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This was published 9 months ago

As it happened: WA news on Monday, August 18

Emma Young
Updated ,first published

Key Posts

Infant’s body found in stormwater drain in Perth’s north
Burswood racetrack opponents ramp up campaign
State to tip $50 million into public hospitals
Pinned post from 6.12pm on Aug 18, 2025
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Infant’s body found in stormwater drain in Perth’s north

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Police are investigating after the body of an infant child was found in a stormwater drain in Perth’s north on Monday.

Officers were called to Alexander Heights about 1pm to reports the child’s body had been found.

“Multiple resources have been deployed to the location and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident is currently under way,” a WA Police spokesman said.

It is understood maintenance workers made the discovery while working in the area.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact police immediately on 131 444.

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Today’s headlines

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We’re bringing our live blog to a close for the day, but will keep you updated on the latest news from the scene in Alexander Heights as it comes to hand.

Here’s a recap of what else made headlines today:

  • Dockers players are adamant their season has plenty more life in it despite their 57-point loss to the Brisbane Lions in Perth on Friday putting finals hopes on the brink.

  • A 14-year-old boy was due to face Halls Creek Children’s Court accused of stealing a ute towing a caravan in an incident which left the vehicle’s elderly owner in critical condition at the weekend.

  • The Environmental Protection Authority has recommended Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn conditionally approve the multibillion-dollar Port Hedland Iron proposal to produce hot briquette iron and iron pellets for export to Asia.

  • The state government will tip $50 million into hospital maintenance after continued reports of incidents at some of WA’s top hospitals.

  • The community group opposing the government’s plan to construct a racetrack and amphitheatre on Burswood’s riverfront parklands has written to all state MPs calling the project “an appalling idea that has no public support”.

Thank you again for joining us today, we’ll see you back here tomorrow for more news you need to know.

Pinned post from 6.12pm on Aug 18, 2025

Infant’s body found in stormwater drain in Perth’s north

By

Police are investigating after the body of an infant child was found in a stormwater drain in Perth’s north on Monday.

Officers were called to Alexander Heights about 1pm to reports the child’s body had been found.

“Multiple resources have been deployed to the location and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident is currently under way,” a WA Police spokesman said.

It is understood maintenance workers made the discovery while working in the area.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact police immediately on 131 444.

‘Why were these issues not taken seriously last week?’: Zempilas

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Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas has responded to this afternoon’s announcement of $50 million to go towards hospital infrastructure, lambasting the government for “dismissing” concerns about the state’s healthcare system.

“Less than a week ago, the premier of Western Australia ridiculed me, the Libs, the opposition and others who raised these very serious concerns,” Zempilas said.

“And in fact, in the parliamentary chamber, less than a week ago, last Tuesday, I asked him, would he commit funding to fix these problems, and would he commit to an audit, two things that he has this afternoon announced.

“So I ask on behalf of the people of Western Australia, why were these issues not taken seriously last week? Where was the application and concern for the people of Western Australia and those very important healthcare workers, when they raised their issues last week?

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Burswood racetrack opponents ramp up campaign

By Emma Young

The community group opposing the government’s plan to construct a racetrack and amphitheatre on Burswood’s riverfront parklands has written to all state MPs calling the project “an appalling idea that has no public support”.

The letter says a 20-Year Vision released last year by the Burswood Park Board featured themed precincts connected by pathways, boulevards, boardwalks and trails – but no plan for a racetrack.

An artist impression of the Perth street circuit and amphitheatre on the Burswood peninsula.

The Save Burswood Park Alliance says they now have more than 1000 members opposing the Perth Entertainment and Sporting Precinct plans on economic, environmental, heritage and social grounds.

They say they are alarmed by the “absence of a business case, lack of transparency, non-compliance with legislative requirements, failure to genuinely consult with the local community,” deviation from the vision plan, and land tenure issues.

State to tip $50 million into public hospitals

By Hannah Murphy

In case you missed the livestream in our last post, the state government will tip $50 million into hospital maintenance after continued reports of incidents at some of WA’s top hospitals.

Premier Roger Cook said the money would be aimed at fixing up Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Royal Perth Hospital and the Armadale Health Service – three of WA’s oldest health buildings.

He said while WA’s health system was still one of the best in the country, “we could still do better”.

Minister for Health Infrastructure John Carey would not be drawn on whether the funding announcement amounted to a concession the WA health system had fallen into disrepair.

Premier, health ministers’ press conference

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We take you now to a press conference with Premier Roger Cook, Health Infrastructure Minister John Carey and Health Minister Meredith Hammat.

Details on what will be revealed are scant, other than it being a “significant health announcement”, but it comes after a week of damning headlines on the condition of some of WA’s busiest public hospitals.

Watch the press conference live below:

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Productivity ‘beside the point’ at roundtable

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The Conservation Council of WA has called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers to consider Australia’s climate policy as part of discussions at the three-day economic reform roundtable starting tomorrow.

CCWA’s Better Climate Program manager Matt Berry said opportunities for reform like this were hard to come by, and with so much at stake, big questions needed to be asked about the government’s reform agenda.

“Questions like, productivity for what purpose? And when it comes to Australia’s climate policy, is productivity actually beside the point?” Berry said.

He said the Productivity Commission report on “the net zero transformation” rightly identified the need to reform nature laws to speed up approvals while safeguarding the environment, and rightly focused on the benefits of reducing energy transition costs, in other places it missed the mark.

Not Fyfe’s farewell tour: Freo get back to work

By Justin Chadwick

Dockers players are adamant their season has plenty more life in it despite their 57-point loss to the Brisbane Lions in Perth on Friday putting finals hopes on the brink.

If they win Sunday’s clash against the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium they’re in. Lose, and they’ll miss the finals again – barring Gold Coast losing their last two games to strugglers Port Adelaide and Essendon.

Nat Fyfe of the Dockers acknowledges supporters on Friday night.Getty Images

Last year, Fremantle lost their last four games of the season to slump from third to 10th. This year, they could drop from fourth to ninth in a fortnight.

Fyfe has announced he’ll retire at season’s end, adding extra urgency. But Dockers defender Jordan Clark doesn’t plan any goodbyes this week.

Halls Creek teen charged over ute theft as owner fights for life

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A 14-year-old boy will face Halls Creek Children’s Court today accused of stealing a ute towing a caravan in an incident which left the vehicle’s elderly owner in critical condition at the weekend.

Kununurra Detectives appealed for the public’s help after the alleged theft in the remote Kimberley town on Saturday.

The 76-year-old man had pulled up in his Isuzu D-Max towing a white caravan at a service station on Great Northern Highway about 10.45am.

He was out inspecting the caravan when police allege the 14-year-old jumped in the car and drove off, striking the elderly man and leaving him with critical injuries.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service flew the 76-year-old to Royal Darwin Hospital for treatment, where he remains in critical but stable condition.

WA Police this morning revealed the teenager had been charged with grievous bodily harm when stealing a motor vehicle and stealing a motor vehicle.

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Watchdog greenlights multibillion-dollar Pilbara plant

By Emma Young

The Environmental Protection Authority has recommended Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn conditionally approve the multibillion-dollar Port Hedland Iron proposal to produce hot briquette iron and iron pellets for export to Asia.

EPA chair Darren Walsh said the proposal’s location at the Boodarie industrial area 10 kilometres outside Port Hedland, and its use of technology, represented good practice.

“Aggregating development proposals within strategic industrial areas offers improved environmental benefits by promoting resource efficiency and minimising impacts,” he said.

“And the use of the direct-reduction iron technology will result in a significantly reduced rate of associated greenhouse gas emissions at start-up in comparison to a conventional blast furnace method fuelled by coking coal, with further reductions expected as hydrogen becomes available.”

The EPA also noted the proposal could act as an enabler of the renewable hydrogen industry in WA.

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