Cyber security audit of WA local government raises concerns

A cyber security audit of local government in Western Australia showed vulnerabilities in systems dating back over 15 years.

29 November, 2021

Barnett raises shark shields at Dunsborough beach

By Paul Hemsley As if shooting sharks didn’t make it safe to go back in the water, Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett has bolstered the state’s coastal defences by starting a trial with the City of Busselton to install a “shark-proof beach enclosure” at the Old Dunsborough beach to keep marine predators away from people. […]

22 October, 2013

WA corruption and fraud controls in the crosshairs

By Julian Bajkowski A performance probe of how well the Western Australian public sector has instigated measures to prevent fraud and corruption has found all nine of the agencies examined by the state Auditor lack a “coordinated approach” and that none had yet developed “control plan” to nip illegal behaviour in the bud. The report […]

21 June, 2013

WA Government cashes in on bike tourism

By Julian Bajkowski The Western Australian capital of Perth has become the latest city to hitch a ride on growing trend of bicycle-based tourism, announcing that the ‘Tour de Perth’ will be pushed up to national completion level and become part of Cycling Australia’s Subaru National Road Series. According to WA Tourism Minister Kim Hames, […]

6 December, 2012

WA councils push for container deposit scheme

By Paul Hemsley with Julian Bajkowski The Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) is pressing the state government to introduce a ‘Cash for Containers’ scheme to curb high levels of rubbish dumped in streets and parks. The plan would provide a direct financial incentive for people to recycle empty cans, bottles or cartons by submitting […]

11 October, 2012

WA government mounts $7m shark counter attack

By Paul Hemsley and Julian Bajkowski Western Australian government has greeted the onset of warmer weather with a $6.85 million spending package to counter shark attacks on beachgoers, including shooting the marine predators if they get too close to bathing humans. The hardline response follows five fatal shark attacks on beachgoers in the state over […]

28 September, 2012

WA country infrastructure backlog to increase

The $1.75 billion price tag for a backlog of country infrastructure renewal projects in Western Australian is primed to increase substantially, after the state’s Regional Development Trust recommended that new estimates be calculated. The recommendations follow a review of the WA Country Local Government Fund that last week found that the projected price of infrastructure […]

4 September, 2012

Councils sharing services allowed

Local governments in Western Australia could be permitted to create regional subsidies under a state government bill. Introduced last week, the Local Government Amendment Bill intends to allow local governments to share in the delivery of services. According to the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA), the legislation will allow local governments to focus more […]

20 August, 2012

Fleetwood builds WA service village

Construction for worker dwellings will take place in Western Australia following a state government contract with a local company to build and operate the village. Fleetwood Corporation was awarded the $20.5 million contract to build the Osprey Service Workers’ Village in South Hedland to provide dwellings for 293 service workers. The project has been funded […]

23 July, 2012

WA schools can select whiteboard vendors

By Paul Hemsley Following the Western Australian Government’s program to install interactive whiteboards in school classrooms, it will be up to the schools to select their own vendor. The WA Government will fund $4 million to 124 schools over the next two years to install the interactive whiteboards, where 33 will be in the first […]

19 June, 2012

WA farms for solar power

Utilities will use renewable energy generated from a solar panel installation at Greenough River Solar Farm through a public and private joint venture. The Western Australian Water Corporation will purchase 100 per cent of the sustainable energy generated by the 10-megawatt farm to offset the requirements of the Southern Seawater Desalination Plant near Binningup. As […]

17 April, 2012