Updated July 14, 2026 — 6:50pm,first published July 14, 2026 — 9:31am6.50pm on Jul 14, 2026Today’s headlinesBy 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:Workers at BHP’s Port Hedland Bulk Export Terminal will officially down tools on Thursday after mediation talks failed to reach a compromise between the company and a collective of allied union members.A large delegation of regional organisations and stakeholders have descended on Parliament House in Perth to show support for the WA National party’s Rail Safety Bill, a safety measure that aims to save lives at passive rail crossings across the state.WA Nationals leader Shane Love has warned that any disruption to iron ore exports from Port Hedland would have serious consequences for regional jobs, state revenue and Australia’s economic prosperity.WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti has clarified the role she will play in the development of the AUKUS precinct after seeing her transport portfolio expanded to also include major infrastructure.The number of guns being made by 3D printers is growing in Western Australia, with WA Police seizing more than 200 privately manufactured firearms so far this year.Nova 93.7 has continued its domination of Perth’s breakfast radio timeslot, attracting 19 per cent of the market’s audience in the latest survey, released today.A Perth grandmother is in hospital after she had a rock thrown at her while riding a bike in Butler on Thursday.Thank you again for joining us today. We’ll see you back here tomorrow for more news you need to know.4.28pm on Jul 14, 2026Port Hedland strike action confirmedBy Michael PhilippsWorkers at BHP’s Port Hedland Bulk Export Terminal will officially down tools on Thursday after mediation talks failed to reach a compromise between the company and a collective of allied union members.It will be the first time this century that union workers have agreed to take strike action in WA’s Pilbara region.The move by the Combined Ports Unions, made up of members from the Electrical Trade Union, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and the Western Mine Workers Alliance, will see members stop work for an eight-hour period.ETU WA secretary Adam Woodage previously said he expected the action to cost the mining giant between $40 and $50 million, depending on the productivity levels at the port during the strike.3.49pm on Jul 14, 2026Regional groups come together to rally for WA rail safety bill By Michael PhilippsA large delegation of regional organisations and stakeholders have descended on Parliament House in Perth to show support for the WA National party’s Rail Safety Bill, a safety measure that aims to save lives at passive rail crossings across the state.Representatives from WA Farmers, the National Farmers’ Federation, TRANSAFE WA, the Transport Workers Union WA Branch, the Country Women’s Association of WA, the Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA and the Livestock and Rural Transport Association of WA joined road safety advocate Lara Jensen and the WA Nationals to highlight the support behind the bill.Rail safety advocate Lara Jensen with members of the WA state opposition.Michael PhilippsWA Nationals leader Shane Love said the delegates represent thousands of Western Australians who live, work and travel through regional communities every day.“Western Australia has an opportunity to lead the nation in rail safety reform, and I urge all Members of Parliament to put safety first and support this Bill when it comes before Parliament in August,” he said.2.15pm on Jul 14, 2026WA Nats leader warns of ‘serious consequences’ of Pilbara strikeBy Michael PhilippsWA Nationals leader Shane Love has warned that any disruption to iron ore exports from Port Hedland would have serious consequences for regional jobs, state revenue and Australia’s economic prosperity.Iron ore giant BHP and representatives from the Combined Ports Unions, made up of members from the Electrical Trade Union, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and the Western Mine Workers Alliance, are meeting today in a last ditch effort to come to terms.Hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of iron ore flows through BHP’s Port Hedland operations every day.Pilbara PortsIf an agreement is not reached, the Pilbara mining region faces its first strike this century, when workers at a port handling more than $100 million of iron ore a day down tools on Thursday.Love said the Cook and Albanese Labor governments could not simply wash their hands of the dispute.1.38pm on Jul 14, 2026Saffioti to focus on infrastructure as part of expanded transport portfolioBy Michael PhilippsWA Treasurer Rita Saffioti has clarified the role she will play in the development of the AUKUS precinct after seeing her transport portfolio expanded to also include major infrastructure.While Premier Roger Cook has taken on the defence industries portfolio with Amber Jade Sanderson as an assistant minister to the role, there has been speculation over what the deputy premier’s additional responsibilities will be.Saffioti said her connection to the defence industries portfolio is “very much about the infrastructure”.“I’ve already got Westport, and of course Westport will be very interrelated to the infrastructure program for the entire Western Trade Coast,” she said.12.41pm on Jul 14, 2026WA Police concerned about growing number of 3D-printed guns on Perth streets By The number of guns being made by 3D printers is growing in Western Australia, with WA Police seizing more than 200 privately manufactured firearms so far this year. WA Police seized a 3D printer and 3D-printed gun from a house in Wellard in 2024. WA Police Detectives believe outlaw bikie gangs and other organised crime networks are creating the guns.Recent examples of seizures include a man who allegedly held a woman at gunpoint in May this year at an apartment complex in Perth. The man was arrested, and the gun later identified as being made by a 3D printer. In a separate incident on the same day, another man was arrested in Ballajura after attending an address that was already being searched by police for drugs. Officers allegedly found a semi-automatic 3D-printed firearm in his car. 10.26am on Jul 14, 2026Nova 93.7 continues its dominance of Perth breakfast radioBy Nova 93.7 has continued its domination of Perth’s breakfast radio timeslot, attracting 19 per cent of the market’s audience in the latest survey, released today. The Nathan, Nat and Shaun show was miles ahead of second-placed Mix 94.5’s Pete & Kymba, which got 12.5 per cent of the listener pie.WA Premier Roger Cook with Nova’s Nathan, Nat and Shaun in 2024.NovaTriple M had 10.2 per cent, with Gold 96FM not far behind on 10 per cent. Perth’s major talkback stations both suffered losses, with Radio 6PR dropping to 9 per cent, and ABC Perth dropping to 7 per cent.And on the drive home, Mix 94.5’s Carrie & Tommy national show garnered the most Perth listeners, with 15.8 per cent of the audience, followed by Nova’s Fitzy, Wippa & Kate on 14.7 per cent and Gold 96FM’s Jonesy & Amanda on 12.4 per cent. Radio 6PR’s drive show had 4.9 per cent of the audience, while ABC Perth had 6.2 per cent. Both have seen new hosts this year, with Oliver Peterson presenting ABC Drive, and Jamie Burnett presenting 6PR Perth Live. 10.12am on Jul 14, 2026Perth forecast to cop deluge of rain By It will be a wet end to the school holidays this week with up to 70 millimetres of rain expected to fall over the coming days in Perth. The deluge is forecast to begin on Thursday, with thunderstorms and up to 35 millimetres of rain forecast as a cold front sweeps across WA’s south-west. The rain will continue into Friday, with 15 millimetres forecast before it eases coming into the weekend, with lighter showers tipped for Saturday and Sunday. And if you felt the chill this morning, you weren’t alone – the mercury dipped to just 3.5 degrees at around 3am in Pearce, while in Perth, it dropped to 4.7 degrees. 9.31am on Jul 14, 2026Perth grandmother in hospital after having rock thrown at her while cycling By A Perth grandmother is in hospital after she had a rock thrown at her while riding a bike in Butler on Thursday.Robyn Beattie, 64, says the boulder was thrown at her by a group of teens, who she fears will seriously hurt someone if they are not caught.Robyn Beattie suffered a broken wrist after having a rock thrown at her while cycling through a Butler underpass. 9 News Perth“They’re going to hurt someone one day, I’m lucky it was only my wrist, and I had a helmet on,” she told 9 News Perth.Beattie is recovering from her ordeal after having bolts and plates inserted into her broken arm.9.31am on Jul 14, 2026Across the nation and around the world By 1 of 2