Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Archive for May, 2023
Next WA premier touts his energy, drive as he steps up
Roger Cook is set to replace the retiring Mark McGowan as Western Australian premier, although Labor’s caucus is yet to formally agree to the change. May 31, 2023 When Roger Cook steps into the shoes of Mark McGowan as WA’s premier he says he will have the energy and the drive to tackle a number […]
Next WA premier anointed, waiting to be appointed
Roger Cook is set to replace the retiring Mark McGowan as Western Australian premier, although Labor’s caucus is yet to formally agree to the change. May 31, 2023 Western Australia’s deputy premier is the only candidate to replace outgoing leader Mark McGowan, but the state’s voters will need to wait to see him take the […]
Health minister emerges as candidate for WA premier
Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson has been backed by a powerful union to become the next Labor premier of Western Australia. May 30, 2023 West Australian Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson has been endorsed by a powerful union to become the state’s next Labor premier. Mark McGowan will step down as premier and treasurer within days after […]
WA Labor gets to work to elect a new leader
The WA Labor Party is on track to elect a new leader after Premier Mark McGowan announced his resignation due to exhaustion after 30 years in public life. May 29, 2023 West Australian Deputy Premier Roger Cook is the first senior Labor MP to raise his hand to fill the leadership vacancy left by Mark […]
FIFO worker stopped medication before stabbing seven
Fly-in, fly-out worker Ashley Fildes had stopped taking his antipsychotic medication in the months before he stabbed seven people and police shot him dead. May 29, 2023 A fly-in, fly-out worker shot dead by Western Australian police after he stabbed seven people had stopped taking his antipsychotic medication in the months before the incident, an inquest […]
Teenager faces court after gunshots fired at school
A 15-year-old boy who allegedly fired three gunshots at a school, hitting a classroom, has faced court, where a mental health assessment was ordered. May 26, 2023 A teenager who allegedly fired multiple gunshots at a school, hitting a classroom as teachers and students scrambled for cover, has been ordered to have a mental health […]
WA nurses union fined $350,000 over strike for pay rise
The WA Industrial Relations Commission has fined the nurses’ union $350,000 over a state strike during which thousands of health workers took to the street. May 26, 2023 The nurses union has copped a $350,000 fine for organising a strike during which thousands of West Australian health workers fought for better pay and conditions. About […]
Students hid in classrooms as shots rang out at school
A student says she and other class mates were forced to hide in a storeroom with teachers as a teenager allegedly fired multiple shots at a school. May 25, 2023 Confused and scared, students and teachers hid in classrooms as a teenager allegedly fired multiple shots from a rifle at his former school. The incident in […]
Man and woman charged in relation to missing NT man
NT police have charged a man and a woman in relation to the alleged disappearance of a 36-year-old man, who was last seen at a Darwin pub almost a year ago. May 24, 2023 A man and woman have been charged in relation to the alleged disappearance of a 36-year-old man, who was last seen […]
Teen in custody after shots fired at former school
A 15-year-old is in police custody after he allegedly fired three shots from a rifle at his former private school in Perth’s northern suburbs. May 24, 2023 A teenager is in custody after allegedly firing multiple shots from a rifle at his former school, hitting a building and forcing students into lockdown. It’s understood to […]
Indigenous teen’s murder accused plead not guilty
Three men and a woman have pleaded not guilty to the bashing murder of Indigenous teen Cassius Turvey and been committed to stand trial in the Supreme Court. May 24, 2023 Four people accused of fatally bashing Indigenous Perth teenager Cassius Turvey have pleaded not guilty to his murder and been committed to stand trial. […]
Reports on defence suicides can take hundreds of days
The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has been told it takes more than 600 days on average to complete an independent report into a death. May 23, 2023 Independent reports into dozens of defence suicides took more than 18 months to complete, an inquiry has been told. The Royal Commission into Defence and […]
NT mine’s environmental bond fight reignites
Traditional owners have launched legal action against a NT court’s ruling that upheld the government’s decision to slash a mine’s environmental security bond. May 22, 2023 Traditional owners and environmentalists have launched an appeal against a Northern Territory court’s ruling over a massive lead and zinc mine’s environmental security bond. The territory government in 2020 […]
‘Action needed on staffing’ after 24 hour nurses shifts
The nurses union says action is needed to address staffing issues after two staff worked 24-hour shifts at a major Perth hospital. May 19, 2023 Nurses working 24-hour shifts at a major WA hospital demonstrates the risks facing staff and patients in the public health system amid ongoing staffing pressures, a union says. Unplanned sick leave […]
Domestic violence charges dropped against state MP
Expelled WA Labor Party member Ben Dawkins has had charges dropped for breaching a domestic violence order. May 19, 2023 Prosecutors have dropped seven charges for breaching family violence restraining orders against newly sworn-in West Australian MP Ben Dawkins after he changed his plea from guilty to not guilty. The 51-year-old, who was preparing to […]
Forged documents helped public servant win senior jobs
An error-riddled statutory declaration and phoney credentials helped a senior public servant win jobs in the NT government, the anti-corruption watchdog says. May 18, 2023 An alleged dodgy document used in a bid to back up phoney credentials helped a public servant win a senior Northern Territory government job, the anti-corruption watchdog has found. The […]
Cold case reward boost offers hope to grieving families
The WA government has offered $64 million in rewards to help solve dozens of homicides and suspicious missing person cases, giving hope to grieving families. May 17, 2023 The West Australian government has put $64 million on the table to help solve dozens of homicides and suspicious long-term missing person cases, bringing fresh hope to […]
Surge in Aussies sinking into extreme poverty: report
A surge in hardship in the last year has seen thousands of Australians sink into extreme poverty amid the cost-of-living crisis, a Salvation Army report says. May 17, 2023 Tens of thousands of Australians are sinking into extreme poverty amid the cost-of-living crisis, with the most vulnerable forced to take desperate measures to survive, a report […]
More charges over alleged WA public servant corruption
Western Australia’s Department of Communities has been tied to corruption with allegations involving an employee and a former contractor. May 16, 2023 Two men face corruption charges after a West Australian government employee allegedly awarded a contractor millions of dollars of work in exchange for cash and a luxury car. The men, aged 62 and 66, […]
Eight charged with dozens of child abuse offences in WA
Eight people are facing dozens of child exploitation and sexual assault charges after a five-day operation by the WA Police Force’s child exploitation squad. May 15, 2023 Detectives have charged eight people accused of dozens of child exploitation and sexual assault offences after a five-day operation by the Western Australian Police Force’s new child exploitation squad. […]
BHP worker guilty of raping colleague at mining camp
A jury has found a Pilbara mine worker guilty of sexually assaulting a colleague after she passed out drunk at a mining camp in Western Australia. May 15, 2023 A BHP worker has been found guilty of raping a colleague at a mining camp after a night of heavy drinking during a shift change. Ryan […]
Ex-NT chief minister cleared of political interference
The anti-corruption watchdog has cleared the NT’s former chief minister of politically interfering in the decision to charge a policeman with a teen’s murder. May 12, 2023 The Northern Territory anti-corruption watchdog has cleared former chief minister Michael Gunner of political interference allegations over the decision to charge a policeman with an Indigenous teenager’s murder. […]
WA budget billions to fund cost-of-living measures
The WA government has unveiled a $4.2b budget surplus on the back of solid economic growth, with cost-of-living relief and health key budget priorities. May 11, 2023 Supercharged economic growth delivering a better than expected budget surplus in Western Australia will be converted into cost of living relief and improving the state’s health system. Premier […]
Cost of living relief as WA’s delivers bumper surplus
The WA government has handed down a bigger than expected budget surplus packed with spending to help households struggling with the rising cost of living. May 11, 2023 West Australians are set to benefit from cost-of-living relief payments and record health investment, as the state government unveiled another bumper budget surplus. Premier and Treasurer Mark […]