WA news LIVE: ABS data reveals WA leading the nation for rising home values

Western Australia recorded the strongest property value rise in the nation for the March quarter, according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The mean price for residential properties rose 7.2 per cent in WA and 2.5 per cent nationally, with the next strongest growth seen in Queensland, where values rose 4.6 per cent.

Victoria was the only state or territory where values fell over the quarter, recording a decline of 0.3 per cent.

“Growth in dwelling values moderated this quarter, following a strong rise in late 2025,” said Dr Mish Tan, the ABS’ head of finance statistics.

“Despite this, the value of Australia’s dwelling stock is 11.9 per cent higher than a year ago, with increases in residential property prices continuing to drive growth.

“Price growth has been strongest in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland over the past year.

“Annual growth for these states is well above New South Wales and Victoria, where increases have been comparatively modest.”

The news comes on the back of Cotality data which showed that price growth across the nation has ground to a halt – except in the west.

A hazmat fire warning has been issued for Kwinana Beach and Naval Base, with a rubbish truck fire sending “potentially dangerous” smoke billowing across the suburbs.

The alert was sent out just after 11am, with people in the area urged to remain inside, close doors and windows and turn off their air conditioners.

“People in the area bounded by Barter Road, Leath Road, Mason Road and the Coast may be impacted by smoke,” the Department of Fire and Emergency Services alert read.

Some roads in the area may be closed as firefighters battle the blaze.

We’ll bring you more on this story as it happens.

Western Australia recorded the strongest property value rise in the nation for the March quarter, according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The mean price for residential properties rose 7.2 per cent in WA and 2.5 per cent nationally, with the next strongest growth seen in Queensland, where values rose 4.6 per cent.

Victoria was the only state or territory where values fell over the quarter, recording a decline of 0.3 per cent.

“Growth in dwelling values moderated this quarter, following a strong rise in late 2025,” said Dr Mish Tan, the ABS’ head of finance statistics.

Turning to crime news, police are on the hunt for several people suspected of stealing a significant quantity of “high-value” jewellery and money from a woman in her 80s in Perth’s eastern suburbs.

Sometime between 7.30am and 1.30pm on May 28, the offenders forced entry into a home on Coulston Way in Gosnells and rummaged through the victim’s belonging.

She was not home at the time.

Inside a safe, they found a significant amount of cash and large quantity of jewellery, including a sovereign coin bracelet.

Albany residents are divided over whether a shark cull is needed after local man Daniel Turpin was killed by a suspected 4.5-metre shark off the coast of the regional town on Saturday while spearfishing.

Writer for the Western Angler Scott Coghlan told 9News Perth sharks had been protected for over 25 years and that he would not have an issue with a culling or “some form of action to mitigate” the risks.

“There will be more [shark attacks], you just know that there will be more,” he said.

But Wayne Drew, another Albany local, said he would personally prefer increased tagging instead “so we know where the aggressive sharks are”.

Here’s what’s making headlines today:

• Satisfaction with life among Australians is lower now than during the depths of the pandemic as financial pressures and housing costs squeeze people in their 20s, 30s and 40s, with Anthony Albanese admitting the cost of living is contributing to the splintering of the nation’s politics.
• Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has blamed Labor’s broken budget promises for the Coalition’s worsening polling woes and One Nation’s unyielding surge as his new campaign chief prepares to paint Pauline Hanson as a gift to Labor that will lock in left-wing governments.

• Former NRL enforcer and Fijian international Kane Evans has detailed his battles with alcohol, substance addiction and suicidal thoughts while wrestling with his sexuality in an emotional interview aired on Channel Nine’s 100% Footy on Monday night.
• Iran and Israel agreed to ease strikes against each other after a flare-up in violence threatened to derail peace negotiations and led US President Donald Trump to appeal for de-escalation.
• Wall Street held steadier and recovered some of its sell-off from last week, as stocks swept up in the artificial-intelligence boom bounced back. Oil prices, meanwhile, rose following fighting between Israel and Iran, but they pared their biggest gains.
• Divers removing abandoned fishing nets from the central Mediterranean, between Italy and North Africa, have captured what they believe is the first-ever underwater footage of an adult great white shark in the region.

Good morning all and welcome to Tuesday’s live blog.

Making headlines today, chief executives across Perth’s local governments took home on average more than $357,000 a year – and more than a quarter of the bosses were paid more than WA Premier Roger Cook.

Seven out of 29 councils across the Perth metropolitan area took home more than $410,000 with Cook bringing home $406,325 last year and senior ministers being paid $316,955.

Read more here.