WA news LIVE: Perth tech billionaire quits directorships after court appearance

A dramatic sale of 35,000 hectares of defence real estate – including some of the nation’s most historic barracks – is expected to raise almost $2 billion to be ploughed back into new military equipment and upgrades to essential bases.

Islands, golf courses, rifle ranges, office buildings and training depots across the country will be sold under the Albanese government’s long-awaited response to a sweeping audit of the nation’s defence estate portfolio.

Sixty-seven defence sites will be fully or partially sold – including four across Western Australia, being The Irwin Barracks, Leeuwin Barracks, Karratha Dampier Rifle Range and Coolilip Rifle Range.

Virtual Gaming Worlds’ Perth-based billionaire founder Laurence Escalante has resigned as director from a number of his companies after being charged with domestic violence and drug offences last week.

ASIC records show the 44-year-old is no longer the director of his privately owned VGW Holdings and Lance East Office Pty Ltd.

The changes were filed on Monday after Escalante faced Perth Magistrates Court for the first time on Friday, charged with eight offences including persistently engaging in family violence, criminal damage or destruction of property, stealing, unlawful assault and possession of cocaine and MDMA with intent to sell or supply.

In a statement on VGW Holdings’ website, the company said it was aware of the charges.

“These are unrelated to VGW and personal in nature,” the statement read.

“However, we can confirm Mr Escalante will be taking a leave of absence from his role as CEO and Executive Chairman of VGW.

“In the interim, we have installed experienced leadership from our existing executive team to take on those responsibilities and it remains business as usual for VGW.

“The company takes any allegations of this nature extremely seriously. As this is a private matter and remains before the courts, we cannot comment further.”

Mats Johnson has since been appointed acting chief executive officer.

Escalante has said he will fight the charges against him.

Making news across the nation and around the world today:

• The May budget now shapes as the test of Jim Chalmers and Anthony Albanese. Without a budget that finds savings and maps out a productivity-enhancing reform agenda, the interest rate increase delivered by the Reserve Bank on Tuesday will be followed by two, three or even more over the coming year.

• Exposure to harmful UV and smoking were the leading causes of preventable cancers among Australians in a major global analysis which found two in every five cancers could be avoided.
• Some of the nation’s most historic defence properties are poised to be sold and opened up to the public, with staff shifted to expensive and recently renovated nearby offices that regularly sit half empty.
• The US military says it has shot down an Iranian drone that “aggressively” approached the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea.

Good morning and welcome to our live news blog for Wednesday, February 4.

Making headlines today, a major festival in Perth’s iconic Kings Park was in line for a $200,000 sponsorship from Alcoa, before the deal was called off amid media scrutiny and allegations the US miner was attempting to “greenwash” its image as it faced an independent review of its operations in the northern jarrah forests.

Meanwhile, crime reporter Rebecca Peppiatt has written about the hidden struggle behind closed doors for the Mosman Park family who died last week in a double murder-suicide.

And, in case you missed it, a Perth teenage boy who swam four kilometres to shore to rescue his family, who were stranded out at sea clinging to a paddleboard, has been hailed a hero.

Austin Appelbee, 13, said he repeatedly told himself ‘not today, not today’ as he fought rough conditions and exhaustion during the 10-hour ordeal.

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