What's happening in Perth

Guy Cramp wiped away tears as Chloe Wright, the mother of his child, spoke about the day he repeatedly punched her in a horrific assault that was caught on CCTV cameras.

More than 200 Water Corporation workers are poised to strike next week following nine months of negotiations over pay, attraction and retention issues.

Stadium Park has been transformed into Little Italy this week, a free, multi-day festival of Italian food, live music, cultural entertainment, and family activities, running while the Italian Football Festival plays out at Optus Stadium next door.

The Little Italy Festival is open from 4:00 pm until late tonight, Friday, and Saturday, and from midday on Sunday. Entry is free every day, whether you’re heading to a match or just after a good night out.

“The Little Italy Festival will bring a fantastic festival atmosphere to Perth, celebrating the rich culture, food, and passion that Italy is known for and creating a vibrant atmosphere for the thousands of football fans attending the matches at Optus Stadium,” Premier Roger Cook said.

“This free event gives everyone the opportunity to be part of the excitement, whether they’re heading to the matches or simply looking to enjoy a great evening out.”

On Thursday and Friday night, there’s also a long table Italian dinner that will be a perfect night out.

The football

Four giants of Italian football are in Perth this week for three world-exclusive games. The Milan Derby between AC Milan and Inter opened the series at Optus Stadium last night, playing out a 1-1 draw. Juventus play Inter at Optus Stadium on Saturday before Juventus meet Palermo at HBF Park on Tuesday.

“The Cook Labor Government is proud to be bringing the Italian Football Festival to life, with Perth the only city in Australia where you’ll be able to see AC Milan, Inter, Juventus, and Palermo face off,” Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti said.

The festival is part of Beyond the Game, a program of fan events built around the matches to give locals and visitors more ways to experience Perth. That includes open training sessions, where fans can watch AC Milan, Inter, Juventus, and Palermo prepare for their matches, and official supporter parties before kick-off on match days.

“There will be so much on offer at Stadium Park, with families encouraged to come down and enjoy some great food and entertainment, support our local businesses, and join the festivities,” Saffioti said.

Our favourite Italian spots

Can’t make it to the Little Italy festival? Here are a couple of our favourite Italian restaurants across Perth where you can get a perfect pasta feast of your own.

Coccodrillo Pizza & Wine Bar

Coccodrillo Pizza & Wine Bar on Napoleon Street in Cottesloe has built a reputation for the best pizza in Perth. Some say it’s their bases — fermented for two to three days before hitting the wood fire, made with Italian-imported flour and topped with ingredients sourced from local providores like Princi butchers in Bicton. The menu goes beyond pizza, with handmade pastas, chilli mussels, and a traditional seafood stew, and the wine list draws on small, organic Italian producers alongside some West Australian bottles.

Cibo Bar & Kitchen

Cibo Bar & Kitchen is a modern Italian Restaurant in the Heart of North Perth. Wood-fired pizzas prepared with the purest respect for traditions, fresh handmade pasta, and a curated selection of local and imported wines from the most renowned winemakers.

Whether you’re a foodie, a wine connoisseur, or simply looking for the perfect spot for a relaxed family dinner or aperitivo, Cibo Bar & Kitchen offers a refined yet welcoming space where great food, curated wines, and effortless atmosphere come together.

The post Little Italy Has Taken Over Stadium Park At Optus Stadium appeared first on So Perth

A Perth paediatrician on bail over dozens of child sex abuse allegations will return to court on Thursday after being hit with another 15 charges.

Applications are open for the 2026 Lotterywest Elevate Initiative, a Screenwest program that will fund up to eight Western Australian short films, animations, or online series. You have until September 28th to apply.

Elevate is aimed at early-to-mid career creatives. The funding pays for one finished short, which a director or producer can then take to festivals and funders when pitching a bigger project. Screenwest appoints an executive producer to manage production and delivery across the whole cohort, rather than leaving each team to run its own shoot.

The grant is split into two options: Elevate 30 covers projects running up to seven minutes, at up to $30,000 each. Elevate 70 covers projects up to ten minutes, at up to $70,000. Recipients can also access a further $2,000 towards marketing the finished project and entering it into festivals.

Projects selected in this round are expected to enter production in 2027.

The grant is backed by Lotterywest, which has funded Screenwest for more than three decades, and its 2025-26 grant of $10.8 million was the largest yet, up from $10.7 million the year before. 

“Lotterywest is proud to have partnered with Screenwest for more than three decades, and we’re excited to continue supporting the next generation of creators to share the stories, experiences and perspectives that help connect and enrich WA communities,” Lotterywest CEO Colin Smith said.

How to apply

Applications go through Screenwest and close at 5:00 pm on September 28th. 

The post Calling All WA Filmmakers: You Can Now Apply For Up To $70,000 To Make A Short Film appeared first on So Perth

Follow our live coverage of news from around Perth and across WA.

Homelessness is ever-present in every city, including my own. Why did it take an extreme weather event in another country for me to really see it?

As this year’s Diggers and Dealers mining forum wraps up in Kalgoorlie, WAtoday takes a look at the key issues raised as all eyes in the resources industry turned to the Goldfields.

The 16-year-old is accused of murdering his mum and stabbing his 12-year-old sister two weeks ago.

Follow our live coverage here.

Outer Perth suburbs have seen the highest intake of home battery installations this past year with Bedfordale leading the way with 2007 homes.

For one year group, NAPLAN scores across all subjects tested are declining. But another year group is performing the best nationally in one area.

West Australian Health Infrastructure Minister John Carey claims there “is always capacity in the budget for health” as construction officially begins on the new Mandurah Hospital site.

Perth Day Hospital took Fitness Cartel to court alleging that since the gym opened, excessive noise from music and dropped weights had reverberated through the ceiling.

Follow our live coverage of news from across Perth and around WA.

The northern corridor is one of Perth’s most significant growth areas, according to Housing Minister John Carey. But other areas are also drawing focus.

One local driver said he had seen “at least” 20 illegal operators working out of Margaret River, offering to drive tourists between wineries for fees that would undercut others by up to 50 per cent.

The 116-year-old pub served its final drinks last year, but developers hope a new two-level microbrewery will pay homage to its rock-and-roll past.

Two riders have been injured after being bucked from a camel during a popular tour on Broome’s Cable Beach.