Latest news with #RogerCook
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
WATCH LIVE: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks to reporters in WA alongside Premier Roger Cook
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is addressing media in Perth alongside Western Australia Premier Roger Cook and Transport Minister Catherine King. Join to watch live. The press conference comes after calls for Mr Albanese to scrap WA's sweetheart GST deal. Eastern state governments, including NSW, Victoria and Queensland have pushed for the Coalition-era deal to be revoked as it has been seen to unfairly favour WA.
West Australian
2 days ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Premier Roger Cook issues fresh defence against Government's handling of proposed bare-knuckle fight in Perth
Premier Roger Cook has issued a fresh defence of his government's handling of a proposed bare-knuckle fight in Perth next month, saying it was better to have a controlled event, rather than it going underground. Mr Cook said he 'appreciated community concern' about the championship event — a spin-off of the UFC — earmarked for RAC Arena in July. But he said there was a greater risk if bare-knuckle fighting occurred in an unregulated environment. 'I appreciate community concern around bare-knuckle boxing and understand that combat sports are not for everyone, myself included,' Mr Cook said. 'While we understand there is risk to be balanced with any sports, there is an anticipated greater risk in serious harm to people who participate if it's not conducted in a controlled, permitted and regulated environment. 'Let me be clear: This is not an event the WA Government is sponsoring financially.' WA's boxing regulations were amended by former Sport Minister David Templeman in February to recognise the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship as a sanctioning body. The Combat Sports Commission has said additional conditions would be put in place — if the fight went ahead. But the Australian Medical Association WA says the event should not proceed — and if it did, it would send the wrong message to the community in the face of domestic violence and other vicious crimes committed in the community. 'The fact that the State Government has paved the way for this activity to occur in Western Australia is baffling,' AMA WA boss Dr Michael Page said. 'We are dismayed. 'What was the rationale? Did they consider this in light of family and domestic violence?' Mr Cook says Sports Minister Rita Saffioti has taken fresh advice on the proposed event from the Combat Sports Commission, which was made up of experts in the field. 'It advised bare-knuckle boxing is another emerging discipline, alongside kickboxing and Mixed Martial Arts, that has started to grow here in Australia, since its following in the US and the UK,' Mr Cook said. 'The advice from the Combat Sports Commission is that it requires stringent rules and regulations so it isn't driven underground. 'With the Commission regulating this sport and events associated with it, it means there are strict rules applied and carried through such as having multiple ringside medical practitioners and a threshold to the minimum experience for participants.'
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Electric buses to hit the streets in Perth's north
Electric buses will soon be hitting the streets of the northern suburbs after a $12.3 million update of the Karrinyup bus depot. The depot will be retrofitted to include EV charging equipment, substation upgrades, CCTV upgrades and other works. The depot will be able to support 110 electric buses once the works are completed, which is expected by the end of the year. Your local paper, whenever you want it. The first electric bus is expected to be delivered to the depot in early 2026, which will also be the first to operate outside of the CBD. Each electric bus has the capability to travel up to 300km on a single charge, saving about 40 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year. The Karrinyup bus depot will be the second major Transperth facility to be upgraded with the charging infrastructure after the installation of bus chargers at the Elizabeth Quay bus station last year. The redevelopment is part of the State Government's $250m electric bus program, which will initially have 130 EV buses replacing their existing diesel counterparts. The program has been jointly funded between the State and Federal governments. The Malaga and Bayswater depots are also being prepared for electric vehicles. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said depots needed to have the infrastructure to keep the electric fleet running efficiently and effectively. Roger Cook and Rita Saffioti. Credit: Supplied 'It is imperative our bus depots incorporate EV infrastructure so that the transition from a diesel-heavy fleet to one that includes cleaner, greener buses happens as smoothly as possible,' she said. Scarborough MLA Stuart Aubrey said he was thrilled the area was among the first outside the CBD to get access to electric buses. 'We made a commitment to phasing out diesel buses from our network, and the delivery of new electric charging infrastructure at our depots is critical to achieving that,' he said. The last diesel bus manufactured for public transport in WA rolled out last week. All new buses made by Volgren will now be electric. More than 100 people, including 15 apprentices, work at Volgren's Malaga facility. Premier Roger Cook said building buses locally was part of the Government's vision for WA's future. 'It won't just create more than 100 jobs in Perth's north-eastern suburbs — it will lower our emissions and reduce operating costs across Perth's public transport network too,' he said.
West Australian
3 days ago
- Health
- West Australian
Free RSV jabs for infants extended as WA braces for surge in cases this winter
The State Government has extended its free RSV immunisation programme for babies and young children, as WA braces for a surge in cases of the potentially life threatening illness this winter. With the number of respiratory syncytial virus cases for 0-4-year-olds already totalling 688 so far this year, parents are being urged to take advantage of the free immunisations for infants. The free immunisations — for 0-2 year-olds and available at community health clinics and antenatal clinics for all, regardless of Medicare access — commenced last July and was supposed to finish at the end of June. But the WA-funded free vaccination programme will now run until July next year at a cost of $7.6 million. 'Every year 1 in 30 babies in WA require emergency care for RSV — a potentially life-threatening illness that can easily be prevented,' Premier Roger Cook said. 'My government's free RSV immunisation program has more than halved the number of hospitalisations in babies under one year old, saving parents the heartache of seeing their children seriously ill, and easing pressure on our health system.' RSV is a common virus that infects the airways and lungs. It spreads easily by coughing and sneezing. Symptoms of RSV include runny nose, coughing, sneezing, fever and reduced appetite. It can also make breathing difficult and cause wheezing. According to the government, RSV is the leading cause of hospitalisation for infants during the first year of life and is eight times higher than admission from influenza. Every year one in 30 babies are hospitalised with RSV. The WA Government says the free immunisations have resulted in a 57 per cent reduction in hospitalisations of babies younger than 12 months, easing pressure on hospitals and emergency departments, and saving the WA health system millions of dollars in hospitalisation costs. Almost 22,000 babies were protected during the 2024 RSV season. 'The results from our nation-leading rollout of the RSV vaccine for infants were remarkable, sparing hundreds of families the distress of seeing their babies in emergency care,' Health Minister Meredith Hammat said. 'This vaccination saves lives. 'Continuing to support the program is an easy decision for our government, and one that we hope will bring peace of mind for parents and parents-to-be, particularly during these colder months.'
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Health
- Perth Now
Free RSV jabs extended as WA braces for surge in cases
The State Government has extended its free RSV immunisation programme for babies and young children, as WA braces for a surge in cases of the potentially life threatening illness this winter. With the number of respiratory syncytial virus cases for 0-4-year-olds already totalling 688 so far this year, parents are being urged to take advantage of the free immunisations for infants. The free immunisations — for 0-2 year-olds and available at community health clinics and antenatal clinics for all, regardless of Medicare access — commenced last July and was supposed to finish at the end of June. But the WA-funded free vaccination programme will now run until July next year at a cost of $7.6 million. 'Every year 1 in 30 babies in WA require emergency care for RSV — a potentially life-threatening illness that can easily be prevented,' Premier Roger Cook said. 'My government's free RSV immunisation program has more than halved the number of hospitalisations in babies under one year old, saving parents the heartache of seeing their children seriously ill, and easing pressure on our health system.' WA Health Minister Meredith Hammat is urging parents to take advantage of free RSV jabs for infants. Credit: Michael Wilson / The West Australian RSV is a common virus that infects the airways and lungs. It spreads easily by coughing and sneezing. Symptoms of RSV include runny nose, coughing, sneezing, fever and reduced appetite. It can also make breathing difficult and cause wheezing. According to the government, RSV is the leading cause of hospitalisation for infants during the first year of life and is eight times higher than admission from influenza. Every year one in 30 babies are hospitalised with RSV. The WA Government says the free immunisations have resulted in a 57 per cent reduction in hospitalisations of babies younger than 12 months, easing pressure on hospitals and emergency departments, and saving the WA health system millions of dollars in hospitalisation costs. Almost 22,000 babies were protected during the 2024 RSV season. 'The results from our nation-leading rollout of the RSV vaccine for infants were remarkable, sparing hundreds of families the distress of seeing their babies in emergency care,' Health Minister Meredith Hammat said. 'This vaccination saves lives. 'Continuing to support the program is an easy decision for our government, and one that we hope will bring peace of mind for parents and parents-to-be, particularly during these colder months.'
