As it happened: WA news on Thursday, July 25

Before we wrap up the blog for today, we have some political news.

Former WA Nationals leader Mia Davies will on Friday confirm a switch to federal politics.

Oliver Peterson of 6PR writes the 45-year-old member for the state seat of Central Wheatbelt had announced her intention to retire from politics at the next WA election, due in March next year.

WA Opposition Leader Mia Davies.Credit: Peter de Kruijff

However, the creation of the new federal seat of Bullwinkel – which takes in her Wheatbelt power base - and lobbying from senior federal Nationals – has tempted her to change course.

Read more on this news here.

Have a great evening.

Desperately looking forward to watching the Olympics like we are?

Luckily, rain did not slow the progress of Yagan Square’s live screen from taking form this week.

The big screen going up.

The big screen now stands proud in the amphitheatre where it will light up tonight from 12.30am to broadcast the Matildas vs Germany at 1am, under 26,000 green and gold LEDs and the stars of the late night sky.

Normal hours resume on Friday, 7am to midnight each day of the Olympics (plus special broadcasts).

Then on Saturday a replay of the Opening Ceremony with free green and gold fanfare will begin at noon.

Back to the BGC class action now, and it has been revealed the defendants in the class action are seeking compensation in the order of $100 million.

Perth law firm Morgan Alteruthemeyer Legal Group commenced Supreme Court proceedings, the first of their kind, against three of the construction giant’s entities on Wednesday on behalf of thousands of homeowners who entered building contracts with them.

Brianna Murphy has been waiting nearly five years for her Bushmead terrace home to be completed with builder BGC.Credit: Claire Ottaviano

The complainants claim BGC Residential, JCORP and Ventura Homes breached Australian Consumer Law and their contractual obligations with individual BGC homeowners in contracts entered into between January 2019 and September 2022 who went on to experience build delays and cost blowouts.

Lawyers anticipate the class action, which will remain open for the duration of the court action, could comprise up to 5000 customers and the quantum of the compensation claim to be in the order of $100 million.

BGC has vowed to defend the action, which a spokesperson for the company said had potential widespread implications for all builders across the state and Australia.

Read more here.

WA’s TAFE teachers have received a renewed pay offer from the state government, after taking part in industrial action including refusing to enter student results, answer internal emails and or attend meetings.

The State School Teachers’ Union of WA has been negotiating for 10 months. On Thursday the union committee endorsed the second offer, which included a 5 per cent increase in the first year, followed by 4 per cent and then 3 per cent.

Other highlights included an increase in the country incentives allowance, the introduction of a new grade 9 classification and an increase in the number of advanced industry lecturers by 50 full-time staff across the five TAFE colleges.

All work bans are now lifted pending the outcome of the member vote, expected to pass.

Union president Matt Jarman said a national survey had shown 65 per cent of TAFE teachers had considered leaving their job in the past two years.

“We have a shortage of TAFE teachers in WA and this is only going to get worse,” he said.

“There are many incidents of students earning considerably more than their teachers and currently TAFE teachers are being paid approximately $5000 less than school teachers with similar experience.”

WA Police have had a major breakthrough in their investigation into a violent home invasion in Innaloo on Tuesday.

Earlier today, a 29-year-old man from Butler was arrested, with police alleging he was among a group of men who barged into a man’s King George Street house around 4am and stole more than $50,000 worth of gold jewellery.

The accused man has been charged with aggravated home burglary, armed robbery and assault occasioning bodily harm.

A vehicle has also been seized for forensic examination.

To more breaking news now, with three BGC Housing Group entities at the centre of a class action being spearheaded on behalf of thousands of disgruntled homeowners who entered building contracts with the trouble-plagued company.

In a statement released on Thursday, Perth law firm Morgan Alteruthemeyer Legal Group confirmed it had commenced proceedings in the Supreme Court on July 24, the first of its kind in WA.

The builder blames labour and supplies shortages.Credit: Getty/Composite

In it, the complainants claim the companies breached Australian Consumer Law and their contractual obligations with individual BGC homeowners in contracts entered into between January 2019 and September 2022.

Morgan Alteruthemeyer Legal Group building and construction partner Spencer Lieberfreund said the organisation had undertaken a significant amount of work getting to this point and was pleased to be able to support its clients in pursuing their claim.

BGC customer-turned-plaintiff James Buck alleged BGC’s conduct had left him and his family both financially and emotionally devastated.

The lawsuit is being bankrolled by litigation funder Omni Bridgeway.

Reporters Jesinta Burton and Sarah Brookes will bring you more on this, here. 

A whale carcass has swept ashore at South Cottesloe, forcing the closure of the beach over concerns it may attract sharks to the area.

The Town of Cottesloe is working with authorities to remove the carcass, which was first reported to Fisheries at 9.20am this morning.

The whale was described as being “one metre offshore”, and “rolling around” in the strong winds.

The carcass discovery comes two weeks after a humpback whale calf beached itself at the same spot.

An update on the helicopter collision up north, and sadly, WA Police have confirmed both pilots involved have died.

“Early indications suggest two cattle mustering helicopters collided shortly after take-off,” a statement read.

“Both helicopters only had one person on board. Sadly, both pilots – a 29-year-old man and a 30-year-old man – died as a result of injuries received during the crash.

“The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has been notified and will conduct a transport safety investigation into the incident.”

WA Police Force will prepare a report for the coroner.

To breaking news now and two helicopters have collided midair near Derby in the state’s North West.

The flights took off around 6.20am this morning from Mount Anderson Station in Camballin, a small town located on a cattle station.

A WA Police spokeswoman said it was believed both helicopters had only the pilots inside.

“Early indications suggest two helicopters collided shortly after take-off,” she said.

“At this time the details of those on board and the extent of their injuries are unknown.”

Fremantle Dockers captain Alex Pearce will undergo surgery today for the second time in as many months after re-injuring his forearm during Saturday’s win against Melbourne.

The defender initially suffered a fracture to his arm during Round 15 but returned to the side a month later, playing with his arm in a cast during Round 19.

Fremantle Dockers captain Alex Pearce during Saturday’s match against the Demons. Credit: Getty Images

During the third quarter, however, Pearce suffered a new fracture in a different spot on the same arm and was subbed off.

Fremantle is yet to reveal how long the skipper could be on the sidelines for, with five games remaining in the home and away season before finals begin.