Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Archive for January, 2023
Cattle loss in floods shatter WA farmers
The WA cattle industry says tens of thousands of head of cattle are likely to have been lost in the state’s worst flooding. January 12, 2023 Pastoralists in Western Australia’s flood-ravaged Kimberley are stressed and exhausted as livestock losses from the once-in-a-century event mount. Tens of thousands of head of cattle are likely to have […]
Minister talks up a new dawn for Sun Cable
A collapsed renewable solar energy plan to export electricity from the NT to Singapore still has enormous potential, Energy Minister Chris Bowen says. January 12, 2023 The Albanese government says a renewable solar energy plan to export electricity from the Northern Territory to Singapore has “enormous potential” despite the company behind it collapsing. Sun Cable, backed […]
Temporary bridge to re-link key WA highway
The ADF might use a temporary combat bridge to span a flooded river to reopen the only sealed road through Western Australia’s Kimberley region. January 11, 2022 The race is on to reopen the only sealed road through Western Australia’s flood-ravaged Kimberley region, where defence personnel could be called in to construct a combat bridge […]
Long wait for flooded WA bridge to re-open
The flood-damaged bridge on WA’s only sealed road to the north of the state could take more than a year to repair, the emergency services minister says. January 11, 2023 A West Australian bridge destroyed by once-in-a-century flooding could take more than a year to rebuild, the state’s emergency services minister says. The roadway over […]
Warnings to flee for two WA bushfires
A series of bushfires have broken out in Western Australia’s south, forcing residents to evacuate. January 10, 2023 Residents in two Western Australian regions have been told to evacuate as separate bushfires bear down on homes. The WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services warned one fire was burning east of Donnybrook, in the state’s […]
Kimberley flood relief operation ramps up
Dozens of aircraft and a barge are delivering aid across WA’s flood-ravaged Kimberley region as the disaster relief operation gathers pace. January 10, 2023 A massive disaster relief operation is in full swing in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, as authorities reveal it could take more than a year to repair a major bridge on the state’s […]
WA woman accused of abusing her infant
A young Perth woman accused of impeding her seven-month-old child’s breathing and making threats to kill has faced court. January 10, 2023 A young Perth woman accused of choking her seven-month-old baby has faced court. Holly Anne Maxwell, 26, was charged with two counts of impeding another person’s normal breathing or blood circulation by applying […]
Darwin shaken by earthquake off Indonesia
Residents across the Top End have been shaken awake by an earthquake off Indonesia, but authorities say there was no damage or injuries. January 10, 2023 With Rachael Ward Residents of Darwin and much of the Top End have been jolted awake by violent shaking after a strong undersea earthquake off the Indonesian coast. The […]
Flood victims sleep rough amid aid delays
Desperate residents in flood-ravaged Fitzroy Crossing are being forced to sleep rough as a sodden runway slows aid delivery to the remote Kimberley town. January 10, 2023 Desperate residents in a flood-ravaged remote Western Australian town are being forced to sleep rough as a sodden runway slows the delivery of essential aid. Roads to Fitzroy Crossing […]
PM surveys Kimberley flood devastation
Anthony Albanese has toured WA’s flood-ravaged Kimberley and spoke of the “great spirit” among Fitzroy Crossing locals he met alongside the state’s premier. January 9, 2023 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says it’s extraordinary no one was killed in flooding that swept away homes and major infrastructure in Western Australia’s north. A massive disaster relief operation […]
Men charged over NT drive-through standoff
Two men arrested at gunpoint by undercover police at a Darwin fast food drive-through are expected to face court over dozens of charges. January 9, 2023 Two men dramatically arrested at gunpoint at a Darwin Hungry Jack’s drive-through by armed undercover police are expected to face court over dozens of charges. Video footage recorded on […]
WA towns to be ‘islands’ in flooded north
Residents in Derby and Broome have been warned their communities are about to become islands, as WA’s record flooding spreads. January 7, 2023 Residents in two major Western Australian towns have been warned their communities are about to become islands, amid the state’s worst flooding on record. A 50km-wide inland sea is surging towards the Kimberley […]
WA hailed a top 2023 travel destination
International broadcaster CNN has listed WA as a top 2023 travel destination, recommending coastal town Exmouth as a prime spot to view April’s solar eclipse. January 7, 2023 Global news broadcaster CNN has listed Western Australia among its top travel destinations for 2023, declaring the opportunity to view an upcoming solar eclipse in one of […]
Town devastated after record WA flooding
Long-term Fitzroy Crossing resident Dwayne Ben says damage in the flood-ravaged town is extensive as major towns downstream are set to become islands. January 6, 2023 The damage is extensive in the remote town hit by Western Australia’s worst flooding, with the receding waters revealing large-scale devastation. Authorities have warned residents downstream at two major […]
NT police in dramatic drive-through arrest
Plain-clothed police officers can be see pointing their guns at an alleged offender in a video filmed outside a Hungry Jack’s drive-through in Darwin. January 6, 2023 Two men have been dramatically arrested at gunpoint in a Hungry Jack’s drive-through in suburban Darwin after escaping an earlier attempt to nab them. Video footage shows one […]
Town devastated after record WA flooding
Long-term Fitzroy Crossing resident Dwayne Ben says damage in the flood-ravaged town is extensive as downstream communities prepare for the peak to arrive. January 6, 2023 Damage is extensive in a remote town hit by Western Australia’s worst flooding, as the receding waters start revealing the extent of the devastation. The flood waters peaked in Fitzroy Crossing […]
Road trains to skirt record WA flooding
Authorities have temporarily relaxed the road rules to ensure essential supplies reach the nation’s north amid Western Australia’s worst flooding on record. January 6, 2023 Western Australia’s worst flooding on record spreads, as authorities relax the road rules to ensure essential supplies reach the nation’s northwest. Emergency evacuations continued in the Kimberley region on Thursday, […]
Record flooding spreads in WA’s Kimberley
Helicopter evacuations continue from remote communities as Western Australia’s worst flooding on record spreads across the vast Kimberley region. January 5, 2023 Emergency evacuations continue as Western Australia’s worst flooding on record spreads across the vast Kimberley region. Helicopters plucked anxious residents from sodden Noonkanbah on Thursday as the Fitzroy River’s flood peak bore down on the […]
Indigenous teen’s mum to advise WA police
Mechelle Turvey will work with WA police after her son Cassius Turvey died after being allegedly bashed with a pole as he walked home from school in Perth. January 5, 2023 The mother of an Indigenous teenager who died after allegedly being bashed with a metal pole as he walked home from school in Perth […]
Record WA flooding cuts off town of Derby
About 3000 people in the town of Derby have been cut off by a once-in-a-century flooding event in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. January 5, 2023 Road access to the town of Derby has been cut as more than 50 Australian Defence Force personnel wing their way to Western Australia’s flood-ravaged Kimberley region. Heavy rain dumped […]
Record WA flooding likely to impact Broome
Broome and Derby are likely to be cut off by a once-in-a-century flooding in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, as inland evacuations continue. January 5, 2023 Residents in Broome and Derby have been warned their towns are likely to be cut off by flooding, as authorities continue to evacuate people from inland towns in Western Australia’s […]
Record floods to cut off Broome and Derby
Broome and Derby in northern Western Australian are likely to be cut off by a once-in-a-century flood within 12 hours, as inland evacuations continue. January 4, 2023 Residents in Broome and Derby have been warned their towns are likely to be isolated within 12 hours amid a once-in-a-century flood in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. About […]
Manhunt after NT prisoner escapes police
A remand prisoner has injured one police officer and knocked over another to escape custody in a remote Northern Territory town. January 4, 2023 A manhunt is underway for a Northern Territory prisoner after his escape from custody. Earl Junior Foster, 23, who was on remand, injured one police officer and knocked down another as he fled […]
Flooded Kimberley town becomes a refuge
A remote Western Australian town surrounded by a 100-year flood has become a refuge for hundreds of people evacuated from outlying communities. January 4, 2023 A remote town surrounded by a once-in-a-century flood in Western Australia’s Kimberley region has become a refuge for hundreds of people evacuated from sodden Indigenous communities. Only a few streets remain […]