State Politics

COVID-19 CRISISUNITED STATE OF WA: Premier shows border force

Western Australian will effectively close itself off from the rest of the country and declare independence as its “own country” as the State’s borders slam shut to keep out the spread of coronavirus.

Josh Zimmerman

EXCLUSIVEChild protection staff asked to take kids home

EXCLUSIVE: WA child protection staff have been asked to consider taking kids in care home with them as the department prepares for a scenario where wards of state have nowhere to go due to COVID-19.

Annabel Hennessy

Breaking newsLIVE: WA Premier gives COVID-19 update

WA Premier Mark McGowan, Health Minister Roger Cook and Police Commissioner Chris Dawson will hold a press conference this afternoon with the latest on the coronavirus pandemic.

COVID-19 crisisNo ATAR exams? No worries, says UWA

WA’s most prestigious university will admit school leavers based on their Year 11 results under a new scheme aimed at reassuring stressed Year 12s who still do not know if ATAR exams will go ahead.

Bethany Hiatt

The West LiveTreasurer predicts change after cruise ship crisis

Ben Wyatt believes the cruise ship crisis taking place in Fremantle and Sydney could result in State Governments taking greater control of deciding who comes and goes in Australian ports.

Peter de Kruijff

COVID-19 crisisMcGowan’s hospital fears over virus-hit cruise ship

WA Premier Mark McGowan fears a further outbreak of COVID-19 among remaining Artania cruise ship crew would overwhelm the state’s hospitals.

Josh Zimmerman

Emergency measuresHow far is WA prepared to go to win war against virus?

The dystopian path taken in NSW offers a glimpse of what Perth’s future might become. But as the war on COVID-19 evolves from public health emergency to a matter of law and order, how far will we go?

Peter LawState Political Editor

EXCLUSIVEGovernment eyes app to ‘trace’ people in virus fight

WA is evaluating a mobile phone app that keeps a digital record of a person’s close contacts to help track the spread of COVID-19.

Peter Law

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWTwiggy explains how WA can ‘bounce back’ fast

Mining billionaire Andrew Forrest says WA’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic is poised to be among the fastest in the world.

Jenna Clarke

ARTANIABizarre background of cruise ship stand-off captain

The captain of the COVID-19 plagued Artania locked in a tense international stand-off with the Commonwealth Government and Australian Border Force is no stranger to the limelight.

Josh Zimmerman & Peter de Kruijff

EXCLUSIVERush for ‘mercy flights’ to get Artania crew out of WA

The Morrison Government is trying to organise flights to take home many of the 450 crew of the coronavirus-infested Artania cruise liner, with many desperate to get home during the virus crisis.

Lanai Scarr & Peter Law

COVID-19 CRISISFears for the Kimberley as health workers test positive

Five Kimberley health workers have tested positive to COVID-19, sparking fresh concerns about the possibility of widespread outbreaks in vulnerable indigenous communities.

Annabel Hennessy

Coronavirus crisisTwiggy to unveil at-home WA virus tests

Thousands of West Australians will be checked for COVID-19 every day — including from home — under a new testing regime set to be announced by mining magnate Andrew Forrest within days.

Josh Zimmerman

COVID-19 CRISISATAR exams could be pushed back, rather than cancelled

After revealing Year 12 exams could be cancelled this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Education Minister Sue Ellery today said the exams could instead be deferred to later in the year.

Bethany Hiatt

COVID-19 crisisMcGowan’s scathing message for quarantine complainers

Premier Mark McGowan has hit back at those complaining about forced quarantine in WA, saying “staying in a hotel for a couple of weeks is a small price to pay” in the fight against COVID-19.

Coronavirus crisisWA Health Minister reveals expanded COVID-19 testing

Further details have been revealed for WA’s expansion of its COVID-19 testing regime which come into effect tomorrow.

Peter De Kruijff

Coronavirus crisisPremier slams ‘disgusting’ hotel guests over food fight

WA Premier Mark McGowan said reports of Vasco da Gama passengers quarantined in hotels throwing their food into the lobby was disgusting.

Peter De Kruijff

COVID-19 crisisHope after WA’s best day yet in killer virus fight

Western Australia might be ready to kick-start its economy in a few weeks if the number of new coronavirus cases continues to fall, but yesterday’s single-digit case day no cause for complacency.

John Flint, Josh Zimmerman and Sarah Steger

COVID-19Billionaire’s $295m yacht docks in Freo amid ship chaos

More than 20 crew members aboard a luxury super yacht, owned by a Russian billionaire, will not be able to leave the ship until quarantining after it docked in Fremantle this week.

Peter de Kruijff

RESTRICTIONS EXPLAINEDRegional WA to be locked down like never before

Unprecedented restrictions on intrastate travel aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 will come into effect at midnight tonight, with rule breakers facing fines of up to $50,000.

Rourke Walsh, Peter Law & Shannon Verhagen

PAUL MURRAY’s MUST READ COLUMNDoes the AMA boss need a dose of reality?

The AMA is central to health policy formulation in WA, but under outspoken President Andrew Miller, the doctors’ union is in danger of being sidelined during the virus crisis, Paul Murray writes.

Paul MurrayColumnist

COVID-19 crisisVirus puts Containers for Change on-hold

WA’s anticipated recycling scheme has been postponed amid COVID-19 fears, making it just the latest environmental-friendly initiative to be impacted by the pandemic.

Caitlyn Rintoul

Safety netVirus-hit households aided by $1b package

Premier Mark McGowan has unveiled a swathe of unprecedented measures as part of a $1b package designed to help households and small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Peter de Kruijff