Countryman

State PoliticsWinton doubles down on Nationals MP ‘racism’ accusation

Education Minister Sabine Winton has stood by her ‘unparliamentary’ defence of a colleague, maintaining she thought a comment by Nationals MP Lachlan Hunter was ‘racist’.

Jessica Page and Oliver Lane

Sabine Winton stood by her assessment and called for Mr Hunter to make a public apology.

Junior cowgirl Aja Tito, 15, of Karratha, and junior cowboy Hunter Ross, 14, of Boddington, were the stars of the ABCRA WA Zone ‘Boots and Bling' awards night.

Junior ChampionsJunior Rodeo champions shine bright on awards night

Bob Garnant

Aussie farmers are being encouraged to embrace technology which can help them save and make money. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Countryman NewsFarmers promised going green won't put them in the red

From running machinery off solar to growing climate-friendly hemp crops, technology is allowing farmers to embrace environmental solutions while making money.

Poppy Johnston

Fencing ProblemsFarmers ire grows as Esperance fence remains unfinished

A project to extend one of Australia’s longest fences continues to drag on seven years after it was announced, leaving Esperance farmers facing an intense barrage of attacks on livestock and crops.

Georgia Campion

Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis comments on the new West Coast Demersal Ministerial Advisory Committee.

state politics Plan for recreational fishing revealed as demersal ban bites

A team of fishing and environmental experts has been appointed to help reopen recreational demersal fishing in 2027, as the backlash over a commercial ban puts Roger Cook’s Government under pressure.

Jessica Page and Oliver Lane

Firefighters on the ground in the Fitzgerald River National Park in January.

heartfelt thanksRavensthorpe shire president sends thanks to fire crews

Shire of Ravensthorpe president Rachel Gibson issued a heartfelt thank you message to emergency services, volunteers and the community for their work during devastating bushfires over the summer.

Jacki Elezovich

Grain Producers Australia will continue to advocate for support and appropriate resourcing to strengthen independent and scientific evidence-based regulatory systems operated by the APVMA.

CHEMICAL REGULATION Chemical regulation needs broader lens to be effective

Environmental consequences and financial implications need to be a part of what is considered when Australia’s chemical regulator reviews chemistries.

Andrew Weidemann

A new study by Curtin University has created a modelling to forecast future hotspots of the devastating biosecurity polyphagous shot-hole borer pest.

Hitchhiking PestWA study finds farming regions at risk from shothole borer

WA’s powerhouse farming regions are at “serious” risk of polyphagous shot-hole borer should the destructive pest spread beyond outside of Perth, according to a new study labelling “highly-vulnerable”

Georgia Campion

Managing Director of Meat and Livestock Australia Michael Crowley.

Meat ExchangeMLA secures grant to bolster China red meat collaboration

Australia’s red meat sector cooperation with south Asia’s powerhouse — China — is set to be bolstered by a recent grant to support industry exchanges between the two countries

A 62-year-old man has died after a structure collapsed at his Narrogin farming property.

Narrogin ObserverTragic structure death of Narrogin man after shed collapse

A Narrogin man tragically died after an old structure he was refurbishing at his property collapsed on him, it has been revealed.

A new program aims to help farmers understand water on their properties and build resilient landscapes.

UNDERSTANDING WATER A new program for farmers to launch in the Geographe region

A new program aimed at supporting the region’s farmers’ understanding of water on their properties and building resilient landscapes is set to launch in Geographe next month.

Indie duo Old Mervs are set to bring country WA music to the United States in June.

International StageKojonup’s Old Mervs to rock New York City at music fest

Two farm kids from WA’s Great Southern are set for the big stage in New York City, playing along local Australian and international acts at the 2026 Governors Ball in June

Georgia Campion

State PoliticsWinton doubles down on Nationals MP ‘racism’ accusation

Education Minister Sabine Winton has stood by her ‘unparliamentary’ defence of a colleague, maintaining she thought a comment by Nationals MP Lachlan Hunter was ‘racist’.

Jessica Page and Oliver Lane

Subscriber Exclusive

David James Pye has been found guilty of masterminding the shooting.

Courts & JusticeJudge finds bikie guilty of organising Perth Motorplex hit

A WA Supreme Court judge has found David James Pye guilty over the assassination of late Rebels bikie kingpin Nick Martin at the Perth Motorplex in December 2020.

Charlton Hart

British sailors are being forced to remain on board a nuclear-powered submarine off the Western Australian.

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WA News
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Sailors stuck on submarine off WA amid Rottnest swim

A British nuclear-powered submarine has been forced to remain offshore near Perth after the Rottnest Channel Swim blocked its planned entry into HMAS Stirling.

Andrew Greene

A Manning man is behind bars after he was allegedly caught becoming pen pals with convicted paedophiles and murderers across various prisons around the globe.

Courts & JusticeHorror as WA man jailed after child exploitation finds

A Manning man is behind bars after becoming pen pals with paedophiles and murderers in prisons across the globe.

Jessica Evensen

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AFL
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Murphy’s Law: Reid reveals mantra that’s driving his success

Fremantle’s Rising Star Murphy Reid looks set to rise to another level in 2026, and he’s explained his approach to becoming an even better player during an exclusive interview with The West Australian.

Craig O'Donoghue

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In Case You Missed It

Geraldton police officer Stuart Parsonage pictured in 2021 Phoebe Pin

Crime & CourtsIdentity revealed of WA cop accused of unlawful surveillance

A Geraldton police officer charged with a series of offences over the alleged unlawful use of computers and surveillance devices has been a no show in court for medical reasons.

Kate Campbell

David James Pye is accused of paying a gun-for-hire $150,000 to kill Nick Martin in December 2020.

Courts & JusticeJudge to deliver verdict in Motorplex murder of Rebels boss

A WA Supreme Court judge will deliver his verdict on Friday in the case against David James Pye, the rival bikie accused of orchestrating the 2020 assassination of Rebels boss Nick Martin at Perth Motorplex.

Charlton Hart

Police Commissioner Col Blanch on Wednesday confirmed the active investigation by his officers had come to an end and it was now ‘under control of the coroner’.

CrimePolice give update on Mosman Park murder-suicide probe

The State’s top cop has revealed how the investigation into the family’s cause of death is progressing.

A creeping deluge of human waste has seeped into Perth’s Swan River.

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State Politics
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Perth water pipes hit crisis mode after years of neglect

Water Corporation is struggling to provide a basic level of service to customers amid a maintenance backlog of at least five years and urgent repairs including decaying sewerage and lead leaking into pipes.

Mandurah mum identified as Kwinana Freeway crash victim

Traffic‘Loving mum’ identified as Kwinana Freeway crash victim

The horrific crash closed the freeway for more than 10 hours.

News

Hitchhiking PestWA study finds farming regions at risk from shothole borer

Georgia Campion

Narrogin ObserverTragic structure death of Narrogin man after shed collapse

Hannah Whitehead

UNDERSTANDING WATER A new program for farmers to launch in the Geographe region

Rose Patane

International StageKojonup’s Old Mervs to rock New York City at music fest

Georgia Campion

CNBC newsThere’s a coffee war brewing in China (and now in the US)

As Starbucks sells off most of its China business, local rival Luckin Coffee is expanding into higher-priced cold brews and other drinks. It’s also expanding its footprint in the US.

Evelyn Cheng

China’s property market, once accounting for more than a quarter of the economy, has seen its annual sales volume halve in just four years.

CNBC newsS&P bets China property slump will be worse than expected

S&P Global Ratings has lowered its forecast for China property sales this year, barely two months into 2026.

Evelyn Cheng

CNBC newsSpaceX primed to make Elon Musk the first trillionaire

Elon Musk’s net worth soared past $US800b last week after he merged SpaceX with xAI in a deal that valued the combined entity at $US1.25 trillion.

Robert Frank and Lora Kolodny

The plans were discussed at a “Critical Minerals Ministerial” in Washington this week

CNBC newsUS proposes minerals trade bloc aimed at countering China

The US on Wednesday unveiled new initiatives to mobilise allies into a preferential trade bloc for critical minerals, including coordinated price floors.

Dylan Butts