As it happened: WA news on Tuesday, August 19

We’re bringing our live blog to a close for the day, thank you for joining us. We’ll be back tomorrow with more live coverage. However, before we go, a good news update.

Perth conquers Qfly threat

Western Australia is celebrating its tenth successful Qfly eradication thanks to the dedicated efforts of the entire Perth community.

The destructive fruit fly is one of the biggest threats to WA’s $1.49 billion horticultural industries and backyard fruit trees, and if it became established it could be economically devastating.

Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis has just confirmed WA has achieved area freedom from the destructive pest after an extensive eight-month eradication response in Perth’s southern suburbs.

The latest outbreak of Qfly was detected in the Willagee and Palmyra areas in November 2024, through monitoring of traps in WA’s early warning surveillance network.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development undertook an extensive eradication response with the support of the Willagee and Palmyra and surrounding communities as well as the Perth Markets.

They visited more than 12,000 properties, deployed more than 10,500 lures and collected almost 600 samples of fruit for testing in a quarantine area spanning 22 local governments.

This is the tenth time Qfly has been successfully eradicated from the Perth metropolitan area since the 1980s.

A shame we can’t repeat this success with the shot-hole borer…

Early Childhood Minister Sabine Winton has announced personal phones will be banned in early childhood centres across the state.

The decision was made after a report was tabled in parliament on Tuesday afternoon, identifying opportunities to strengthen WA’s early childhood education and care sector and bolster child safety.

It follows the same move from the Victorian government, which banned phones in daycare centres after childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown was charged with a raft of horrific child sex offences.

Winton last month ordered a snap review by the Department of Communities’ Education and Care Regulatory Unit into daycare centres.

The review’s final report presented five recommendations, covering legislation, sector quality controls, elevation of training, and reporting and endorsement of national aligned policies.

“This review should give confidence to families that we are taking their concerns about safety in early childhood education and care settings seriously; every child deserves to be safe,” Winton said.

“The measures announced today are about stronger legislation, stronger compliance, and a stronger stance on child safety.”

And another follow-on, this time from a story we brought you this morning about coral bleaching and the impact on the economy of tourist drawcard Broome.

The Greens warned tourism operators are facing decimation of their businesses thanks to WA’s most widespread coral bleaching event ever.

Responding to WAtoday inquiries, Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn said the bleaching event “underscores the growing risks our environment faces from the effects of climate change”.

You can read his full statement below:

I have been, and continue to be, deeply concerned about the unprecedented marine heatwave, which has caused widespread coral bleaching across the Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne, and Ningaloo regions.

I first raised my concerns in Parliament back in April and I have taken the time to visit Ningaloo Reef to see the bleaching for myself and talk to members of the community that have been impacted by it. I have also spoken directly with marine scientists that are studying the impacts of the bleaching event.

This event underscores the growing risks our environment faces from the effects of climate change and the need for meaningful global action to reduce the likelihood of these events occurring again.

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions is actively monitoring key sites, including Ningaloo Reef, to understand the full extent and impacts of this event. We are also working closely with partners such as the Australian Institute of Marine Science and CSIRO to gather critical data.

DBCA also actively monitors more than 1500km of reef, through aerial and in-water surveys.

Around 16 dedicated full-time marine scientists, supported by additional staff across regional offices, are contributing to this long-term marine monitoring program, which will help us better understand the immediate impacts but also supports the long-term recovery and resilience of these ecosystems.

The Government has provided briefings to Traditional Owners, local governments, tourism representatives, conservation boards, industry, and the broader community.

We will continue to update affected stakeholders when requested and as needed.

Taking you back to the story we brought you earlier about pushback against US miner Alcoa’s expansion plans, which Perth Hills hikers claim will lock out recreation groups and nature-based tourism and have extensive environmental impacts, including directly impacting the Bibbulmun Track and Munda Biddi trails.

An Alcoa spokesperson has responded to WAtoday’s inquiries, denying the Bibbulmun Track intersects with any future mine areas. The spokesperson also said the company had maintained public access to the Munda Biddi Trail.

Here’s the statement in full:

Alcoa is focused on preserving community enjoyment and experiences in the areas where we operate.

The Bibbulmun Track does not intersect with future mine areas currently being assessed, or any of our current mining.

While a short section runs adjacent to proposed future mine areas, we always maintain a minimum 200m buffer from the Bibbulmun Track, with a minimum 650m buffer between blasting areas and any tracks and trails.

We have also maintained public access to the Munda Biddi Trail for the life of mine by realigning a small section which intersected with the Myara North Development Envelope.

This was done in consultation with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and the Munda Biddi Foundation.

Early Childhood Minister Sabine Winton has announced personal phones will be banned in early childhood centres across the state.

The decision was made after a report was tabled in parliament on Tuesday afternoon, identifying opportunities to strengthen WA’s early childhood education and care sector and bolster child safety.

It follows the same move from the Victorian government, which banned phones in daycare centres after childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown was charged with a raft of horrific child sex offences.

Winton last month ordered a snap review by the Department of Communities’ Education and Care Regulatory Unit into daycare centres.

The review’s final report presented five recommendations, covering legislation, sector quality controls, elevation of training, and reporting and endorsement of national aligned policies.

“This review should give confidence to families that we are taking their concerns about safety in early childhood education and care settings seriously; every child deserves to be safe,” Winton said.

“The measures announced today are about stronger legislation, stronger compliance, and a stronger stance on child safety.”

Perth Airport surpassed 1.6 million passengers in a month for the first time ever in July – and if you’ve got a flight coming up, be sure to arrive early.

The 1,609,744 total smashed the previous July period of 1,493,299 and the previous best month of January, which saw 1,564,314 passengers.

International passenger numbers have risen 13.4 per cent since last July and regional 5 per cent.

Chief executive Jason Waters said the growth was positive for the economy and showcased Perth’s importance as an aviation hub, and work had begun on the $5 billion capital works program to support this growth.

But he asked passengers for patience as they delivered the projects while continuing to operate in this context of rapid growth:

Site preparation works for the new runway are well advanced, construction is continuing on the first of the multi-storey carparks, and design work is advancing for the expanded international terminal and new domestic terminal to facilitate the relocation of Qantas into the Airport Central precinct.

We’ve also started construction works within Terminals 3 and 4 which will provide additional capacity for Qantas while we build the terminal facilities within Airport Central.”

We are already seeing considerable pressure building on access roads to Airport Central, with significant traffic congestion, particularly during peak hours, causing delays.

Passengers should allow extra time when travelling to the terminal and should

plan to arrive at least three hours before an international service and two hours before domestic flights, including regional services.