WA news as it happened: Tornado hammers Bunbury; Carousel locked down

An alleged altercation between three men, two of whom were armed with a knife, plunged Carousel Shopping Centre into lockdown this afternoon.

Police received multiple reports of an incident unfolding at the Cannington shopping centre in Perth’s south-east about 3.30pm on Friday.

Three males were allegedly involved in a physical altercation, with a 20-year-old sustaining a slash wound injury to his face.

Both knives were secured with the help of an off-duty police officer.

In a press conference late on Friday, Inspector Geoff DeSanges said it was not yet clear whether the men were known to each other.

While police confirmed they were still working to locate two males, DeSanges pleaded for calm and insisted there was no ongoing threat to the public.

A family member of a witness at the shopping centre called Radio 6PR saying security guards had ushered shoppers into individual stores after a man entered the premises with a knife.

Videos currently circulating on social media show shoppers locked down in Kmart.

DeSanges said individual stores implemented their own protocols amid reports of a man with a knife and that the level of concern was understandable given the recent stabbings at Bondi Junction Shopping Centre, which claimed the lives of six people.

Turning now to the WA Supreme Court, which has been trying to determine what David Sharaz’s public declaration to bow out of his year-long defamation row with West Australian Senator Linda Reynolds means for their looming trial.

The former defence minister has been pursuing former staffer Brittany Higgins and her fiancee David Sharaz for damages, as well as aggravated damages, for more than one year over several social media posts she claims defamed her.

Both had been defending the defamation case until almost a fortnight ago when Sharaz took to social media saying he could no longer afford to fight the action.

Sharaz’s lawyer Jason MacLaurin revealed the parties were still trying to determine what that meant for the proceedings during a strategic conference on Friday ahead of the trio’s second attempt at private peace talks on May 21.

Reynolds’ lawyer Clinton Russell called on Sharaz to front court via video link so parties could “hear it from the horse’s mouth”, but the bid failed.

Read more here.

The bushfire warning issued for Darling Downs and Hilbert in the City of Armadale and Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale has been downgraded to a Watch and Act.

The fire started near the intersection of Hopkinson Road and Gloaming Way in Hilbert and had been moving fast in a southerly direction.

The alert level for this fire has been downgraded due to decreased fire activity. Firefighters remain on the scene.

Stay up to date at emergency.wa.gov.au

Fremantle Chief Executive Simon Garlick has extended the club’s deepest sympathies to Cam McCarthy’s family at what he described as an “unimaginably difficult time”.

“Cam came to the Club from Greater Western Sydney in 2016 and played 49 games for Fremantle after initially being drafted from South Fremantle,” he said.

“His death is tragic, and to all of his family, friends and teammates, we extend our deepest condolences.

“Cam was a kind and easy-going person at the club, and he was someone who had a habit of making people smile and laugh. His talent was undeniable and he loved his footy.

“Our thoughts are with Cam’s family and his loved ones during this time.”

Read more

Breaking news now: a bushfire emergency warning has been issued for Darling Downs and Hilbert in the City of Armadale and Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services warns residents in an area bound by Rowley Road, Masters Road, Thomas Road and Tonkin Highway are in danger and need to act immediately to survive.

“There is a threat to lives and homes,” the warning reads.

The fire started near the intersection of Hopkinson Road and Gloaming Way in Hilbert and is moving fast in a southerly direction.

For current emergency information and warnings, visit emergency.wa.gov.au. 

To federal politics, and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles has been speaking in Melbourne about today’s High Court decision to dismiss a bisexual Iranian man’s bid to be released from immigration detention, claiming he was being unlawfully held.

During the press conference, Giles said he agreed with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that the Community Protection Board failed when they recommended a detainee not wear an ankle bracelet who then went on to allegedly assault a Perth grandmother.

“What we need to do here is to make sure that we are doing everything possible to improve our systems so that up to date information can be considered by the board and then by delegates so that we can do everything possible to ensure that these basic conditions are being applied appropriately,” he said.

To explain why only 76 released detainees currently had ankle bracelets, Acting Australian Border Force Commissioner Kaylene Dale said the board used a range of expertise in policing, corrections, law enforcement and psychology.

“Their advice, along with that of senior public servants, helps determine the most appropriate course of action for each individual,” she said.

“Every individual is considered on their own merits and their own circumstances and the appropriate conditions that should be put in place to support community safety.”

Back to the budget, and WA Opposition Leader Shane Love is not impressed with the set of books handed down yesterday, taking particular aim at the state’s projected $40 billion debt over the next four years.

Love told 6PR the Labor government had collected more than $32 billion in surpluses since it came to office in 2017 and, coupled with the $40 billion in debt, he struggled to see how it was improving the lives of West Australians.

If you look around Western Australia, you can ask, do you see $40 billion? Do you see that there’s $40 billion of investment in improvement in the community?

I think West Australians would probably be scratching their head to see where $40 billion of surplus debt has gone.

Love was also critical of Treasurer Rita Saffioti retaining her transport duties at the same time there were cost blowouts on road and rail projects:

It’s the responsibility of the treasurer to be the chief bean counter and to make sure that every dollar is accounted for – at same time you’ve got this pressure as the transport minister to put more and more money in to cover over the cracks there in terms of the contract management, which is disastrous.

Unfortunately some sad news now, and former Fremantle Dockers and GWS Giants player Cam McCarthy has died at the age of 29.

A WA Police spokesman confirmed emergency services were called to a Lake Coogee home about 6.15pm on Thursday, where the former AFL footballer was found deceased.

The death is being treated as non-suspicious and a report will be prepared for the coroner, the spokesman said.

The news will rock the football world, with McCarthy the third former Docker to die before reaching the age of 30 in the past six years.

Read more here.