Updated July 16, 2026 — 6:15pm,first published July 16, 2026 — 9:42am6.15pm on Jul 16, 2026Today’s headlinesBy Thanks for joining us today.Here’s a reminder of the top headlines:A West Australian company has become the latest in a line to curb its workforce as powerful tech tools come to do work once reserved for humans.Visitors to Western Australia’s protected areas, including national and marine parks, provided the state’s economy with a $2.4 billion windfall in just one year, a new report has found.The state’s peak planning body has given the green light for almost 10,000 new homes to be built in Perth’s north.Workers at other Pilbara mining projects will be “taking note” of the strike action set to halt BHP’s operations at Port Hedland on Thursday, one expert warns, as a coalition of union members prepare to down tools at a cost of up to $50 million for the mining giant.An Australian man who died in a Bali immigration facility was due to be deported after it was found he was working while on a visa and had overstayed by two weeks.The Legalise Cannabis Party has named Dr Craig Buchanan as its candidate for the upcoming Secret Harbour by-election, a former two-term councillor for the City of Rockingham and a long-term resident of the South Metropolitan Region.See you back here tomorrow.5.50pm on Jul 16, 2026Police say Australian man who died in detention was due to be deportedBy An Australian man who died in a Bali immigration facility was due to be deported after it was found he was working while on a visa and had overstayed by two weeks.Perth man Cameron Hughes at his Holden Resto Bali workshop. YouTube/Worthy RestorationsCameron Hughes, 39, was reportedly taken to an immigration detention centre last Friday, accused of breaching his Visa conditions after separating from his Indonesian wife and working while overseas.Hughes died by suicide about 5.30pm, in a bathroom at the Ngurah Rai immigration facility.Ngurah Rai Immigration Office chief Bugie Kurniawan told reporters on Wednesday they had been first tipped off about Hughes breaching his visa by his former partner earlier this year/5.05pm on Jul 16, 2026Local government inspector declares conflict of interest over South Perth councilBy Indigo Lemay-ConwayThe twists and turns surrounding the dysfunction at the City of South Perth are continuing, with Local Government Inspector Tony Brown stepping away from any issues to do with the council.A statement posted to the WA Government website on Tuesday revealed Brown has declared a conflict of interest relating to the city and “removed himself from all matters relating to the local council”.WA Local Government Inspector Tony Brown and Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley.Hannah Beazley/FacebookLocal Government Minister Hannah Beazley has appointed Jennifer Shelton to act as the inspector for all current and future issues relating to the City of South Perth.Shelton’s role begins immediately and will be ongoing for three months.4.17pm on Jul 16, 2026More BHP news – that’s not strike-relatedBy Michael PhilippsIron ore giant BHP has given the all-clear to a new iron ore mine in WA’s Pilbara region, with the $1.3 billion Ministers North project set to add 20 million tonnes per year to the company’s output once it has reached peak production.The announcement comes amid unfolding strike action at the company’s Port Hedland operations.BHP has given the green light to another major iron ore mine.The eight-hour strike by hundreds of workers represented by a coalition of unions is tipped to cost BHP as much as $50 million.However, the newly green-lit project, sitting about 13 kilometres south-east from the company’s existing Yandi operation, is set to play a big role in supporting BHP’s iron ore production target of 305 million tonnes per annum.3.28pm on Jul 16, 2026Police investigate road rage attack that left man in hospitalBy Hannah MurphyTo our roads now, and police are investigating a serious case of road rage that landed a Perth man in hospital.Police say the man was driving his silver Toyota sedan on Beeliar Drive near Hammond Road when he got into an altercation with a man in a black Holden.The overtook the victim, positioned his car in front of the victim’s car and blocked it in. The victim was forced to stop, and his alleged attacker took out an object and bashed him in over the head and in the face.Police did not say what the object was.The victim, a man in his 40s, was taken to Royal Perth Hospital with serious injuries.2.20pm on Jul 16, 2026Cook wants BHP workers to get ‘best wages and conditions that they can’By WA Premier Roger Cook says the strike action by BHP workers at Port Hedland today is “concerning”, but has backed workers to get the best wages and conditions they can.“I want these workers to get the best wages and conditions that they, working with their union, that they can get, and I want the companies to be able to get a good outcome, so they can continue to be strong, profitable companies driving our economy as we do through the Pilbara,” he said this morning.WA Premier Roger Cook.Ross Swanborough“And I’m encouraging all parties to continue to negotiate and come to a good outcome.”Cook shrugged off suggestions the action – and increasing unionisation of the Pilbara – could have a chilling effect on foreign investment in WA’s lucrative resources sector, noting that unionised workforces was a part of Australia’s industrial relations system.2.04pm on Jul 16, 2026Another contender lines up to challenge for Secret HarbourBy Michael PhilippsThe Legalise Cannabis Party has named Dr Craig Buchanan as its candidate for the upcoming Secret Harbour by-election, a former two-term councillor for the City of Rockingham and a long-term resident of the South Metropolitan Region.The party announced their candidate on Thursday for the seat following the resignation of former minister and local MP Paul Papalia.Legalise Cannabis WA’s candidate for the Secret Harbour byelection, Dr Craig Buchanan.Legalise Cannabis WABuchanan plans to stand on a platform of sensible, evidence-based cannabis reform, based on his own personal journey after he was diagnosed with bowel cancer and underwent major surgery.He credits medicinal cannabis with giving him “freedom of choice” and “bodily autonomy” through a difficult recovery.1.18pm on Jul 16, 2026Dockers star out of Port game, Mason Cox keeps his spotBy Justin ChadwickStar Fremantle midfielder Shai Bolton will be rested this week to manage a minor niggle, while ruckman Sean Darcy has been told to lift his athletic profile if he wants to win back his AFL spot.The ladder-leading Dockers will start as hot favourites against injury-ravaged Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, but the loss of Bolton came as a surprise.Shai Bolton celebrates a goal in his team’s emphatic win over Sydney last week.AFL Photos via Getty ImagesThe former Tiger has been managing a minor hand injury in recent weeks, but wasn’t named on the club’s injury list on Tuesday.Coach Justin Longmuir refused to confirm or deny Bolton’s absence was due to the hand niggle, but said the injury wasn’t serious.12.22pm on Jul 16, 2026Lancelin’s shore eroding ‘much faster than anticipated’: ministerBy Hannah MurphyTurning now to the issue that’s really heating up of late, and Lands Minister John Carey has spoken to Radio 6PR this morning after his visit to Lancelin on Wednesday.It comes as ongoing storms and washouts on the foreshore threaten the beachside town, with sandbags and heavy equipment brought in to stop the pub from essentially disappearing into the sea.Carey met with the owner of the local pub, shire representatives and the caravan park owner during his visit, and said the government’s focus had now shifted to “buying time” as winter rages on.“The reality is ... that the rate and scale of the shoreline erosion has been quite significant, and has gone much faster than was originally anticipated,” he said.11.19am on Jul 16, 2026Police hunt group of youths after BP station trashedBy WA Police are searching for a group of youths who allegedly trashed a BP service station in Port Kennedy on Wednesday night.Officers were called to the station on Warnbro Sound Avenue about 9.20pm after a staff member activated a duress alarm.Police at the scene of an incident at a service station in Port Kennedy on Wednesday night. Night NewsA police spokesperson said a group of youths had allegedly forced open the locked front sliding doors and entered the service station before “intimidating the cashier” and throwing food around. “The staff member retreated to a secure staff room and remained there until police arrived; he was not injured,” the spokesperson said.“The group left the scene prior to police attendance.”Police are still investigating the matter and have urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.1 of 2