WA news as it happened: BHP suspends WA nickel operations

Thanks for joining us on the WAtoday live blog.

This afternoon news broke that resources giant BHP will shut down its Nickel West operations in Western Australia this October, putting more than 3000 jobs at risk after a global crash in nickel prices.

We’ll bring you all you need to know as this story develops tomorrow.

And we will leave you with some breaking AFL news, with Isaac Heeney’s Brownlow Medal hopes over after the Sydney Swans star’s one-match suspension for a hit on St Kilda’s Jimmy Webster was upheld by the AFL tribunal’s appeals board.

It comes in a big day of AFL news for us, with former West Coast Eagles player Brad Sheppard suing the AFL, his old club and two doctors over injuries he suffered while playing for West Coast and more news that momentum for Dean Cox to become West Coast’s next coach continues to build, but Sydney won’t want to let their heir apparent go without a fight.

Have a great night, see you tomorrow.

Premier Roger Cook has just released a statement on the announcement that BHP is placing Nickel West operations into temporary suspension.

This is a disappointing decision and our thoughts are with the thousands of workers and their families affected by the suspension.

My Government will do whatever it takes to support those workers and our regional communities through this difficult time.

This announcement again shows the volatility of global commodity markets and reinforces the importance of my Government’s work to diversify our economy and build more resilience into our resources sector.

We’re investing billions to set up our economy for the long term, helping to smooth the volatility in our mining sector and create long-term local jobs for WA.

I welcome BHP’s commitments today to supporting that work, through investing in our Critical Minerals Advanced Processing Facility and kickstarting work on a green steel industry in Kwinana.

These are important projects that will help to push WA to the forefront of the global green steel and critical minerals processing industries.

BHP will temporarily suspend the Nickel West operations and West Musgrave project (Western Australia Nickel) from October 2024 as a global oversupply causes prices to plummet.

In an ASX statement today it has said it will “continue to support its workforce and local communities.”

It will:

• suspend mining and processing operations at the Kwinana nickel refinery, Kalgoorlie nickel smelter and Mt Keith and Leinster operations and the development of the West Musgrave project;

• implement a care and maintenance program of work to ensure the ongoing safety and integrity of its mines and related infrastructure;

• continue to invest in exploration to extend the resource life of Western Australia nickel and preserve optionality; and

• offer Western Australia Nickel frontline employees another role within BHP or the choice of a redundancy and establish a AU$20 million community fund to support local communities during the temporary suspension.

Nickel West employs more than 3000 people.

Need a laugh to lighten your post-lunch slump? Check out this vid of a 38-year-old man’s ambitious escape attempt this week in Langford.

“A 38-year-old man’s dreams of making the Olympic gymnastics team have fallen flat during an arrest attempt in Langford this week,” police wrote.

“About 5.40pm, on Tuesday 9 July 2024, officers entered the Langford home with an arrest warrant … it will be alleged the man climbed out of a bedroom window, into the backyard where he used a trampoline to try to propel himself over the neighbouring fence. He was arrested a short distance away by pursuing police.”

The man was charged with several offences, including one count of criminal damage for the destruction of two fence panels.

UPDATE 1.36pm: Ben has been found, safe and sound!

Police are asking for the public’s assistance to find a missing teen, who was last seen a week ago leaving his Scarborough home.

The 15-year-old’s mother has also been making pleas on social media to help find her son, who she describes as having “a huge heart”.

“[On Wednesday] I covered every street, alleyway and fast food restaurant in the greater Perth CBD handing out photos and appealing to the kindness of strangers to help find [him],” she said.

“I’m blown away by the genuine concern and support, offered by those who have nothing. ”

She said while [he] had mental health issues and had run away in the past, there had been no sign of him since he left their home last Thursday, telling her he would be back around dinner time.

“I have exhausted every avenue I can possibly think of to try and find him,” she said.

[He] was last seen wearing a dark-coloured hooded jumper, black track pants, black-and-white checked Vans shoes and a black backpack.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call police immediately on 131 444.

Premier Roger Cook has just held a press conference to announce the state’s cost-of-living $350 electricity credit will appear on most people’s next bill.

He’s also been asked about why the Christian Brothers were a last-minute no-show at a parliamentary committee hearing this morning examining supports available for child abuse victims.

Premier Roger Cook this morning.Credit: 9 News Perth

The organisation has previously admitted it historically had paedophiles within its ranks who sexually assaulted children.

Cook said the organisation should appear at the hearings voluntarily.

“We expect all institutions that have had experience of this very sorry period of our history to own up and be accountable,” he said.

“Everyone should do their bit to make sure we shine a full light on this situation.”

The Christian Brothers said the questions that were going to be asked at the hearing could potentially compromise current civil proceedings, and so they had reluctantly declined to provide evidence.

A Perth bikie caught on CCTV shooting at a member of a rival gang has pleaded guilty in Perth Magistrates Court this morning.

Jacob William Hughes.Credit: Facebook

Rebels member Jacob Hughes, 26, was accused of attempting to strike a person with a projectile following an altercation on a Baldivis street in October.

CCTV footage showed a firearm being discharged on Amazon Drive, as Mongols member Adam Wragg ran across the road and jumped over his neighbour’s fence.

At the time, police described the incident as “inter-gang conflict”.

Hughes will be sentenced in the Perth District Court at a later date.

Port Hedland was struck by a 3.1 magnitude earthquake in the early hours of this morning.

Geoscience Australia said the quake occurred at 2.17am, 10 kilometres underground.

So far, more than 47 people have reported feeling a light to moderate level of ground shaking, but there were no reports of damage.

“Woke me up. Windows shaking. First thought was earthquake but it was weird. Happened twice maybe 20 seconds apart,” wrote one resident.

The location of the earthquake. Credit: GA Australia

One of Perth’s smallest local councils wants to abandon its Australia Day celebrations in favour of hosting a community event in October.

The Shire of Peppermint Grove is considering whether to pull out of its usual Australia Day commitments, held jointly with the neighbouring councils of Cottesloe and Mosman Park, to instead hold a biennial event which would celebrate the date the shire was gazetted in 1895.

The council is home to some of Perth’s most wealthy residents. Credit: iStock

The proposed change follows claims the council, home to around 1500 residents, gets “lost in the larger populations of the other two local governments” during Australia Day events.

While there hasn’t yet been any consultation with the community, the proposed new ‘Peppermint Grove Day’ would likely include a citizenship ceremony, and citizen of the year awards.

It comes as the January 26 date for Australia Day continues to divide councils, with at least 12 local governments choosing to hold their citizenship ceremony on a different day and others choosing to downgrade their Australia Day celebrations.

Perth tech entrepreneur Mark Arena has just confirmed his purchase of the Perth Wildcats basketball club for $40 million.

Arena, who lives in City Beach with his family, has been a Perth Wildcats supporter since childhood.

“I absolutely love this team and I see huge potential for both basketball and for the City of Perth with the return of local ownership. I believe the Western Australian basketball community can make an even greater impact on a global stage – and that’s good news for everyone,” he said.

Mark Arena has purchased the Perth Wildcats for $40 million.

“I intend to bring my technology and business growth skills to the table to deliver an unprecedented experience for both fans and our sponsors and to reinvigorate the authentic basketball culture that I first fell in love with in the 1990s.”

Arena’s family trust, MT Arena Capital Investments, has purchased 52.5 per cent of the club ahead of the next season, with plans to acquire 100 per cent by 2028.

SEG, helmed by media personality Craig Hutchison, is selling the club three years after reportedly purchasing it for $8.5 million.

Read more here.