As it happened: WA news on Monday, April 7

Thanks for joining us today.

I’ll leave you with news from court about how 18-year-old Nick Campo was killed in a horrific car crash. Rebecca Peppiatt is in court, and writes about how the ute Campo died in was a dangerously modified car, with missing seatbelts. 

And late this afternoon Holly Thompson broke the story about an eight-year-old boy who was attacked in his school playground, and his parents want schools to get greater powers to deal with bullies.

Have a great Monday night and we’ll see you again tomorrow.

Further to our last post, a fifth person – a teenage girl – has been taken to hospital after serious crash involving three cars in the state’s Wheatbelt.

Police, St John WA and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services were dispatched to the crash on Brand Highway at Hill River shortly after 11.30am.

A woman in her 30s was conveyed to Perth via helicopter, while a man in his 20s, a woman in her 60s, a man in his 70s and a teenage girl were taken to Jurien Bay Health Centre for treatment.

The extent of their injuries is not yet known.

The highway has since been reopened, but a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is ongoing.

Those with information or dashcam footage are asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

And in other news, emergency services have converged on Hill River in the state’s Wheatbelt after a multi-vehicle crash left at least four injured.

Multiple crews from St John WA and a rescue chopper were dispatched to the scene on Brand Highway shortly after 11.30am.

It is understood at least four people have been conveyed to Jurien Bay Hospital.

The extent of their injuries is not yet known.

At least half a dozen volunteer firefighting personnel from the Cervantes and Jurien Bay fire brigades were also sent to aid in the response.

Grieving loved ones of a WA teenager who died on Saturday in an off-road motorcycle crash have remembered the 17-year-old as “cheeky” and “full of life”.

Rex Mason died after the motorbike he was riding collided with another bike being ridden by a 15-year-old boy on White Hill Road in Bouvard, a suburb of Mandurah.

Rex Mason died at the weekend in an off-road motorbike crash.

In the wake of the tragedy, family members have started a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for the financial strain the death will have on his parents, who run a local shop.

“He was full of life—tall as anything (seriously, the tallest person most of us had ever met), with a cheeky grin, a passion for motorbikes, and a heart that made everyone around him feel welcome,” the fundraising page read.

“Rex was the kind of kid who could light up a room just by walking into it. He was only just beginning his life, taken away from us all far too early.

“As a family, they were very close, worked side by side in the family small local fish and chip shop.

“Rex was part of everything they did—helping out, joking around, and being a real part of the team. His loss has left an enormous hole in their hearts, their home, and their everyday lives.”

More than $23,000 has been raised in less than a day.

The sister of a missing Perth schoolboy who hasn’t been seen in eight days has made an emotional plea to the public to help find him.

Richard Tu, 17, was last seen getting off the 529 bus on Armadale Road after Seville Drive in Armadale around 9.15pm on Monday, March 31.

Missing Year 12 student, Richard Tu. Credit: WA Police

He had earlier that night left his family home near Cockburn without telling anyone, and was concealing his face with a hat and mask.

His sister, Rachael, said it was very out of character, and that she feared he was hiding his identity for some unknown reason.

“He never goes out by himself, when he hangs out with friends, he tells us first, and we’ll usually take him there, he would never go out by himself, let alone not tell us where he is,” she said.

“If any part of the community could please help, we’re desperate for anything, the weight’s been really hard on us. Even if you don’t think it matters, please tell us … every bit of detail helps.

“To Richard, if you can see this, we really love you and we really miss you. Whatever it is, we can work through it with you, we’re here for you.”

WA Police Fremantle Inspector Steve Scott said the police did not suspect foul play, but were puzzled by why Richard had left, or where he had gone.

Richard has no mental health concerns and interviews with his family, friends and school community have provided no clues.

“No one has any idea why [he travelled to that area], as far as we know, there is no link for Richard to be in that area,” Scott said.

“We are appealing for anyone who was in that area or surrounds to check their CCTV or dashcam vision so we can understand where he may have gone after that.”

Richard’s phone last pinged on the Monday night he vanished, with police mounting a large-scale search near Bedfordale, but coming up empty-handed.

The results of Australia’s largest citizen science event, BirdLife Australia’s Aussie Bird Count, are in, and we can now reveal Western Australia’s top 10 most seen birds.

More than 57,000 participants counted an astonishing 4.1 million birds as part of the week-long national event in October last year.

The rainbow lorikeet.Credit: Andrew Silcocks

No two states shared the same top three birds.

The rainbow lorikeet was top for WA, followed by the New Holland honeyeater, galah, Australian raven, red wattlebird, Australian white ibis, Australian magpie, Australian ringneck and the silver gull.

“Birds are responding to the way we have changed our environment,” said Sean Dooley, Senior Public Affairs Advisor at BirdLife Australia.

“The most numerous birds reported in the Aussie Bird Count are the ones that adapt better to these changes. If we want to ensure we can enjoy seeing and hearing a greater variety of birds, including smaller bush birds, we need to continue the great work already under way to create more diverse habitat in both urban and regional spaces.”

The rainbow lorikeet was the most numerous bird recorded across the country. Noisy miners came in second.

The Australian magpie swooped into third but was also the bird spotted by the most participants across the country. Almost half of participants saw a magpie during the count.

A four-bedroom house that sold under the hammer in Madeley has set a suburb record after selling for $1.29 million.

The 2014 Dale Alcock build on a 594m² block on Bramley Loop features an inground basketball court and powder room.

The house sold for $1.29m.

Ray White WA chief executive and auctioneer Mark Whiteman said there was strong bidding at all Ray White’s auctions over the weekend before Easter.

“There are 5087 properties available for sale in Perth at the moment which is tight, and because of that lack of supply we’re seeing more buyers competing for less stock,” he said.

There were 12 registered bidders for the auction.

Whiteman said auctions allowed that natural competition to take place.

“It’s good selling conditions in WA which is leading to great results at auction.”

According to REIWA the median house price for Madeley is $900,000.

WA’s oldest surviving prisoner of war and much respected member of the community, Arthur Leggett has died at the weekend, aged 106.

Leggett was just 22 years old when he was captured during the Battle of Crete in 1941. He spent four years in a prison of war camp, spending 12-hour days in the coal mines in Poland.

After the war, he dedicated his life to serving others and had a passion for veterans affairs.

He received an Order of Australia medal, was the WA president of the Ex-Prisoners of War Association for more than 25 years, and Mount Lawley Senior High School’s library was named in his honour to recognise his dedication to inspiring young Australians.

West Coast coach Andrew McQualter has defended debutant Sandy Brock, saying GWS spearhead Jesse Hogan would have even given AFL legend Stephen Silvagni a giant headache.

Brock was handed the unenviable task of nullifying the reigning Coleman Medallist at Engie Stadium on Sunday after key defender Jeremy McGovern (groin) was ruled out.

He was subsequently outclassed, with Hogan kicking an equal career-best nine goals to help launch the Giants to an 81-point victory.

Jesse Hogan takes a contested mark against the debutant. Credit: Getty Images

Brock’s AFL baptism of fire came after McQualter had opted to drop key defender Harry Edwards, despite losing McGovern earlier in the week.

But the first-year coach defended his decision to play Brock, nephew of Australian motorsport legend Peter, on Hogan. The 22-year-old took nine intercept possessions to match All-Australian defender Sam Taylor’s haul, and also finished with two intercept marks.

“It’s an easy one to say now, I suppose [about dropping Edwards],” McQualter said.

“I actually thought – this is going to sound crazy – but I thought Sandy Brock actually defended quite well and showed some moments.

“I’m sure Sandy hasn’t got everything right.

“Ultimately when you have that much ease with your flow of ball through the middle of the ground, you could put Stephen Silvagni on him [Hogan] in the back line and he still would have kicked a few today.”

After mulling over the magnets last week, McQualter opted against sending Eagles co-captain Oscar Allen from forward to defence, and placed star midfielder Harley Reid at halfback.

Here’s what’s making headlines today:

• Public servants would not be forced back into the office or sacked to make savings under a Coalition government after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton sought to stem the worsening political damage from his controversial vow to end flexible work rules and get rid of tens of thousands of bureaucrats.
• Donald Trump’s tariff war is set to cost Australia billions of dollars in lost economic growth at the same time it deepens federal debt, as a crucial budget update highlights the danger to the nation from the global trade confrontation.

US President Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard LutnickCredit: Bloomberg

• High-profile businessman John Singleton, whose daughter was killed in the Bondi Junction stabbing attack last year, has described an upcoming coronial inquiry as a ghoulish “waste of time” and pleaded for it to be shelved.