Local stories, community first — Perth and beyond.
Melbourne-based artist Fiona O'Byrne has won the $50,000 Richard Lester Prize for Portraiture with her oil-on-linen painting of her 20-year-old daughter. The prize received a record 1,100 submissions this year, with O'Byrne's work praised for its softness and tenderness.
New information released by the state ombudsman on the investigation into the deaths of three children in the Pilbara has sparked renewed calls for a coronial inquest. The children's grandmother had previously called for an inquest, which was denied by the coroner in 2025.
A Perth man has been recognised for his bravery in saving his three-year-old daughter from drowning in a backyard pool in Broome. Sandy Spratt, a 25-year-old father of two, was awarded at the Royal Lifesaving WA Bravery Awards for his heroic actions.
A 21-year-old man has been charged with reckless driving after allegedly speeding at 259km/h on Forrest Highway in Western Australia's South West. The driver was caught 149km/h above the 110km/h speed limit in a McLaren MA3 coupe.
A High Court ruling in New South Wales has Western Australia's energy industry concerned about future investment in the state. The ruling, which blocked the planned expansion of a coal mine, has sparked fears that similar projects in WA could be affected.
A renewed battle for control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key trading corridor also known as the Gate of Tears, has reignited a decades-long conflict between the Iranian-backed Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni forces. The fighting could have significant implications for global trade, including Australia's supply of oil, medicine, and other critical goods.
Australia's rental market is slowing down despite rents remaining at record highs, with tenants unable to absorb further increases. The market is showing signs of a disconnect between tight rental supply and growth.
The AFL trade period is heating up, with Geelong securing a deal for St Kilda's Rowan Marshall. The focus is now on Nick Blakey, with several clubs vying for the Sydney star's signature.
Cameron Green has been ruled out of the first Test against South Africa in Durban due to an abdominal strain. Australia coach Andrew McDonald said it was highly unlikely Green would bowl later in the series, should he prove his fitness for the remaining two Tests.
Essendon midfielder Zach Merrett has departed the club after 13 seasons, releasing an emotional statement thanking members and supporters. Merrett played 274 games for the Bombers and captained the club, describing it as the greatest honour of his career.
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