South West and Great Southern WA local news briefing, November 12, 2026

Detailed summary

Here's what's making news in the South West and Great Southern WA regions today. Great Southern public housing waiting list grows. New figures show public housing demand in WA's G…

Here's what's making news in the South West and Great Southern WA regions today.

New figures show public housing demand in WA's Great Southern continues to outpace supply.

The region's waiting list has grown by 4 per cent over the past 20 months, with 29 more people now waiting for housing.

Over the same period, the number of public homes increased by just 1.74 per cent.

In Albany, the waiting list has risen by more than 11 per cent, with 58 additional applicants competing for just 11 new properties.

Residents in WA's north say high airfares are preventing them from accessing healthcare.

An interim Productivity Commission report found regional airfares were 13 per cent higher per kilometre than major city routes between 2023 and 2025, with some routes costing more than double.

Karratha resident Helen Hall says her family was forced to drive to Geraldton for an urgent ultrasound because flying was too expensive.

The City of Bunbury says reports that it is negotiating with an operator from outside the South West to run the Back Beach Cafe are incorrect.

Opening of the article, excerpted from ABC Business. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.