What's happening in Perth

Good character references will no longer be able to be used by courts as a mitigating factor at sentencing in Western Australia, under reforms announced by the Cook Government today.

Drafting was already well progressed on a Bill removing the references in child abuse cases, acting on a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. That legislation will now be expanded to cover every offence.

The expansion follows the case of Jeffrey David Spinner, a Western Power manager sentenced in June to five years in jail for raping a colleague on a work trip in 2024. Eight of his colleagues gave the court positive character references, one describing him as having a strong moral compass, and the sentencing judge found the rape was out of character. Three of those employees have since been stood down pending a review ordered by Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson.

The Government’s announcement makes no mention of that case, instead pointing to growing concerns that offenders with professional standing, community status, or strong personal networks are perceived to get more favourable treatment by arranging references from friends, family, and colleagues.

“I have had meetings with advocates for victim-survivors and heard how distressing it can be when a criminal’s professional standing and community reputation are used to try to reduce their sentence,” Attorney General Dr Tony Buti said.

“This is particularly distressing in cases of child abuse and sexual assault when a perpetrator’s friends and colleagues may be unaware of the perpetrator’s sinister behaviour.”

The change won’t prevent courts from weighing an offender’s prospects of rehabilitation, the absence of prior convictions, or their personal circumstances. The Government says it keeps sentencing focused on the offence rather than the offender’s reputation, and reduces the scope for well-connected people to gain an advantage.

WA is not the first state down this path. New South Wales passed an all-offences ban in June, after an earlier attempt was amended in the upper house to cover sexual offences only and had to be reintroduced. Victoria announced in February that it intends to scrap the references across all criminal cases.

The NSW Bar Association opposed the change there, arguing sentencing involves assessing the offender as a whole person rather than the offence alone, and that removing good character altogether makes outcomes less responsive to individual circumstances. The Law Society of NSW and Legal Aid NSW raised similar concerns.

Buti said the WA legislation is still being written.

“We have begun drafting these important reforms and will consult the profession and other key stakeholders during that process,” he said.

The post The Good Bloke Defence Is Coming To An End In WA Courts appeared first on So Perth

The byelection’s political ramifications continue to bleed into national discussions of One Nation’s surging support in outer suburban areas.

The trees were planted in June, removed in July and are set to be replanted if a vote goes ahead at the Town of Cottesloe’s meeting on Tuesday night.

The oil and gas giant claims its climate objectives will be now guided by the pace of global energy transition.

A campaign to stop the Gascoyne Gateway Marine Complex proposal is in full swing, over concerns the plans would require extensive dredging and result in shipping lanes cutting through a critical humpback whale resting and nursing ground.

The move comes after Western Power stood down three employees who provided character references for a colleague convicted of rape.

Follow our live coverage here.

For the first time, researchers converted NAPLAN scores into equivalent years of learning for a clear picture of the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students. 

When Saadiq Regal’s motorbike was stolen from outside his Stratton home last week, it launched a three-day pursuit of justice and a political discussion about youth crime and policing.

You’d be foolish to suggest the club hasn’t improved this season, but there is no disguising the fact that West Coast has won only four games and, more alarmingly, lost its last 11 outings.

Michael McConnaughty, 30, is alleged to have sexually assaulted two women he met through dating apps in 2019 and 2023.

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell is optimistic his team will be able to achieve what no other club has done this year: beat Fremantle in Perth.

Follow our live coverage here.

Polling conducted by Greenpeace found 71 per cent of metropolitan voters disapproved of Woodside’s Browse plans, as well as the potential for fracking in the Kimberley.

Round two of the Kids Access All Areas Vouchers program opens this week through the ServiceWA app. Parents and guardians can reserve one $50.00 voucher per child aged five to 15, up to four children, for a maximum of $200.00 per household.

If you claimed a voucher in round one, you’re not eligible this time. The vouchers are limited to one per child for the life of the program.

Round one opened on December 11th, and every voucher had been allocated by early January. The program is budgeted to give out 50,000 vouchers over two years, with the first 25,000 issued in that opening round, and they go out on a first-come, first-served basis. 

The vouchers work at more than 100 venues and providers across the State, more than 40 of them regional, and cover paid ticketed events across circus, theatre, dance, music, opera, and visual arts. State Theatre Centre, Scitech, Crown Theatre, Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, and Mandurah Performing Arts Centre are on the approved list, with the full roll-call on the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport site.

“This program, along with initiatives like the WA Student Assistance Payment, is aimed at providing targeted cost-of-living relief to families, while also supporting WA based arts and creative organisations and helping to build a thriving creative sector,” Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk said.

“With more than 100 participating venues and providers across WA, including many in regional communities, families have plenty of opportunities to use their vouchers close to home or while exploring different parts of the State.

“Increasing participation in arts and cultural experiences provides important educational and wellbeing benefits for children and young people, helping to spark creativity, build confidence and create lasting memories while supporting their learning and development.”

You have until May 31st, 2027 to buy tickets and claim the rebate, which covers three school holiday periods.

How to claim one

Reserve your voucher in the ServiceWA app under the Offers tab, buy tickets to an eligible event from an approved venue or provider, then return to the app and upload the tax invoice to claim the rebate.

The rebate arrives after the purchase, so you will need to pay for the tickets in full and then get the $50.00 back afterwards.

If you can’t use the ServiceWA app, there’s an alternative claim form that takes ten to 15 business days to process.

The post Kids Access All Areas Vouchers Are Back For A Second Round appeared first on So Perth

Two new safety camera trailers are now based in Bunbury full-time, joining WA’s existing fleet of eight operating across the Perth metropolitan area, the Mid West, and the Great Southern. They detect seatbelt, mobile phone, and speeding offences, and they can be deployed to any location in the South West at any time.

Great Southern cameras recorded an 82% reduction in the overall rate of offending between June 2025 and July 2026, including an 85% drop in mobile phone offences and 83% for speeding. Mid West cameras recorded a 72% reduction between July 2025 and July 2026. Across the State, seatbelt-related fatalities fell from a ten-year average of 23% of road deaths to 13.8% in the year after the cameras arrived, alongside education and awareness campaigns.

“Over the past five years, 32 people died in road crashes on average in the South West region,” said Road Safety Minister Jessica Stojkovski.

“Every seatbelt not worn or worn incorrectly, every mobile phone used behind the wheel and every kilometre over the speed limit creates an unnecessary risk and puts lives in danger.

“A little risk-taking is never okay — receiving a fine pales in comparison to the devastating impact on a community when a life is lost.”

The trailers were funded through the $80 million Road Safety Reform Package announced in December 2025, which draws on the Road Trauma Trust Account. All safety camera fine revenue goes into that account, which is legislatively required to be spent on reducing deaths and injuries on WA roads. 

“I get frequent requests from constituents to advocate for improved road safety outcomes,” said Bunbury MLA Don Punch. “This investment will help support safer roads for the South West and I am delighted to be part of a Cook Labor Government delivering for the local community.”

Fines, appeals, and a review

Between October 8th, 2025, when enforcement started, and May 4th this year, 192,229 infringements were issued across WA, and 6,114 of those were later withdrawn for 3,413 drivers, according to figures from the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure. Around 60% of drivers who challenged an infringement had it withdrawn.

More than half of the review requests have related to seatbelts. Drivers carry legal responsibility for passengers, so they have been fined for children and adult passengers who removed or incorrectly adjusted a belt mid-trip. Parliament was told in March that the department had actioned 2,194 requests to review seatbelt infringements, and that 934 appeals relating to passengers had succeeded. The Road Safety Commission is reviewing the legislation, processes, and systems behind driving offences, including whether a passenger seatbelt infringement should be issued to the passenger rather than the driver.

Western Australians are forecast to pay an extra $440 million in traffic fines over the next four years, largely because of the cameras.

The post Two More Mobile Safety Camera Trailers Have Rolled Out In Bunbury appeared first on So Perth

$2.00 oysters at a rooftop bar at Elizabeth Quay, a $12.00 chicken katsu at Yagan Square, and a $20.00 express lunch on the water at Barrack Square. August has been a good month for eating out cheaply. Here are some great deals around Perth for you to try before the end of winter.

Oyster Hour at HQ Bar + Kitchen

Freshly shucked oysters are $2.00 each from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm every day except Sundays at HQ Bar & Kitchen’s rooftop on The Esplanade, looking out over Elizabeth Quay. 

Beer Buffet at Hiss & Smoke

Two hours of flowing Sapporo Premium Lager at the Yagan Square venue Hiss & Smoke costs $40.00 a person from Tuesday to Thursday, and $60.00 on Friday and Saturday. It’s perfect for groups, so book a table.

$35.00 Express Lunch at Samuels on Mill

Five seasonal mains to choose from and a house beverage, for $35.00 on weekdays, at Samuels on Mill, inside the Parmelia Hilton on Mill Street. It’s perfect for a quick lunch break on days when you want something nice but still gotta get shit done.

The Quickie

The Lucky Shag’s new express lunch menu is $20.00, served Monday to Friday from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm at Barrack Square. You can also add a small house wine or a house middy for $8.00, or a soft drink for $5.00.

Wednesday Chicken Katsu Kare

Hiss & Smoke runs one of the best lunchtime specials in the CBD: Godzilla Kare for $12.00 every Wednesday from midday. That’s a crisp chicken cutlet, Japanese curry, and rice, and we can confirm, it’s good.

Escape Menu Tuesday to Friday

Intuition Wine & Kitchen in Subiaco serves an Escape Menu at $79.00 a head for midweek dinner, Tuesday to Friday, with a regularly changing menu. You can also BYO, so grab your favourite and head down.

Sammy’s Hour

It’s the after-work drinks excuse you’ve been looking for. House wine, tap beer, or a spirit for $9.00 at Samuels on Mill, weekdays between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm. 

$35.00 Pizza and Beer Special

Any pizza on the menu and a four-pack of Otherside’s Festive for $35.00 at Otherside of Nowhere in West Leederville. Get this deal from Wednesday to Sunday each week.

Winter Wine Series with Vasse Felix

Parmelia Hilton has built a stay package around Vasse Felix for the winter: a curated wine experience for two, breakfast at Samuels on Mill, and complimentary valet parking.

The post Nine Perth Food Deals To Try Before The End Of August appeared first on So Perth

A new book charts Australia’s love of the hazardous building material, and whether we will ever be free of it from our homes – or our landscape.

The Blues signalled their finals intent in a commanding performance, overcoming an early four-goal deficit at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.

Western Australia’s contribution to the surging critical minerals market is heating up, with one company believing it is sitting on the biggest titanium deposit in the world.