WA news LIVE: Bentley development ‘a disaster waiting to happen’; Teen loses finger in Baldivis bus stop fight

A Perth teenager has lost part of a finger during a violent altercation at a Baldivis bus stop.

Rockingham detectives are investigating the assault, which occurred on Nairn Drive between 4pm and 5pm on May 6.

Police alleged the 17-year-old and his friends were approached by a “large group of males” while at the bus stop before a verbal and physical altercation took place.

The teenager’s group were then chased by the other group.

Detectives are investigating if this incident is linked to several disturbances in the area that occurred on the same day.

Anyone with information or footage is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.

To courts now, and a former immigration detainee accused of breaching his curfew for nearly a week and then turning off his ankle monitoring bracelet has just appeared in the Perth Magistrates Court.

Kimbengere Gosoge, 42, had flagged making a bail application during his second court appearance today, but has instead indicated pleas of guilty to the charges.

Yongah Hill Detention Centre.Credit: 9News Perth

Since his release from Yongah Hill detention centre following a High Court ruling last year, Gosoge is alleged to have breached the conditions of his visa five times between April 26 and May 1.

He was arrested on May 2 amid ongoing controversy over the release of another former detainee who allegedly went on to be one of three people charged over the violent robbery of an elderly Girrawheen couple in April.

Gosoge is due to appear in court again on May 21.

It is estimated around 20 detainees released after the High Court ruling reside in WA, with 10 required to wear ankle bracelets.

Read more here.

A $400 million green steel recycling facility has just been given approval to be built in Collie by the Regional Development Assessment Panel, who met this morning.

The mill, to be built on a 75 hectare parcel of land, is intended to recycle around 450,000 tonnes of scrap metal which is currently being exported from WA for processing.

An artist’s impression of the approved green steel mill in Collie. Credit: RDAP

In an Australian first, the scrap metal will be turned into reinforcing bar to be predominantly reused in the local market.

The site will be powered by renewable energy and is expected to require 600 jobs during its construction, which is estimated to take 18 months.

Once up and running, it’s expected the facility will provide 200 ongoing jobs, with many of those employed expected to be transitioning from the area’s dying coal industry.

In approving the GHD Pty Ltd development, RDAP presiding member Clayton Higham said he was excited for the project.

“This proposal is exciting, obviously for Collie but also the whole state,” he said.

“I fully support and congratulate the proponents on the work they’ve put in so far.”

Shire of Collie representatives smiled and shook hands with one another after the project was unanimously approved.

Yesterday, we brought you the exclusive story that six years on from promising to build 5000 homes through infill developments, the state government had failed to lay a single slab.

One of the areas that has fallen victim to this delay is the old Brownlie Towers site in Bentley, which after 13 years in the planning phase, was sent back to square one earlier this year.

The plagued Bentley regeneration project has failed to get off the ground in 13 years.

City of Canning mayor Patrick Hall has just told Radio 6PR there is 26 hectares of prime government land at the site, just eight kilometres from the CBD, sitting dormant.

“Bentley has been besieged with social issues for many years, and we felt what a wonderful opportunity to change the narrative … but instead of that, not much has happened,” he said.

He said the latest idea to make one in every seven dwellings at the site social housing would also “be a disaster” after the now demolished Brownlie Towers public housing precinct became a notorious ghetto for crime.

“Those areas [like Bentley] that have been shouldering the burden of social housing, and carrying the burden for many years with high percentages need to be given some relief,” Hall said, pointing to surrounding suburbs which had far less public housing ratios.

“Why we would not take the opportunity to renew that area and change the narrative just defies common sense.

“What a disappointment it is for everybody living in Bentley.”

Previously, the state government had a policy of trying to reduce public housing to 1 in every 9 dwellings, although any mention of the long-running target has disappeared from its website in recent years.

Listen to his full interview here:

St John Ambulance WA has cut the maximum speed paramedics can travel while responding to life-threatening emergencies.

Previously ambulances were able to drive up to 40 kilometres an hour over the speed limit for a priority one call-out. Under the new rules, the maximum speed is now 20 kilometres an hour; in line with other states.

WA paramedics will only be permitted to drive 20 kilometres over the limit.

St John Ambulance says the change won’t impact response times.

It comes 10 years after a similar speeding restriction was introduced for WA firefighters.

At the time, United Firefighters Union WA secretary Kevin Jolly branded the new policy ridiculous saying it could potentially threaten lives and property.

“Any delays in our crews getting to scenes is going to have consequences,” he said.

Under the Road Traffic Code, police and emergency services personnel are exempt from speeding tickets if the offence occurs during official duties and the driver is taking reasonable care with blue or red flashing lights or a siren.

Rent bidding will be banned in Western Australia starting today, with undercover officers to be checking landlords and agents are doing the right thing.

The first stage of the tenancy reforms also include stronger rights for tenants to fight back against retaliatory action by landlords.

CoreLogic’s rent report found Perth at $669 per week is now the third most expensive rental market in the country, behind only Sydney ($770) and Canberra ($674), having overtaken Victoria.

The ban on soliciting rent bidding means landlords and agents can no longer ask or invite tenants to pay more money to secure an available rental property.

Properties must also be advertised at a set amount and cannot include a price range, or ‘rent from’ figure.

Failure to comply with these laws attract penalties of up to $10,000 or $50,000 for a corporation.

A second stage of tenancy reforms is expected to take effect in July 2024. These include reducing the frequency of rent increases to minimum 12-month intervals, allowing tenants to keep pets or make minor modifications in most circumstances.

Commerce Minister Sue Ellery said the reforms are the first step in a fairer renting future for tenants and landlords.

“Sending undercover officers to rental property inspections is one way Consumer Protection will ensure that changes to rent bidding will be adhered to,” she said.

WA’s education department is reviewing its blueprint for how secondary students feed into universities, further training, and employment.

Education Minister Tony Buti has this morning released the Post-School Success Expert Panel Report: Consultation Draft following extensive research and stakeholder engagement.

WA Education Minister Tony Buti.Credit: Holly Thompson

Among the draft’s key recommendations is a plan to enable as many VET qualifications as possible to contribute to ATAR, in line with other jurisdictions.

The report also recommends WA Statement of Student Achievement certificates be available for those leaving school before Year 12, and improvements to career pathways.

It listed six ‘key imperatives’ including increasing student retention, stating that “retention is a major and persistent challenge” for WA.

There has been a 9 per cent decrease in students choosing ATAR courses since 2016, and an 11 per cent enrolment increase in general courses, and the report noted that while this might be the right choice for some students, there is concern that “at least some students are not selecting pathways that are sufficiently challenging for them and may compromise their long-term educational interests.”

The draft report has been released for public consultation.

Read more here. 

Returning to Perth’s unseasonably warm weather, and we’re on track for May records to tumble with the mercury forecast to hit 28 degrees today for the fourth day in a row.

The start to the month has already been the warmest on record since 2009.

Perth’s May weather has been unseasonably warm. Credit: WAtoday

But the endless summer has some climate experts worried, with the last seven months having been the driest on record, with the gauges receiving just a quarter of the average rainfall over that time.

And just two weeks out from winter, the fine weather is expected to continue into late next week.

It follows a record-breaking summer for our CBD, with February recording the most days over 40 degrees ever, with residents copping three heatwaves that same month.