’ll be protected, knowing that they’ll be supervised to the extent needed so that violence doesn’t occur,” he said.

“We can’t guarantee that there won’t be outbreaks of anti-social behavior in a school environment, and that’s why we have such strong consequences for students that are enacting out violence.

“We need to continue to work with the parents and I know the education minister is doing that.”

Cook said 10 alternative school sites had been arranged for other disruptive students, with options available for schools to address ongoing bullies.