WA news LIVE: Perth flight turned back over ‘disruptive passenger’; WA Day’s wild weather

The WA Day festival this weekend could be washed out for a second year in a row with heavy rain and possible thunderstorms forecast for the rest of the week.

The celebrations are set to take place at Optus Stadium and Burswood Park on Saturday and Sunday, with headline acts including Guy Sebastian and Eskimo Joe.

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting up to 60 millimetres of rain this weekend with the chance of thunderstorms.

Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti was asked yesterday if there were any discussions underway to potentially cancel the event.

“WA Day seems to bring the rain; last year it was very, very wintery and a lot of water,” she said.

“I’m not sure about what’s happening regarding the rain forecast, we want the rain, and then it always seems to land on our big WA Day celebrations.

“I’m not sure what contingencies are in place.”

The event isn’t having much luck, with festivities also cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Commute times for thousands of southern suburbs drivers is set to improve following the opening of the new Ranford Road bridge yesterday.

The bridge is part of the state’s Metronet rail project, with Ranford Road station expected to open in mid-2025.

A Perth flight to Melbourne was forced to turnaround last night over unconfirmed reports of a disruptive passenger ‘going bananas’ and running up and down the aisles.

A Virgin Australia spokeswoman said the flight took off at around 7.20pm, and returned less than one hour later.

“We can confirm on Monday 27 May, VA696 Perth to Melbourne, returned to Perth due to a disruptive passenger on board,” she said.

“On arrival in Perth, the aircraft was met by the Australian Federal Police and the disruptive guest was offloaded.

“The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority and we sincerely apologise to guests impacted.”

The flight was cancelled after it disembarked at Perth Airport, with some passengers left stranded until this morning.

The incident is being investigated by the Australian Federal Police.

Here’s what’s making news this morning:

• Nearly a fifth of former immigration detainees freed following the High Court’s landmark decision in November have since been charged with state offences.

• A blowout in building costs combined with high interest rates has discouraged new development of apartment towers, and the constrained supply is putting upward pressure on rents, according to experts.

• The ABC’s chief political correspondent for the 7.30 program, Laura Tingle, has come under fire for comments she made at a Sydney Writers’ Festival event at which she reportedly criticised Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and declared Australia was a “racist country”.

• A woman appears to have given birth beside an inner Sydney river before disappearing, prompting a desperate overnight search for mother and child amid grave fears for their welfare.

• Overseas, and sorry to rain on Rishi Sunak’s parade, but a teenage army is a bold idea for an unpopular government to stake its future on, writes Peter Hartcher.

Rain, rain, don’t go away.