WA news as it happened: Man dies after being swept off Yallingup rocks

David Moussa was studying to be a doctor when in January last year he felt compelled to drive from Queensland to Perth to stab his father to death.

The 32-year-old believed his dad had drugged, neglected and sexually abused him as a child and that he had been “told” to kill the 72-year-old by medical researchers, the Supreme Court of WA heard on Tuesday.

Moussa has gone on trial this week after pleading not guilty to the killing by reason of unsound mind. He entered the same plea in relation to a grievous bodily harm charge after he stabbed his step-mother during the same incident outside their Clarkson property on February 4 and 5 2025.

Read more here. 

WA Premier Roger Cook has been asked if the AUKUS pact is under threat, after a British parliamentary inquiry found there were serious doubts about whether the submarine project could be delivered due to faltering investment and dwindling political leadership.

The Federal government has invested $12 billion towards building a defence precinct at Henderson to build navy ships and maintain submarines.

Here’s what Cook said:

Regardless of what happens with AUKUS, Australia is still going to need to build out its surface vessel capability. That means the Mogami frigate construction process will need to continue to take place in Henderson, which is a huge opportunity for Western Australia’s economy.

“I think under pillar 1 of the AUKUS arrangements, you will continue to see great opportunities come through the temporary locating and higher level maintenance for nuclear sub affiliates from the UK and the US.

Ultimately, I want to see the Henderson precinct grow. I want to see it part of the AUKUS partnership in relation to deep depot maintenance for nuclear subs. And I want to see WA part of the global supply chain for the production of nuclear subs as well. They’re the opportunities for us, and we’ll continue to focus on those.

A teenager has died after his car hit a bridge pylon and erupted into flames in Jarrahdale last night.

WA Police said the incident occurred around 9.05pm, when a blue Jeep Cherokee was travelling on South Western Highway and overtook another car at speed.

The 19-year-old driver lost control of the vehicle and collided with a bridge pylon.

He died at the scene.

Major Crash investigators are examining the crash site today and are appealing for any witnesses to contact Crime Stoppers.

Here’s what’s making news across the nation and around the world today:

• Australia’s fuel stockpile would be doubled under an $800 million Coalition proposal that comes as Foreign Minister Penny Wong flies to China, Japan and Korea to scour the region for diesel and petrol deals.
• Two-thirds of childcare workers have completed new mandatory child safety training as the government cracks down on the sector following a spate of abuse cases in centres around the country.
• Alleged Washington hotel shooter Cole Tomas Allen faces a maximum sentence of life in prison after he was charged with attempting to assassinate the president of the United States.