South West and Great Southern WA local news briefing, September 21, 2026 - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Here's what's making news in the South West and Great Southern WA regions today.
A backpacker in the state's south says changes to the working holiday visa program are unfair.
The Federal Government has introduced a ballot system and capped the number of renewed applications it will accept for visa holders who have spent one year in the country.
Mercedes is from Argentina and works at a restaurant in Albany.
She says backpackers help to keep businesses open.
As the debate over the fuel excise continues, South West residents are calling for more to be done to ease pain at the pump.
At a car show in Bunbury on Sunday, diesel mechanic Emlyn Hallet told the ABC the cost of petrol is hurting car enthusiasts.
“All the guys and their cars, like less and less cars are going out on the road, people can't afford it,” he said.
The Opposition is promising to tie cuts to the fuel excise to the global cost of oil, but the Federal government has criticised the policy as uncapped and unfunded.
A former member for Albany has been awarded the Order of Australia, as part of this year's King's Birthday Honours.
Peter Watson was an Olympic athlete before serving in Parliament for 20 years during which time he said he always made a point of listening to people.
“I always made sure everyone who came into my office, even when I was in Parliament, I made sure that I saw them when I got back from Parliament,” he said.
Bunbury has been declared league premiers in the South West Football League, beating Busselton by 41 points on Saturday.
In the women’s grand final, Busselton won in a thumping 38-point defeat over Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault.
Busselton women's captain Christie Daniels said the side's second premiership win was down to the team's hard work.
“We had a really close game against them in the semi-final so we're stoked that we could come out really strong and really work it for them,” she said.
