- 2025-26
State Budget delivers on Cook Labor Government's vision for regional WA
- More
than $10 billion invested in the regions
- Significant
investments in health, community safety, education and housing
- More
than $4 billion delivered through Royalties for Regions Program
- Ensuring
people living in regional Western Australia have access to the infrastructure
and services they need
The Cook Labor Government is delivering its vision for the Pilbara, with
the 2025-26 State Budget providing significant investments in health services
and infrastructure, community safety, housing, transport infrastructure and
community services.
Billions of dollars will be invested in the regions, supporting the Cook
Government's commitment to Western Australians, that no matter if they live in
our suburbs, regional centres, towns, or remote communities, they will have
local job opportunities, and access to major services and infrastructure.
The Budget will help
keep costs down for Pilbara families with billions of dollars in rebates and
concessions, and household fees and charges being kept affordable with below
inflation increases for a sixth consecutive year.
More than $4 billion in Royalties for Regions funding will also go
towards projects which enhance regional communities, ensuring they remain
exceptional places to live, work and raise a family.
Western Australians in the Pilbara will benefit from the Cook Government's
$121 million investment in regional health and mental health infrastructure and
services. This includes:
- $12.2
million over for a Virtual Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
Hub for rural and remote areas of WA;
- $8.2
million to establish GP ASK to connect WA GPs to dedicated and experienced
specialists without the need for patients to travel to a hospital;
- $1
million project planning funding for delivery for an eight-bed Karratha Renal
Dialysis Facility and Hostel, and expansion of the Geraldton Renal Dialysis
Unit;
and
- continuing to deliver the Tom Price and
Paraburdoo Hospital redevelopment projects, building on a $40 million
contribution from Rio Tinto.
The 2025-26 State Budget delivers cost-of-living
support with rebates and concessions for people across reginal WA, including:
- $3.5 billion
over the next four years to keep regional water and power prices in line
with metropolitan prices;
- $337
million towards the WA Residential Battery Scheme, providing Horizon Power
customers with up to $7,500 towards the cost of a household battery, combined
with the Commonwealth scheme, plus households with incomes of less than
$210,000 per annum can access no-interest loans of up to $10,000;
- $152
million to cap public transport fares at the cost of a one-zone ticket
including Karratha and Port Hedland bus services;
- $88.7
million in cost-of-living relief to families for school expenses, including
$250 for every secondary student and $150 for every primary and kindergarten
student, through the second round of the Western Australian Student Assistance
Payment
- $25.7
million to deliver a further $100 increase to the Regional Pensioner Travel
Card, bringing the total card value to $775 per year;
- halving
the costs of Transwa rail and coach fares from 1 January 2026;
- $18.5
million to increase the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme fuel subsidy from 26c
per kilometre to 40c per kilometre; and
- $8 million
for the Country Week Assistance Program to support regional students
participating in Country Week events.
The
Cook Government has committed $219.7 million to boost regional education infrastructure, upgrades, and new builds, as well as a range of measures
to support families across regional Western Australia, including for early
education and outside of school hours care. Key initiatives include:
- $42
million towards the first tranche of minor works for schools across the State
including:
- $2
million for new STEM facilities at Hedland Senior High School;
- $1.2
million for outdoor sporting facility upgrades at Peg's Creek Primary School;
- $1
million to upgrade the hard courts at Dampier Primary School; and
- $900,000
to upgrade shade and play equipment at South Hedland Primary School.
- $28
million to expand the School Breakfast Program to provide free breakfasts five
days a week at more than 650 schools, including in the Pilbara;
- $30.3
million for the School of Isolated and Distance Education to support more
students learning in regional Western Australia;
- $29
million to trial nation-leading free full-time, school-based kindy, which
includes $2.3 million for minor infrastructure upgrades to five regional pilot
sites;
- $15 million
to boost before and after school care in schools;
-
$10 million
for additional transportable classrooms, including $4.4 million for the Alternative
Learning Settings programs in Northam and Karratha;
- $8.6
million to facilitate a range of infrastructure works in the regions as part of
the New Schools and Maintenance Vision commitment; and
- more
than $4 million as part of the government's small commitments to support
minor works and non‑infrastructure projects at more than 70 public and non‑government
schools.
Around $277 million per annum will be
invested to deliver Vocational Education and Training, career and employment
advice, and TAFE support services across regional Western Australia, with
further asset investment of $65 million towards regional TAFE projects. This
includes:
- $11.6 million
for another round of the TAFE Modern Equipment program to enhance facilities
and infrastructure assets in the regions;
- $8.6 million
to deliver fee-free TAFE - housing and construction courses,
upskilling the local workforce to build regional houses; and
- $2.4 million for
the Adult Apprentice Incentive Scheme to cover the wage gap for employers
engaging apprentices aged 21 years and over.
The Cook Government's Budget will
deliver a $1.4 billion investment to support housing and homelessness measures.
Key regional housing initiatives include:
- $103.8 million in funding to deliver more
Government Regional Officer Housing homes for essential government workers in
the regions;
- $13.7 million for regional staff
accommodation costs to attract and retain staff in regional areas - mainly for
properties in the North West region;
- $43.2 million to
deliver 169 lots in the Mulataga residential development in Karratha, partially
funded by the Commonwealth;
- $25 million for
the Regional Housing Support Fund that will provide grants of up to $5 million
to support new housing and land supply across regional WA, assisting with a
wide range of costs, with local government projects and regional subdivisions
eligible;
- $13.7 million for regional staff
accommodation costs to attract and retain staff in regional area.
Securing the Pilbara's
water future is a priority for the Cook Government, with substantial
investments in the Budget, including:
- $20.6
million for the Onslow Seawater Desalination Plant;
- $4.5 million
to undertake environmental regulation and water licensing assessment and
approvals for the Pilbara region; and
- $4.2 million
to update water planning information and water allocation plans in the Pilbara
region.
Regional
roads and transport infrastructure continue be upgraded, with investments in
key projects across the regions including:
- $250 million
over five years to expand the Regional Road Safety Program to local
roads
across the State; - $35 million
to progress road works at the Utah Point Bulk Handling Facility in
Port Hedland; and
- an
additional $20.6 million for the Onslow Seawater Desalination Plant, bringing
the total to $137.6 million, in partnership with Chevron.
The Cook Government is focused on
diversifying regional economies, delivering more jobs and powering WA on clean
energy. This includes investments of:
- $500 million
increase to the Strategic Industries Fund (to $1 billion), which will support
activating Strategic Industrial Areas across the State, including in the
Pilbara, South West and Mid West;
- $18.5 million
to expand the Aboriginal Ranger Program in the regions;
- $4.5 million
to finalise the replacement of a transformer at the Murdoch Drive zone
substation in the Pilbara; and
- $1.6
million towards the Pilbara Energy Transition Plan.
The 2025-26 Budget will continue to build safe and strong regional
communities with key initiatives, such as:
- more than
$480 million per annum for services provided by the
Western Australia Police Force's regional districts, including
123 police stations and around 1,900 police officers and staff;
- $390 million
per annum on court and tribunal administration in the regions, community
corrections, and the operation of the State's eight regional prisons (and
workcamps);
- $14.3 million to
redevelop a Western Australia Police Academy accommodation block, which
will be used to provide free accommodation to regional recruits to encourage people
living in regional areas to become police officers;
- $10 million,
as part of the Fire and Emergency Services Package, towards the construction of
a new evacuation centre and multipurpose complex in Fitzroy Crossing;
- $3.5
million for expansion of the Community Emergency Services Manager program;
- $3
million to continue an uplift in baseline funding to financial counselling
services across the State, including services in Hedland, Karratha, Newman,
Roebourne and Exmouth;
- $2.3
million for additional CCTV across the State to help combat antisocial
behaviour including additional cameras in Karratha, Newman, Port Hedland, South
Hedland, Roebourne and Wickham; and
- $3.1 million towards a new State Bushfire
Mitigation Branch, including 12 additional staff.
A
commitment of $33.3 million to support family and domestic violence
victim-survivors has been included in the Budget, including:
- $11.5
million to expand the Safe at Home program to seven additional locations,
including several in regional Western Australia.
The Cook Government's Budget
will also support the Pilbara's local industry, sport and recreation across
regional WA. Some of the projects and initiatives include:
- $25.2 million
to establish a Regional Racing Fund for key infrastructure upgrades at up to 24
racing, harness, turf and trotting clubs, including $100,000 for the Norwest Jockey
Club;
- $22.5 million
towards the construction of a new aquatic facility in South Hedland;
- $7.5
million for the Newman Youth and Community Hub;
- $6
million to establish the Boosting Women and Girls Participation in Sport fund
to encourage women and girls to get involved in community sport;
- $4
million to establish the Veterans Facilities fund to help RSL and veterans'
organisations upgrade their local facilities and RSL clubs;
- $1.3
million for medical facilities at all Karting WA clubs, including at Hedland
Kart Club, Impala Kart Club, and Karratha Kart Club; and
- $200,000
to increase funding to Fishability to allow them to further expand their
programs into key locations in regional WA, including the Pilbara.
The Cook Government's 2025-26 State Budget
delivers another strong surplus for Western Australia, and with debt levels
remaining affordable, puts WA in the best position to invest in what matters
for all Western Australians.
For more information, visit https://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au
Comments attributed to Pilbara
Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"The Pilbara is the economic powerhouse of the State and national
economies, and we owe much to those who live and work in the region.
"The 2025-26 State Budget is
supporting them with investment in health services and infrastructure,
community safety, housing, transport infrastructure and community services.
"We want the Pilbara to be a vibrant region in which to live, work and
raise a family.
"At the same time, we are investing in major infrastructure projects
including common-user transmission infrastructure as part of the Pilbara Energy
Transition Plan that will unlock the region's clean energy potential,
help major proponents to decarbonise, and generate benefits for the entire Pilbara community."
Comments attributed to Pilbara
MLA Kevin Michel:
"The Cook Government understands the Pilbara, the importance of the
region, and the desire of those of us who live here to build communities that
support jobs, businesses, and families.
"I am pleased that the government is delivering its vision for the
Pilbara, with significant investment across community services that benefit
Pilbara residents and major infrastructure projects that benefit the Pilbara
and the State."
