What's happening in Perth

With the first five minutes of a shark attack deemed the most critical for survival, a Perth council could become the first in WA to install 24/7 emergency kits on its beaches.

Now in its 95th year, UWA’s annual satirical newspaper PROSH has raised more than $2 million for charity. 

At times – particularly when it comes to dividing GST – WA’s relationship with other states has become more toxic than a cooped-up couple on Married at First Sight.

Mihael Vrhovsek, 29, is alleged to have rained a campaign of terror including stalking, harassment and abuse towards his ex-partner in the months leading up to the moment when he allegedly tried to kill her.

Elsie Gribben’s family took her to the hospital on Tuesday after she was complaining of leg pain and picked her up two day later without a diagnosis.

 Ramsay confirmed it was “reviewing the clinic’s operations.”

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Documents show Water Corporation was locked out of Alcoa’s mining sites in state forest, while several state government departments were also keeping them in the dark.

The children – aged eight, nine and 11 – were left to take care of themselves for regular periods so their mother could further her business while their father worked fly-in, fly-out.

Buying a new home in Western Australia just got a tiny little more affordable. The Cook Government has announced changes to its stamp duty concession scheme for off-the-plan and under-construction dwellings, backed by a $70.6 million investment as part of the 2026-2027 State Budget.

The changes took effect on Thursday, March 12th, and bring a wider range of properties into the fold. For the first time, survey-strata dwellings — including duplexes and triplexes — are eligible for concessions, meaning buyers aren’t limited to large apartment complexes when looking to take advantage of the scheme.

What the new thresholds mean for buyers

The concession thresholds have been lifted by $50,000 across the board. The lower threshold now sits at $800,000 (up from $750,000) and the upper threshold at $900,000 (up from $850,000).

For buyers purchasing off-the-plan, no stamp duty is payable on dwellings up to $800,000, with a 50% concession available above that mark. Those buying a property that’s already under construction can access a 75% concession up to $800,000, tapering to 37.5% above $900,000. On an $800,000 property, that translates to a saving of more than $32,300 for off-the-plan purchases, or more than $24,200 for under-construction buys — a meaningful dent in the cost of getting into a new home.

Who stands to benefit

The expanded scheme is particularly relevant for downsizers — older Western Australians looking to trade a family home for something more manageable. Apartments, townhouses, villas, units, duplexes, and triplexes in eligible strata schemes are now all covered, giving buyers considerably more choice in deciding what the next chapter looks like.

Treasurer Rita Saffioti described the announcement as the first in a series of housing measures coming via the 2026-27 State Budget. “By expanding stamp duty concessions to more homes, we’re providing greater choice to buyers and making home ownership more affordable,” she said. “This means older Western Australians looking to downsize can save thousands when buying a new apartment, townhouse, villa, or unit off-the-plan or under construction.”

Extended deadline gives buyers more time

The concession scheme, which had been set to conclude on June 30th, 2026, has now been extended until June 30th, 2028. That two-year extension gives buyers more time to plan, and provides greater certainty for developers working on multi-residential projects.

The announcement builds on what the government describes as a record $6.3 billion investment in housing and homelessness measures since 2021, with housing flagged as a central focus of the upcoming State Budget.

The post WA Stamp Duty Concessions Expanded To Cover Duplexes, Triplexes And More appeared first on So Perth

A Perth businessman linked to collapsed builder Modco Residential is being sued by the tax office for almost $7 million over allegedly unpaid tax.

Two officers were injured in the same incident when trying to help the man, who allegedly doused himself in an accelerant and set his car alight when a police pursuit came to an end in Gosnells last month.

The Greens and Legalise Cannabis WA MPs were given an extra staff member recently, but others were not so lucky.

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A WA man accused of preparing “a mass casualty event” at parliament house and Muslim places of worship was at one point able to access firearms through the use of a well-known loophole in the state’s old gun laws.

The Metronet circle line is officially a Commonwealth priority after appearing on the 2026 Infrastructure Australia priority projects list on Wednesday.

Guy Cramp was charged with breaching his bail on Tuesday after failing to appear in a Perth court. On Wednesday, he handed himself in – and was released yet again.

WA farmers face three-week wait times for regular fuel supply deliveries, with fears it could affect seeding and harvesting season.

A 13-year-old boy is accused of reaching speeds of up to 160km/h as he led police on a high-speed chase with seven other children crammed into the small car. 

The fire was first reported just after 2pm, sparking an emergency warning for people bounded by Great Eastern Highway, Doconing Road and Old Northam Road in Beechina.