Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Archive for October, 2023
Chevron workers endorse pay deal and claim victory
Chevron workers in Western Australia have voted to endorse a series of proposed enterprise agreements after months of negotiations and industrial action. October 31, 2023 Hundreds of Chevron workers at two major West Australian gas plants have voted in favour of a series of proposed wage agreements with the petrochemical giant. Offshore Alliance says about […]
Pilot strike threat at Qantas subsidiary averted
Pilots at a WA-based Qantas subsidiary have suspended plans to strike and agreed to resume negotiations over pay and conditions. October 31, 2023 Hundreds of Qantas pilots will resume wage negotiations after calling off strike action that could have impacted thousands of regional travellers and FIFO workers. Network Aviation pilots had planned to stop work […]
Concern for Australian grandmother detained in Japan
WA Premier Roger Cook has expressed his concern for an Aboriginal health leader detained in Japan for almost 10 months over drug smuggling allegations. October 31, 2023 The fate of an Australian grandmother detained in Japan for almost 10 months over drug trafficking allegations remains uncertain. Aboriginal health leader and former West Australian Greens candidate […]
Murder accused in court over dead woman at luxury hotel
A 42-year-old man has faced a Perth court charged with murder after a woman’s body was found in a luxury hotel room in the casino precinct. October 31, 2023 A man has faced court over the alleged murder of a woman who was found with serious head injuries in a luxury hotel room in Perth’s […]
BHP workers threaten strike action over pay dispute
A union representing hundreds of train drivers at BHP’s WA iron ore mining operations say workers have voted to start industrial action amid a pay dispute. October 30, 2023 Hundreds of train drivers at BHP’s massive Western Australian iron ore mining operations have voted to start industrial action amid a pay dispute. The measures could […]
WA premier heads to Japan to promote renewable energy
Premier Roger Cook says Western Australia has a huge trade opportunity as Southeast Asian nations work to decarbonise their economies. October 30, 2023 Western Australia could be on the cusp of a renewable energy boom built on Southeast Asian nations hungry to decarbonise their economies. Premier Roger Cook says the region wants to invest in WA […]
Woman found dead, man injured at five-star Crown Towers
WA police are investigating after a woman was found dead and a man badly hurt at a luxury hotel in Perth. October 30, 2023 A woman has been found dead at Crown Towers hotel in Perth and a man has been taken to hospital with serious self-inflicted injuries. Homicide detectives are investigating the incident. Emergency […]
AI and virtual reality saving lives in remote WA
From a command centre in Perth, doctors and nurses are using artificial intelligence and virtual reality to save lives in a remote Goldfields region. October 29, 2023 Doctors and nurses in remote Western Australia are using artificial intelligence and virtual reality to save lives. From a command centre in Perth, clinical experts provide vulnerable patients […]
Murder charge over Perth woman’s 1986 disappearance
A 77-year-old man in a wheelchair has faced court for the alleged murder of his wife more than 37 years ago. October 27, 2023 An elderly man in a wheelchair accused of murdering his wife, who disappeared almost four decades ago, has faced a Perth court. West Australian police say the couple’s four adult children […]
ABC denies betraying anti-Woodside group sources
The ABC says it didn’t betray anti-Woodside Energy climate activists involved in a Four Corners program by revealing its sources to counter-terrorism police. October 26, 2023 The ABC has rejected claims it gave up anti-Woodside Energy climate activists by revealing sources to West Australian counter-terrorism police. The Disrupt Burrup Hub group has accused the broadcaster […]
Hundreds rally after Indigenous teen’s death in custody
Hundreds of people have gathered to call for justice after the death of an Indigenous teen who self-harmed in the youth wing of an adult prison. October 25, 2023 Hundreds of people have rallied in Perth to call for justice after the death of an Indigenous teen who self-harmed in the youth wing at an […]
Shark fishing banned from Perth’s metropolitan beaches
The WA government has imposed a ban on fishing for sharks at Perth beaches amid concerns it puts swimmers at increased risk of attack by the predators. October 25, 2023 Shark fishing has been banned from all Perth beaches amid concerns it attracts the predators to popular swimming spots. WA Fisheries Minister Don Punch approved […]
NDIS watchdog probes alleged murder in disability home
A man has been charged with murder and the NDIS Commission has launched an internal investigation over an alleged attack at a group home in WA. October 25, 2023 A man has been charged with murder over an alleged attack at a disability care group home in Western Australia. The 33-year-old allegedly assaulted a 40-year-old […]
Cleo kidnap detective quits as corruption report looms
A West Australian detective who made global headlines after rescuing kidnapped child Cleo Smith has resigned from police force ahead of a corruption report. October 25, 2023 A detective who made news headlines around the globe after rescuing kidnapped child Cleo Smith has resigned from the West Australian police force ahead of a corruption report. […]
Commissioner replaced after teen’s death in custody
Western Australia’s corrective services commissioner Mike Reynolds has been replaced and a prison officer suspended after the death of an Indigenous inmate. October 25, 2023 Western Australia’s corrective services commissioner has been replaced and a prison officer suspended following the death of an Indigenous teen who self-harmed in the youth wing at an adult prison. […]
Firefighters battling bushfire in Perth’s Kings Park
Perth residents have been warned to close their doors and windows as firefighters battle an out-of-control blaze in Kings Park. October 24, 2023 Firefighters are battling an out-of-control bushfire in the centre of Perth after five separate blazes broke out in Kings Park. Emergency services warned people in and near the park they should leave […]
Bushfire threat to homes in Perth’s west
A bushfire burning in parkland in Perth’s west has prompted a warning it could threaten lives and homes. October 23, 2023 Residents in parts of Perth’s west have been warned there is a possible threat to lives and homes as a bushfire burns in scrubby parkland. The fire started in Bold Park and early on […]
Inspector queries expansion of maximum security prison
The expansion of a maximum security prison has been questioned after a report found insufficient resources and lagging infrastructure were undermining safety. October 23, 2023 Insufficient resources and lagging infrastructure are undermining safety and security at WA’s main maximum-security men’s prison, a report says. Chronic staff shortages are also contributing to the problems at Casuarina […]
Indigenous teen Cleveland Dodd ‘let down’: WA premier
The death of an Indigenous teenager who self-harmed while in custody has reignited calls for improvement and change in the justice system. October 23, 2023 West Australian Premier Roger Cook says the justice system needs to do better following the death of an Indigenous teenager who self-harmed in the youth wing at an adult prison. […]
Scientists detect most distant fast radio burst ever
Astronomers in WA have detected a burst of fast radio waves eight billion light-years from Earth as powerful as the sun’s total emission over 30 years. October 20, 2023 Astronomers in Western Australia have detected the most distant burst of fast radio waves ever discovered – eight billion light-years from Earth. The cosmic blast lasted less […]
WA premier ‘disappointed’ Alcoa could close refinery
Western Australia’s premier is “disappointed” US giant Alcoa told investors it could close an alumina refinery near Perth after assuring government it wouldn’t. October 19, 2023 Premier Roger Cook is not happy US industrial giant Alcoa told investors it could close its West Australian refinery after assuring his government it wouldn’t. Alcoa president and chief […]
Chevron workers endorse agreements, strike averted
Chevron workers in West Australian gas plants have approved a series of draft enterprise agreements rather than go ahead with a planned strike. October 18, 2023 Hundreds of Chevron workers at two major West Australian gas plants have agreed to suspend threatened strike action and endorse a series of draft wage agreements. About 500 employees […]
WA slashing red tape in bid to boost housing supply
The WA government will slash red tape to boost the supply of homes across the state, with local government decision-making simplified for standalone dwellings. October 18, 2023 The West Australian government is slashing red tape in a bid to combat the housing crisis and boost the supply of homes across the state. Proposed legislation includes […]
WA heritage laws a step closer to being axed
WA’s controversial 2021 Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act is likely to be officially repealed in November. October 18, 2023 Western Australia’s botched Aboriginal cultural heritage laws are a step closer to being officially repealed. Premier Roger Cook was forced to axe the new laws in August following widespread anger among the farming community. A bill to scrap the 2021 act […]