JAMES CHESTERS will soon be stepping off Perth’s tallest building. But fear not that he’s asking for death. He’ll have a harness, helmet and the support of dozens of others who next month abseil down the CBD’s Central Park building for charity. The Voice met with the Mt Hawthorn man on the roof this week…

PROPOSED new laws could see people who don’t even know they’re dual citizens stripped of their Australian citizenship, Perth federal Labor MP Alannah MacTiernan says. While most media attention has been on foreign-born Australians who retain citizenship of countries such as Syria and Afghanistan, Ms MacTiernan notes Australian-born citizens can all too easily be caught…

DOZENS of Perth newsagents are selling up amid fierce competition from major retailers and the rise of online media. Dozens of news/lotto shops are for sale at http://www.reiwa.com.au—more than 40 being sold by brokers at Piedmont Action in Northbridge. The Voice stopped at five newsagancies along Beaufort Street this week and almost all owners were…

BAD news for West Perth residents: the chances of your house being burgled are nearly four times higher than for folk in Northbridge. The good news is the odds of your car being stolen are only double. At a Perth city council planning meeting this week councillor Reece Harley pointed out dire police statistics illustrating…

OWNERS of rundown heritage buildings on Barrack Street may get some financial support from Perth city council after all. The new $135,000 plan is a watered down version of one rejected two weeks ago by Perth city councillors, which would have seen ratepayers stump up $321,000 towards repairs, with owners pitching in another $1m. Cr…

BAYSWATER ratepayers will get a note with their rates kindly informing them a big chunk of their rate hike this year is because of the state government’s failed council amalgamation process. Baysy councillors were split 6-5 over whether to include the note which tells people “the city spent over $1 million, in good faith, in…

THE bones of the past have been used to liven up Vincent’s streets, with new parklets in Mount Hawthorn and William Street built from timber reclaimed from the town depot and century-old turnstiles from Perth oval. Craftsman Andrew Christie from A Good Looking Man (who works out of the MANY building in Fremantle) constructed the…

A FOOD van trial at Bert Wright Park has gotten off to a good start. About 250 people fuelled up on street food at Bayswater StrEats’ three-month trial at the park last Friday. Catherine Ehrhardt, the group’s co-ordinator who organises rosters for street vendors, says it’s promising when two traders sell out on the first…