Western Australia

Western Australia (WA) is a state in Australia currently in the news for several reasons. A controversial fracking project in the Kimberley region, the Valhalla project, has been recommended for approval by the state's Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), sparking outrage due to its potential contribution to Australia's emissions. In a separate incident, two divers in WA survived after their boat disappeared while they were diving off the coast near Perth, highlighting the dangers of maritime activities. Furthermore, books by Australian novelist Craig Silvey, who is from WA, have been withdrawn from school curriculums in WA and Victoria following child exploitation material charges against him. These local events occur against a backdrop of national issues, including rising inflation, extreme heatwaves exacerbated by global heating, and the deportation of individuals found with child sexual abuse material. The consideration of an extra public holiday for Anzac Day in other states, to align with WA and the ACT, also places WA in a national context.