NGAARDA STATEWIDE NEWS: Friday 25th July 2025

Here are this morning’s top stories from the Ngaarda Newsroom.

The WA Government has finally committed funding to back years of community calls for action at the Yule River Bush Meeting. More than 500 people gathered on Kariyarra Country for two days of powerful discussion, with one clear message: communities want results.

The state’s prison watchdog has found Hakea Prison is still in crisis, despite efforts to fix chronic overcrowding and neglect. The report calls for an urgent government inquiry and systemic reform to protect prisoner welfare and staff safety.

Housing and workforce shortages have dominated the Developing Northern Australia Conference in Cairns. The tri-state event brings together leaders from across Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia, with speakers from the Kimberley and Pilbara among those addressing the issues.

Family First says recent childcare abuse cases show parents should have more choice in how they use government subsidies. The Party’s National Director Lyle Shelton says he wants subsidies paid directly to parents, including stay-at-home carers, and supports income splitting to ease the financial burden on single-income families.

To listen to the bulletin in full, click on the link below.