As it happened: WA news on Tuesday, March 17

Updated March 17, 2026 — 8:01pm,first published March 17, 2026 — 10:36am

8.01pm on Mar 17, 2026

Today’s headlines

We’re bringing our live blog to a close for the day, thank you for joining us.

Here’s a recap of some of the day’s headlines:

Free parking at the beach is one of the last remaining priceless joys for West Australians, but perhaps not for long in Cottesloe.
Two students from Baldivis Secondary College, who walked on desks, touched their relief teacher’s hair, and blew vape smoke in her face, have been recommended for exclusion from the school.
Police investigating the cold case suspected murder of an Albany man in 1991 are appealing for someone who has previously sent police a letter about the case to come forward.
Premier Roger Cook has dismissed a call made by the opposition to fully subsidise and expand the state’s flu vaccination program.
A small mining contractor operating in remote WA has been forced to send two thirds of its workforce home due to fuel shortages.
Western Force recruit Zac Lomax says his Super Rugby Pacific debut still remains a “day by day” proposition as he readies his body for his code switch.

Thank you again for tuning in today. We’ll see you back here tomorrow for more news you need to know.

7.40pm on Mar 17, 2026

Kwinana Freeway at a crawl - just in time for peak hour

By Hannah Murphy

Two separate car breakdowns have brought the Kwinana Freeway to a crawl this afternoon.

The first is impacting the freeway after Leach Highway near Bull Creek, with the second blocking the left emergency lane before Thomas Road.

Main Roads WA says motorists should exercise extreme caution as authorities help.

7.19pm on Mar 17, 2026

League convert Lomax unsure on Super debut

By Melissa Woods

Western Force recruit Zac Lomax says his Super Rugby Pacific debut still remains a “day by day” proposition as he readies his body for his code switch.

The former Test, NSW State of Origin and NRL star signed with the Perth club earlier this month, having lost his Supreme Court battle to join the Melbourne Storm after walking out on Parramatta.

Zac Lomax is heading to rugby union, and the Western Force.Ben Symons / SMH

But there is no firm timeline for him to make his rugby union debut, with the 26-year-old still waiting to train with his Force teammates who have been on the road in New Zealand for the past three rounds and are now on time off with a coming bye.

Lomax said not only was he making a return to the code he only played as a youngster, but he’d also been sidelined since quitting the Eels last year and needed to increase his workload in his own pre-season.

“It’s a tough one, it’s just sort of day by day, and I’ve been out of the game for a period of time and I’ve learned as much as I can each day,” Lomax said in Perth on Tuesday.

“And also the last game I played was the start of September so it’s been five or six months and I’m just trying to get the legs back underneath me while at the same time not wanting to go out there and do a soft tissue injury, to put me out for a period of time.

“I’m playing it day by day but hopefully will get out there sooner rather than later.”

Set to line up on the wing or at fullback, Lomax said learning the intricacies of the ruck in rugby and the code’s positional play were his priorities as he targeted selection for the Wallabies in next year’s Rugby World Cup.

Lomax would not confirm rumours he’d debut in the home game against the Chiefs on Saturday, March 28, saying the call would come from Force coach Simon Cron.

AAP

6.00pm on Mar 17, 2026

Perth grandmother stuck in hospital corridor bed for 48 hours ‘not acceptable’, Premier admits

By Hamish Hastie

We’re here in state parliament question time again and Premier Roger Cook is again being grilled about why an 88-year-old Perth grandmother was forced to spend nearly 48 hours in pain in a hospital corridor at St John of God Midland Hospital last week.

Elsie McGribben became the face of the state’s strained hospital system last week after her daughters slammed the government for the conditions their mother was left in.

Following that ordeal Premier Roger Cook said, “corridor care” was something that occurred in busy hospitals.

It was this comment being targeted by Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas who asked why this was considered the new normal.

An irate Premier responded that he never said that but said sometimes when hospitals were experiencing a spike in demand corridor care might occur.

He apologised in Parliament to McGribben and her family and said he would apologise personally if given the chance.

“48 hours is too long … it’s not acceptable that someone receives that sort of experience in a hospital setting, that’s why we’re investigating,” Cook said.

4.50pm on Mar 17, 2026

WA mining operator stands down workers over fuel shortage

A small mining contractor operating in remote WA has been forced to send two thirds of its workforce home due to fuel shortages.

Blue Cap Mining has around 180 fly-in, fly-out workers operating at Devon gold mine near Laverton, which, like most mining operations, is diesel-reliant.

Managing Director, Ashley Fraser, told ABC Radio Perth today that he had been told not to expect more than 30 to 40 per cent of the typical weekly fuel deliveries.

With less than a fortnight worth of fuel currently stored on site, the shortage has forced the company to stand workers down.

“We had about 50 to 60 people affected over the weekend, and probably another 50 to 60 over the next few days will be told to stay home rather than come to work,” Fraser said.

Mining accounts for about 35 per cent of diesel used in Australia, according to the ABS.

2.33pm on Mar 17, 2026

Opposition wants WA’s flu vaccination program extended

Sticking with Premier Roger Cook’s press conference, and he has dismissed a call made by the opposition to fully subsidise and expand the state’s flu vaccination program.

Shadow health minister Libby Mettam said the program should start in April, not May, be extended from two months to six, and be completely free.

The flu vaccination program usually starts in May each year.

“Under the current program many providers can still charge a consultation or service fee, which means some families face out-of-pocket costs just to get vaccinated,” she said.

“At a time when Western Australians are already under significant cost-of-living pressure, the government should remove every barrier to vaccination and make sure people can access the flu shot completely free of charge.”

In response, Cook said the decisions around WA’s flu jabs were made by medical professionals.

“I’m not a medical expert, neither is the opposition,” he said.

“We have teams that work with the chief health officer and other public health officials to make sure we land our flu vaccine program at the sweet spot, which is generally around about May each year.”

This year, children will also be able to get a vaccination mist, instead of a needle.

2.23pm on Mar 17, 2026

WA Premier acknowledges fuel anxiety

WA Premier Roger Cook has just held a press conference, and has been asked about the state of WA’s fuel supplies.

Here’s what he said:

“I don’t think there’s an aspect of the war in Iran that isn’t making everyone anxious at the moment, and I share that anxiety.
I’m particularly concerned with the way that the increases in fuel costs will impact West Australian households. That’s why we’re continuing to make sure, firstly, that we get the fuel to the people who need it, particularly our farmers in regional WA, and continuing to make sure we can do everything we can to make sure these cost increases, these price shocks, are as minimal as possible in West Australian households.”

Meanwhile, ‘cheap Tuesday’ is not-so-cheap today, with the average unleaded fuel price in Perth reaching 229 cents per litre, up from 155.8 cents per litre this time last month.

1.01pm on Mar 17, 2026

WA Police make fresh appeal in 35-year-old cold case

Police investigating the cold case suspected murder of an Albany man in 1991 are appealing for someone who has previously sent police a letter about the case to come forward.

Mark Gregory, 28, died in the early hours of April 7, 1991, after he was struck by a car while walking away from a house party on Mercer Road.

Mark Gregory was killed in Albany in 1991.

The driver failed to stop and has never been identified.

The cold case has been resurrected several times over the past 35 years, with police inquiries more than a decade ago leading detectives to suspect the hit-and-run was likely a murder.

WA Police Major Crash detective senior sergeant Hugh Le Tessier today made a fresh appeal for anyone with information to come forward.

“There are people in the community who know what happened and hold that vital piece ofinformation detectives need to solve this case,” he said.

“We are particularly urging the author of these letters to contact police, as the information they hold may help identify the person responsible and bring them to account.

“No matter how much time passes, WA Police remain committed to pursuing every reasonable investigative avenue to provide answers to Mr Gregory’s family.

“Even after 35 years, new information could make a significant difference to this investigation.”

Detectives will travel to Albany this week to reinterview people who attended the party, as well as others who have provided information over the years.

“Investigators are also reviewing historical Crime Stoppers reports, previous media coverage and earlier investigative material, including several letters received over the years by police and Mr Gregory’s family,” Le Tessier said.

“Detectives are appealing to the author or authors of these letters to contact police, as the information they contain may assist the investigation.”

11.23am on Mar 17, 2026

Two Baldivis students could be expelled over relief teacher bullying

By Holly Thompson

Two students from Baldivis Secondary College, who walked on desks, touched their relief teacher’s hair, and blew vape smoke in her face, have been recommended for exclusion from the school.

Five students in total were suspended for 10 days over the incident, including the person responsible for filming the incident and posting it to TikTok – with two now facing a greater penalty.

Students at Baldivis Secondary College tormenting a relief teacher.

Education Minister Sabine Winton said their behaviour towards the teacher was “appalling” and she supported the decision to suspend, and exclude, the students.

“This was a very confronting incident and the behaviour of the students involved is completely unacceptable,” she said.

10.37am on Mar 17, 2026

Cottesloe council considering charging beach-goers for parking

Free parking at the beach is one of the last remaining priceless joys for West Australians, but perhaps not for long in Cottesloe.

The Town of Cottesloe is reviewing whether it will begin charging beachgoers for the privilege, with the mayor claiming paid parking would help ease some of the pressure of getting a bay, especially with housing density increasing in the area.

An external report commissioned by the council has recommended introducing paid parking, but the idea has left many unimpressed.

“I think it’s for everyone to enjoy, it’s not really fair, it should be that everyone gets that enjoyment of using, it’s everyone’s beach,” a local told 9 News Perth this morning.