As it happened: WA news Wednesday, July 23

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

As we leave you tonight, police are continuing to hunt for a man they believe could have information about a shooting in Clarkson last night.

A house was shot at just after 10pm, and police say they’re hunting for Jason James Cockie over the incident.

Anyone who sees Mr Cockie is urged to avoid him as he may be armed, and call police as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, three Commissioners have been appointed to lead the City of Nedlands following a “prolonged period of dysfunction” and a local council has voted to rip up six tiny trees along the South Perth foreshore after residents said they would block their million-dollar views.

Here’s what also made headlines today:

• The Australian Federal Police claim to have uncovered a multi-million dollar money laundering scheme after a woman was stopped at Perth Airport trying to leave the state with $190,000 cash in her luggage.

• Former Australian women’s indoor hockey coach Lauren Austin has pleaded guilty in a Perth court to the indecent assault of a child under her care, while two other more serious charges she was facing have been discontinued.

• The state government has announced new contracts totalling $342 million to unlock renewable energy in WA.

• Big Bell Gold Operations has been fined $945,000 after a truck fatally struck a worker at an underground gold mine near Cue.

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

A Mid West gold miner has been fined $945,000 after a truck fatally struck a worker at an underground gold mine near Cue.

Big Bell Gold Operations, a subsidiary of Westgold Resources Limited, pleaded guilty in Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday to failing to provide and maintain a working environment in which an employee of a contractor was not exposed to hazards.

The incident took place in December 2020, when a contractor, Minterra Pty Ltd, was performing mining operations at the Big Bell underground gold mine.

During a night shift, a truck operated by a Minterra employee struck another worker, who died from their injuries.

On top of the fine, Big Bell will also have to pay $20,000 in costs.

WA Police are asking for the public’s help to locate Jason Cockie, who is possibly carrying a gun.

Joondalup detectives say the 53-year-old may be able to assist them with a current investigation.

Cockie is described as 175 centimetres tall, of solid build with greying brown hair.

Members of the public are advised not to approach him, and to instead call 000 immediately.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has just released its annual marriage and divorce statistics, revealing the most popular time West Aussies choose to tie the knot.

There were 13,222 weddings registered in WA in 2024, with November being the most common month for a wedding (1,661), followed by March (1,575) and October (1,441).

The average age for a bride was 31.2 and for a groom was 32.8.

For every 2.5 weddings registered across Australia, there was one divorce also lodged, with the average time from marriage to separation being nine years (with the divorce official after 13 years).

The average age for a couple at divorce was 44 for women and 47 for men.

This morning appears to be the calm before the storm, with a strong wind warning issued for parts of the state today.

A heavy rain spell and possible thunderstorms are expected to hit WA later this afternoon with up to 35 millimetres expected.

The Canning Highway flooding earlier this morning, with 16.4 millimetres of rain already recorded to 8am.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a wind warning for people living on the coasts of Perth, Geraldton, Lancelin, Bunbury, Geographe, Leeuwin, Albany and Esperance.

The Australian Federal Police claim to have uncovered a multi-million dollar money laundering scheme after a woman was stopped at Perth Airport trying to leave the state with $190,000 cash in her luggage.

Australian Border Force officers spotted the bundles of cash during a screening of the 65–year-old’s bag in October 2023.

She allegedly told officials it was her savings, however during an investigation into the origins of the cash, it was identified that the woman’s son and daughter-in-law had purchased six properties in WA in the past six years, worth a total of $4.5 million – none of which were mortgaged. They also owned a $2 million property in Gnangara.

Police allege the couple failed to declare their true earnings and restrained the seven properties and the airport cash due to being suspected proceeds of crime.

AFP Western Command acting Superintendent Chris Colley said people who could not explain their wealth and assets would be held to account.