Statement in solidarity following attempted bombing at Boorloo Invasion Day rally

04 February 2026

Statement by WA Forest Alliance, Frack Free WA, Conservation Council of WA, The Wilderness Society, Solutions for Climate Western Australia, Australian Youth Climate Coalition WA and Environs Kimberley

On January 26, a rally in Boorloo/Perth to commemorate Invasion Day was targeted by an act of hate and terror.

A homemade bomb was thrown into the crowd from the concourse above Forrest Place, and whilst it did not detonate, there was the potential for mass casualties of First Nations people and their allies.

The bomb, which contained ball bearings, screws and an explosive liquid, was designed to explode upon impact.

As was noted by The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Katie Kiss, “if this happened at any other event, we’d call it terrorism.” It took 3 days for WA Police to label it a “potential terrorist attack.”

We echo the calls of event organiser Fabian Yarran, who said “The incident must be fully investigated as an act of terrorism and a hate crime against First Nations people and protestors, and appropriately charged as such.”

We are deeply concerned that the seriousness of this threat was downplayed by the media and police on the day and in subsequent days. Reports from media and attendees show there was no clear, timely or transparent communication to rally organisers or attendees leading to confusion.

The right to protest safely is fundamental to Australian society, and to our organisations.

A comprehensive response must come from all levels of government. The Royal Commission into anti-semitism should be expanded to facilitate a thorough and significant investigation into all forms of racism and far-right extremism.

We support the calls of WA First Nations leaders for a full investigation of this incident as an act of terrorism and a hate crime. Any failures in the police response must also be independently investigated. There must be greater accountability and oversight from senior leadership in WA Police for Invasion Day – January 26 – and other major protests, and more First Nations liaison officers within WA Police to ensure threats like these are handled seriously and sensitively.

The nation-wide increase in violence against First Nations peoples is abhorrent and must be urgently acted upon. The rise of all forms of hate, including far-right hate, affects every one of us. First Nations people, and all Australians, should be able to gather peacefully without fearing for their safety.

WA Forest Alliance

Frack Free WA

Conservation Council of WA

The Wilderness Society

Solutions for Climate Western Australia

Australian Youth Climate Coalition WA

Environs Kimberley

Protect the tingles from prescribed burning, for good

Tingles are a large, ancient tree species that are only found in a small area in WA’s Southwest, close to Walpole. They can live for more than 400 years, reach heights over 55 metres and have the largest base of any eucalypt, and provide critical habitat to many threatened plants and animals. They are vulnerable to frequent fire.

In December 2024, Giants East, a tingle forest block in the famed Valley of the Giants, was torched as part of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA)’s prescribed burning program.

More than 100 giant trees collapsed in the intense burn, with flames reaching the tops of many trees in one of the worst outcomes seen by WA’s prescribed burning program.

After persistent community action, three tingle-karri blocks, Nornalup, Coalmine and Mount Clare received a reprieve at the end of 2025 and were removed from the burn plan until July 2026.

But these blocks, and other tingle forests, aren’t safe forever. They could be on the burn plan for 2026-27. There must be a commitment from the WA Government to permanently protect tingles from prescribed burning and revise how fire is managed in these areas.

Over time, tingle forests self-thin and become naturally less flammable. Left unburnt, they are less of a fire risk than forests burnt in the last 30 years.

In a drying climate that is increasingly prone to bushfires, it’s important to be bushfire ready, but prescribed burning shouldn’t be the only tool in our bushfire prevention kit. It is vital that the Southwest’s prescribed burning practices reflect current science and a changed climate, and funding is directed towards rapid detection and suppression of bushfires.

Smoking collapsed Tingle after the giants east burn

It is of the highest priority that the tingles are protected from fire not just in this burn plan, but for good.

Please contact the Premier and relevant Ministers using our template to urge them to permanently protect tingle forests from prescribed burning. Enter your details to start writing your email.

Read more about the Giants East burn or about rapid suppression technology.