Eleven suburbs have joined the $1m median house price club as values continue to climb in Perth.
While other states are seeing house prices fall, Perth has lagged behind most of the other capitals.
It means despite rising interest rates and cost of living pressures, the housing market in WA has soared in the past year.
Six of the 11 suburbs recorded more than 20 per cent price growth during the 2021-22 financial year, according to the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia.
Marmion, Mount Hawthorn, North Perth, Fremantle and Kensington had their median house prices tip above $1.1m at the end of June.
Gwelup, Booragoon, Karrinyup, Leederville, Iluka and Como reached $1m or more.
The top suburb is Marmion, which now has a median price of $1.27m — an increase of 32 per cent in the past year.
Eleven suburbs have joined the $1m median house price club in Perth. Daily Telegraph/Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia
REIWA president Damian Collins said people had started to gain confidence in WA’s strong economy and property market, which had translated into more sales at the top end.
“All of these suburbs have had medians hovering below $1m for quite some time,” he said.
“It is impressive to see the demand for houses in these suburbs hold strong throughout the 2021-22 financial year, now placing them in Perth’s luxury market.”
Mr Collins said Perth’s premium market was attracting a lot of interest from buyers leading to strong price growth.
“If you are considering selling in one of these suburbs, now would be an opportunistic time to capitalize on this demand,” he said.
REIWA predicts house prices will continue to rise in Perth for some time.
“Given Perth has a housing shortage, the cheapest median house price of any capital city in the country, a growing population and strong economy, we anticipate house prices to continue to rise as we enter the back end of 2022,” Mr Collins said.
“As more suburbs reap the benefits of our strong market conditions, Perth’s million-dollar club is likely to continue to grow over the next 12 months.”
By Stephen Gibbs and Andrew Prentice For Daily Mail Australia
Published: | Updated:
NRL star Bryce Cartwright will front a Sydney court this week after police took out a restraining order to protect his anti-vaxxer ex-wife.
Cartwright split from his former wife Shanelle early last year, just months after walking away from a $450,000-a-season contract with the Gold Coast Titans.
The 27-year-old forward returned to New South Wales in September 2020 with Shanelle, the mother of his two children, citing personal reasons. He now plays for the Parramatta Eels.
Police have sought an apprehended violence order against Cartwright on behalf of Shanelle and the footballer is due to appear in Waverley Local Court on Thursday.
NRL star Bryce Cartwright will front a Sydney court this week after police took out a restraining order to protect his anti-vaxxer ex-wife Shanelle. The former couple is pictured
Cartwright split from wife Shanelle early last year, just months after walking away from a $450,000-a-season contract with the Gold Coast Titans. The former couple have two children
An interim order states that Cartwright must not assault, threaten, stalk, harass or intimidate his former partner as well as other standard conditions he does not damage her property or harm any animal she owns.
Cartwright is not facing any criminal charges.
An incident which led to the AVO being sought was described by sources as a ‘domestic dispute’ which was in no physical way, according to The Daily Telegraph.
The former couple’s beliefs about vaccinations, expressed mostly on social media, were widely condemned by medical experts in 2020.
At the time of their split, Cartwright’s agent Allan Gainey of Pinnacle Sports Management said the split was a ‘personal matter’.
‘Look, the kid is in a good spot at the moment and I want to keep him in that spot,’ Gainey said in January last year. ‘He does n’t need any publicity surrounding his personal life.’
Police have sought an apprehended violence order against Cartwright on behalf of Shanelle and the footballer is due to appear in Waverley Local Court on Thursday. The couple relocated to Sydney in September 2020 citing ‘personal reasons’
Concerns for Cartwright’s mental state began after he and Shanelle were sent a number of threats on social media due to their controversial stance on vaccinations.
Some of the threats involved harming the couple’s young children.
‘At some point it does take a toll,’ Cartwright said at the time. ‘I speak to a counselor every now and then just to clear my mind.
‘I have little things I like to do, like meditation… it clears my head and can be as simple as just going for a swim, staying off my phone or taking the kids to the beach.’
Shanelle (pictured) and Bryce Cartwright were outspoken about their views on vaccinations
Cartwright, a standout Penrith junior before making his first grade debut in 2014, was granted permission to continue playing in the NRL in May 2020 despite refusing a mandatory influenza vaccination.
That vaccination was part of the NRL’s return-to-play regulations at the height of the Covid pandemic.
The Titans submitted an application for a medical exemption which was granted by Queensland’s chief medical officer Jeannette Young.
Cartwright and his wife sparked then controversy when they publicly declared they would not vaccinate their young children.
Cartwright (pictured above) walked away from a big contract with the Gold Coast before signing with Parramatta
The couple called themselves ‘pro-choice’ rather than ‘anti-vax’.
Once touted as a NSW State of Origin prospect following a strong start to his career with the Panthers, Cartwright made the move to the Titans to work under ex-coach Garth Brennan in 2018.
He played just three games for Gold Coast in 2020 before linking with Parramatta, where he made 19 appearances last year.
Cartwright has turned out for the Eels seven times this year, including coming off the bench in a 36-20 win over Manly on Friday night.
Ray Hadley blows up and storms off the air just ONE HOUR into a week-long live broadcast from Brisbane as technical problems hit his broadcast: ‘A complete and utter fiasco!’
Ray Hadley was broadcasting from the Royal Queensland Show on Monday
The program from ‘The Ekka’ was set by technical problems from the start
Hadley quit the show after an hour and said he was heading back to Sydney
Stand-in announcer Mark Levy took over for the duration of the 2GB program
By Stephen Gibbs for Daily Mail Australia
Published: | Updated:
An irate Ray Hadley has walked off a live broadcast from the Royal Queensland Show after technical difficulties turned his morning radio program into a ‘fiasco’.
Hadley told listeners on Monday his broadcast from the show, known as the Ekka, had been a disaster from when he went on air shortly after 9am and he would not continue.
The 2GB announcer had been heavily promoting the Brisbane visit on his program and had been supposed to be at the Ekka all week.
Hadley ran the usual introduction to his show, which is also played on Brisbane’s 4BC and dozens of network stations around Australia, but it quickly descended into chaos.
‘Just a couple of little technical problems as we’re at the Ekka and things will be rectified by the time I get here tomorrow, I can assure you,’ Hadley said.
An irate Ray Hadley has walked off a live broadcast from the Royal Queensland Show after technical difficulties disrupted his morning radio program
‘Now I’m going to take a little break and come back and look at the weather very shortly. The time is coming up now to 25 past nine.’
After playing commercials and enduring continual glitches including periods of silence Hadley came back on and said, ‘Look, we’re gonna take another break’.
More advertisements followed before Hadley said the problems were ongoing and he would be ‘having discussions’ when the program finished at midday.
‘All I can do is apologize most sincerely for the first 30 minutes of the program which has been a complete and utter fiasco,’ he said.
‘But I do apologize. I’m broadcasting from the Ekka, which I didn’t get a chance to tell you because nothing seemed to work.
Hadley told listeners his broadcast from the show, known as the Ekka, had been a fiasco from when he went on air shortly after 9am and he would not continue
Hadley repeatedly apologized to his listeners for the technical disruptions. A ride at The Ekka is pictured
‘I hope it is currently working and we’ll see what happens from here on in but I do apologize most sincerely to network stations and the listeners on 2GB and 4BC for what’s basically been a fiasco for 30 minutes.
‘And obviously we’ll be having some discussions at midday about the fiasco I’ve presided over. ‘
After another break the difficulties had still not been resolved and Hadley said his regular stand-in, Mark Levy, would be taking over the show.
‘Look, we are having some rather severe technical problems here at the Ekka to the extent that Mark Levy will be looking after the program after ten o’clock this morning, for which I do apologize to Mark and everyone else.’
After another break the problems had still not been resolved and Hadley said his regular stand-in, Mark Levy, would be taking over the show. Levy is pictured
‘… While I’m on air there are people here trying to fix things – unsuccessfully I might mention – at the moment.
‘There’s no point trying to, as we do from time to time, get through three hours of this without much help because technically we don’t have anything here in front of me that’s actually working at the moment.
‘So we’ll lumber on until ten and then Mark will take control.’
As the clock ticked closer to 10am, Hadley told listeners he was heading for the airport.
‘I’ll make my way back to Sydney and I’ll be broadcasting from the studio in Sydney tomorrow given the problems we’ve encountered this morning.’
Daily Mail Australia understands Hadley has been assured the technical issues would be fixed. He will resume broadcasting from the Ekka on Tuesday.
‘Ray will be remaining in Brisbane and broadcasting from the Ekka this week,’ a spokeswoman for Nine Entertainment, which owns 2GB, said.
WA journalist and radio host Gareth Parker is set to take on the role of news director in the Channel 9 Perth newsroom.
Parker announced the news on his morning breakfast radio show on Monday.
“I’ll be leaving 6PR breakfast … I am incredibly excited and proud to say that I’ve accepted a new job as the director of news for Channel 9 Perth, which is a huge opportunity for me personally,” Parker told listeners .
“I am looking forward to getting up the hill to the top of the Terrace and getting stuck into the newsroom.”
A date for when Parker will start in the new role has not yet been announced.
“I am not going to disappear immediately, there is still a bit to sort out with a move like this,” he said.
6PR has taken a massive hit in some of this year’s radio ratings surveys.
Parker’s 6PR breakfast show was the biggest loser of the survey in May this year, down a whopping 1.5 points to hold just 8.5 per cent of the audience pie — well behind its AM rival ABC Perth.
Last month’s survey showed Parker’s show managed just an 8.6 per cent share, still over two points behind the ABC.
Parker is a previous winner of the WA Journalist of the Year award.
He worked for The West Australian for over a decade, including almost four years as the paper’s State political editor.
Parker also served as the paper’s Melbourne bureau chief and as online deputy editor.
I have joined 6PR, which is owned by Channel Nine, in 2017.
An elderly Bribie Island couple is fighting for compensation after a removalist sold off their belongings during their interstate move to Bega in NSW.
The removal company, Kent Removals & Storage, apologized and described the incident as the result of human error, but lawyers say the retirees would have to take $50,000 from their pension to help recover just some of the items.
Watch the video above for more on this story
Watch the latest News on Channel 7 or stream for free on 7plus >>
Retirees Gary and Lorraine Taylor, aged in their late 70s, moved from Queensland to Bega in southeast NSW one year ago, making the tree change after more than 60 years of marriage.
They packed all of their possessions, including furniture and sentimental belongings, into two removal trucks – one of which contained $120,000 worth of furniture they would never see again.
When Wridgways, the removalist company they had originally planned to use, went into liquidation in July 2021, Kent Removals & Storage took 160 of its clients – including the Taylors.
Kent Removals & Storage was also assisting court-appointed liquidator Hall Chadwick to sell off Wridgways’ assets, such as office furniture, and say there was confusion over one of the containers full of the Taylors’ belongings.
That container was accidentally sent to online auction company Grays Online where everything was auctioned off at a fraction of its value.
Retirees Gary and Lorraine Taylor are distracted over the nightmare move during which interstate removalists sold off their belongings. Credit: 7NEWSTwo containers left the Taylors’ Bribie Island home last year, holding a lifetime of belongings that they would never see again. Credit: 7NEWS
Gary told 7NEWS his $28,000 rug was sold off for around $200.
It has left the couple in limbo. Some of their furniture had multiple pieces which were split between the two moving containers, so much of what did arrive could not be assembled.
Couch cushions with no frame and a dressing table without its mirror are stacked up within the bare-walled Bega house that is still piled with boxes.
“We’ve been married for 60 years, and 60 years of our bloody furniture has just gone down the tube and nobody cares,” Gary told 7NEWS.
Lorraine spoke through tears as she told 7NEWS the incident was “very hard to describe.”
“It’s not believable what we’ve been through,” she said.
“Its been terrible for both of us, and for our family.”
The Taylors were told by their lawyer that they could take legal action to recover some of their losses but it would cost the retirees $50,000.
That is money the couple would need to take from their retirement fund and something they cannot afford to do.
A year after their move the Taylors’ home in Bega is still largely empty. Credit: 7NEWSPieces of furniture were split between the two containers, which means some of what did arrive remains unassembled in their home. Credit: 7NEWS
Kent Removals & Storage CEO Steve Alves told 7NEWS: “Due to human error, one of the containers containing the effects belonging to Mr and Mrs Taylor was incorrectly sent to Grays Online for sale of the goods.”
Alves said the matter was only reported to him last Thursday and he has since apologized for the handling of the matter.
He said the matter had been referred to Kent’s insurers but that, “the matter was incorrectly internalized between Kent, Grays Online and Hall Chadwick with a view to establishing liability for this error”.
“As Kent Relocation Group contracted with Mr and Mrs Taylor and, irrespective of where the liability resides, Kent Relocation Group could and should have taken a lead role in this process and did not.”
Alves said the company “apologies for the way in which this matter has been handled.”
“Our team will focus on ensuring we support Mr and Mrs Taylor in any way we can to bring closure to this matter for them.
“In terms of the missing items, given the quantum of the potential claim, the matter has been referred to Kent’s insurers along with an instruction to ensure that the matter is expedited in a prompt, efficient and reasonable manner for Mr and Mrs Taylor”.
So far only 40 per cent of the moving charges have been refunded, but since the matter was escalated Alves said Kent Removals & Storage would work to refund 100 per cent of the moving charges.
As to whether they will see a refund of their $120,000 worth of lost furniture, they must wait for the companies’ insurance process to run its course to find out.
Experts say Australian renters are bearing the brunt of an industry-wide housing crisis, with some reporting rent rises as much as $150 a week.
But the experts say there is no quick fix and fear the situation is set to worsen.
Watch more on this story in the video above
Watch the latest News on Channel 7 or stream for free on 7plus >>
A lack of supply combined with four consecutive interest rate rises has increased the average rental price across Australia’s capital cities by up to $55 over the course of a year.
RMIT Center for Urban Research senior research fellow Dr Megan Nethercote said it was going to get worse before it got better.
Australian renters are bearing the brunt of an industry-wide housing crisis. Credit: Getty Images
“With the latest interest rate rise and subsequent belt-tightening, renters risk their landlords passing on the costs of rising mortgage repayments,” Nethercote said.
“Some renters will lose their homes as landlords sell up.
“The plight of renters looks set to worsen as the knock-on effects of rising interest rates filter through to renters and combine with cost-of-living pressures.
“With almost half of renters on rental assistance already in rental stress, the risk of some renters falling into homelessness is real and high.”
How much are rents rising by?
Rents rose across the board in the year to June, according to Domain’s latest rental report.
The average rent for a house across the capital cities rose from $460 to $515 while units increased from $410 to $460.
RMIT research fellow Dr Louise Dorignon said rent prices were driven by demand. The only way to balance prices was to increase supply, she said.
Tenants are reporting their rent increasing in recent months, coinciding with rate rises.
The latest RBA decision on Tuesday increased the cash rate by 0.5 per cent, effectively adding $174 to monthly repayments for the average Australian mortgage holder.
Is it legal for your landlord to put up rent?
Tenant advocacy groups and industry experts have previously told 7NEWS.com.au there was nothing stopping landlords from passing on that cost to tenants.
“Landlords can increase rent due to an interest rate rise, however, they need to be prepared for tenants to push back if it’s not warranted or it’s excessive,” property management agency :Different head of customer experience Shannyn Laird said.
“Landlords can also increase the rent if the lease is periodic (meaning it’s not fixed) and the tenant hasn’t had a rent increase in a certain time period.”
Weekly rents rose by 2.2 per cent in the three months to June, with yearly growth at seven per cent. Credit: AAP
How often can a landlord put up your rent?
Laws on how frequently a landlord can increase rent vary depending on the Australian jurisdiction.
In Queensland and Western Australia, in most cases, landlords can only increase rent every six months and must give 60 days’ notice.
In Victoria, NSW, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT, landlords can increase rent once every 12 months and must also give roughly two months’ notice.
In the Northern Territory, landlords can increase rent once every six months and only have to give 30 days’ notice.
Is there a limit to how much your rent can go up?
Your landlord can increase the rent, but there are rules on how much they can increase it by.
In most cases, it must be considered as not being “excessive” or “unreasonable”.
Tenants can complain to their jurisdiction’s Civil and Administrative Tribunal if they feel it is excessive.
What constitutes excessive differs in each jurisdiction. But, generally, rental bodies compare the increase to similar market rents and the physical condition of the property.
What can be done to fix the issue?
In short, quite a bit.
Dorignon said the current apartment stock doesn’t provide sufficient quality to meet the needs of current and future households.
“We need to transition to alternative and innovative modes of housing production, such as using less carbon-intensive materials, which would create more liveable apartment homes and, in the long term, more affordable ones for households,” Dorignon said.
Nethercote said renters represented a “growing cohort” in Australia.
“Renters deserve homes that are affordable, provide adequate security of tenure, are well-maintained and have appropriate provisions for tenant representation,” Nethercote said.
“Meeting these needs requires strong national leadership on housing; they warrant serious deliberation within a new national housing agenda.”
Watch: Scientists stunned by discovery of a ‘walking shark’.
Watch: Scientists stunned by discovery of a ‘walking shark’.
Spending thousands of dollars on pet grooming may seem like something only the Kardashians would do, but families across Perth are spending big bucks to get their beloved pooch looking its best.
The global pet care industry is worth a staggering $374 billion. Australia has one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world, so it is no surprise that dog grooming businesses are booming in the west.
Charmaine Cayeux, co-founder of Couture Canine grooming, has pioneered the opulent nature of looking after one’s furry friend in West Perth and has amassed a large clientele of owners willing to fork out tens of thousands of dollars every year to maintain their pet’s immaculate appearance .
Ms Cayeux’s luxury services, which include “doggy facials”, jacuzzi sessions, nail painting and stylized haircuts, can range between $150 and $500.
Yorkshire Terriers like Kenzo, along with Cavoodles, make up “90 per cent” of the furry customers at Couture Canine in West Perth. Credit: ross swanborough/The West Australian
Due to extremely high demand, the company has a waitlist with more than 50 dogs from all over the State, who will wait at least a year to secure a coveted spot.
“We are developing this culture of dog grooming in Perth where it’s perfectly acceptable to take your dog for a blow dry twice a week,” she said.
“We have clients who spend over $400 a week and have done it for 15 years.”
Ms Cayeux revealed that 90 per cent of Couture Canine’s customers are Cavoodles and Yorkshire Terriers owned by professionals who work in Perth’s CBD — and who drop off their furry best friends in the morning to be groomed and attend “doggy daycare”.
Loyal customer Amanda Krzywoszyja, who regularly pampers her miniature poodle Henry Danger, believes that social media has been a big influence in the rise of luxury pet grooming.
“Every second pet seems to have Instagram, so it’s that social presence (online),” Ms Krzywoszyja said.
“Also, my partner will take Henry for a walk and he’ll be like ‘Oh my God. I’ve got so many comments on how good he looks’ and it’s that smiling moment of taking pride in how you care about them and (how) they’re living their best life.
“At the end of the day, they’re our best friends and are not around for a long time so why not give them the best opportunity that they can to be spoiled.”
Kim Kardashian has made no secret of her fur-baby pampering. Credit: kim kardashian/Instagram
It seems luxury brands are also looking to profit from the booming industry, charging an obscene amount of money for everyday pet care items like brushes and collars.
Last month Italian fashion house Gucci released a pet collection with eye-watering prices as high as $12,000 for a dog bed, $630 for a poop bag holder and $570 for a designer leash.
World-famous brain surgeon Dr Charlie Teo ‘is set to MARRY’ his ex-model and ‘vegan activist’ girlfriend – who was once his patient – four years after splitting from his wife of three decades
Brain surgeon Dr Charlie Teo could be engaged to model partner Traci Griffiths
Ms Griffiths has made subtle hints on her Instagram page with tags ‘myfiance’
Dr Teo was rumored to be engaged to Ms Griffiths last year but denied rumors
By Aidan Wondracz For Daily Mail Australia
Published: | Updated:
Dr Charlie Teo could be set to marry his model partner and former patient who has been leaving subtle hints on her Instagram page the pair are engaged.
The world renowned surgeon was rumored to be engaged to Traci Griffiths after she was spotted with a ring on her finger last year.
Dr Teo denied the speculation insisting the pair had made no plans on marrying.
Ms Griffiths has indicated otherwise by uploading photos of herself alongside her brain surgeon boyfriend with the tags ‘#ilovemyfiance’ and ‘#myfiance’.
Dr Charlie Teo could be set to marry his model partner and former patient who has been leaving subtle hints on her Instagram page the pair are engaged
The pair have been frequently spotted attending public events together, working out and wearing outrageously funny costumes for fancy-dress parties
She has been using the tags as early as May when she uploaded a video of herself attending the Charlie Teo Rebel Foundation Ball.
‘Last night we stepped into a world of glitz & glamor to help raise awareness and much needed funds for Brain Cancer,’ the post read.
‘Thank you Charlie for putting the extra in extraordinary! We love you.’
Another post was made in June and showed the pair dressed up in a 1920s party attire after attending a Great Gatsby-themed party.
Both posts had the tags ‘#lovemyfiance’ and ‘#myfiance’.
Daily Mail Australia contacted Dr Teo and Ms Griffiths for comment.
Ms Griffiths is a former model, pet apparel designer and animal conservationist who promotes health and wellbeing on her social media pages.
She is a volunteer director at Zambi Wildlife Retreat and runs Miyow and Barkley – a pet designer accessory store.
Ms Griffiths is a former model, pet apparel designer and animal conservationist who promotes health and wellbeing on her social media pages
Ms Griffiths has hinted at impending nuptials by uploading photos of herself with her brain surgeon boyfriend with the tags ‘#ilovemyfiance’ and ‘#myfiance’
Ms Griffiths was introduced to Dr Teo in 2011 and has reportedly been operated on twice by the renowned surgeon
She is also a reiki practitioner and launched a Reiki For Health website in December.
Ms Griffiths was introduced to Dr Teo in 2011 and has reportedly been operated on twice by the renowned surgeon.
The pair ‘grew closer’ after Dr Teo ended 30 years of marriage and split with his wife Genevieve Agnew in 2018.
Dr Teo, 62, and Ms Agnew met when he was 25 while she was working at hospital as a nurse.
The neurosurgeon had discussed his relationship with his then-wife in several newspaper and TV profiles and public speeches, and his family regularly supported him at black tie galas for his brain cancer research foundation.
Dr Teo publicly announced the pair had split in a statement released in 2020 – saying they had split ‘two years ago but remain friends’.
‘This is something that is entirely private and confidential to us and not a matter of public interest,’ he said.
The pair ‘grew closer’ after Dr Teo ended 30 years of marriage and split with his wife Genevieve Agnew in 2018
Dr Teo with his then-wife Genevieve and their four daughters Alex, Nicola, Katie and Sophie at a Charlie Teo Foundation gala
The statement was made during a turbulent year for the renowned, but controversial neurosurgeon, famous for his reputation of taking on patients who other doctors have deemed inoperable.
Criticism was also heaped on the surgeon over patients paying six figure sums to fund their surgeries, with many turning to crowdfunding platforms, such as GoFundMe.
The high private fees were charged as patients went outside the public system, Dr Teo explained.
Dr Teo previously said he would receive about $8,000 to $15,000 himself from a $120,000 surgery, with the rest shared among the medical team and to pay for costs.
A male exotic dancer who sparked chaos after shoppers spotted him carrying what appeared to be an assault rifle in the Perth CBD has been charged by police.
Police swarmed King Street about 2.40pm on Sunday after Chad Satchell allegedly flashed the tools of his trade on the way to work.
The Nollamara man stunned shoppers when he started roaming the street wearing a bulletproof vest and seemingly armed with a rifle.
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Police pounced on the 31-year-old, later finding that Mr Satchell was in fact a stripper on his way to work.
It is believed Mr Satchell, the director of Fantasy Entertainment Australia, was performing the role of “sexy SWAT officer” for a party he was going to attend.
Chad Satchell has been charged with an offense that carries a potential years jail time or a $36,000 fine. Credit: NCA NewsWire
Police found that the assault rifle was in fact a gel blaster.
Police have charged Mr Satchell with possession of a prohibited weapon and being armed in a way that may cause fear.
It is alleged he placed the gel blaster gun, similar in design to an AR-15 assault rifle, on the ground next to him and put on a pair of boots and a black military style mesh vest with “SWAT” embossed on the back.
It led to several shoppers to call police, believing the firearm was real.
Police responded to the scene with emergency response units and cordoned off the area. Nine News Credit: Channel 9Police have charged Chad Satchell. Credit: Facebook/Facebook
Gel blasters, which shoot water-filled gel pellets, have been prohibited in WA since July 2021 on the back of a rise of replica guns being smuggled into the State and converted into real weapons.
At the time, Police Minister Paul Papalia said police were unable to tell the difference between gel blasters and real guns out on the street.
“It is a far too dangerous situation to tolerate any longer,” he said.
“When a police officer is responding to a call out, they will be assuming someone is in possession of a firearm.”
Chad Satchell has been charged with an offense that carries a potential years jail time or a $36,000 fine. Credit: NCA NewsWireChad Satchell dressed for his part as a SWAT officer. Credit: Facebook/Facebook
The surge of gel blasters became an issue for police who reported being confronted by the weapons almost 150 times in 2020.
A police spokesman said Sunday’s incident was an important reminder about the potential consequences of presenting realistic weapons in public and for owning prohibited weapons.
“The members of the public who called for police assistance had genuine concerns for their safety and the safety of others,” the spokesman said.
Mr Satchell will appear in court in September. Credit: NCA NewsWireChad Satchell has been charged over the incident. Credit: Facebook/Facebook
“The firearm in question looks very real and it would be very difficult for any member of the public to be able to determine whether it was in fact real or not.”
Anyone caught in possession of a gel blaster faces maximum penalties of up to three years in prison or a $36,000 fine.
Mr Satchell is due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on September 1.
