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22 April 2026

🌧️ Mouse plague spreads

WA grain growers battle 4,000 burrows per hectare as rodents swarm ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Morning Post

Perth

Thursday, 23 April 2026  •  Issue #661

🌧️21°/13°
Morning showers clearing, possible light shower tomorrow
☀️ UV 5.2  •  🌅 Sunset 5:47 PM
 

Good morning! WA grain farmers are under siege from a mouse plague like nothing seen in years, rental markets nationwide have hit record tightness, and ANZAC Day preparations are underway across Perth this weekend.

— Nathan, Editor

At a Glance

📰 Grain growers swamped as rodent numbers explode

📍 Barrack Square Markets + 1 more events

💰 Money Matters: Understanding the Senior Australians Tax Offset

🕰️ On this day in 1967: Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov died when Soyuz 1 crashed on...

Today's Perth

Grain growers swamped as rodent numbers explode

Western Australian farmers are battling an unprecedented mouse invasion, with researchers documenting up to 4,000 burrows per hectare in some regions. South Australia is also experiencing a surge in rodent populations across agricultural areas.

via The Guardian WA

Fatal hit-and-run driver attended wedding while family grieved

A Dudley Park man died after being struck by a vehicle whose driver mistook him for rubbish and left the scene.

via WAtoday

Pensioner jailed over bed concealing heroin

A 70-year-old Perth man will serve time behind bars after importing heroin hidden inside a fold-out camping bed from Laos to Sydney. His defence argued he was naively tricked into becoming an unwitting drug courier.

via ABC Perth

Around Australia

Rental squeeze reaches breaking point in capital cities

New figures show Australia's rental market has never been tighter, with vacancy rates at historic lows and rents climbing in most major cities.

via The Guardian Australia

Questions raised over gas export royalties

Debate intensifies over whether Australia is giving away natural resources too cheaply, with proposals for a 25 per cent gas export tax gaining momentum.

via SBS News

Around the World

US-Iran tensions simmer despite ceasefire extension — Pakistan pushes for dialogue as American and Iranian forces remain in blockade standoff at Strait of Hormuz.

via BBC World

UK woman killed chasing scam recovery in Ghana — British pensioner died in crash while trying to reclaim up to £1 million lost to fraudsters.

via The Guardian World

What’s On: Markets & Dining 🛒

This week: ANZAC Day — Dawn services, remembrance. Respectful and solemn tone. Lest we forget.

This weekend

Barrack St Jetty, Elizabeth Quay

Barrack Square Markets

Barrack St Jetty, Elizabeth Quay · Every Sunday 8am-2pm

Perth's biggest outdoor brunch club with Swan River views, local food, crafts and live music every Sunday.

OutdoorDaytimeSenior friendlyFamily
Fremantle Markets, South Terrace

Fremantle Markets

Fremantle Markets, South Terrace · Every Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Heritage-listed market hall with local produce, artisan goods, street food and buskers since 1897.

FreeFamilySenior friendlyDaytime

Got an event to share? Let us know →

Money Matters

Every Thursday we share a practical money tip.

Understanding the Senior Australians Tax Offset

If you're over Age Pension age, you may be entitled to the Seniors and Pensioners Tax Offset (SAPTO), which can reduce your tax bill or increase your tax-free threshold to over $32,000. It's automatically applied when you lodge your tax return, but it's worth understanding how it works, especially if you have part-time work or investment income. Check the ATO website for eligibility and how it affects your circumstances.

Source: Australian Taxation Office

📊 Today's Poll

Do your own tax return or use an accountant?

DIYAccountant

📊 Yesterday's Poll

Phone call or face-to-face — how do you prefer to catch up?

Face-to-face led with 73% (59 votes)

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Daily Brainteaser

🧩

The day before yesterday I was 21. Next year I'll be 24. When is my birthday?

Answer revealed at the bottom of today's edition.

Daily Games

✏️ Today's Featured Game

Crossword

10 clues · ~3 min

1 Across Device to hold things firmly together
6 Across Tag showing contents or price
7 Across Follow or comply with rules
Play Crossword →

Yesterday: 🧠 63 played  ·  💡 48 played  ·  ✏️ 40 played

🧠 Trivia · Food & Drink · 7 Qs→
What name is given to the small individual servings of Spanish tapas...
💡 Word Ladder · 2 steps→
LAST → ??? → PEST

On This Day

Anniversary of

• Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov died when Soyuz 1 crashed on re-entry, becoming the first human spaceflight fatality. (1967)

• A Japanese tour group was attacked by a saltwater crocodile at Kakadu National Park, sparking debate about tourist safety. (1988)

• The first video was uploaded to YouTube by co-founder Jawed Karim. (2005)

• Australian runner John Landy broke the four-minute mile barrier in Turku, Finland, just 46 days after Roger Bannister's historic feat. (1954)

🎂 Born on this day: English playwright and poet William Shakespeare (1564), Australian actress Judy Davis (1955), and American child star Shirley Temple (1928).

Brainteaser Answer
31 December — and today is 1 January. Yesterday (31 Dec) you turned 22, so the day before yesterday you were still 21. This year you'll turn 23, next year 24.

One Last Smile

One Last Smile illustration

Cottesloe sunset: where every phone comes out and nobody checks the photos later.

Send this to a friend who’d laugh

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