Cook Labor Government delivering for the Mid West

The Cook Labor Government is delivering for the Mid West 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.
  • Budget delivers real cost of living relief and housing in the Mid West region
  • Investments to support Geraldton drive future economic opportunities
  • 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
  • Budget includes $10.9 million to support clinical specialist training at the expanded Geraldton Health Campus
  • Cook Labor Government delivering jobs, health, education, creating safe and inclusive communities and protecting and restoring WA's environment

The Cook Labor Government is delivering for the Mid West 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.

Regional WA has been central to the economic success of the State for generations and building strong regional cities in Western Australia is vital to unlock the next wave of opportunities.

Seven regional cities, including Geraldton, will drive delivery of new economic opportunities across the State. In particular, the development of large-scale renewables will mean we can make more things here, export embedded renewable energy in WA products and realise opportunities in space, data centres and emerging technologies like AI. The seven cities are Geraldton, Broome, Karratha, Port Hedland, Kalgoorlie, Bunbury and Albany.

Geraldton must be ready to seize these new economic opportunities, which requires housing, infrastructure and services to support growth, so it can attract and retain families, and skilled workers.

It must also be capable of servicing surrounding communities and industries, which is what this Budget will deliver with housing a key priority.

The following initiatives will help unlock and deliver more land supply build new homes and help first home buyers get into the market in Geraldton and the Mid West:

  • $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;
  • The delivery of 37 homes for regional frontline workers in Geraldton, in partnership with Western Australia's resources industry, as part of its Seven Cities vision for regional WA;
  • $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;
  • $297 million tax package to support first home buyers and boost housing supply, including first home owner duty concessions, increased first home owner grant cap, and an extension of the off-the-plan transfer duty concession;
  • $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; and
  • $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.

Real cost-of-living relief will be delivered to Western Australians living in the Mid West through a range of initiatives that provide financial support for households, with the 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 10,500 students in the Mid West.

Other cost-of-living relief measures funded as part of this Budget include:

  • $36.4 million for to provide free public transport for school students, including in Geraldton;
  • $35 million for a 10 per cent uplift in the value of the Energy Assistance Payment, Dependent Child Rebate and Air Conditioning Allowance;
  • $16 million to extend Energy Ahead, helping Western Australians who are experiencing financial stress to improve their energy efficiency and save on their power bills;
  • $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;
  • ongoing support for the Regional Airfare Zone Cap Scheme to keep airfares capped and affordable for eligible regional residents amid increasing fuel costs; and
  • $3.8 million to provide continued support for the operation of the Inter‑Regional Flight Network, including for flights to and from Geraldton.

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 Mid West through the following investments as part of the 2026-27 State Budget:

  • $973 million for Western Power to respond to demand growth, expand the network, and increase electricity capacity infrastructure for industrial and residential customers;
  • 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 for lower fee and fee free TAFE in 2027, including in Geraldton;
  • $113.5 million for road maintenance across WA;
  • $33.1 million to contribute to the nationally coordinated Fuel Excise Relief Program, with a further $4.5 million for the deferral of heavy vehicle fee increases, supporting industry in the Mid West;
  • $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.

That includes an additional investment of $24.4 million in the Meekatharra Hospital redevelopment and $10.9 million to support training of clinical specialists for service delivery at the expanded Geraldton Health Campus.

Other initiatives funded as part of this Budget include:

  • $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 for regional palliative care, renal care, cancer and eye services, and continued support programs;
  • $49.8 million for the State's investment in the Child Development Services System Reform Program;
  • $43.8 million for a funding uplift for existing community mental health and alcohol and other drug services;
  • $29.7 million for and to expand suicide prevention initiatives;
  • $27.1 million for 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 Mid West:

  • $219 million boost to school maintenance, benefiting schools in the Mid West;
  • 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;
  • $21.4 million additional investment for Champion Bay Senior High School's new sports hall and refurbishments to its existing sports hall;
  • $7.1 million additional investment for classroom and building upgrades at Geraldton Senior High School;
  • $310 million uplift in funding to support students with disability at public schools; and
  • $15.7 million to expand access to training and support for staff working with students with disability.

The Cook Labor Government will continue building safe and inclusive communities so that all Western Australians feel secure at home and at work through the following investments:

  • $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 for the Target 120 early intervention program for young people coming into repeated contact with WA Police, including in Geraldton;
  • $60.7 million to provide ongoing funding for road safety community awareness campaigns and school 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 Mid West;
  • $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 young people in the Mid West;
  • $24.2 million for WA Police for 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 for biosecurity and animal disease preparedness activities; and
  • a further $8.5 million towards the Fisheries Support Package, including funding for an enhanced science program and upgrades to the FishCatchWA app.

For more information, visit ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au

Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook: 

"Whether you live in Geraldton or the towns and remote communities throughout the Mid West region, this Budget delivers for Western Australians and keeps WA strong.

"Our regions have 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 front of us 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 Mid West 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 Mid West Minister Jackie Jarvis:

"The 2026-27 Budget provides real cost-of-living relief for Mid West families and invests in the infrastructure and services that support our regional communities.

"From upgrades at local schools to strengthening health services and delivering significant investment in regional housing initiatives, this Budget backs the Mid West and delivers on our long-term commitment to the region."

Comments attributed to Sandra Carr MLC:

"The Cook Labor Government continues to deliver for the Mid West by backing in Geraldton with the housing, infrastructure and services needed to support growth and seize new economic opportunities, including emerging industries like renewables.

"I'm proud we're also easing pressure on households with practical cost-of-living support, while investing in more homes so the Mid West has the workforce and capacity it needs to grow in the future."