LABOR has reclaimed its traditional stronghold of Perth with John Carey emphatically winning the seat at last weekend’s state election. It was one of the first results to be called on Saturday night and Mr Carey ended up nabbing a 14.6 per cent swing after preferences for a total of 61.8 per cent, wresting the…

A BIZARRE scene played out just before the Perth council meeting this week when councillors were asked to sign a statutory declaration promising they hadn’t spoken to a journalist about CEO Martin Mileham’s contract. Mr Mileham’s probation period is coming to an end and there’s internal disagreement over the council’s decision not to get an…

PERTH city council has cracked down on beggars in the Perth train station overpass, posting signs reminding them of a ban on sitting, standing or lying in the thoroughfare. The overpass is where Salvation Army volunteer Shirley Mort collected $1.7 milllion for charity over the last 26 years, and according to the signs, nowadays she’d…

THE oldest house on Cowle Street — a heritage-listed bungalow — is showing signs of neglect and is being targeted by vandals. Match Property Group bought the 1884 house in West Perth a couple of years back along with several other properties on the street. Condition When the company was given approval by the Development…

LABOR’S  Simon Millman won Mt Lawley with an 11.8 per cent swing at last weekend’s state election, but outgoing Liberal MP Michael Sutherland says blaming the One Nation preferences deal is a furphy. Mr Sutherland nabbed 42.1 per cent of the primary vote, but preferences boosted Mr Millman from 40.6 to 52.9, with the Greens’…

IN a political landscape full of dun suits and drab rhetoric, Michael Sutherland was an entertaining splotch of colour. The rich turn of phrase, avuncular waistline and self-deprecating wit, all ensconced in that South African drawl, formed an affable and slightly flamboyant whole. Behind closed doors he didn’t suffer fools gladly — the turnover in…

THE Uniting Church has installed the biggest solar photovoltaic system in Perth at its CBD headquarters. The 100kW solar array, which sprawls across the roof of the William Street building, is part of the church’s commitment to renewable energy. UC is one of more than 40 organisations in Renew WA, an environmental group lobbying the…

STIRLING council has taken a small, but significant step in its dream of creating a new city centre of 65,000 residents. The council has sent a planning scheme amendment to the WA Planning Commission for ratification by the planning minister after discovering new regulations had significantly watered down its power to control development in the…

LISA BAKER has further tightened Labor’s grip on Maylands, winning the seat with a giant 16 per cent swing. With most of the votes counted at the time of going to print, 68.5 per cent were going to Labor after preferences and Liberals’ Amanda Madden lost 16 per cent on the primary vote. The Greens’…

SEA SHEPHERD Australia’s MV Ocean Warrior pulled into Henderson last week after its maiden voyage to the Southern Ocean where it hunted whalers. The Ocean Warrior and Steve Irwin trailed the Japanese whaling fleet for three months, catching them with a dead minke whale which was allegedly caught in Australian waters recognised as a sanctuary.…