As it happened: WA news on Monday, September 9

Good afternoon readers, and thanks for joining us today.

Hope you enjoyed the unaccustomed sunshine! There’s more of that on the way.

That’s all in the blog for this evening, but we’ll see you back here bright and early tomorrow.

Philanthropist Annie Fogarty has announced a substantial uplift for one of the state’s richest literary prizes.

Inaugurated in 2019, the Fogarty Literary Award for young West Australian writers quickly established itself as a major part of the state’s arts landscape.

Fogarty Award 2023 shortlisters Josh Kemp and Karleah Olson (first and fourth from left), 2021 winner Brooke Dunnell (second) and Annie Fogarty (third) at The Literature Centre, in Fremantle.Credit: Ryan Gibson

The biennial award for an unpublished manuscript by a writer of under 35 provides the winner with $20,000 and a publishing contract with Fremantle Press.

It also funds $5000 for each winner’s regional tour and $5000 to Fremantle Press to cover some of the costs involved.

The foundation has now added $7500 to the prize to turbocharge Fremantle Press’ capacity to tour and market the finished books, and increase marketing support of shortlisters.

“Thirteen books have been published since the Award commenced, with some authors going on to win major national awards,” Fogarty said at the event launching A Wreck of Seabirds by Karleah Olson and Jasper Cliff by Josh Kemp, both of which got publishing contracts of their own after being shortlisted for last year’s awards.

“The Fogarty Literary Award gives the next generation of leading West Australian authors – those who deeply understand our unique culture and lived experience – the extra support they need to write stories about us, and for us.”

To the courts now and a badly behaved passenger who forced a plane to Sydney to turn back to Perth last year has copped a hefty fine.

Wade Corbett, 33, was ordered to pay a $9000 fine and $8630 to Jetstar for dumped fuel after his behaviour forced flight JQ989 to Sydney to turn back to Perth, so AFP officers could arrest him.

Jetstar staff called the AFP on September 25, 2023 after Corbett became unruly shortly after takeoff.

The plane turned back, forcing the pilot to dump fuel before landing and the flight was cancelled.

Corbett was arrested by AFP officers and charged with one count of disorderly behaviour on an aircraft and one count of failure to comply with safety instruction.

He pleaded guilty to the charges last week.

AFP Acting Superintendent Shona Davis said individuals who cause disturbances on flights could expect to be held to account for their illegal actions.

“This incident should serve as a warning that criminal behaviour on board can come at a heavy cost to the offender,” she said.

“It’s far simpler to obey the directions of airline staff than cause unnecessary issues, which can end up hitting you in the hip pocket.”

Families will be able to access free summer holiday swimming lessons as the state government continues its cash splash cost of living sweeteners.

Just a day after announcing free Perth Zoo family passes Premier Roger Cook was joined by Education Minister Tony Buti at the Balga leisure centre this afternoon to announce free VacSwim lessons for this summer holidays.

The WA government has announced funding for summer swimming lessons.

The state will spend $5.5 million on the free lessons which Cook said would save a family with two children attending the 10-day swimming program $214.

In addition, around eight to ten low-fee, low socio-economic private schools in the state will be able to access free in-term swimming lessons – which is already available to low-socio economic public schools.

“We want to ensure there is no financial barrier for a kid to learn to swim,” Buti said.

Freebies labelled “cost-of-living” relief like free swimming lessons and zoo tickets are coming through thick and fast from the Cook government in the lead up to summer and next year’s state election, but Cook rubbished any suggestion they were election sweeteners.

He said the zoo had allocated 93,000 tickets since that announcement yesterday, and it was a measure that would help families under pressure.

“We are looking at all those things that have measures right across that spectrum of making sure we’re doing what we can to relieve at the cost of living,” he said.

“As parents, we understand that people are struggling with the cost of living today, and that opportunities to take your family to the zoo might be one of the first things that you don’t do because your family budget is under pressure.

“So we think it’s a very important gesture…not only for people’s cost of living, but also for their well-being.”

A homicide detective has died overnight inside a police facility in what is thought to be suicide, with an investigation under way into how the tragedy unfolded.

WA Police confirmed the news on Monday, stating that the man’s death was non-suspicious and that a report would be prepared for the coroner.

Police Commissioner Col Blanch extended his condolences to the family of the officer, his colleagues and all who knew him.

“Information regarding this officer’s death has been shared with his colleagues, and health and welfare support has been offered to all police officers and staff who may be impacted by thistragedy,” a WA Police spokeswoman said.

WA Police Union president Paul Gale said the whole force and union membership were distraught.

“All of our members both here and across Australia will be affected by this,” he said.

It’s understood the incident occurred at a police facility in Perth’s CBD.

Read more. 

To breaking news now and authorities are currently trying to rescue two humpback whales which have become entangled in ropes and floats offshore from Fremantle.

Parks and Wildlife officers attached a satellite tracking tag on one of the whales on Sunday afternoon intending to disentangle them today once it is safe to do so.

Meanwhile, a Southern Right Whale mother and her calf have been spotted off Mandurah, however, wildlife experts say its common to see the mammals resting close to shore at this time of year.

More than 44,000 people have already claimed free Perth Zoo tickets since the WA government announced the venue would be providing complimentary tickets from today until the end of November.

The state government has announced a $6.2 million initiative for West Australians experiencing cost-of-living pressures to visit the Perth Zoo for free from today until November 30 this year.

Every WA resident over the age of 15 can claim up to four free tickets to Perth Zoo via the ServiceWA app.

Available to both children and adults, The Perth Zoo free pass will also include free public transport to and from the zoo.

Giraffes are among the many attractions at Perth Zoo.Credit: City of Perth

To manage numbers, people will need to register which day they wish to attend, through ServiceWA.

Premier Roger Cook said the $6.2 million initiative will save families more than $110 on a day out to the zoo.

“As a dad from Kwinana, I know that a day out with the family at Perth Zoo is such an important part of growing up in WA,” he said.

“With many Western Australian households feeling cost of living pressures, we want to make sure families can still get out and about over the school holidays and throughout spring.”

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has ruled the tragic death of a young father in O’Connor on Saturday as non-suspicious.

Rob Lo Presti, 34, was working alone at his marine repair business around 3pm when an explosion occurred and sparked a fire.

DFES spokesman Shaun Gilbert told 9 News Perth firefighters had tried in vain to dampen the flames.

“It was very, very hot which did impede access to get into the building, there was no access at the rear of the building either so it did make it incredibly difficult to try and access the fire,” he said.

“There’s been some sort of fuel leak which has caused a vapour flash and an explosion and the boat has then caught fire.”

Lo Presti was described as a loving father of two and a fishing fanatic.

“[He was] the most honest, genuine, vivacious human being whose love of life was noticeable to everyone who knew him and his infectious smile was like no other,” his family said in a statement.

The blaze has been deemed non-suspicious, and the warehouse building, which sustained significant damage, will likely have to be demolished.

Tributes continue to flow this morning for a young man who died in a car crash in Attadale on Saturday morning.

Bailey Burns, 23, was killed when he lost control of his car on Canning Highway around 4.40am and collided with a tree.

Bailey Burns.Credit: GoFundMe

Police had been pursuing the vehicle moments earlier.

A GoFundMe campaign has raised around $40,000 for the Burns family in less than 24 hours.

“For those that know, we all recently lost a loving soul of ours Bailey Burns. This GoFundMe is to help cover funeral costs and anything else related, our small family appreciates any donation big or small,” organiser Louise Cocodis wrote.

“Let’s all get together and give Bailey the send-off he deserves.”

To weekend news now, and WA Police homicide detectives continue to investigate the death of man aged in his 40s who was discovered in a Greenfields house on Sunday morning.

Emergency services received reports of an assault inside a home on Renison Drive at around 1.45am.

Upon arrival, the deceased man was located with serious injuries, and died a short time later.

A friend described him as “a kind, respectful, loving person”, who had proposed to his partner a day before his death.