Updated September 9, 2026 — 7:01pm,first published September 9, 2026 — 9:44am7.01pmToday’s headlinesBy We’re bringing our live blog to a close for the day, thank you for joining us.Here’s a recap of the day’s headlines:West Australia’s Gen Z has recorded the state’s lowest reading and maths competency scores in more than two decades.A crash on the Mitchell Freeway northbound near the Hay Street exit caused commuter chaos this morning, with the two right-hand lanes blocked as emergency services attended the scene.The Arson Squad is investigating a house fire that occurred in Ellenbrook yesterday afternoon.It was standing room only at Fremantle Cemetery this morning as hundreds of people attended the funeral service of Paul ‘Rabs’ Dougan, the Perth man killed in Bali last month after being set upon by a group of fellow Australians at a bar.The WA government will move some admin staff out of Perth Children’s Hospital to add another 19 neonatal beds and two new parent rooms in the biggest shakeup in the eight-year-old hospital’s history.Opposition leader Basil Zempilas says he will not rule out forming a coalition with One Nation at the next state election, but said his focus for now was on a Liberal and National Party partnership.Four men who attempted to force entry into a Coolbellup house armed with a fake gun in the early hours of this morning have been arrested by police.Opposition health spokeswoman Libby Mettam has attacked Labor’s management of the hospital system after Peter Muckett, 82, who has been waiting for surgery to address his chronic spinal pain, had his case refused by Royal Perth Hospital.Thank you again for joining us today. We’ll see you back here tomorrow for more news you need to know. 6.01pmElderly Perth man denied surgery due to ‘extreme demand’ on hospital By Hamish HastieOpposition health spokeswoman Libby Mettam has attacked Labor’s management of the hospital system after Peter Muckett, 82, who has been waiting for surgery to address his chronic spinal pain, had his case refused by Royal Perth Hospital.Peter Muckett, 82. Hamish Hastie The reason given was because he was deemed unlikely to benefit from surgery but also because of “extreme demand” in the spinal outpatient clinic.“I just want to get in and be assessed. If they can’t do anything they can tell me to my face and tell me what they can do or not. Otherwise, I’m just being left,” Muckett said.Mettam said the case raised serious questions about the demand on hospitals. 5.28pmTrio charged over Coolbellup ‘fake gun’ attempted burglary By Four men who attempted to force entry into a Coolbellup house armed with a fake gun in the early hours of this morning have been arrested by police. The incident occurred on Egeus Way around 2am.WA Police said three men tried to enter the property through a rear sliding door, with one brandishing a replica firearm and threatening a male occupant through the glass door. The occupant called police and the men fled the scene in a white sedan. They were arrested a short time later. 4.27pmLiberals bring up Labor’s ‘catastrophic loss’ in Secret Harbour … againBy Hamish HastieWe’re back in WA Parliament question time, and we are covering some similar territory as yesterday.Opposition leader Basil Zempilas’s opening salvo again referred to Labor’s “catastrophic loss” in the Secret Harbour byelection.He asked Premier Roger Cook why he couldn’t accept that blaming the loss on Iran, Ukraine, the Reserve Bank and social media was an example of him failing to listen to the electorate.Cook responded in similar fashion yesterday saying “byelections are tough” and the campaign was a reminder that West Australians were doing it tough.3.26pmZempilas distances his party from One Nation, but won’t rule out future coalition By Opposition leader Basil Zempilas says he will not rule out forming a coalition with One Nation at the next state election, but said his focus for now was on a Liberal and National Party partnership. His comments, made on ABC Radio today, come after the final counting for the Secret Harbour byelection revealed One Nation candidate Luke Herdegen got nearly 40 per cent of the primary vote, compared to Labor’s 24 per cent and the Liberals 17 per cent. WA Planning Minister John Carey and Liberals candidate for Churchlands Basil Zempilas.“[One Nation] want a bad Labor government out, and we want a bad Labor government out. On that point, we are absolutely united,” Zempilas said. “But we’re not in partnership, we’re not a team, we’re not in an alliance, and we’re not looking to form any coalition.1.55pmExpansion planned for Perth Children’s Hospital neonatal wardBy Hamish HastieThe WA government will move some admin staff out of Perth Children’s Hospital to add another 19 neonatal beds and two new parent rooms in the biggest shakeup in the eight-year-old hospital’s history.Perth Children’s Hospital.Getty ImagesThe $95.4 million renovation was announced this morning alongside a decision to merge the Child and Adolescent Health Service, which runs Perth Children’s Hospital, with the King Edward Memorial Hospital and the new Women and Babies Hospital in Murdoch.Choosing to locate the Women and Babies Hospital in Murdoch, and not at the QEII site in Nedlands, faced criticism from clinicians and the opposition who argued transferring sick babies up the freeway risked their safety.The state government attempts to allay those concerns continued today with Health Minister Meredith Hammat also announcing the Fiona Stanley Hospital’s paediatric capabilities would be upgraded from level four to a level five unit, meaning it could deal with babies with more complex needs after birth.The state will also establish a new Newborn Emergency Transfer Service at the new hospital, meaning babies born there could be transferred to PCH quicker.When asked whether the upgraded NICU at FSH was an admission babies needed higher levels of care closer to the Women and Babies Hospital, Hammat said: “I think what it reflects is the feedback we’ve had from clinicians and others, but I think it also reflects the growing population and the growing demand in our southern suburbs.”1.36pmHundreds gather to farewell Perth man killed in Bali tragedy By It was standing room only at Fremantle Cemetery this morning as hundreds of people attended the funeral service of Paul ‘Rabs’ Dougan, the Perth man killed in Bali last month after being set upon by a group of fellow Australians at a bar. Paul Dougan.Dougan, 55, was attacked on August 5 while at the One Tribe One Life Lounge and Café in Kuta after allegedly reprimanding a man for hitting a woman. He was hospitalised three days later and, after undergoing three surgeries, sadly passed away on August 20.During his funeral service, it was referenced Dougan had his life cut short in unimaginably tragic circumstances, and that he “loved his time in Bali, loved his family and his mates”. His wife described Bali as Dougan’s second home; “He loved the lifestyle and the people.”“But this time, you aren’t coming home. It wasn’t supposed to be like this”. No one has been charged in relation to the incident.12.22pmFreeway crash caused by merge failure By Following on from our post earlier this morning about the crash on the Mitchell Freeway northbound in West Perth. The road reopened this morning after the crash caused significant delays to the morning commute for those coming from the southern suburbs. It’s understood the incident was caused by a failed merging or lane crossing attempt.The driver of the flipped ute was uninjured in the incident.12.00pmArson squad investigating Ellenbrook house fire By The Arson Squad is investigating a house fire that occurred in Ellenbrook yesterday afternoon. WA Police were notified of the Coree Lane blaze about 4.30pm, with firefighters and paramedics also attending the scene. An occupant of the home, a 45-year-old man, sustained serious burns in the fire and was taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital. The other people inside were safely evacuated. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers. 10.17amMitchell Freeway crash blocking lane during peak hour trafficBy A crash on the Mitchell Freeway northbound near the Hay Street exit is causing commuter chaos this morning, with the two right-hand lanes blocked as emergency services attend the scene. The incident occurred around 7.15am in West Perth, with a ute making contact with the bridge and barrier before flipping onto its side. The crash on Mitchell Freeway occurred around 7.15am. 9 News Perth Towing trucks, police and fire crews remain at the scene.Main Roads has advised drivers to exercise extreme caution due to congestion in the area. 1 of 2