Good afternoon readers, and thanks for following along this week.
The live blog will return on Monday.
Stay safe and have a great weekend.
That’s all, folks
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This was published 1 year ago
As it happened: WA news on Friday, March 28
Key Posts
WA man charged over $2.6 million cash and tobacco seizure
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Federal police have seized $2.6 million in cash and illegal tobacco and vaping products across Perth overnight and have charged a 26-year-old man over the contraband.
On Thursday, police executed search warrants at the man’s residence in Baldivis, a courier company in Perth’s southern suburbs, and various storage facilities across Perth.
At the courier company, officers seized about $900,000 cash concealed in packaged microwave ovens waiting to be shipped to Melbourne.
They seized about 645,000 cigarettes, 19,000 vapes, and 200 pouches of loose-leaf tobacco at the other locations.
The 26-year-old was charged under Operation Snug, an ongoing investigation into an organised crime group allegedly dealing in the proceeds of crime from the sale of illicit tobacco and vaping products in WA.
Eagles vs Dockers – who will come out on top?
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If you missed it this morning, reporter Brendan Foster has said the usual fanfare and excitment surrounding an upcoming western derby has been lacklustre this time around.
Maybe, he muses, it’s because both teams haven’t played finals for a few years so followers can’t be bothered mustering up any distemper with no success in sight.
Both Eagles and the Dockers are huddled together in the last two spots on the ladder, and both have lost their games for the season so far.
Fremantle lost to Geelong by a whopping 78 points in round one, before going down to Sydney by a nail-biting three points.
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Motorbike rider dies after Mandurah crash
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Back to crime news, and a man has died this morning after his motorbike collided with a car in Perth’s southern suburbs on Thursday night.
Around 9.40pm, the 38-year-old was riding a black Honda motorcycle travelling south on Anstruther Road in Mandurah.
A white Hyundai Getz hatchback was turning right onto Scott Street from Anstruther Road at the same time when the pair collided.
The 38-year-old was rushed to Peel Health Campus with severe injuries where he later died.
The 21-year-old female driver of the Hyundai Getz was uninjured.
Major Crash investigators are conducting an examination of the scene and are appealing for any witnesses to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to make a report online.
Man, 79, dies in Kimberley kayaking tour accident
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One man has died and another is lucky to be alive after being swept away by strong currents during a multi-day rafting and kayaking tour in the Kimberley.
On Monday, a group of nine were kayaking along the Drysdale River, about 150 kilometres from Wyndham, when a 79-year-old man fell from his raft and into the water. He became stuck, submerged underwater.
A 59-year-old man jumped in to assist but became distressed due to the fast-flowing current and was swept away.
When emergency crews arrived, they found the second man holding on to a tree, also submerged and surrounded by fast-moving rapids about 15 metres from shore.
He was rescued and did not require medical attention.
Student activists label university slogan ban a ‘slap in the face’
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Students at the University of Western Australia have expressed their dismay at a policy that has banned certain slogans from use during their campaigning.
Students for Palestine members were told use of certain statements would breach UWA policy.
Group member Clare Francis said she submitted a number of inquiries to the university regarding which slogans and phrases were considered a breach.
She was told students were banned from painting the words “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” on a banner.
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Mining bosses warn of competition for WA sector
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With international competition in the resources sector becoming more aggressive, senior mining executives have warned Australia must get its policy settings right to remain an attractive destination for investment.
Argentina, Canada, Chile and the US are among nations making “massive” changes to bolster their resource sectors, BHP’s Western Australian iron ore asset president Tim Day says.
“Australia has put a lot of thought into its future,” he told a Perth business lunch on Thursday.
“We’ve got to make sure the policy settings that are going through are going to be conducive of investment and competing.
Police hunt man who exposed himself to elderly woman after breaking into her home
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Police are looking for information following an incident where a man forced entry to a home in WA’s far north, approached an elderly woman who lived there and exposed his genitals.
On March 27 around 7pm, the unknown man allegedly entered the address in South Hedland and committed the indecent act.
The woman ran out of her house to a neighbour, who then called police.
Anyone with information relating to this incident is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestopperswa.com.au.
Cyclone warning for the Kimberley
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Batten down the hatches – the Bureau of Meteorology has released a tropical cyclone warning for residents living in the state’s Kimberley region.
The cyclone is moving towards the coast and will hit tonight or Saturday morning, most likely northeast of Derby between Kuri Bay and Cape Leveque.
But good news – it is expected to remain a category 1.
The Bureau is still warning of gales with damaging wind gusts of up to 100 kilometres per hour in coastal areas between Mitchell Plateau and Beagle Bay during this evening and Saturday morning.
Gales are less likely at Derby, with the highest risk period being during Saturday, and may extend east to Troughton Island on Friday evening if the system takes a track further east.
Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding is also possible in parts of the northern and western Kimberley from Friday, extending further inland during the weekend.
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Couple charged over ‘entrenched neglect’ of 67 animals
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A 55-year-old man and 50-year-old woman from Gidgegannup have each received a suspended 12-month prison sentence after 67 animals in appalling condition were seized from their home in two separate raids.
Dogs, cats, goats, horses, and several smaller pets were found in various states of distress and neglect during a raid at the three-acre address in January 2023.
The property was littered with household rubbish that reached the ceiling, rotting food, faeces, building materials and overcrowded animal cages containing guinea pigs, rabbits, rats, cats and birds.
Two small dogs were living inside the home, one with a fractured jaw and severe dental infection, while the other had dental disease and painful osteoarthritis.
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