WA news LIVE: Founder of ‘tough love’ Perth rehab clinic announces resignation

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1.52pm

Forrest pledges $1.5 million for aid workers ahead of UN summit

WA mining billionaire Andrew Forrest has pledged US$1 million ($1.5 million) for frontline aid workers on the eve of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Forrest made the pledge and signed the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel on behalf of Minderoo Foundation, the philanthropic organisation he founded with ex-wife Nicola Forrest.

The declaration, which has been spearheaded by the Australian government, seeks to ensure aid workers can deliver lifesaving support safely, and comes on the back of the deadliest year on record for humanitarians, with more than 380 killed in 2024.

Forrest said aid workers were “brave heroes who risk everything in service of humanity”.

“International law protects them, and this declaration reinforces accountability for all parties in conflict,” he said.

“As crises escalate, reform is urgent – we owe it to the 305 million people worldwide in need of humanitarian assistance.”

Government and business figures have converged on New York for the summit, during which Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hopes to secure a meeting with US President Donald Trump.

As the dignitaries were arriving in the Big Apple, Forrest lashed Trump’s energy policies as”gobsmackingly illogical” and accused him of kowtowing to oil and gas donors.

11.49am

Shalom House founder announces resignation from rehab centre

By Hannah Murphy

The chief executive of Western Australia’s “toughest” rehabilitation centre has announced his resignation from the organisation he founded, saying in a post on social media he felt muzzled from giving his opinion on issues like mass migration.

Peter Lyndon-James founded Shalom House, a Christian “tough love” rehabilitation centre set up in the Swan Valley in 2012.

The announcement came hours after he offered an apology, also on his Facebook page, for re-posting clips about mass migration.

Shalom House was founded by self-proclaimed ex-drug addict Peter Lyndon-James.

Lyndon-James said he would resign from his role from January 1.

“I feel that I can no longer operate in the role as CEO due to not being able to speak out on matters that I feel led to,” he wrote.

“I fully understand that as the founder and CEO of Shalom that my words spoken and posts publicly can have an effect on Shalom and on those who support Shalom which I do not want to happen.

“Therefore I can no longer work in the role with a muzzle on me when the passion to speak out is so strong within me.

“By stepping aside it will free me to speak out respectfully as I feel led without impact to Shalom.

“Mass migration is not OK and I feel that I must speak out against it.”

The board is set to meet later today.

Lyndon-James has previously acted as a councillor for the City of Swan, and was WA’s Local Hero in the 2018 Australian of the Year Awards.

10.21am

WA teachers resigning in record numbers

By Holly Thompson

Turning to education news now and the number of teachers choosing to resign from their role has increased by over 113 per cent in five years.

New figures, revealed in the Department of Education’s latest annual report, show that 1279 teachers resigned in 2024 – up from 598 in 2020.

In comparison, the number of teachers retiring in 2024 was 636.

Opposition Education Minister Liam Staltari said the loss of mid-career frontline teachers in particular was “a symptom of a sector under enormous pressure”.

“These figures match the firsthand feedback I hear from teachers across Western Australia,” he said.

“Teachers choose to teach because they are passionate about education, but rising violence, burnout, stress and strain are clearly taking their toll.

“It’s clear that staff and students are bearing the brunt of a Labor Government focused on the wrong priorities.”

Education Minister Sabine Winton said supporting teachers was a key priority, but it was important to recognise that the number of resignations had remained steady since 2022.

She also said the teacher workforce had grown by 25,600 over that same time.

9.37am

Optus Stadium naming rights under question after triple zero outage

As investigations into the telco’s failings continue, attention is turning to the $50 million naming rights contract between Optus and Perth’s flagship stadium.

Analysts warning the city’s reputation as a tourist destination could be at risk.

Watch 9 News Perth’s story below:

9.36am

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9.36am

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9.36am

Welcome to our live news blog

Good morning readers and welcome to our live news blog on Monday, September 22.

Making headlines today, WA Police were first notified about an Optus outage affecting triple-zero calls almost 24 hours after it occurred when the telco requested welfare checks on 26 failed emergency calls just after 9pm on Thursday evening.

Optus chief executive Stephen Rue is in the glare of public and political anger, but will need time to turn the company around.

The full extent of the catastrophic network failure – which has left two West Australians dead – was not realised until the following afternoon, when WA Police was notified of another 123 unsuccessful calls in a public media release.

Meanwhile, an ex-Dockers draft pick has made a remarkable comeback to star in WAFL grand final yesterday.

And, ever wondered what went on inside the P&O Hotel in Fremantle’s West End? Now’s your chance to find out.

Stay with us as we bring you all of the news of the day, as it happens.