A LOOMING federal election and echoes from Christchurch helped push up numbers at this year’s Palm Sunday Walk for Refugees in Perth. More than 15 church and community groups took part this year, marching from St George’s Cathedral in the city. This year’s marchers called for “a reform of the whole detention system,” said Uniting…

ONE man’s vigilance has hopefully ended untold litres of drinking water being wasted at Robertson Park in Vincent. Over the last few months leaks have been mysteriously springing up in the park, leading to huge pools of pristine water at the Palmerston Street side. Chris Hair lives across the road and is a long-time member…

UNDERPAYMENT by 7-Eleven franchisees to its employees has revealed widespread workplace exploitation of temporary migrant and working holiday visa holders in Australia. A new report by the Migrant Workers Taskforce has twenty-two recommendations to improve the protection of vulnerable visa workers, including criminal sanctions for serious cases of worker exploitation and educating Australian employers about…

A PERMANENT green light crossing is on the way for busy Charles Street near Kyilla Primary School, following a push for better safety from parents. Perth MP John Carey held a survey asking people what to do about Charles Street’s pedestrian-unfriendly stretch in North Perth, which separates the school from the residential blocks to the…

LABOR has pledged to create a $1 million “music hub” in Leederville if it wins the federal election on May 18. The hub would be located at the YMCA headquarters, just off Oxford Street, and include a rehearsal space, soundproof studios, instruments and gear. Perth federal Labor MP Patrick Gorman says: “Labor wants to realise…

THE public toilet is art in a new Perth exhibition focusing on gay ‘beats’ – public areas frequented by men seeking sex with men. Looking now anyone here? by artists Benjamin Bannan, Brent Harrison and Wade Taylor examines the function, aesthetics and architecture of public toilets that served as a refuge for male sex in…

WITH Notre Dame de Paris still smouldering and the full extent of the damage unknown, Perth’s St Mary’s Cathedral has decided to donate proceeds from the first concert of its 2019 series to the restoration efforts. St Mary’s Cathedral has a special connection with the medieval Parisian cathedral: In February Notre Dame organist Johann Vexo…

JOONDANNA speedster Rahul Jegatheva has taken out his second national aquathlon title in a row. The 17-year-old UWA student defended his 19&Under crown on the Gold Coast earlier this month, setting himself up for the international aquathlon championships due to be held in Pontevedra, Spain, next month. Aquathlon’s essentially a triathlon without the bike leg.…

POLICE seized more than $200,000 worth of jewellery during a raid on a Perth second-hand dealer on Tuesday. More than 900 items were taken from the Hay Street Mall jewellers which police will allege were stolen. A subsequent search of a residential address in Thornlie uncovered further jewellery and paperwork related to the business. As…

GREENS MLC Alison Xamon has called on the McGowan government to expedite an inquiry into Perth council. The North Metro MP told Parliament last week residents were calling her office to complain about not having an elected council for almost two years. “The current situation is highly dissatisfactory, and if this drags on unnecessarily it…