What's happening in Perth

The inquiry was cordial but had its tense moments as Greens senators and independent senator David Pocock grilled Woodside and Chevron executives, as well as the head of the industry’s main lobby group, Australian Energy Producers chief executive Samantha McCulloch.

A Floreat couple accused of neglecting their teenage daughter face a lengthy wait ahead of a trial next year.

Jack Endersby was arrested after his clients complained to police they had allegedly lost millions in invested funds.

A ground-penetrating radar survey was conducted at the main bus stop construction site where Aboriginal remains were discovered earlier this month.

The identity of the man responsible for shooting the bikie from 365 metres away at Kwinana Motorplex in 2020 can now be revealed after the former soldier asked the courts to lift a suppression order.

You wouldn’t sentence someone to prison without a trial – but in WA it is still legal to make someone homeless without a trial.

Follow our live coverage here.

The 57-year-old appeared in court on Thursday where prosecutors said he had told staff that he was “gonna blow this place up” before allegedly leaving a backpack on a bin and walking away.

Premier Roger Cook said he received the unsolicited fuel offer from Rio Tinto’s iron ore chief executive Matthew Holcz earlier this week.

Climate activists have repeatedly disrupted a gathering of shareholders at Woodside’s AGM in Perth.

This Saturday is ANZAC Day — a national day of remembrance marking the anniversary of the first major involvement of the Australian and New Zealand armed forces during World War One. If you’d like to pay your respects and attend a Dawn Service, you can find a list of locations across WA here.

If you’d like to know some of the venues that will be open on the ANZAC Day public holiday, see below:

ApplecrossQuarter Acre Hotel11:30 pm – 10:00 pmApplecrossRaffles Hotel12:00 pm – 8:00 pmApplecrossCanteen Pizza6:30 am – LateBurswoodThe Camfield11:00 am – 10:00 pmBassendeanThe Bassendean Hotel12:00 pm – 10:00 pmBedfordCecchis12:00 pm – 9:30 pmCottesloeIl Lido6:30 am – LateCottesloeCottesloe Beach Hotel12:00 pm – LateCottesloeLongview7:00 am – 3:00 pmCottesloeTigerfish12:00 pm – 10:00 pmCrawleyWest Kitchen & Bar12:00 pm – 2:00 amClaremontThe Claremont Hotel12:00 pm – 6:00 pmComoComo Garden10:00 am – 3:00 pm
5:00 pm – 9:00 pmDunsboroughSixteen Ounces12:00 pm – 11:00 pmEast PerthThe Royal on the Waterfront11:30 pm – 10:00 pmEast PerthBright Tank Brewery12:00 pm – 10:00 pmEast Victoria ParkMilly’s Acre11:00 am – LateEast Victoria ParkParco Pizza11:00 am – 10:00 pmEast Victoria ParkThe Berwick11:00 am – 10:00 pmFalconCobblers Tavern12:00 pm – 9:00 pmFremantleMoon & Mary12:00 pm – 10:00 pmEast FremantleSweetwater Rooftop Bar5:00 pm – 10:00 pmFremantleLa Lune11:00 am – LateFremantleChicho Gelato12:00 pm – 10:30 pmFremantleElske7:00 am – 2:00 pmFremantleJetty11:30 am – 11:00 pmFremantleLa Sosta5:30 pm – 9:00 pmGuildfordThe Guildford Hotel11:00 pm – 10:00 pmGuildfordWoodbridge Hotel10:30 am – 10:00 pmHenley BrookOld Young’s12:00 pm – LateInglewoodCivic Hotel12:00 pm – 9:00 pmKarrinyupGood Company11:00 am – 10:30 pmLeedervilleThe Leederville Precinct12:00 pm – 12:00 amLeedervilleBesk12:00 pm – 9:00 pmLeedervilleLima Cantina4:00 pm – 9:30 pmLeedervillePinchos11:30 am – 9:30 pmLeedervilleThe Garden12:00 pm – 10:30 pmLeedervilleServo12:00 pm – 10:00 pmLeedervilleThe Leederville Hotel12:00 pm – LateLeederville, Highgate & City BeachMary Street Bakery7:00 am – 3:00 pmMount HawthornLucy Luu4:00 pm – 10:00 pmMount LawleyThe Elford11:00 am – 10:00 pmMount LawleyChicho Gelato12:00 pm – 10:30 pmMount LawleyLe Rebelle5:00 pm – 10:00 pmMount LawleyNazzar5:00 pm – 9:00 pmMargaret RiverVoyager Estate Wine Room12:00 pm – 5:00 pmMargaret RiverVoyager Estate Restaurant12:00 pm – 5:00 pmMandurahThe Peninsula Mandurah11:00 am – 10:00 pmNorthbridgeBivouac5:00 pm – 10:00 pmNorthbridgeChicho Gelato12:00 pm – 11:00 pmNorthbridgeNeon Palms6:00 pm – 12:00 amPerthPost6:30 am – LatePerthPetition Kitchen8:00 am – LatePerthBeer Corner12:00 pm – LatePerthDurty Nelly’s Irish Pub10:00 am – 10:00 pmPerthThe Globe12:00 pm – 9:00 pmPerthMarket Grounds12:00 pm – 12:00 amPerthThe Reveley11:00 am – 10:00 pmPerthThe Generous Squire12:00 pm – LatePerthThe Court12:00 pm – 2:00 amPerthBrown Street Grill12:00 pm – 10:00 pmPerthFallow12:00 pm – 12:00 amPerthTerrarium4:00 pm – LateParkervilleThe Parkerville Tavern11:00 am – 10:00 pmPickering BrookCore Cider12:00 pm – 5:00 pmScarboroughScarborough Beach Bar11:00 am – 10:00 pmScarboroughThe Peach Pit11:00 am – 10:00 pmScarboroughThe Galway Hooker11:00 pm – 12:00 amSouth FremantleSaroor5:00 pm – 10:00 pmSubiacoPinos8:00 am – 2:00 pmSubiacoIntuition Wine & Kitchen4:00 pm – LateWest PerthBrew Dog Perth12:00 pm – 12:00 amWest PerthZamia7:00 am – 4:00 pmVictoria ParkVictoria Park Hotel12:00 pm – LateIl Locale5:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Add a venue

If you’d like to add your venue to the list above, fill in the form below.

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50% EmailThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.Venue Name*Location*Opening hours* Email*Captcha gform.initializeOnLoaded( function() {gformInitSpinner( 20, 'https://soperth.com.au/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/images/spinner.svg', true );jQuery('#gform_ajax_frame_20').on('load',function(){var contents = jQuery(this).contents().find('*').html();var is_postback = contents.indexOf('GF_AJAX_POSTBACK') >= 0;if(!is_postback){return;}var form_content = jQuery(this).contents().find('#gform_wrapper_20');var is_confirmation = jQuery(this).contents().find('#gform_confirmation_wrapper_20').length > 0;var is_redirect = contents.indexOf('gformRedirect(){') >= 0;var is_form = form_content.length > 0 && ! is_redirect && ! is_confirmation;var mt = parseInt(jQuery('html').css('margin-top'), 10) + parseInt(jQuery('body').css('margin-top'), 10) + 100;if(is_form){jQuery('#gform_wrapper_20').html(form_content.html());if(form_content.hasClass('gform_validation_error')){jQuery('#gform_wrapper_20').addClass('gform_validation_error');} else {jQuery('#gform_wrapper_20').removeClass('gform_validation_error');}setTimeout( function() { /* delay the scroll by 50 milliseconds to fix a bug in chrome */ jQuery(document).scrollTop(jQuery('#gform_wrapper_20').offset().top - mt); }, 50 );if(window['gformInitDatepicker']) {gformInitDatepicker();}if(window['gformInitPriceFields']) {gformInitPriceFields();}var current_page = jQuery('#gform_source_page_number_20').val();gformInitSpinner( 20, 'https://soperth.com.au/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/images/spinner.svg', true );jQuery(document).trigger('gform_page_loaded', [20, current_page]);window['gf_submitting_20'] = false;}else if(!is_redirect){var confirmation_content = jQuery(this).contents().find('.GF_AJAX_POSTBACK').html();if(!confirmation_content){confirmation_content = contents;}jQuery('#gform_wrapper_20').replaceWith(confirmation_content);jQuery(document).scrollTop(jQuery('#gf_20').offset().top - mt);jQuery(document).trigger('gform_confirmation_loaded', [20]);window['gf_submitting_20'] = false;wp.a11y.speak(jQuery('#gform_confirmation_message_20').text());}else{jQuery('#gform_20').append(contents);if(window['gformRedirect']) {gformRedirect();}}jQuery(document).trigger("gform_pre_post_render", [{ formId: "20", currentPage: "current_page", abort: function() { this.preventDefault(); } }]); if (event && event.defaultPrevented) { return; } const gformWrapperDiv = document.getElementById( "gform_wrapper_20" ); if ( gformWrapperDiv ) { const visibilitySpan = document.createElement( "span" ); visibilitySpan.id = "gform_visibility_test_20"; gformWrapperDiv.insertAdjacentElement( "afterend", visibilitySpan ); } const visibilityTestDiv = document.getElementById( "gform_visibility_test_20" ); let postRenderFired = false; function triggerPostRender() { if ( postRenderFired ) { return; } postRenderFired = true; gform.core.triggerPostRenderEvents( 20, current_page ); if ( visibilityTestDiv ) { visibilityTestDiv.parentNode.removeChild( visibilityTestDiv ); } } function debounce( func, wait, immediate ) { var timeout; return function() { var context = this, args = arguments; var later = function() { timeout = null; if ( !immediate ) func.apply( context, args ); }; var callNow = immediate && !timeout; clearTimeout( timeout ); timeout = setTimeout( later, wait ); if ( callNow ) func.apply( context, args ); }; } const debouncedTriggerPostRender = debounce( function() { triggerPostRender(); }, 200 ); if ( visibilityTestDiv && visibilityTestDiv.offsetParent === null ) { const observer = new MutationObserver( ( mutations ) => { mutations.forEach( ( mutation ) => { if ( mutation.type === 'attributes' && visibilityTestDiv.offsetParent !== null ) { debouncedTriggerPostRender(); observer.disconnect(); } }); }); observer.observe( document.body, { attributes: true, childList: false, subtree: true, attributeFilter: [ 'style', 'class' ], }); } else { triggerPostRender(); } } );} );

The post Venues That Are Open ANZAC Day 2026 appeared first on So Perth

WA is the only jurisdiction in Australia bar the NT which does not have laws against no grounds evictions. These advocates want things to change.

The State Government has committed $28.2 million in the 2026-27 State Budget to move WA driver’s licences into the ServiceWA digital wallet, with the credentials expected to go live in 2027. The same funding package will also deliver a State Digital Identity — the broader identity layer that will sit behind future online government services.

Science and Innovation Minister Stephen Dawson framed the announcement as a modernisation piece. “These changes are designed around how people live and work today. Having key credentials available digitally means less paperwork, fewer delays, and greater convenience for individuals, employers and organisations who rely on them every day,” he said.

What will actually change

The digital licence will live in the ServiceWA digital wallet. Holders will be able to control how much information they share at any given checkpoint. Rather than handing over a card that displays a full name, address, date of birth, and licence number, they can share only what the situation calls for, whether that’s proof of age at a bottle shop or confirmation of licence status at a roadside stop. 

“By providing these services digitally we are making them easier for people to access whilst lowering the chances of theft and fraud,” Dawson added.

The State says credentials will also be verifiable in near real time, which reduces the risk of someone presenting an expired or cancelled licence that looks fine to the naked eye.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti linked it to the SmartRider upgrade that now lets passengers tag on and off with their phones — the same logic of carrying fewer things. “We know most Western Australians carry their phone every day, so we’re making it easier to carry your driver’s licence with you too,” she said.

“It is all part of our commitment to delivering smarter services that support a more efficient economy and a better experience for the community.”

The $28.2 million also covers an upgrade to the WA Relationship Authorisation Manager — the tool that businesses use to interact with the State Government. The State Digital Identity piece is the bigger-picture play: a verified identity credential that future online government transactions can hinge on.

A firmer go-live date inside 2027 hasn’t been announced.

The post The State Government Plans To Digitise Your Driver’s Licence: Here’s What’s Happening appeared first on So Perth

The digital IDs will be available through the Service WA app and Apple and Google wallets.

Follow our live coverage here.

Jamie Murray was dropped off at his Dudley Park home in March last year. It was there he was run over, with the driver failing to stop after thinking they hit rubbish.

The West Australian government will pump an additional $414 million into mental health services over the next four years in the upcoming May budget.

The Blue Room Theatre has been allocated $495,000 for refurbishment and technical upgrades in the first round of Lotterywest’s Arts and Culture Infrastructure Grant Program — part of $10 million distributed across 41 Western Australian arts organisations.

Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts has received $328,477, and the City of Fremantle will put more than $280,000 towards upgrades at the heritage-listed Victoria Hall. The funding covers refurbishments, audio-visual and technical equipment, touring rigs, and building improvements, all delivered under the state government’s Creative WA roadmap.

Premier Roger Cook said, “Western Australia is home to a host of vibrant arts and culture organisations that deliver enriching programs, displays, festivals and initiatives for the WA community to enjoy.”

“Meaningful investment in infrastructure, equipment and technology within these spaces will create long-lasting benefits for WA’s creative sector, supporting local artists and strengthening arts and culture in our regions.”

Where does the money go?

The Blue Room grant goes to the Performing Arts Centre Society for work at the Northbridge theatre. PICA, in the same cultural precinct, has been allocated funds for comparable infrastructure work. Victoria Hall, a Fremantle building with heritage protection, will be fitted with modern infrastructure to support accessible performances while preserving its historic character.

Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk framed the program as allowing artists to concentrate on their work rather than on the buildings they work in. 

“Through supporting upgrades to spaces and access to new equipment and technology, this funding is helping our WA creatives focus on the creation and delivery of their work. It is also helping to deliver a better experience for our audiences — not just in Perth but also our regional areas.”

Regional WA takes almost half

Close to $5 million — just under half the total — has gone to regional WA, reaching the South West, Gascoyne, Wheatbelt, Goldfields-Esperance, Mid West, Great Southern, Peel, and Kimberley regions.

The largest regional grant is more than $420,000 for a new cultural and creative space in Warburton, a remote community in the Goldfields-Esperance region.

Another $20 million still to come

This is the first of three planned rounds. A further $20 million will be distributed across the next two financial years, bringing the full program to $30 million.

The post Blue Room Theatre, PICA, & Victoria Hall Share In Lotterywest’s First $10 Million Arts Round appeared first on So Perth

Coroner Michael Jenkin handed down his findings of his inquest into the 2023 Wheatbelt shooting on Wednesday.

The Australind train service will formally resume on Monday, June 29th, reconnecting Perth and Bunbury by rail after a long pause and the retirement of a fleet that first entered service in 1987. The first of four new three-car trains will begin running on the opening day, with the remaining three rolled out in stages over the coming months.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti commented, “I’m so excited for the return of the Australind, with new trains and more frequent services for local communities from Byford to Bunbury.”

“The Australind has been a key link to the South West for decades, and the Cook Labor Government is proud to have secured this service for the future.”

Some coach services will continue operating until the second new train comes online.

What’s different about the new trains

The new Australinds are a full generational jump from the old railcars. Interiors feature LED lighting, in-seat USB-C charging, improved accessibility, an onboard buffet, and dedicated storage for 14 bicycles per train.

Each of the four trains will also carry unique Aboriginal artwork by a local Indigenous artist, tied to the culture and landscape of the South West. Rather than rolling out in matching livery, each train will have its own distinct identity.

More frequent services by early next year

The Cook Labor Government has committed $45 million in the 2026-27 State Budget to increase Australind service frequency. The state is working with Arc Infrastructure to finalise additional timetable slots, aiming to double the number of services by early next year.

“These new trains will not only provide a more comfortable travel experience for locals and visitors, but we’ll be increasing the frequency of this service supported by a $45 million investment in our upcoming State Budget,” Saffioti added.

The stopping pattern isn’t changing. Trains will run along the original route between Perth and Bunbury, stopping at Armadale, Byford, Mundijong, Serpentine, North Dandalup, Pinjarra, Waroona, Yarloop, Cookernup, Harvey, and Brunswick Junction.

Help name the new fleet

A public naming competition is open now and closes on May 18th. Anyone can submit a suggestion for the four new trains via the My Say Transport website, and submissions will be shortlisted for how well they reflect the history, people, and future of the South West. Winners will be invited to board the first service on the new train.

South West Minister and Bunbury MLA Don Punch added, “The naming competition provides an opportunity for the community to play an active role in shaping the identity of the new Australind trains.”

“The return of the Australind is welcome news for Bunbury and communities right across the South West, strengthening regional connectivity and delivering real benefits for residents, businesses and visitors.”

A community event in Bunbury the day before

A community event to mark the return of the service will be held at Bunbury Passenger Terminal on Sunday, June 28th — the day before services begin. More details will be released closer to the date.

The post The Perth To Bunbury Australind Train Service Is Returning: Here’s What You Need To Know  appeared first on So Perth