WA news LIVE: Ex-WA Nationals leader Mia Davies quits politics; Perth family fear retribution despite not guilty verdict in Cassius Turvey trial
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9.38am
Ex-WA Nationals leader Mia Davies quits politics
Fresh off an unsuccessful campaign in the 2025 federal election for the seat of Bullwinkel, former state Nationals leader Mia Davies has announced she is quitting politics.
Davies came up short, with the Labor and Liberal candidates for the area still battling it out on Friday morning with no clear winner announced.
In a statement, Davies said two years ago she had decided to quit politics, but less than year ago the new federal electorate of Bullwinkel was created, pushing her to give it one last shot.
'The new seat, plus the policy positions emerging from an east-coast centric federal Labor government that were undermining and destroying businesses, industry and communities I'd spent twenty years representing, caused me to examine my own conscience,' she said.
'This wasn't the election to sit on the sidelines. In my family, we have a saying – it's actually written on my Dad's gravestone – if you think you can make a difference, you should.
'That means stepping into the arena ready to have a fight whether you think you'll win, draw or lose. On this occasion, we lost.'
She thanked those who had helped her in her campaign and to those who had supported her in the community.
'I hope there is something out there that will give me the same satisfaction I have gained from serving the Central Wheatbelt and state in parliament for seventeen years,' Davies said.
'I look forward to that challenge.'
9.34am
Across the nation and around the world
Here's what's making headlines today:
Cardinal Robert Prevost, a US-born missionary and senior Vatican official, was elected pope on Thursday evening, becoming the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church in its 2000-year history. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV.
And speaking of the new Pope, he is evidently no big fan of his homeland's current political leadership.
Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley has declared her candidacy to replace Peter Dutton and run the beleaguered party, declaring it had let Australian women down.
Australia's richest person was, like most of the country, unhappy with the Liberal Party on Saturday night. But for different reasons to your average swing voter.
The United States military has lost a second $93 million F/A-18 fighter jet into the Red Sea after another mishap aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman.
Australia's most famous round ball athlete has welcomed a son, Jagger. 'Our little man is here, Jagger Mewis-Kerr,' said Sam Kerr in a post shared to Instagram which also features partner Kristie Mewis, a professional footballer from the US. Mewis carried the boy to term.
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