- 2024-25 State Budget delivers cost of living relief for the Wheatbelt
- Major investments in regional housing, health services and infrastructure
- Jobs and training to support stronger futures and diversify regional economies
- More than $4 billion delivered through Royalties for Regions program
The Cook Labor Government is doing what’s right for the Wheatbelt, with the 2024-25 State Budget delivering significant cost of living relief while investing in health facilities and services, housing, quality jobs and targeted training programs.
The 2024-25 State Budget is focused on Western Australia’s regions, with a record $12.8 billion investment in regional infrastructure, and billions more to fund regional service delivery.
More than $4 billion in Royalties for Regions funding will go towards projects which enrich regional communities, ensuring they remain great places to live, work and raise a family.
Regional Western Australians will benefit from the Cook Government’s massive $762 million investment in cost of living relief measures, which includes:
- $492.4 million to provide a $400 electricity credit for every WA household and eligible small businesses;
- $103.5 million WA Student Assistance Payment initiative, including a $25.8 million regional allocation, to provide $150 or $250 for every WA school student, easing the pressure of school expenses; and
- $20.3 million to increase the value of the Regional Pensioner Travel Card by $100 to $675, reducing transport costs for eligible pensioners in the regions.
This cost of living support to regional families is on top of the Cook Government’s $3 billion commitment over the next four years to subsidise the cost of providing water and electricity to regional Western Australians, to keep services affordable for everyone.
The Cook Government is supporting improved and expanded housing options across the State, with a total investment of $1.1 billion in housing and homelessness services, including:
- $400 million for social and affordable housing projects, including in the regions;
- $60 million for a Regional Community Housing Grants Program, to support community housing providers to deliver new dwellings or refurbish existing dwellings; and
- $43.8 million in additional investment for Government Regional Officer Housing (GROH), to fund new builds and land acquisitions.
Health facilities will be upgraded, and programs to secure staff will be continued, to ensure Western Australians have access to world-class healthcare, regardless of where they live. The Cook Government’s $3.2 billion investment in health includes:
- More than $2.6 billion per annum in regional healthcare investment;
- $405 million to boost regional health service delivery, including $11.9 million to incentivise nurses and midwives to work in regional WA;
- $32.5 million to continue the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme, supporting those travelling for treatment;
- Additional funding to finalise contract negotiations with the Royal Flying Doctor Service;
- $8.6 million to expand child development services in the regions;
- $7.7 million to refurbish outdated staff accommodation; and
- $2.5 million to develop an extension plan for the Ronald McDonald House facility, supporting families travelling to Perth for medical treatment.
The Cook Government is focused on diversifying regional economies and creating quality local jobs. This includes investments of:
- $324 million investment into the South West Interconnected System, to support WA’s decarbonisation journey, provide certainty to investors, and unlock job-creating renewable energy projects;
- $1.1 billion in training programs across regional WA, to prepare Western Australians for the jobs of the future;
- $8 million to extend the highly successful Fee Free TAFE program through the 2025 training year;
- $16.4 million over the next three years for biosecurity management; and
- $36.4 million to slash green tape and facilitate approvals for job-creating projects in the regions.
Country roads and regional transport infrastructure will be upgraded, with a $6.4 billion investment. Key regional transport initiatives include:
- $169 million in additional funding for regional roads, which forms part of a $4.5billion investment in regional roads over the next four years;
- $29.3 million to upgrade regional and remote airstrips across the State, keeping communities connected;
- $11.6 million in funding for the Driving Access and Equity Program, improving access to driving services, instructors and vehicles, including in the Wheatbelt; and
- $12.4 million to upgrade the York-Williams Road and Milo Road River Crossing bridges.
The 2024-25 State Budget will continue to build safe, strong and fair regional communities. Key initiatives include:
- $23.4 million to extend Operation Regional Shield, which allows WA Police to rapidly deploy officers to the regional areas where they are needed most;
- $30.2 million to enhance bushfire mitigation activities led by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions;
- $3.1 million over the next three years to continue funding the Grain Harvest Air Support Strategy;
- $46.3 million to continue the successful ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Stretch WA program, which provides support for young people leaving Out of ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Care, including in the Wheatbelt;
- $96.4 million for programs for family and domestic violence across WA, including $26.4 million specifically for regional initiatives; and
- $7.7 million for various metropolitan and regional career fire and rescue service stations, including $4.9 million to provide firefighters with gender-separate facilities and $2.8 million to install post-incident hygiene showers.
The Cook Government is committed to encouraging Western Australians to explore the State’s great outdoors, while supporting regional local businesses. Regional initiatives in the State Budget’s Outdoor Adventure Tourism package include:
- $69.6million towards boating and maritime facilities across the State, including $17.5 million over the next three years to extend the breakwater at Jurien Bay Boat Harbour;
- $36 million for trails and other recreational facilities; and
- $14.9 million to deliver a range of new and upgraded campgrounds, including $1.5 million to upgrade the popular Kangaroo Point campground in Nambung ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Park.
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As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
“This Budget delivers on my Government’s commitment to always do what’s right for the Wheatbelt.
“We are focused on providing real cost of living relief, with a major investment to ease the pressure on families in our regions.
“Regional WA props up our nation’s economy, and this Budget delivers measures that will drive regional economic growth, diversify regional economies and create jobs for our kids in the regions.
“There’s also major funding for programs which enhance regional centres, ensuring they remain great places to live, work and raise a family for generations to come.”
As stated by Regional Development Minister Don Punch:
“Western Australia’s regions are the heart of our State, and the Cook Government is committed to seeing them thrive.
“We want to ensure that every Western Australian has access to great housing, healthcare, and opportunities to grow – regardless of where they live.
“Our responsible financial management means we are in a position to invest in our regions, with billions of dollars flowing into these areas as part of the 2024-25 State Budget.
“From enhanced tourism infrastructure, to community safety measures, and programs which diversify regional economies, this Budget delivers on what matters for regional Western Australians.”
