Western Australia's s Minister for Agriculture and Food will have an opportunity to sign up to the long-awaited federal farm finance package this week.

A former West Australian Football League player, charged with assaulting another player during a country match, has had the charge against him dropped in a Narrogin court.

Officials involved in the construction of Katanning's new sheep saleyards say the first sale at the facility will have to be pushed back to next autumn due to project delays.

The PGA says food security should not be the focus in the planned national review of agriculture with the country exporting surpluses every year.

The public will soon have an opportunity to comment on new guidelines being developed for companies who want to use fracking to access gas deposits in Western Australia.

The plan to set out bait for large sharks near popular WA beaches has been criticised over concerns it could attract them into swimming areas, but others back the move.

The state Opposition Leader Mark McGowan has labelled as "out of control" fee increases for TAFE courses from next year. The Government flagged the increases months ago but the new fees were only published yesterday. Mr McGowan says the cost of a Diploma of Nursing will rise 390 per cent next year. He says the increases will result in fewer people enrolling and lead to skills shortages.

The charity food provider, Foodbank, says there has been a big increase in middle class people seeking help in regional WA this holiday period.

Demand on accommodation pushes tourists out from hotspots

Nationals MP Wendy Duncan says the State Government is paying the price for the shortage of doctors in regional Western Australia. She says the Commonwealth should fund efforts to attract doctors to regional areas.

The Denmark Shire is proposing a plan to replace the leases at a popular holiday spot with more traditional ownership rights.

The holiday community of Peaceful Bay in WA's Great Southern is struggling with the question of how to protect its slice of paradise against the tides of change and bureaucracy.

Albany's resident snake catcher shares her passion for chasing reptiles.

The Maritime Union says it has made concessions and lowered a pay claim to try to forge a new wages deal for support staff in the offshore oil and gas industry. The union is now seeking pay rises of 22 per cent over four years from marine contractor, Tidewater, down from its original claim of 24 per cent over the life of the agreement.

Leaseholders in the Western Australian south coast holiday community of Peaceful Bay have expressed concerns over a proposal to transfer their property leases to more conventional ownership titles.

Several people in Western Australia's Great Southern and south-west have received the Order of Australia, as part of this year's Australia Day honours.

The Jerramungup Shire says it is working with Bremer Bay residents to address concerns about proposed bushfire safety measures.