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AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett.

opinion
opinion
OpinionPremium
opinion
The grim reality of Australia’s gang crime and drugs crisis

Australians take too many illicit drugs. We need to talk about its link to the organised crime violence in our communities and the impact it is having on our national security.

Krissy Barrett, AFP Commissioner

Pauline Hanson has committed to slashing Australia's immigration system.

opinion
opinion
EditorialPremium
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Amid all the problems, Pauline Hanson is a distraction

One Nation has lobbed into the political debate a plan to ‘reset’ Australia’s immigration system and the political classes have worked themselves into a lather in response.

The West Australian

Mike Burgess says Australia’s terrorism threat has evolved and changed since the September 11 attacks.

opinion
opinion
Andrew GreeneVideoPremium
opinion
Chilling numbers show Australia can’t drop its guard

Australia’s counterterrorism muscle memory could be fading just as the extremist threat evolves.

Andrew Greene

Andrew Greene

We have become textpendent, using texts for conversations that go way beyond their original purpose.

OPINIONPremiumTexting trends and terminology are getting out of hand

Texting was supposed to make communications easier. Instead, it has given us a whole new set of ways to misunderstand one another.

Gary Martin

Premier Roger Cook speaks at a press conference at Dumas House in West Perth

opinion
opinion
OPINIONPremium
opinion
Lucky country, unless you are a high-needs WA baby

‘Australia is a lucky country run by second-rate people who share its luck.’

Andrew Miller

The Prime Minister has already given the GST assurance that West Australian political and business leaders — along with locals — have long demanded.

opinion
opinion
EDITORIALPremium
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We must keep up the good fight on GST

West Australians know that the fight to preserve existing GST arrangements — which other States continue to quibble are unfair — isn’t quite over. 

State Labor leader Mark McGowan and federal Labor leader Bill Shorten share a democracy sausage at the Yokine Primary School polling station.

opinion
opinion
OPINIONPremium
opinion
A short history on the democracy sausage

By the time you are reading this, the result of the latest by-election in Australia should be known.

BEN HARVEY

New data shows West Australians are spending nearly half of their wages on covering the cost of mortgages, putting WA in the grips of the worst housing affordability crisis on record. 

opinion
opinion
EditorialPremium
opinion
WA owners spending more of salary than ever on mortgage

We are left with a stalled market and higher rates while the lack of housing supply remains unsolved.

Spring is in bloom.

opinion
opinion
LIFESTYLEPremium
opinion
Why every family needs a wildlife garden

Spring is probably the most exciting time to be in the garden.

CHARLIE ALBONE

Many Australians have lost faith in parliamentarians.

opinion
opinion
OpinionPremium
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Failures across political spectrum have voters losing faith

No wonder most Australians have lost faith in parliamentarians who appear more interested in playing politics for electoral advantage than fixing our problems.

Paul Murray

Paul Murray

The Bencubbin squad before the match, and then celebrating, after winning the 2026 Central Wheatbelt Football League grand final last weekend. Unknown

opinion
opinion
JUSTIN LANGERPremium
opinion
Sport kicks a goal for our ever-changing country towns

It isn’t the sport itself that really matters — it is every moment of joy and relief these clubs bring to our farmers, who need them as much as everyone needs their community to flourish and stay healthy. 

Justin Langer

Hijacked United Airlines Flight 175 from Boston crashes into the south tower of the World Trade Center and explodes at 9:03 a.m. on September 11, 2001 in New York City.

opinion
opinion
EditorialPremium
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Terror warning a reminder of need to be vigilant

Nearly 3000 lives were lost — including ten Australians — when al-Qaida terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners and crashed them into the World Trade Center. It remains a defining moment.

Letters to the editor must contain the author’s full name, address and daytime contact number.

Letter to the EditorLetter to the Editor: Bike trails offer fresh challenge

The new mountain bike trails on Mt Clarence offer a new challenge for Albany’s young people to take on, writes Big Grove resident Ian Spurgeon.

Ian Spurgeon

WA Liberal leader Basil Zempilas.

opinion
opinion
Basil Zempilas Premium
opinion
Despite Malthouse’s musings, I’m keeping the Freo faith

I was super-confident about a Fremantle win tonight – until I read Mick Malthouse’s preview in Thursday’s West. But I’m going to keep the faith and stay confident Fremantle will rediscover their best. Go Freo! 

Basil Zempilas

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

opinion
opinion
EditorialPremium
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Finally, some sense around immigration debate

The realisation that people do not like to be lectured, hectored and talked down to is taking hold.

Letters to the editor must contain the author’s full name, address and daytime contact number.

Letter to the EditorLetter to the Editor: Bicentenary snubs farmers, settlers

Early settlers and farmers who shaped Albany after European colonisation should be recognised in Albany’s bicentenary, writes a Green Valley resident.

R. B. Lamont

JLL’s research shows Sydney accounts for 912MW of the nation’s live data centre capacity, Melbourne accounts for 468MW and Perth has only 27MW.

opinion
opinion
Kim MacdonaldPremium
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If data is the new oil, it should be treated like a resource

WA has long tried to balance the economic benefits of resource projects against their demands on land, water and infrastructure. Data centres require the same level of scrutiny.

Kim Macdonald

Kim Macdonald

RBA governor Michele Bullock.

opinion
opinion
EditorialPremium
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Another interest rate rise looms. Why?

The national mood is sour. We have been hit by a perfect economic and political storm.

WA Premier Roger Cook during a press conference, in Secret Harbour south of Perth.

opinion
opinion
Jessica PagePremium
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WA Labor is listening but it doesn’t know what it’s hearing

The Premier has called the by-election defeat 10 days ago ‘bruising’ but Labor still appear mystified by what it means. 

Jessica Page

Pauline Hanson's party has unveiled proposed measures to Australia's superannuation system.

opinion
opinion
Ben HarveyPremium
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Hanson’s early access for super plan actually adds up

Cracking the nest egg would be prudent if the money was used wisely.

Ben Harvey

Ben Harvey

The tech giants have no interest in making their platforms safe: Safe for children, safe for adults, safe for information. Safe for truth.

opinion
opinion
EditorialPremium
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Restraining Big Tech a big ask but worth having a crack

Whether this will work as intended will take time to emerge.But for the moment, good on the Albanese Government for having a crack.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong must ensure Australia doesn’t lend its credibility to upcoming anniversary celebrations of the 2001 Durban conference.

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Federal PoliticsVideo
opinion
Penny Wong must stand up against UN’s anti-Semitism

ARSEN OSTROVSKY: Under the guise of ‘fighting against racism’, the UN’s Durban conference was a spectacle of unhinged Jew-hatred.

Arsen Ostrovsky

The CinfestOZ 2026 film prize jury, featuring Mark Coles Smith, Greer Simpkin, Rachel House, Gregor Jordan, Katie Milwright.

opinion
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Ben O’SheaPremium
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Checking our own biases is uncomfortable but only correct

No one likes being criticised. Even more so when the criticism happens in a very public way, in front of an audience, as it did to yours truly on the weekend.

Ben O'Shea

Ben O'Shea

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Leader of the Opposition Angus Taylor during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra.

opinion
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Andrew GreenePremium
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Shake-up season heralds frontbench musical chairs

MPs from both sides of politics are growing increasingly restless over when the Prime Minister and Opposition leader will reshuffle their frontbench teams ahead of the next Federal election.

Andrew Greene

Andrew Greene