Man charged over Guildford train crash

A man has been charged after a train crash in Guildford back in May.

The incident happened at the Meadow Street crossing on May 20, when the man drove his truck - which was towing a dog trailer - across a train crossing on Meadow Street about 4pm.

An incoming passenger train allegedly collided with the dog trailer, separating it from the truck, causing a large jolt to approximately 100 passengers on board and the man’s work gear to go flying.

The debris from the crash damaged three parked cars, causing significant damage. The train and the railway line were also damaged.

Recfishers call council fishing ban ‘extremely disappointing’

The peak body for recreational fishers says it’s disappointed a local Perth council has opted to ban fishing in more than a dozen lakes, wetlands and reserves.

The City of Stirling voted last week to attempt to introduce new fishing restrictions across 25 areas within 17 locations, including at Carine Open Space, Jackadder Lake, Lake Gwelup, Herdsman Lake and Mettams Pool Beach.

Fishers could face a $125 fine if caught with a line.

The decision was made after a black swan was injured by a fishing hook late last year.

The injured swan in Stirling with a fishing hook in its mouth.

FMG boss looks to Pilbara for data centres

New details have emerged about a quiet trip by billionaire Bill Gates to the state’s Pilbara region to scope out the potential for future data centres.

The Australian Financial Review revealed details of Gates’ trip to the north, which it claimed he made before attending the Australian open in Melbourne in February.

While mining giant Fortescue has refused to confirm or deny whether it aided Gates’ travel, the company’s chief executive Dino Otranto told a business breakfast on Friday there was a “lot of opportunity” in the Pilbara for data centres.

“You’re seeing this play out in Western Sydney, where I’ve seen these data centres right in peoples’ backyards,” he said.

“Where else could you place it? [Why not] an area that has got abundant potential for energy, has got bugger-all population and is connected to the data corridor?”

Two more cases of bird flu in WA

The number of birds impacted by bird flu in Australia this afternoon has risen to 17, after two new cases were detected off WA beaches.

This infected giant petrel was found near Esperance in WA.

Two presumed positive results have been recorded in two petrels found on the WA coast - one on Parry Beach in Denmark, and one found at Seabird north of Perth.

“The sequencing of the virus could not be determined for these cases, but the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is treating them as a positive as a precautionary measure,” a spokesperson said.

“A range of factors can affect sequencing, particularly in wildlife samples from deceased animals.

WA model for clean energy the ‘sensible approach’: CME

Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA chief executive Aaron Morey believes the neatest and cleanest solution to the proposed national gas exemption scheme is to simply adopt the key features of the Western Australian model.

Speaking as part of a panel discussion on the path to green energy at a business breakfast event this morning, Morey said if the WA model can’t be adopted, he would recommend a clean legislative carve-out that doesn’t require ministerial project-by-project discretion.

“That is the cleanest way to ensure that our system, which has been working for Western Australia, doesn’t get complicated,” he said.

“I think it’s a sensible approach from government to look at Western Australia’s system and ask yourself what works well, what doesn’t work so well. I certainly think there’s a lot more to recommend it than there is against it.

“We don’t begrudge the government from doing something. It’s clearly the case that there’s an issue on the East Coast. There’s policy mistakes that were made some time ago, and we think it’s appropriate that government has this as an area of policy focus and priority.”

Federal industry minister said ‘collective bargaining is good for democracy’ at Perth breakfast

Federal Industry Minister Tim Ayres says collective bargaining is good for democracy while also stating that he expects union strike action in the Pilbara will be “ultimately resolved”.

Ayres’ comments come following an eight-hour strike at BHP’s bulk export terminal in Port Hedland by a group of combined ports union members on Thursday

Speaking at a Perth business breakfast on Friday morning, Ayres said trade unions are crucial democratic institutions.

“They are foundational to our national story, for modern Australian democracy, for our society, and indeed for our national identity,” he said.

Wallabies set to unleash new enforcer against Italy in Perth clash

From raining down punches on a teammate to being on the cusp of his Wallabies debut, it’s fair to say it’s been a roller-coaster ride for powerhouse lock Miles Amatosero this year.

Amatosero will make his Test debut off the bench on Saturday night after being named for the Nations Championship clash with Italy in Perth.

It marks a huge turnaround for the 24-year-old, who this year was suspended after fracturing the eye socket of NSW Waratahs teammate Angus Scott-Young during a training-ground fight.

Amatosero, who stands at 203cm and weighs about 125kg, expressed his regret after the incident and patched things up with Scott-Young.

Significant delays expected at Perth Airport as officers walk off job

In more strike action news this morning, aviation screening officers working at the security checkpoints at Perth Airport will walk off the job today, with significant delays expected for travellers across all four terminals.

The United Workers Union has said contractor ISS was refusing to offer a fair deal that would bring pay and conditions in line with the eastern states.

Major delays are expected for travellers today.

They also have rostering arrangements that make it “almost impossible for many to earn a living wage”, according to the union, which says the action will escalate in coming days and weeks.

One Perth screening officer, who has remained anonymous, said the rostering had a terrible impact on the workforce.

More BHP workers vote to down tools after Pilbara port strike

A protected action ballot of electrical workers on BHP’s high-voltage network has seen an overwhelming majority vote in favour of stoppages returned to the Fair Work Commission.

The vote follows an eight-hour strike at BHP’s bulk export terminal in Port Hedland by a separate group of combined ports union members on Thursday that included workers from the Electrical Trade Union, the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union and the Australian Workers Union.

The high-voltage electrical workers are responsible for maintaining a power network that keeps BHP mine sites running, along with worker accommodation, and the nearby town of Newman.

Workers were asked whether they support taking an unlimited number of work stoppages lasting between 30 minutes and 24 hours in pursuit of an enterprise agreement with BHP.

Across the nation and around the world

Here’s what’s making headlines today:

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson’s European holiday has exposed cracks in her relationship with star recruit Barnaby Joyce – as her chief adviser claimed she was pushed into meeting a far-right UK activist by the Seven Network.

The One Nation leader was photographed spending time poolside with her benefactor at the resort by one of the other guests.

The man who operates Donald Trump’s teleprompter has been placed on leave after revelations he allegedly made more than $US100,000 ($143,000) on prediction markets based on what the US president would say.
The families of two Australian backpackers who died in Laos after drinking tainted alcohol shots have received the devastating news that no one is likely to do serious jail time, if any at all, for the deaths of their daughters.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s pledge that a boom in energy-hungry data centres would pump power back into the electricity grid will strain Australia’s delayed renewables rollout, according to major investors, as one of his ministers concedes the plan could require more gas plants.
Billionaire Canva co-founder Melanie Perkins will apply the feedback machinery that helped bring her $100 billion design company to public life, launching a global platform on Friday that asks communities what is important to them.

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As it happened: WA news on Friday, July 17