As it happened: WA news on Monday, July 28

Star West Coast midfielder Harley Reid will likely be out for the rest of the season, with 9 News Melbourne reporter Tom Morris confirming he has low-level syndesmosis.

“Placed in cotton wool with four games remaining and a big contract call to make,” he said.

Reid suffered a painful ankle injury in the dying moments of his team’s 49-point western derby loss to Fremantle on Saturday.

The 20-year-old was helped off the field by two trainers before gingerly limping to the change rooms.

He has since undergone scans to determine the extent of the damage.

Low-level syndesmosis, sometimes referred to as a ‘high ankle sprain’, is a sprain or tear of the ligaments that connect the tibia and fibula bones just above the ankle joint.

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

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

• A 17-year-old boy is behind bars this morning charged with manslaughter after a woman was mowed down by a motorbike in Edgewater at the weekend.

• Western Australia’s four public universities could be consolidated into just two, with a committee announced to undertake a cost-benefit analysis of the sector.

• Perth has had a wet night with 41 millimetres of rain falling in the CBD in the 24 hours to 9am this morning, while Swanbourne recorded the most across the metropolitan area with 54 millimetres.

• The Byford Rail Extension and remaining outer section of the Armadale Line will open for passenger services in October.

• The councillor behind a controversial City of South Perth Council decision to remove trees feared to block residents’ million-dollar Swan River Views has announced his resignation. Meanwhile, the trees in question may yet be saved with a motion in the wings to rescind last week’s decision from a council in increasing upheaval.

• Opposition leader Basil Zempilas says the state government should be embarrassed by a survey released today, which shows almost one third of WA’s public health system support workers plan to quit their jobs in the next 12 months.

• Star West Coast midfielder Harley Reid will likely be out for the rest of the season, with 9 News Melbourne reporter Tom Morris confirming he has low-level syndesmosis.

• A WA mining services company which counts Mineral Resources as a major shareholder has gone into voluntary administration.

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

Last week we brought you the news that singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran was kicking off his 2026 Australian tour in Perth.

Since then, due to an overwhelming demand by fans, the global star has added four new shows to the Loop Tour, including an extra one at Optus Stadium.

The Perth shows will now be on Saturday, 31 January and Sunday, February 1.

General public tickets go on sale tomorrow.

Star West Coast midfielder Harley Reid will likely be out for the rest of the season, with 9 News Melbourne reporter Tom Morris confirming he has low-level syndesmosis.

“Placed in cotton wool with four games remaining and a big contract call to make,” he said.

Reid suffered a painful ankle injury in the dying moments of his team’s 49-point western derby loss to Fremantle on Saturday.

The 20-year-old was helped off the field by two trainers before gingerly limping to the change rooms.

He has since undergone scans to determine the extent of the damage.

Low-level syndesmosis, sometimes referred to as a ‘high ankle sprain’, is a sprain or tear of the ligaments that connect the tibia and fibula bones just above the ankle joint.

Opposition leader Basil Zempilas says the state government should be embarrassed by a survey released today, which shows almost one third of WA’s public health system support workers plan to quit their jobs in the next 12 months.

The Health Services Union of WA asked more than 2000 workers, excluding doctors and nurses, about morale in an already strained sector.

Zempilas said the response had been damning.

“Without these people, the health system crumbles, it falls over, it fails,” he said.

“We know it’s on its knees as it is – if a third of staff are thinking of leaving their jobs, then just how bad is it for these people?”

Perth has had a wet night with 41 millimetres of rain falling in the CBD in the 24 hours to 9am this morning, while Swanbourne recorded the most across the metropolitan area with 54 millimetres.

Several weather warnings remain in place today, mostly in the state’s southern region.

A gale wind warning is in place for the Leeuwin, Albany and Esperance coasts.

A strong wind warning is in place for Perth’s coastline, along with the Bunbury, Eucla, Lancelin, Geraldton, Ningaloo and Pilbara coasts.

Sheep farmers in the South West, Great Southern and the Wheatbelt are being warned that cold temperatures, showers and winds are expected to continue into today and tomorrow, with a risk of losses of lambs and sheep exposed to the conditions.