Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Archive for January, 2024
WA, federal governments sign $1.6 billion schools deal
Western Australia will be the first state where public schools are fully funded after the Cook and Albanese governments signed a deal to boost funding by 2026. January 31, 2024 West Australian public schools will be the first in the nation to receive a massive funding injection following a federal-state agreement on reforms aimed at […]
Stranded ship with 16,500 sheep, cattle to be unloaded
A stranded live export ship carrying about 16,500 animals will be partially offloaded in Western Australia before resuming its journey to export the livestock. January 31, 2024 Some of the sheep and cattle stranded in heatwave conditions aboard a ship off Western Australia after almost a month at sea will be offloaded, with others set […]
Authorities working to unload 16,500 animals from ship
The federal and WA governments are trying to find a quarantine facility to take 16,500 head of sheep and cattle stuck aboard a ship in heatwave conditions. January 30, 2024 The federal and Western Australian governments are trying to find a quarantine facility to house thousands of sheep and cattle stranded in heatwave conditions aboard […]
Granny flats no longer need planning approval in WA
Western Australia has relaxed planning laws for granny flats in a bid to bolster housing supply. January 30, 2024 Homeowners no longer need council approval to build a granny flat on any size block in Western Australia following reforms aimed at tackling the housing crisis. Planning approval is not required for structures up to 70sqm […]
Reynolds and Higgins defamation case returns to court
Lawyers for Senator Linda Reynolds, Brittany Higgins and her partner have appeared in court to sort out key dates in preparation for a joint defamation trial. January 30, 2024 A pair of high-profile defamation cases that pit Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds against former political staffer Brittany Higgins and her partner have returned to court. The […]
Inspiring Australians gather as they vie for top honour
Dozens of finalists in the 2024 Australian of the Year awards are in Canberra, where the winners of the national awards will be announced. January 24, 2024 Community leaders, educators, volunteers and medical researchers are among the finalists descending on Canberra for the Australian of the Year awards. The winners of the four categories of […]
Plastic makes up the majority of Aussie marine litter
Plastic made up 79 per cent of the rubbish collected from Australia’s urban rivers, bays and beaches over the past three years, conservationists say. January 24, 2024 Plastic made up more than three-quarters of the litter collected from Australia’s urban waterways and catchments in the past three years, new research shows. Food wrappers, polystyrene, bottle […]
Australian population tips over 27 million
Australia’s population has swollen to more than 27 million and continues to grow by one person every 50 seconds. January 24, 2024 Australia’s population has surged to more than 27 million, as births and migrants arriving outstrip deaths and residents leaving the nation. The Australian Bureau of Statistics population clock tipped over the mark on […]
‘Idiotic’ outback gold ore stealing ring busted
More than a dozen bikies face charges after police swooped on an outback gold ore heist involving a suburban home being used as a processing facility. January 24, 2024 An outback bikie gold-ore ring has been smashed, along with an “idiotic” backyard processing facility that could have ended in catastrophe for the community. Western Australian police […]
Stricter laws crack down targets child sex offenders
Serious repeat child sex offenders will face indefinite imprisonment under proposed law changes in South Australia. January 23, 2024 Laws to enable serious repeat child sex offenders to be imprisoned or monitored indefinitely are set to be introduced in South Australia. Under proposed amendments to the Sentencing Act 2017, jailed paedophiles would need to show […]
King’s prostate surgery expected to boost testing
King Charles III’s decision to share news about his enlarged prostate is expected to motivate more Australian men to seek testing for the condition. January 22, 2024 King Charles’ upcoming surgery for an enlarged prostate is expected to motivate more Australian men to seek testing for the condition. The 75-year-old monarch’s ailment, which is benign […]
Australian scientists help solve mysteries about life
Researchers have used ancient fossils of sea creatures to determine exactly when the complex life forms first developed hundreds of millions of years ago. January 16, 2024 Australian scientists have precisely dated ancient fossils of sea creatures in Wales and helped solve a mystery about the evolution of life on Earth. Curtin University-led researchers used […]
Twiggy attacks Woodside’s ‘death race’ gas project
Australia’s second richest person, mining magnate Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest, has renewed his attack on the fossil fuel industry and Woodside Energy. January 14, 2024 Billionaire mining magnate Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest has taken to the air and ocean to continue his crusade against fossil fuels and Woodside Energy. The founder of Perth-based Fortescue Metals Group and […]
Real estate investors head west for cheap homes
Skyrocketing rents and modest home prices are luring eastern state investors to Western Australia, where they’re outbidding local buyers to snap up properties. January 13, 2024 Savvy eastern state investors are heading west and outbidding local buyers to snap up hundreds of low-cost Perth homes. Skyrocketing rents have led to growing demand for properties in […]
Ex-NT deputy chief minister to retire from politics
Former Northern Territory deputy chief minister Nicole Manison will not contest the August election after two tilts at the top job failed. January 12, 2024 The Northern Territory’s former deputy chief minister is set to step down. Member for Wanguri Nicole Manison says she has made a “difficult decision” and will not run in the […]
Birds drop from trees as temperatures soar in outback
Marble Bar has sweltered through a scorching four-week stretch of daily maximum temperatures above 41C that has caused heat-exhausted birds to drop from trees. January 12, 2024 One of Australia’s hottest towns has sweltered through a brutal four-week stretch of daily maximum temperatures above 41C that has caused birds to fall from trees. The temperature […]
Endangered numbats feel the heat of climate change
Endangered native numbats are under increasing pressure from climate change, with a new study revealing the furry predators overheat when the temperature soars. January 12, 2024 Global warming is impacting an unusual and endangered marsupial’s ability to hunt for food using its incredibly long tongue, a study has found. There are only about 2000 numbats […]
WA warned to prepare for heatwave conditions
A Bureau of Meteorology heatwave warning has been issued for much of Western Australia, with Perth forecast to reach a maximum of 39C on the weekend. January 11, 2024 People in parts of Western Australia have been warned to prepare for extreme and severe heatwave conditions. The Bureau of Meteorology alert issued on Thursday forecast […]
Only Liberal woman in WA upper house to step down
The sole woman representing the West Australian Liberal Party in the state parliament’s upper house, MLC Donna Faragher, will retire from politics. January 10, 2024 The West Australian Liberal Party’s only woman in the state parliament’s upper house is set to quit politics. MLC Donna Faragher on Wednesday said she would not stand for re-election […]
Hundreds of jobs axed as Alcoa winds up old refinery
US alumina giant Alcoa says it will shut down a 60-year-old refinery south of Perth, where hundreds of workers are expected to lose their jobs. January 9, 2024 Alumina giant Alcoa will shut an ageing Perth refinery and slash hundreds of jobs. The US-listed company on Tuesday said operating costs, bauxite grades and market conditions […]
Alcoa to shut WA refinery, hundreds of jobs to be axed
US alumina giant Alcoa says it will close a 60-year-old refinery south of Perth, where hundreds of workers are expected to lose their jobs. January 9, 2024 Alumina giant Alcoa will close an ageing Perth refinery and slash hundreds of jobs. The US-listed company on Tuesday said operating costs, current bauxite grades and market conditions […]
Search for third man after remains found in mining town
Police are searching for a man they say can help them with a murder investigation after the discovery of human remains on the outskirts of a tiny mining town. January 9, 2024 A manhunt is underway after a body was found on the outskirts of a tiny mining town in Western Australia. Homicide detectives discovered Raymond Smith’s remains on […]
Surfer attacked by shark in South Australia
A surfer has been attacked by a shark at a South Australian beach, less than two weeks after teenager Khai Cowley was fatally mauled by a suspected great white. January 9, 2024 A surfer has been attacked by a shark in South Australia. The 64-year-old man was surfing on Tuesday at Elliston on the Eyre […]
Social media posts used to find mental health distress
Scientists have developed a technique that analyses social media posts to detect the early warning signs of mental health distress. January 9, 2024 Social media could be the key to unlocking crucial and improved support for people experiencing mental health issues. James Cook University researchers have developed a technique to analyse social media posts to […]