As it happened: WA news on Monday, June 30

WA Premier Roger Cook and Defence Industries Minister Paul Papalia remain confident the AUKUS deal will survive a US review headed by a critic of the submarine and defence pact.

Cook and Papalia have returned from a five-day mission to the UK where they met with UK Defence Procurement Minister Maria Eagle and the UK trade envoy to Australia John Spellar to offer WA’s services to build the country’s industrial base and help it speed up production of 12 additional nuclear-powered submarines.

“What’s very clear from these meetings is the British government have set incredibly ambitious targets for more submarines in a very quick time frame that probably exceed their current capacity in their industrial base and we can help,” Papalia said.

Papalia was confident the UK was committed to AUKUS, which will see nuclear submarines stationed at HMAS Stirling as well as maintenance of the craft take place in Henderson.

The US review of the pact is being led by Elbridge Colby, who has been critical of the AUKUS pact for its sharing of nuclear technology outside of his country.

Papalia said reviews of major agreements like AUKUS were standard for new administrations to undertake.

He also downplayed Colby’s involvement in the US’ review.

“[Colby is] one part of the administration, there’s a whole range of people we’ve met with, people in Congress and defence and industry from the US, all of whom are very focused on the benefit that AUKUS provides,” Papalia said.

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has expressed concerns about the state of the SCG turf, saying he is worried his players will be put at an elevated risk of injury if they are forced to play there on Sunday.

AFL bosses are weighing up the option of moving Sunday’s Fremantle-Sydney game away from the SCG after players continually slipped at the venue in the Western Bulldogs’ win over the Swans on Friday night.

The surface has been below its best since a concert at the venue by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli in April.

Particular concern during the Swans-Dogs clash centred on the Paddington end of the ground.

Between 35mm to 90mm of rain is forecast for Sydney on Tuesday in what will further hamper the hopes of having the SCG turf up to scratch.

Fremantle’s finals hopes last year were torpedoed by a series of injuries to key players late in the season, and Longmuir fears his team will be at risk if they have to play at the SCG on Sunday.

“I watched the game on Friday night, and we’ll be led by the AFL, but the moment my brain goes to, ‘That’s unsafe for players’, I have a concern,” Longmuir said.

“And I went there on Friday night. I thought it was a bit unsafe, especially down the left hand side.”

Longmuir made mention of an incident in which Bulldog Bailey Williams’ foot was caught in the turf.

“I think the Bailey Williams one - we just can’t put players out there and risk their safety if the ground’s not right,” he said.

Longmuir says he will abide by the AFL’s decision.

“If the AFL deem it safe to play, we’ll play, and I won’t speak another moment of it,” Longmuir said.

Fremantle (10-5) are just percentage adrift of third spot following a six-match winning run.

But their thrilling 11.15 (81) to 9.15 (69) win over St Kilda on Sunday came with an injury cost, and in a bizarre manner.

Fremantle veteran Nat Fyfe was the sub, but he felt tightness in his calf while warming up at half-time and the Dockers decided against sending him on.

Fyfe was set to feature in his fourth match back after recovering from a hamstring injury, and the Dockers will be hoping his latest setback isn’t serious.

AAP

The couple of sunny winter days we had are well and truly in the rearview mirror for Perth this week with seven days of showers predicted.

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a 90 per cent chance of 1-6 millimetres of showers today, most likely this afternoon and evening, and while the forecast eases tomorrow somewhat to only a shower or two, by Wednesday things are ramping up.

Hump day will see a 90 per cent chance of 2 to 15 millimetres and the chance of a thunderstorm, and again a high 80 per cent chance of significant showers continuing into Thursday morning. There are medium to high chances of showers also predicted through Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The silver lining to all that cloud cover is that it will keep us relatively warm, with tops of 19 to 23 degrees throughout the week. And the UV index is at two, so you can give the sunscreen a miss.

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

Here’s some of the stories that made headlines today:

• A WA Police officer killed in the line of duty more than three decades ago has been remembered with a new memorial in Kalamunda.

• The 45-year-old man who died after he was struck by a bus outside Perth’s RAC Arena on Friday evening has been identified as Praveen Matcha.

• The couple of sunny winter days we had are well and truly in the rearview mirror for Perth this week with seven days of showers predicted.

• After quite the response from Australian fans to last week’s news of AC/DC’s Power Up Australian tour, the promoter has this morning announced a final show to be added in Perth on December 8 at Optus Stadium.

• WA businesses have reported a sharp increase in concern about global trade uncertainty, driving a slip in business confidence.

• The first of multiple public meetings across Perth and WA runs tonight over Alcoa’s planned major expansion of its bauxite mining operations in WA’s northern jarrah forest.

• WA Premier Roger Cook and Defence Industries Minister Paul Papalia remain confident the AUKUS deal will survive a US review headed by a critic of the submarine and defence pact.

• An Indigenous teenager who fatally self-harmed in the troubled youth wing of a West Australian adult prison was subjected to “barbarous and criminal” neglect, his mother says.

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

Taking you back to a story we ran this morning, and WA Premier Roger Cook has answered questions on whether it’s fair that private donations and other income streams are not considered by the state and federal government when deciding how much funding should be dished out to wealthier private schools.

During a press conference this afternoon, Cook said he wanted to continue to make sure WA kids “get access to quality education” before touting the newly signed agreement, which resulted in increased funding for schools.

“That’s going to see around about an extra $4 billion come into the system over the coming years,” he said.

But when pressed further on whether donations and other income streams should be considered when deciding the level of funding, Cook answered a little more directly.

“I’d support the principle that we should have equity access to education funding, and that goes to both the federal government processes and the state,” he said.

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has expressed concerns about the state of the SCG turf, saying he is worried his players will be put at an elevated risk of injury if they are forced to play there on Sunday.

AFL bosses are weighing up the option of moving Sunday’s Fremantle-Sydney game away from the SCG after players continually slipped at the venue in the Western Bulldogs’ win over the Swans on Friday night.

The surface has been below its best since a concert at the venue by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli in April.

Particular concern during the Swans-Dogs clash centred on the Paddington end of the ground.

Between 35mm to 90mm of rain is forecast for Sydney on Tuesday in what will further hamper the hopes of having the SCG turf up to scratch.

Fremantle’s finals hopes last year were torpedoed by a series of injuries to key players late in the season, and Longmuir fears his team will be at risk if they have to play at the SCG on Sunday.

“I watched the game on Friday night, and we’ll be led by the AFL, but the moment my brain goes to, ‘That’s unsafe for players’, I have a concern,” Longmuir said.

“And I went there on Friday night. I thought it was a bit unsafe, especially down the left hand side.”

Longmuir made mention of an incident in which Bulldog Bailey Williams’ foot was caught in the turf.

“I think the Bailey Williams one - we just can’t put players out there and risk their safety if the ground’s not right,” he said.

Longmuir says he will abide by the AFL’s decision.

“If the AFL deem it safe to play, we’ll play, and I won’t speak another moment of it,” Longmuir said.

Fremantle (10-5) are just percentage adrift of third spot following a six-match winning run.

But their thrilling 11.15 (81) to 9.15 (69) win over St Kilda on Sunday came with an injury cost, and in a bizarre manner.

Fremantle veteran Nat Fyfe was the sub, but he felt tightness in his calf while warming up at half-time and the Dockers decided against sending him on.

Fyfe was set to feature in his fourth match back after recovering from a hamstring injury, and the Dockers will be hoping his latest setback isn’t serious.

AAP