Latest WA state news
Honeymoon over as Perth Uber drivers battle each other for fares
Heather McNeill 9:01 AM First they were viewed as undercutting cabbies, now it seems Uber drivers in Perth are being pitted against each other as the ride-sharing service experiences a surge in drivers fighting for fares.
Fiona Stanley Hospital bungle 'embarrassing': WA peak medical body
![A Fiona Stanley Hospital patient has been left in a hospital gym for eight hours](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/b/d/e/0/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glbmq0.png/1448878012501.jpg)
Heather McNeill and Emma Young 9:06 PM WA's peak medical body has weighed in on recent criticism of Fiona Stanley Hospital, labelling its latest medical bungle involving an elderly patient as "embarrassing" and calling on the state government to invest in improving services at the beleaguered hospital.
Perth woman brags about sneaking '100 pingas' into Stereosonic festival
![One Facebook user claimed to have taken 100 'pingas' into the festival in Perth on Sunday.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/b/s/z/c/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glbs5z.png/1448876157676.jpg)
Heather McNeill 8:35 PM A woman has bragged about smuggling 100 ecstasy pills past security at the Perth Stereosonic music festival on Sunday, one day after a 25-year-old woman died of a suspected drug overdose at the same event in Sydney.
Perth gran celebrates 109th birthday with cake - and letter from Queen
![Helen Stamelos has survived two World Wars to celebrate her 109th birthday with (left) and a letter from the Queen.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/b/r/m/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glbqjg.png/1448866298581.jpg)
Chelsea Spence 5:51 PM The oldest person in WA to undergo a major hip replacement has celebrated her 109th birthday - and celebrated with cake and a letter from the Queen.
Fremantle Dockers fan who punched woman now jailed
![A fan captured the assault on their phone during the game.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/v/f/c/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glbi3b.png/1448882134884.jpg)
5:29 PM A Dockers fan who admitted hitting a woman in the jaw after being asked to tone down his language at an AFL match has been jailed for eight months.
Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi threatens to quit as probe continues
![Lisa Scaffidi is on the verge of resigning after fresh probe.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/7/g/i/e/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glbbz8.png/1448866092796.jpg)
Brendan Foster 5:20 PM Embattled Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi is on the brink of quitting after the Department of Local Government said it was going to investigate her travel rort scandals, according to the ABC.
Four men plucked from the ocean near Falcon as boat sinks
![Four men were saved by marine rescue volunteers.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/b/7/c/h/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glb7bi.png/1448857951652.jpg)
Staff writers 3:32 PM Four men were rescued on Sunday night about two nautical miles off Falcon near Mandurah after being swept from their boat into the ocean by a wave.
Halls Head kite surfer drifts in ocean before night on a sandbank
![Kitesurfer Malcolm Muller spent eight hours stranded in the ocean.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/b/9/5/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glb8o7.png/1448857905735.jpg)
Brendan Foster 3:31 PM A kite surfer from Halls Head spent the 'longest night of his life' in the ocean near Mandurah standing on a sandbank after his kite deflated on Sunday.
Andrew Hastie: Odds shorten on Member for Canning's rise
![Andrew Hastie the Prime Minister in 2020? That will pay you $67.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/b/h/1/r/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glbh47.png/1448855454614.jpg)
Nathan Hondros 2:50 PM An online bookmaker is taking bets on the career of Member for Canning Andrew Hastie, offering to pay out $67 if he becomes Prime Minister by 2020.
Fears for Aussie surfers missing in Mexico after 'bodies found'
![THumbnail](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/b/0/g/r/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glalr2.png/1448834553295.jpg)
Kate Hedley The families and partners of two Golden Bay men missing in Mexico fear "a tragic event has occurred" after the van they were travelling in was found.
State shuts down Aboriginal children's ear screening service
![Health Minister Kim Hames addresses the media.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/v/b/s/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glay4a.png/1448782994817.jpg)
Emma Young The state government has cut off funding for a Perth Aboriginal children's ear clinic, despite its rating of 'outstanding' in an independent review.
'No one came': Elderly patient abandoned at FSH
![Health Minister Kim Hames addresses the media.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/v/b/s/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glap9p.png/1448777081038.jpg)
Emma Young Opposition health spokesman Roger Cook has called for the sacking of Health Minister Kim Hames following reports of an elderly patient being abandoned for eight hours in a gym at Fiona Stanley Hospital.
Charges after teenage campers were run over at Bridgetown party
![police](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/g/g/f/6/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glanmv.png/1448758898205.jpg)
Emma Young A teenage girl was seriously injured in Bridgetown, when a driver allegedly ran over her and another boy as they lay in their swags.
Sam Smith's resurrected Perth concert worth the wait
![Sam Smith was previously forced to cancel his debut Australian tour.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/r/d/d/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glaqpi.png/1448767887178.jpg)
Heather McNeill After a long wait, Perth fans of singer-song writer Sam Smith finally got their chance to see him perform live at Perth Arena on Saturday, and he didn't disappoint.
Bushfire alert for Port Kennedy and Secret Harbour
![A bushfire is menacing parts of Port Kennedy and Secret Harbour.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/i/o/y/t/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glai5y.png/1448695487588.jpg)
Adrian Beattie A bushfire alert has been issued for parts of Port Kennedy and Secret Harbour, with a possible risk to lives and homes.
Police called to massive street brawl in Noranda
![Police interview people after the Noranda street fight.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/g/t/5/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glac9c.png/1448688505583.jpg)
Adrian Beattie Police were called to a massive street brawl in Noranda on Friday night. First reports said hundreds of people were involved.
Plane crash exercise brings flames and firefighters to Langley Park
![Firefighters in action as teams compete for the top spot.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/f/y/d/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glafhy.png/1448685278126.jpg)
Adrian Beattie There were dramatic scenes at Langley Park in the centre of Perth on Saturday afternoon as firefighters battled what looked like a plane crash.
Motorcyclist charged over death of car passenger
![A motorcyclist will front court over the death of a car passenger.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/u/v/e/1/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glae1o.png/1448679615102.jpg)
Adrian Beattie A motorcyclist has been charged over the death of a 19-year-old woman killed in a road crash in Forrestfield.
'Tough start' Perth man named WA Young Person of the Year
![The winners of the WA Youth Awards have been announced.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/e/5/s/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glade9.png/1448678250326.jpg)
Adrian Beattie An Aboriginal man who has overcome homelessness and family problems has been named WA's Young Person of the Year for 2015.
Flights resume between Perth and Bali despite volcano ash cloud
![Virgin Australia says it will operate its normal Sunday flights to Bali.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/r/2/s/5/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glad2e.png/1448674873374.jpg)
Adrian Beattie There was relief for Bali bound passengers at Perth airport on Saturday when flights took off as scheduled despite volcanic ash still pouring into the air near Denpasar.
Perth man's amazing random act of kindness
![Jonathon Strzina and Kin](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/7/b/z/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gla7i3.png/1448617595395.jpg)
Heather McNeill When he approached the homeless man and asked how he was, he replied 'not good'. Then something amazing happened.
Retro arcade games go under the hammer
![Some of the classic arcade games to be auctioned-off on Saturday.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/6/k/k/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gla6dt.png/1448612577249.jpg)
Kristie Lim Gaming junkies can take a blast into the past with retro arcade machines at a rare auction in Wangara on Saturday.
Ray's Rant: Has Subiaco been left behind to become the new Dullsville?
![The Subi Hotel has been spruced up but it doesn't feel the same as it used to.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/u/6/8/7/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl9vyz.png/1448606093301.jpg)
Ray Sparvell I remember when Subiaco was cool.
Ms Dhu's doctor 'missed' high heart rate
![Ms Dhu died two days after she was locked up at South Hedland Police Station in Western Australia in August 2014.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/6/9/j/v/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gla7fe.png/1448614236170.jpg)
The doctor who discharged a young Aboriginal woman in police custody from hospital the day before she died has admitted he 'missed' her high heart rate, indicating infection.
200th numbat set to be released
![The 200th numbat is set to be released in the South West.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/1/v/9/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gla212.png/1448612092995.jpg)
Kristie Lim Western Australia's dwindling numbat population will get a boost next month when 15 of the captive-bred marsupials are released into the state's south west.
CCC: WA vehicle inspectors and driving assessor could face jail time
![Former driving inspector Greg Briotti was caught on camera accepting bribes.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/5/p/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gla5ir.png/1448610656636.jpg)
Heather McNeill Three WA men accused of accepting bribes in return for signing off false driving tests and vehicle roadworthy checks could face up to seven years in jail if the corruption watchdog recommends the trio be prosecuted.
Busselton teenager juggles school with caring for chronically ill mum
![Aspiring teenage actress Monique Maggi, from Busselton, is completing high school at home so she can care for her mother Leeanne Maggi full-time.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/a/4/j/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gla4sl.png/1448607494299.jpg)
Emma Kirk A 15-year-old Busselton teenager who completing high school at home so she can care full-time for her chronically ill mother is a finalist in the 2015 Young People Who Care Awards.
Transperth under fire for 'appalling' handling of Thursday train cancellations
![This photo captures some of the chaos at Perth Train Station caused by the line shutdown.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/9/i/z/b/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl9i4b.png/1448604019834.jpg)
Heather McNeill Transperth has come under fire for its "appalling" handling of peak hour train cancellations on Thursday with some commuters claiming it took more than four hours to get home.
Patient distress as WA nurses, doctors face axe
![Doris Samuels](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/8/q/p/b/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl8mje.png/1448578516785.jpg)
Emma Young A man who this year exposed 'horrendous' experiences in a Perth cancer centre says while he's grateful for the resulting upgrades, he's alarmed by reports that thousands of hospital jobs are to be cut.
Parliament passes act to finalise Bell Group saga once and for all
![The collapse of Alan Bond's Bell Group led to a long-running legal case.](/web/20151130221029im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/w/x/5/l/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl9zlz.png/1448603263108.jpg)
Emma Young Legislation to finalise the nation's most expensive and longest-running court case has passed the West Australian parliament.