Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Keane Bourke
WA police chief says no concerns reported before alleged threats at Hannah Beazley's office
A man who allegedly threatened staff at Hannah Beazley's electorate office was known to police, WA's police commissioner has revealed, as he urged politicians not to hide away from their communities. John Lawrence Smart faced Perth Magistrates Court yesterday, accused of making threats at the state MP's office in inner-city Victoria Park on Wednesday while in the possession of an "improvised martial arts weapon".
Hannah Beazley threat accused tells court weapon was musical instrument
A man charged over an allegedly threatening incident at Labor MP Hannah Beazley's office has told a Perth court he was holding a musical instrument, not a weapon, as police allege. John Lawrence Smart is accused of making threats at Ms Beazley's electorate office in inner-city Victoria Park on Wednesday while in the possession of an "improvised martial arts weapon".
WA politicians speak out about increasingly hostile environment in wake of Helen Haines attack
WA politicians have voiced their concerns about an increasingly hostile political landscape in the west, and the limited options available to address it, after an attack on federal MP Helen Haines. The ABC has confirmed the federal member for Indi has lost a leg after being pinned between two cars outside her electorate office in Victoria yesterday.
Woodside, activists face off again as heat rises in latest Browse gas fields bid
For more than 50 years, it has sat as a prize just beyond the reach of major Australian and international oil and gas players. The Browse gas fields, off the coast of Western Australia's spectacular, wild Kimberley region, are the biggest untapped gas resource in the country. Together, they hold almost 14 trillion cubic feet of gas, or enough to meet Victoria's entire demand for seven decades.
Solving Perth's homeless problem more complex than moving people on
A homelessness camp recently disbanded by authorities in Perth's south is just the tip of the iceberg of a growing challenge. Just ask those on the frontline. Brett McCaul, the Salvation Army's outreach team leader in Western Australia, has been working in the sector for six years. Outreach worker Brett McCaul says homelessness has become more pervasive.
Mentally impaired prisoner kept in jail illegally amid Frankland Centre bed shortage
A mentally impaired man was kept in jail illegally and denied suitable mental health care because of a chronic lack of beds in the state's only psychiatric facility caring for prisoners. That is the scathing assessment of a Supreme Court judge ruling in the case of a man, known only by the pseudonym 'SJQ', who was denied appropriate psychiatric care for about two months while detained at Hakea Prison.
Architects to look at transforming Bullsbrook COVID quarantine centre into prison
The conversion of WA's COVID-era quarantine centre into a prison could be one step closer, with the Justice Department calling in architects to look at how it could be repurposed. Located about 40 kilometres north-east of Perth's CBD, the 500-bed 'Centre for National Resilience' has sat virtually dormant since it was completed in 2022. Earlier this year it emerged the Justice Department was eyeing off the facility for a prison, in a bid to ease pressure on the state's overcrowded jails.
Government paying up to $4m to brickmaker Austral to reopen WA factory
Western Australian taxpayers will fork out up to $4 million to restart a second brick making facility in the state as the construction industry continues to grapple with labour and raw material shortages. The state was left with just one brickmaker when Austral closed its Cardup brickworks in mid-2023.
'We're gonna get there', say Freo faithful left to wait for their slice of history
Fremantle fans have been left heartbroken following a shock seven-point loss to the Brisbane Lions in Saturday's grand final. Despite the Dockers leading for most of the game, the Lions were able to claw back a 17-point deficit with just four minutes left in the final term. In Fremantle, more than 40,000 people took over the Cappuccino Strip and sold out venues across the Port city.
How the WA government tried — and failed — to limit payouts to abuse survivors like Dion Barber
The Western Australian government was trying to have its cake and eat it too when it walked into the Court of Appeallast week. Child sexual abuse survivor Dion Barber was last year awarded nearly $3 million in compensation for abuse he suffered while in state care in the 1980s and 1990s. The government wanted to argue it was too much, or shouldn’t have been given at all — a case even the most talented politician wouldn't be able to sell to the public. So it tried to have it both ways.
Local government watchdog launches inquiry into problem-riddled City of Perth
Dysfunction at the City of Perth is set to be investigated further, with the local government watchdog launching an inquiry into the problem-plagued council. Local Government Inspector Tony Brown said the inquiry would yield the "best result" for residents and ratepayers, adding that it would would take about three months and cost about $120,000. "There are fractured working relationships and ongoing governance issues at the city," Mr Brown said.
How thick are the skins of WA politicians? Social media has put that to the test
The political arena has never been for the faint of heart, but social media has taken what elected officials have to contend with to a whole other level. It's an issue Labor, the Liberals and One Nation have grappled with this week, each in their own way. Western Australia's Liberal MP Andrew Hastie declared war on One Nation over an online cartoon that dubbed the former Special Air Service (SAS) officer a "traitor" for giving evidence in a defamation case against SAS veteran Ben Roberts-Smith.
Opposition slams WA's $30 million 'State of Energy' campaign as a waste of money
Western Australia’s opposition has called a $30 million campaign to promote the state's renewable energy transition a waste of money, saying the cash would be better spent on upgrading facilities. Premier Roger Cook announced the campaign, which appears to be one of the state's biggest advertising efforts, to spruik the government's efforts in March, saying it would "showcase the promise of Western Australia to the world". The opposition's shadow energy minister, Steve Thomas, disagrees.
Plans for new Perth Women and Babies Hospital slammed by doctors
Plans to manage high-risk births at WA's new Women and Babies Hospital represent the government doubling down on a "wrong decision", the doctors' lobby says. The hospital is being built next to Fiona Stanley Hospital in Murdoch, about 20 kilometres from Perth Children's Hospital (PCH) where some infants will need to be transferred for specialist care.
One Nation by-election win in Labor heartland is a clear warning to major parties across Australia
After a decade of dominance in Western Australia, Labor's dramatic defeat in its heartland seat of Secret Harbour has prompted plenty of self-reflection. The loss to One Nation wasn't a surprise. Luke Herdegen celebrates after his party claimed victory in the Secret Harbour by-election. (ABC News: Keane Bourke) The ABC understands in the weeks before veteran minister Paul Papalia resigned from his safe seat, internal party polling showed One Nation was on track to win the by-election.
One Nation claims new 'heartland' in WA as Labor, Liberals look to learn from defeat
The Labor and Liberal parties are beginning to lick their wounds after suffering a bruising defeat in a by-election in Perth's south as One Nation continues celebrating the result as a major shift in the political landscape. WA Premier Roger Cook promised Labor would listen to the result, taking it as "a reminder that Western Australians are doing it tough".
Time will tell what One Nation's WA victory will mean
Almost no matter the result in the Labor heartland of Secret Harbour, in Perth's south, One Nation was going to be able to claim the result of yesterday's by-election as a win. So much so the party began at their election-night event within 15 minutes of polls closing, before a single vote had been reported. By the time early results started trickling through, the room was electric. The DJ was straight to his victory playlist.
One Nation claims victory in Secret Harbour by-election
One Nation is claiming victory in the Secret Harbour by-election, with counting showing it is on track to secure its first ever lower house seat in Western Australia. One Nation's WA leader Rod Caddies claimed victory for the party's candidate Luke Herdegen at 9.30pm local time, although Labor was yet to concede. Luke Herdegen scored One Nation a historic victory in Western Australia. (ABC News: Keane Bourke) Labor's candidate was political staffer-turned-Woodside lobbyist Georgia Tree.
All eyes on Secret Harbour by-election where One Nation faces its first major test in the west
Voters in Secret Harbour, an electorate in Perth's southern suburbs, will today choose which party will represent them in Western Australia's parliament. The seat, long held by Labor, is also being hotly contested by One Nation, which has seen its popularity surge recently. The by-election is seen as one of the biggest tests for Pauline Hanson's party which has been gaining ground due to frustration with the major parties.
Greens MP Sophie McNeill threatens to sue Nationals MP Lachlan Hunter over antisemitism claims
Two of WA parliament's biggest personalities are staring down the barrel of a legal fight, with a Greens politician taking the first step towards suing a Nationals MP. The stoush stems from the display of an artwork showing the names of more than 18,000 children killed in Gaza from October 2023 in parliament's courtyard last week. It had been supported by the Parliamentary Friends of Palestine group, co-convened by Greens MP Sophie McNeill and Labor MP Dave Kelly.
WA government to ban character references for all criminal cases in wake of Western Power rape saga
The ability for convicted criminals to rely on good character references from family, friends and colleagues to reduce their sentences will be banned in Western Australia, after three government employees were stood down for supporting a former colleague convicted of rape. The WA government has rushed to ban the practice after revelations three Western Power staff provided references to a senior manager who was jailed for raping a former colleague on a work trip.
One Nation faces its first real test in WA in high-stakes Secret Harbour by-election
What's more likely: Angus Taylor becoming prime minister or Basil Zempilas coaching the West Coast Eagles? It sounds like the set-up to a joke, but it was a question effectively posed by Zempilas himself on Tuesday morning. While attacking Labor for failing to secure a firm commitment from the prime minister on WA's share of the GST, he was asked whether he would seek the same assurances from his federal leader. "Well, he's not the prime minister," Zempilas shot back.
Nationals MP suspended from WA parliament over Palestinian art stoush
An art exhibition naming children killed in Gaza has sparked a bitter dispute in Western Australia's parliament, culminating in a Nationals MP being suspended for four days after he described the event as antisemitic. On Tuesday, the 'Wall of Tears' by American artist Phil Buehler, which lists the names of more than 18,000 children killed in Gaza since October 2023, was displayed in the parliament courtyard.
As the Land Forces expo approaches in Perth, WA police could get more powers
Western Australians are being warned to expect disruption when a major defence expo comes to Perth, with police set to be handed controversial new powers to protect the city. It could mean anyone moving around the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, including through the Elizabeth Quay train station or bus port, could be stopped and searched without reason or be required to remove face coverings.
WA judges told to stop giving criminals lighter sentences because of 'inhumane' prisons
Western Australian judges have been told to stop giving criminals reduced sentences because of overcrowding and other alarming issues at the state's prisons. Earlier this year, WA's prisons watchdog said prisoners were being treated to "cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment" in three jails because the government had allowed the system to become "almost functionally broken".
'East coast clowns' attack on Western Australia's GST deal sets alarm bells ringing
Alarm bells were literally ringing in Western Australian government offices after the "east coast clowns" launched their attack on the state's precious GST dollars. "While we're gone, they're going to take our GST," Treasurer Rita Saffioti joked before evacuating from a fiery press conference. It was only partly a joke. Journalists, politicians and staffers were forced to evacuate during the media conference.
Pauline Hanson distances herself from former One Nation candidate's homophobic views
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has distanced herself from a failed Western Australian One Nation candidate's homophobic statements, saying they are not her views. Parminder Singh, who ran for an upper house seat in WA's state election last year, made several homophobic statements in a video clip posted by Perth comedian and content creator Jasky Singh, better known as "Mr Sikkant". Asked if he thought people were born gay, he said no. "No, no, it's a mental illness," he said.
Calls for WA government to ban positive character evidence from sexual offence sentencing
Advocates and politicians are calling for positive character evidence to be abolished from WA courts for those accused of sexual crimes. Earlier this year New South Wales abolished good character references in sentencing for sexual offences. The WA government has committed to outlawing positive character evidence for child sexual assault cases, but is yet to decide whether to do the same for those involving adults.
WA premier defends by-election candidate over Labor's response to sexual harassment
Western Australian Premier Roger Cook has described Labor's Secret Harbour by-election candidate as someone who "doesn't take bull crap", after old comments she made about her own party’s culture of silence on sexual harassment in the workplace resurfaced.
WA Corruption and Crime Commission boss appeals for more resources to target government contractors
WA's corruption watchdog is facing "significant" resourcing challenges and needs new powers to perform its functions effectively, according to its boss. Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) chief Michael Corboy's warnings come as a powerful parliamentary committee reviews his organisation's jurisdiction ahead of what would be its first major overhaul in more than two decades.
WA ban on protests outside places of worship unlikely amid heightened antisemitism
Abortion clinic-style bans on protesters congregating outside places of worship are unlikely to be introduced in Western Australia, despite suggestions from senior Jewish legal figures amid heightened antisemitism. The proposal, raised in the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, could mirror similar buffer zones already in place around the nation's abortion clinics.
How Labor's Secret Harbour by-election campaign is prompting questions over pork barrelling in electorate
All might be fair in love and war, but politics is normally a more regulated affair. But where exactly those lines should be drawn — especially in the heat of a hotly-contested by-election — is often more in the eye of the beholder. Take the location of the government's media events in the past few weeks. Ordinarily, leaders would be hard-pressed to find a reason to ever be in the electorate of Secret Harbour.
WA set to fall short of immunisation targets as free vaccination period ends
Western Australia is set to fall short of the ambitious vaccination targets it set itself ahead of the flu season. After the state's worst season since at least 2001 last year — which was blamed in part on poor vaccination rates — the government set targets which it described as "ambitious". The deadline for those targets was yesterday, when the extended free flu vaccination program ended.
WA's Secret Harbour by-election raises question of whether MPs should live in electorate
Western Australia's upcoming Secret Harbour by-election — in which none of the key candidates live in the electorate — has raised an interesting question: should MPs live in the area they represent? It's not a new issue. At least seven lower house members (about 1 in 8) don't live within the boundary of their seat according to analysis of parliamentary disclosures by the ABC. All of them are Labor MPs in metropolitan Perth.
Woodside Energy fails in court bid to force activists to hand over stink-bomb plans
Energy giant Woodside has failed in its Supreme Court bid to force climate activists to hand over documents about the planning of a stink-bomb protest which prompted the evacuation of its Perth headquarters. The stink bomb was let off inside the lobby of Woodside's 29-storey building in the city's CBD in 2023.
Secret Harbour by-election: Meet the candidates vying for your vote
The Secret Harbour by-electionis shaping up to be one of the most closely-watched political contests in WA for some time. The battle for the outer suburban seat in Perth's south is expected to be a majortest of One Nation's popularity in the state, and the ability of the Labor and Liberal parties to fight back. This is your guide to who the candidates are, how to vote and what to expect.
Six months after the alleged Invasion Day terror attack, inquiry hears stories of fear
The scars left by what police described as a potential "mass-casualty event" which threatened to devastate the crowd of Perth's Invasion Day rally still run deep, even nearly six months later. That much was clear from a day of evidence reflecting on racism, hate and violence directed towards Aboriginal people given earlier this week. Liam Alexander Hall, 32, has been charged with throwing an improvised explosive device into the crowd and is yet to enter a plea. Loading...
Roger Cook's captain's call reveals the extent of his power within WA Labor
Politics is a game of power, and this week has given an insight into how much WA Premier Roger Cook wields over his party. The departure of Paul Papalia — one of a small group of unaligned ministers — opened the opportunity for a contest between Labor's union-aligned factions over who should get his spot.
Landsdale MP Daniel Pastorelli gets plum WA cabinet spot after Paul Papalia resignation
The former right-hand man to Mark McGowan and Roger Cook has completed a meteoric rise through the ranks of WA Labor and is almost certain to become the state's newest minister. Multiple Labor sources have told the ABC first-term Landsdale MP Daniel Pastorellihas been chosen to replace retiring stalwart Paul Papalia in cabinet. Mr Papalia announced his resignation on Monday to care for a seriously ill family member.
Paul Papalia's difficult departure leaves WA Labor nervous about One Nation's surge
History has a funny way of repeating itself in politics, and WA Labor will certainly be hoping that is the case in a looming by-election, set against the background of seemingly surging support for One Nation. The announcement that long-serving WA Labor stalwart Paul Papalia will resign this week to care for an ill relative is understood by all, but it throws a spanner in the party's third-term plans.
WA minister Paul Papalia expected to quit politics, triggering Secret Harbour by-election
Senior WA government minister and Labor stalwart Paul Papalia is set to announce his resignation from politics this week, triggering a by-election in the southern Perth seat of Secret Harbour that could open the door to a resurgent One Nation. The ABC has confirmed Labor MPs have been summoned to a caucus meeting on Friday, where it is understood a new minister will be elected. Mr Papalia's retirement has been the subject of speculation for months and could come as early as today.
International experts say surveilling local birds, marine mammals a 'priority' in bird flu response
Australia's best bet at managing the spread of the deadly H5 strain of bird flu will come from focusing heavily on testing and surveillance, according to two globally recognised infectious disease experts. On Saturday, the virus was officially detected further north than previously found, when an infected giant petrel discovered in New South Wales was confirmed by the CSIRO to have the H5N1 strain — becoming the sixth confirmed case in Australia.
International experts say surveilling local birds, marine mammals a 'priority' in bird flu response
Liberal View 8 hours ago Mitch McConnell’s Wife’s Bizarre Move After CPR Drama Revealed The Daily Beast - Wiktoria Gucia • 8h Elaine Chao was seen on a trip to China three days after her husband’s hospitalization. Sen. Mitch McConnell’s wife reportedly traveled to China just … Health 9 hours ago Garlic vs. Ginger: Which Is Better for Your Health? Verywell Health - Heather Jones • 9h Both garlic and ginger offer unique nutritional and antioxidant benefits that can help support immune health.
WA regional courts to reopen a month earlier than planned after security issues
A security shortfall that left more than 20 regional Western Australian courts closed, creating delays, dislocation and reduced access to justice, has been resolved. The state's top judicial officers last month announced the courts would shut for about 12 weeks due to a dispute between the Justice Department and police about the staffing of security personnel.
Disunity but not death for Basil Zempilas and WA Liberals after MP quits
Basil Zempilas has had his first brush with the political truism "disunity is death". Luckily for him, chances are — at this stage at least — the Liberal leader won't be the one in a political grave because of it. The decision of Nedlands MP Jonathan Huston to quit the party that elected him just over a year ago was hardly shocking to his colleagues.
Nedlands MP Jonathan Huston quits WA Liberal Party
Nedlands MP Jonathan Huston has quit the WA Liberal Party after being elected to the Liberal heartland seat just over a year ago. Mr Huston has not responded to multiple requests for comment from the ABC, but a statement from Liberal leader Basil Zempilas confirmed his departure. Mr Zempilas said he was "disappointed" in the news. "I am particularly disappointed for the people of Nedlands, who elected Jonathan as a Liberal," he wrote in a statement.
Australian police to review interactions with Virginia Giuffre prior to her death in Western Australia Original
By Keane Bourke, Nadia Mitsopoulos and Cason Ho, ABC The interactions Jeffery Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre had with Australian police before her death will be reviewed, Western Australia's police commissioner has confirmed. Giuffre died by suicide in April last year at her semi-rural property north of Perth. She had long alleged she was trafficked for sex to former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and other prominent figures by Epstein when she was a teenager.
Police to review interactions with Virginia Giuffre prior to her death in Western Australia
The interactions Jeffery Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre had with Australian police before her death will be reviewed, Western Australia's police commissioner has confirmed. Ms Giuffre died by suicide in April last year at her semi-rural property north of Perth. She had long alleged she was trafficked for sex to former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and other prominent figures by Epstein when she was a teenager.
Labor MP calls for Lord's Prayer to be scrapped in parliament
A Labor MP is calling for the Christian prayer which begins each sitting of Western Australia's parliament to be scrapped in favour of a moment's silence. A wide range of changes to the rules which govern WA's lower house are currently being considered in the first major review of such procedures since 1999. As part of that, the question of whether the Lord's Prayer — which is read at the beginning of each sitting — should remain was raised.
Live facial recognition technology to be used by WA Police in Australian first
Western Australia will become the first place in the country where police will trial real-time facial recognition cameras, scanning crowds for people wanted by police, registered child sex offenders and missing persons. The cameras, which will be deployed in a marked police van outside major events or in crowded areas, will scan faces to be cross referenced with a database of targets.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Keane
Contact Keane, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack