Latest WA state news
Perth man accused of being serial child sex pest granted bail
2:08 PM A 35-year-old Perth man accused of committing more than 50 sex offences against three young children has been granted bail.
Man suffers substantial burns in Cockburn factory fire
![Smoke engulfs the building on Pusey Road in Cockburn.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/9/u/y/e/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp9uom.png/1464839119058.jpg)
Adrian Beattie 1:43 PM A man has received serious burns in a factory fire in Cockburn on Thursday morning.
Scramble to find new managers for drag racing and speedway complex
![The state government has begun a search for new managers for the Perth Motorplex in Kwinana](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/9/w/2/f/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp9th5.png/1464838950929.jpg)
Adrian Beattie 1:42 PM The state government is scrambling to find new managers for the Perth Motorplex in Kwinana.
How Jack Darling could have been a Docker - your free WAtoday paper
![WAtoday paper](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/9/v/p/a/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp9oo0.png/1464838309885.jpg)
1:31 PM WAtoday's free June paper hits the street on Friday morning with all the latest on the Dockers and Eagles plus a special look into Perth's partying past.
Postcard Bandit faces WA court again
![Notorious "Postcard Bandit" Brenden Abbott was brought to Perth from Queensland to face charges.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/l/y/c/f/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp9tzx.png/1464835015940.jpg)
12:36 PM A serial bank robber dubbed the "Postcard Bandit" has appeared briefly in a Perth court over a prison escape 27 years ago.
Dramatic waterspouts form off South West coast
![Zac Robinson's photographs, posted on Perth Weather Live.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/9/r/o/v/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp9q8e.png/1464833352649.jpg)
Emma Young 12:09 PM Spectacular images have emerged on social media of a waterspout formed this week off the coast of Eagle Bay in WA's South West.
Large shark caught on drum line at Falcon Beach killed
![Drum lines being set at Falcon Beach on Wednesday.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/9/4/m/a/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp94a8.png/1464827267669.jpg)
Heather McNeill 10:27 AM A great white shark caught on a baited drum line at Falcon Beach in the same area local surfer Ben Gerring was mauled by a suspected great white 24 hours earlier has been killed.
Bomb squad called as Perth suburb in lockdown
![Two men were arrested after a car search unveiled explosives and a detonator.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/9/k/x/p/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp9kyt.png/1464826314987.jpg)
Fran Rimrod 10:11 AM A bomb threat put a north-eastern Perth suburb in lockdown on Thursday morning after police found explosives in a car.
Mike Nahan denies working to undermine WA Premier Colin Barnett
![Mike Nahan says he has never worked to undermine Colin Barnett.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/m/5/v/v/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp9k4y.png/1464820902638.jpg)
8:41 AM Speculation about WA Premier Colin Barnett's leadership is being perpetuated by those who deliberately seek to undermine the government, Treasurer Mike Nahan says.
Shocking video shows WA cyclist threatened by knife wielding driver
![The moment the cyclist realises the man is brandishing a weapon.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/9/9/x/5/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp99t4.png/1464779626897.jpg)
David Baker 9:13 PM A cyclist has uploaded shocking road rage footage capturing the terrifying moment he was threatened by a knife-wielding driver - reportedly on a Perth road.
Police chopper captures dramatic vision of high-speed Perth pursuit
![Police chopper footage shows an escapee exiting the vehicle after the high-speed chase.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/9/f/9/m/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp9ewp.png/1464774301040.jpg)
Heather McNeill 7:45 PM A police helicopter has captured a dramatic moment a teenager attempting evade police drove down the wrong side of a busy Perth highway.
WA shark attack victim's family praise 'amazing bravery' of rescuers
![Ben Gerring is fighting for his life after being attacked by a shark on Tuesday.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/8/r/n/j/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp9d1k.png/1464771091979.jpg)
Heather McNeill 6:40 PM The family of Mandurah shark attack victim Ben Gerring have issued a statement thanking the "brave" people involved in his rescue.
Perth paediatric psychiatrist appears in court over child porn
![Dr Aaron Voon was confronted by angry shoppers after the incident in Canada.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/7/k/l/r/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp8r3z.png/1464752947388.jpg)
Emma Young & Global News Perth child psychiatrist Aaron Voon, arrested after allegedly using a mobile phone to film a young boy in a shopping centre toilet overseas, has appeared in a Canadian court.
Mal'z Deli owner sleeps on store's roof to stop demolition
![The Mal'z Deli in Scarborough.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/5/7/z/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp8uow.png/1464751862391.jpg)
Emma Young Mal'z Deli manager Simon Mackenzie slept on the roof of his store all night, after being there all day Tuesday in an attempt to stop developers from pulling it down.
Man 'fighting for his life' after shark attack at Mandurah beach
![Ben Gerring was attacked by a shark on Tuesday.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/8/k/h/d/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp8h85.png/1464752816710.jpg)
Heather McNeill A man has lost his leg and is fighting for his life after a shark attack at Falcon Beach in Mandurah on Tuesday afternoon.
Crash backs up Mitchell Freeway in Wednesday rush hour
![This photo of the Mitchell Freeway shows a jam between Vincent Street and Karrinyup Road at 8.41am.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/8/r/h/5/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp8ri4.png/1464751376056.png)
Emma Young A car crash on the Mitchell Freeway, which blocked the left-centre lane and caused a major traffic jam, has now been cleared.
Thornlie man faces court over child sex offences on three young children
![Thornlie man will appear in court on Wednesday facing more than 50 charges of child sexual offences.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/6/s/1/s/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp8u6t.png/1464745877145.jpg)
David Baker A Thornlie man will appear in court on Wednesday facing more than 50 charges of child sexual offences, relating to three young children known to him.
Perth seat key to federal election throne
![Opposition Leader Bill Shorten addresses the Armadale Town Hall in WA in the seat of Burt.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/7/p/9/o/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp5ewb.png/1464694104497.jpg)
Brendan Foster Part battler belt, part blue ribbon stronghold, the newly created seat of Burt in the south-east of Perth is looming as one of the most fascinating battles in the upcoming federal election.
Human arm recovered in search for missing fishermen off Coral Bay
![Water police are searching for two fisherman off the coast of Coral Bay.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/6/w/6/6/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp7qs3.png/1464689385032.jpg)
Heather McNeill Police have retrieved a human arm as part of their search for two fishermen missing off the coast of Coral Bay.
Scarborough deli manager manhandled by security guards
![Janina Groger on the roof of Mal'z Deli in Scarborough.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/5/6/z/p/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp7v39.png/1464678262965.jpg)
Brendan Foster The owner of a Scarborough deli trying to stop bulldozers from flattening his store has been manhandled by security guards as he tried to enter his shop.
Contractor stole $75,000 in gold and coins from Perth Mint: police
![The investigation continues.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/f/1/6/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp8aid.png/1464676433994.jpg)
Emma Young Gold Stealing Detection Unit officers have charged a 27-year-old Carramar man with stealing more than $75,000 worth of coins and gold bars from The Perth Mint.
Abuse against Perth public hospital staff rife due to drugs, alcohol
![Thousands of reports of physical and verbal abuse against staff were recorded by Perth public hospitals in 2015.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/8/7/s/b/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp85aj.png/1464674909304.jpg)
Heather McNeill Physical abuse against medical staff has become "routine" as statistics reveal staff took a collective 2000 days, or more than five years, off work as a direct result of abuse in 2015 according to a former head of emergency at a major Perth public hospital.
Female WA teacher charged with persistent sex abuse of student
![The teacher faces a spate of sex abuse charges, including rape.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/c/5/q/y/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp82mb.png/1464670112714.jpg)
A teenage girl was subjected to sexual assaults by her 26-year-old female teacher for almost a year, West Australian police say.
Perth child psychiatrist 'caught filming boy' in Canadian toilets
![Dr Aaron Voon was confronted by angry shoppers after the incident in Canada.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/7/k/l/r/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp7kmn.png/1464670663143.jpg)
Emma Young An exclusive Perth paediatric psychiatrist has been arrested on child pornography charges in Canada.
Drug-affected dismissal call 'simplistic': UnionsWA
![WA has the highest methamphetamine use in the country.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/p/8/3/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp83d4.png/1464668469541.jpg)
A business lobby group's call to remove unfair dismissal protections for those who fail workplace drug-testing is simplistic and opportunistic, UnionsWA says.
Man shot in drive-by shooting' in Hammond Park
![The man has been rushed to hospital with a gunshot wound.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/u/0/c/n/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp7ptq.png/1464664334738.jpg)
Brendan Foster A man has been hit by a bullet in a drive-by shooting in Hammond Park, south of Perth, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Suicides double road deaths in WA's South West
![Economic changes are having an impact on the community, with families experiencing sustained pressure.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/1/x/n/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp7u9o.png/1464659582694.jpg)
Nathan Hondros There are almost twice as many suicides as there are road fatalities in the federal electorate of Canning, which includes Mandurah, Pinjarra and the Peel region, new research has revealed.
Learner driver clocked doing 180km/h near Muchea, north of Perth
![A driver has been captured doing 180km/h through the north-east of Perth.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/m/w/c/8/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp7rxz.png/1464653679995.jpg)
Brendan Foster A learner driver has been clocked doing 181km/h in a 60km zone near Muchea, north-east of Perth on Monday night.
Premier Colin Barnett defends Liberal candidate's old rude Facebook posts
![Daniel Parasiliti (with his wife Alia) says he does not remember writing the offensive posts, but is sincerely sorry.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/6/u/j/n/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp7rqc.png/1464652682992.jpg)
Obscene Facebook posts by a Liberal candidate for the 2017 West Australian election were made eight years ago when he was young and he should be given a break, Premier Colin Barnett says.
WA kids on more than 50 homicide related charges since 2010
![Kuol Akut (top left), Patrick Slater, (middle) and Alan Taylor (bottom left) were all allegedly killed by children.](/web/20160602041936im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/7/q/x/i/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp7114.png/1464651670611.jpg)
Heather McNeill At least 50 homicide-related charges have been brought against West Australian children in the past five years with five boys currently being held in detention facing murder charges over three unrelated deaths in 2016.