- Budget delivers real cost of living relief
and housing in the Gascoyne region
- Cook Labor Government to invest $9.5 billion
in infrastructure throughout regional Western Australia over the next four
years
- More
than $4 billion delivered through Royalties for Regions Program
- Cook Labor Government committed to
delivering jobs, health, education, creating safe and inclusive communities,
and protecting and restoring WA's environment
The Cook Labor Government
is delivering for the Gascoyne in the 2026-27 State Budget through investments
in health, housing, and jobs for the region, while providing significant cost-of-living
relief for families.
As part of the 2026-27
State Budget, the Cook Labor Government will be investing in a range of
measures to support the Gascoyne so it can continue playing its role in WA's
nation-leading economy.
To support this vision,
the following initiatives will help unlock and deliver more land supply, build thousands
of homes, and help first home buyers get into the market in the Gascoyne:
- $1.6
billion for the construction and refurbishment of more than 1,800 social and
affordable dwellings, 500 homes for first home buyers, land acquisition, and
maintenance;
- participation in the Commonwealth's 100,000
Homes for First Home Buyers program, supporting the delivery of 11,000
dwellings over eight years reserved exclusively for first home buyers;
- $250 million Keystart Pre‑sale
Guarantee and $250 million First Home Buyer Commercial Financing
Facility to help developers meet pre‑sale thresholds and support more
apartment and affordable homes project for first home buyers, to get off the ground
sooner around the State;
- $297
million tax package to support first home buyers and boost housing supply,
including first homeowner duty concessions, increased first homeowner grant
cap, and an extension of the off-the-plan transfer duty concession;
- $127 million top-up to the Remote Communities Fund to deliver additional
housing investment, undertake municipal works, and support essential
infrastructure and services in remote Aboriginal communities;
- $50 million top-up to the Regional
Housing Support Fund, increasing the fund's value to $75 million. The fund
provides grants to support local housing and residential subdivision projects
in regional WA;
- $48 million to boost modular housing and
apartment construction capacity via investment in advanced manufacturing
facilities in Kwinana and Neerabup. The facilities are expected to provide
prefabricated housing and infrastructure to regional WA; and
- $5.6 million to deliver six new houses in
priority regional areas, with preference for new builds on Horizon Power‑owned
lots.
Real cost-of-living
relief will be delivered to Western Australians living in the Gascoyne through a
range of initiatives that provide financial support for households, with the Cook
Labor Government committing $198 million for a $100 Fuel Support Payment
available to those with a valid driver's licence.
A further $89.5
million will be invested to deliver a third round of the Western Australian
Student Assistance Payment, which will provide $150 for each primary and
kindergarten student and $250 for each secondary school student - including for
the families of around 1,700 students in the Gascoyne.
Other cost-of-living
relief measures funded as part of this Budget include:
- $36.4 million to continue free public transport for school students, including in Carnarvon;
- $35 million for a 10 per
cent uplift to the Energy Assistance Payment, Dependent Child Rebate, and Air
Conditioning Allowance;
- $14.5 million to establish a new Foster and
Grand Carer Gold Card, offering concessions
to carers providing a stable home and support to children and young people in
out‑of‑home
care arrangements;
- $13.5 million to extend
the WA Rent Relief Program; and
- continued investment in
the Regional Airfare Zone Cap Scheme to keep airfares capped and affordable for
eligible regional residents.
The Cook Labor Government's
vision to diversify WA's nation-leading economy so that it remains the
strongest in the nation will be secured in the Gascoyne through the following
investments as part of the 2026-27 State Budget:
- more than $150 million in loans to manufacturers to improve energy
efficiency and invest in advanced manufacturing equipment as part of the Made
in WA Energy Affordability Investment Program;
- $124 million to continue lower fee and fee-free
TAFE in 2027, including at the Carnarvon campus;
- $113.5 million for road maintenance across
WA;
- $33.1 million contribution to the nationally co-ordinated
Fuel Excise Relief Program, and a further $4.5 million for the deferral of heavy
vehicle fee increases, supporting industry in the Gascoyne;
- $30 million to top-up the Investment Attraction
Fund for a second round of grants through the New Energies Industries Funding
Stream;
- $18 million to deliver Aboriginal tourism
initiatives under the Jina: Western
Australian Aboriginal Tourism Action Plan 2026-2030; and
- $1.4 million to deliver a second round of the
Small Business Growth Grants Program.
The 2026-27 State Budget
will ensure all regional Western Australians can access the healthcare they
need, when they need it, through the following investments:
- $294 million additional investment in regional
health infrastructure;
- $214 million for an uplift to WA Health's State-wide
maintenance programs;
- $143 million for additional investment in
medical equipment and imaging replacement program throughout WA;
- ·$68.6 million for the WA Country Health Service
to maintain regional palliative care, renal care, cancer and eye services, and
continued support programs;
- $49.8 million to continue the State's investment
in the Child Development Services System Reform Program;
- $43.8 million to continue a funding uplift for
existing community mental health and alcohol and other drug services;
- $29.7 million to continue and expand suicide
prevention initiatives;
- $27.1 million to continue the free flu vaccine,
FluMist, and RSV immunisation programs; and
- $4.1 million to expand the Enhanced Access
Community Pharmacy Pilot project.
Quality infrastructure
and services will also be supported through the Budget with the following
investments to bolster schools throughout the Gascoyne:
- $219 million boost to school maintenance,
benefiting schools in the Gascoyne;
- more than $100 million for targeted maintenance and minor works projects across WA, which
includes work on roofs, hardcourts, and toilets, as well as additional investment in the
Schools Clean Energy Technology Fund;
- $310 million uplift in funding to
support students with disability at public schools;
- $15.7 million to expand access to training
and support for staff working with students with disability;
- $7.7 million in response to high demand for
swimming lessons, supporting the supply of swimming teachers, particularly in
regional areas; and
- $815,000 to expand the Your Move Schools program
to encourage students to walk, wheel, scoot, ride, and use public transport to
travel to and from school.
The Cook Labor Government
will continue building safe and inclusive communities, including $3.7 million
to support continued operation of the Gascoyne Aboriginal Heritage and Cultural
Centre, Gwoonwardu Mia.
Other investments which
will make Western Australians feel secure at home and at work in this Budget
include:
- $421 million for child protection services,
in addition to $52.4 million extra support for foster carers and grandcarers;
- $361 million for Foundational Supports -
Thriving Kids services over the next five years, to provide support for children aged
8 and under with developmental delays or autism;
- $91.1 million funding boost for new and
continuing homelessness services;
- $61.4 million to continue the Target 120 early
intervention program, including in Carnarvon;
- $60.7 million for road safety awareness and
education programs across WA;
- $44.6 million uplift in operational funding
for family and domestic violence refuges and safe houses across WA, including in
the Gascoyne;
- $37.7 million for the State-wide rollout of the Aboriginal
Representative Organisations function as part of child protection decision-making;
- $31.2 million towards the
fire and emergency fleet replacement throughout WA;
- $29.5 million uplift in resourcing for the
Home Stretch WA service supporting young people as they age out of
the child protection system, including in the Gascoyne;
- $24.2
million for WA Police to continue Operation Regional Shield in regional WA; and
- $20.3 million funding uplift for at-risk
youth services around the State.
Protecting and
restoring WA's environment so future generations can continue enjoying its
economic and lifestyle benefits will be secured with the following investments:
- $52.9 million
to establish a Regional Water Source Fund for water source planning and
investigation in regional Western Australia;
- $24.7
million to continue biosecurity and animal disease preparedness activities;
- $16 million
for the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia to implement and
administer a clean energy and emissions research program;
- a further $8.5 million towards the Fisheries Support Package, including funding for an enhanced science program and
upgrades to the FishCatchWA app; and
- $2.5 million
to support the Hamelin Pool boardwalk replacement project.
For more information, visit ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au
Comments
attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
"Wherever you live in
Western Australia, this Budget delivers for Western Australians and keeps WA
strong.
"The Gascoyne has been
central to WA becoming the strongest economy in the nation and will be critical
to our future economic success.
"That's why this Budget
will help seize the big job-creating projects in regional WA, with investments
in the economic infrastructure needed to expand our Seven Cities as hubs to
provide quality services to the towns and remote communities within their regions."
Comments
attributed to Regional Development Minister Stephen Dawson:
"The Cook Labor
Government is investing in the Gascoyne region to support strong local
economies, quality frontline services, and more jobs opportunities.
"From health and housing
to roads and cost-of-living measures, our government is working to deliver
projects and outcomes that make a real difference in our regional communities
"Whether people live in
one of our Seven Cities, a small town, or a remote community, this Government
is committed to delivering for regional WA."
Comments
attributed to Gascoyne Minister Hannah Beazley:
"The
Cook Labor Government's 2026-27 Budget will see billions of dollars invested in
our regions, driving economic growth, diversifying regional economies, and
creating jobs for our future generations.
"Our
government understands the importance of the Gascoyne region, both as a tourism
drawcard and the food bowl of our State.
"We
are funding the improvement and upgrade of facilities in the region, so it
continues to be a great place for people to work, live, and visit.
"The
Cook Labor Government is committed to ensuring the Gascoyne continues to build
more thriving and inclusive communities."
Comments
attributed to Pilbara MLA Kevin Michel:
"The
Cook Labor Government continues to deliver for the Gascoyne by investing in
health, housing, and jobs to support strong regional economy, while supporting
key services and training to support local growth.
"I'm
proud we're delivering practical cost of living relief for Gascoyne families,
while boosting housing supply and investing in regional infrastructure to
support local communities and ensure the region continues to play its role in
WA's nation-leading economy."
