Politics
Western Australia
Australia would be a better nation if its children learned more than one language: Ken Wyatt
Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt says Australia would be better as a nation if its children learned two or three languages.
- by Peter de Kruijff
Latest
‘I’m not Nostradamus’: McGowan defends change of direction on electoral reform
The review was prompted by the surprising results of the upper house election, which saw a Daylight Savings Party member elected with just 98 votes thanks to complex preference deals.
- by Hamish Hastie
No new community cases as WA prepares for step down in restrictions
WA Premier Mark McGowan said there had been one new case of COVID-19 recorded – an overseas traveller from India who was in hotel quarantine.
- by Hamish Hastie
Women’s day as record setting parliament sworn in
Of the 95 politicians that make up the upper and lower houses of parliament, 43 will be women after the upper house is sworn in next month.
- by Hamish Hastie
Howard Springs architects ready to step up for WA quarantine facility
AECOM national architectural lead James Dorrat estimated it would cost about $150,000 per bed to build a facility close to Perth.
- by Hamish Hastie
Perth council eyes CBD car parks for night homeless shelters in winter trial
The City of Perth council voted unanimously on Tuesday night to investigate the feasibility of a trial, a key election promise from Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas.
- by Peter de Kruijff
Why COVID-positive guests weren’t moved from other guests in high-risk Perth hotel
WA Chief Health Officer Dr Andy Robertson said the protocols were in place before a returned traveller from India tested positive on April 13 and spread the virus across the floor he was staying on at the Mercure quarantine hotel.
- by Hamish Hastie
‘Causing huge grief’: WA Premier says weddings and funerals not good enough reasons to leave
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan is seeking support from his state counterparts to limit the approved exemptions for leaving the country and refuses to take more than 1000 returned travellers each week any more.
- by Peter de Kruijff
Mark McGowan at end of his tether in quarantine stoush with federal government
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan says he is getting to end of his tether with the management of COVID-19 with returning Australians and it was time for the federal government to step up by setting up its own quarantine facilities.
- by Peter de Kruijff
Analysis
Coronavirus pandemic
As parts of WA go into their third lockdown, how did we get here?
It appears health bureaucrats had known for weeks of the risks of the Mercure still being used in the nine-hotel quarantine system. Now a city of two million people holds its breath, worried it may not dodge the bullet this time.
- by Peter de Kruijff
‘Predictable’ crisis: Drop in overseas workers puts WA hospitals under more pressure
WA Health data obtained by WAtoday reveals another driver of the pressure on the hospital system, which has relied on international workers for many years.
- by Tess Ingram