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As it happened: WA news on Thursday, May 28

Updated ,first published

Today’s headlines

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

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

  • Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has brushed off Brisbane’s flop against GWS, labelling it an anomaly ahead of Saturday’s clash with the defending premiers at the Gabba.
  • The driver killed in a crash in WA’s Wheatbelt at the weekend has been identified as a Welsh woman who had moved to Australia on a working holiday visa with her boyfriend.
  • Health Minister Mark Butler has announced six people who have returned to Australia since being exposed to hantavirus on a cruise ship will spend an extra three weeks in quarantine.
  • Bethesda Health Care will take over operation of Mount Hospital in Perth’s CBD under a deal brokered by the WA government.
  • The final concept plan for Northbridge’s $22.8 million James Street Revitalisation project has been endorsed, paving the way for a major facelift to the heart of the city’s nightlife and entertainment precinct.
  • Western Australia’s opposition says repurposing King Edward Memorial Hospital for transitional aged care would help address one of the state’s most pressing health challenges.
  • Fremantle defender Heath Chapman can’t help but marvel at the unique skill set of Murphy Reid, saying he knew the crafty playmaker was special from the teenager’s very first pre-season.
  • There have been at least four crashes across Perth’s road this morning as drivers navigate the commute after the city copped a drenching last night.

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

Freo taking nothing for granted against hurting Lions

By Justin Chadwick

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has brushed off Brisbane’s flop against GWS, labelling it an anomaly ahead of Saturday’s clash with the defending premiers at the Gabba.

Big questions were raised about Brisbane’s prospects of snaring a third straight AFL flag after they conceded 14 goals in the third quarter of last week’s 78-point loss to GWS.

In contrast, Fremantle (10-1) are now premiership favourites after putting together a club-record 10-match winning run to move one win clear on top of the table.

The Dockers are set to make the trip to Brisbane without star midfielder Hayden Young, who is likely to be sidelined for a third match with concussion.

That’s on top of fellow gun midfielder Caleb Serong still missing with a calf injury.

Young woman killed in regional WA car crash identified

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The driver killed in a crash in WA’s Wheatbelt at the weekend has been identified as a Welsh woman who had moved to Australia on a working holiday visa with her boyfriend.

Tributes have flowed for Annie Evans-Lewis, 21, who died after her Suzuki Grand Vitara left the road and hit a tree in East Pingelly on Saturday afternoon.

Annie Evans-Lewis was in Australia on a working holiday visa when she died in a car crash in WA’s Wheatbelt on Saturday.GoFundMe

Evans-Lewis was flown to Royal Perth Hospital but later died from her injuries.

Her boyfriend, Cai James, told the BBC he had dropped Evans-Lewis to collect her car from a farm, before coming across the crash scene on his way back from a stop at a workshop.

A fundraiser set up by Evans-Lewis’ cousin has so far raised more than £37,000 ($70,000) to help the family bring her body back to Wales for her funeral.

Read the full story here.

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Locals exposed to hantavirus to spend twice as long in Perth quarantine

By Brittany Busch

Health Minister Mark Butler has announced six people who have returned to Australia since being exposed to hantavirus on a cruise ship will spend an extra three weeks in quarantine.

Butler said during a press conference today that two more passengers on the cruise ship earlier this month had tested positive, which demonstrated a lingering risk.

The passengers arrive at the Bullsbrook Centre for National Resilience earlier in May.Colin Murty

The standard quarantine time is three weeks, but Butler said the virus has an incubation period of six weeks.

“Advice is that it would be appropriate for that quarantine arrangement to remain in place for the rest of the 42-day incubation period, so as a result … an order will be made to extend that quarantine period to the 23rd of June,” Butler said.

He said the six people – four Australians, a permanent resident, and a New Zealand citizen – were in good health and had tested negative in the last couple of days.

The World Health Organisation was first notified of people falling ill on the cruise ship MV Hondius on May 2. The outbreak has since killed three passengers among the 13 people infected overall.

Bethesda to take over Mount Hospital from second half of 2026

By Michael Philipps

More now on the takeover of Mount Hospital, with the result of a deal brokered by the WA government announced by Premier Roger Cook earlier this morning.

Bethesda will officially take over the operations at the hospital from the second half of this year in a move that will not only continue the services and specialist care provided by the hospital, but also retain the services of the facility’s staff.

WA Premier Roger Cook, Treasurer Rita Saffioti, Health Infrastructure Minister John Carey and Health Minister Meredith Hammat with Bethesda Health Care Executive Director Neale Fong and Mount Hospital general manager Patrick Turner outside the hospital on Thursday.Michael Philipps

The hospital was previously operated by Healthscope, which went into receivership last year.

Treasurer Rita Saffioti said the government was pleased to work with Bethesda to ensure the private hospital, along Mounts Bay Road in Perth’s CBD, had a future.

Government steps in to pave way for Mount Hospital takeover

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Bethesda Health Care will take over operation of Mount Hospital in Perth’s CBD under a deal brokered by the WA government.

The news follows the current operator, Healthscope, entering receivership in May last year.

Mount Hospital on Mount Street, Perth.

WA Premier Roger Cook announced on Thursday morning that the government had been working with receivers McGrathNicol and Bethesda to keep the hospital open.

Under the deal, the hospital will continue its operations, with existing staff to be offered jobs with Bethesda.

More to come.

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Northbridge’s heart to get a facelift after council backs concept plan

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There was plenty to discuss when City of Perth councillors met on Tuesday night, the week after being put “on notice” by the local government inspector and copping a dressing down from the state’s local government minister.

However, away from the drama – and pointed public questions on the council’s state of affairs – there were some bright moments for the city’s cultural offering.

An artist’s impression of the revitalised James Street precinct in Northbridge.City of Perth

The final concept plan for Northbridge’s $22.8 million James Street Revitalisation project was endorsed, paving the way for a major facelift to the heart of the city’s nightlife and entertainment precinct.

Under the concept plan, there will be wider footpaths, upgraded lighting, and more trees and greenery in the precinct, as well as new public art and boosted infrastructure to support temporary closures for major events.

Liberals want plan for King Edward’s ‘next chapter’

By Michael Philipps

Western Australia’s opposition says repurposing King Edward Memorial Hospital for transitional aged care would help address one of the state’s most pressing health challenges – aged care.

Opposition health spokeswoman Libby Mettam accused the Cook government of failing to implement a plan to move long-term elderly patients out of much-needed acute hospital beds.

Liberal MP Libby Mettam.Colin Murty

“At the moment, 366 patients are in hospital waiting for aged care support,” she said.

“With residential aged care effectively full – and with up to 2700 permanent aged care beds needed by 2030, the pressure on the system is only going to intensify.

He’s a special one: Dockers in awe of Murphy Reid

By Justin Chadwick

Fremantle defender Heath Chapman can’t help but marvel at the unique skill set of Murphy Reid, saying he knew the crafty playmaker was special from the teenager’s very first pre-season.

Reid won the Rising Star award last year mostly playing in attack, and he has taken his game to a new level in 2026 after being handed longer stints in the midfield.

Murphy Reid has been a standout player for the Dockers.Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The 19-year-old is averaging 24 disposals and two clearances per game this season, and has tallied 30 disposals and a goal in each of his past two games.

Against St Kilda last Friday night, Reid lit up the big stage with a whopping 14 score involvements.

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Wet weather lashes Perth, plays havoc on morning traffic

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There have been at least four crashes across Perth’s road this morning as drivers navigate the commute after the city copped a drenching last night.

A storm advice was briefly issued as the cold front swept across WA’s south-west last night, with Bickley and Gingin copping about 19 millimetres of rain since midnight, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

A crash on the Kwinana Freeway on Thursday morning.Main Roads WA

Roads were wet and traffic was flowing on Thursday morning, but there were still several crashes, including one on the Kwinana Freeway near Success which blocked northbound lanes as emergency services attended.

That crash was cleared by about 7.30am, but traffic remained heavy back to Anketell Road.

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