Cook Labor Government delivering for the South West

The Cook Labor Government is investing across the South West region in the 2026-27 State Budget through investments in health, housing, and jobs, while delivering significant cost-of-living relief for families.
  • Budget delivers real cost-of-living relief and housing for South West communities
  • Investments to support Bunbury drive future economic opportunities for the 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
  • Commitments include $89.1 million for Transforming Bunbury's Waterfront project and an additional $100.9 million investment in Bunbury Health Campus
  • Part of the Cook Labor Government's priority of delivering jobs, health, education, creating safe and inclusive communities, and protecting and restoring WA's environment

The Cook Labor Government is investing across the South West region in the 2026-27 State Budget through investments in health, housing, and jobs, while delivering significant cost-of-living relief for families.  

Regional Western Australia 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 Bunbury, will drive delivery of new economic opportunities across our State.

In particular, the development of scale renewables will mean we can make more things here, export embedded renewable energy in our products and realise opportunities in space, data centres, and emerging technologies including artificial intelligence.

The seven cities are Broome, Karratha, Port Hedland, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Bunbury, and Albany.

Bunbury 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 Bunbury and throughout the South 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;
  • $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 homeowner duty concessions, increased first homeowner 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 South West 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 36,400 students in the South 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 on Transregional services within Bridgetown, Bunbury, Busselton, Collie, and Manjimup;
  • $35 million for a 10 per cent uplift in the value of the Energy Assistance Payment, Dependent Child Rebate, and Air Conditioning Allowance;
  • $33.7 million for to provide free travel on Transregional services on Sundays, including in Bunbury;
  • $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; and
  • $13.5 million to extend the WA Rent Relief Program.

The Cook Labor Government's vision is to diversify WA's nation-leading economy so that it remains the strongest in the nation will be secured in the South West through the following investments as part of the 2026-27 State Budget.

Investments include $11.3 million through the Strategic Industries Fund to diversify the local economy and support new businesses at the Kemerton Strategic Industrial Area.

Creative industries will also be supported, with $2.6 million secured for the continuation of the CinefestOZ Film Festival.

Other supported initiatives include:

  • $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 at campuses in Bunbury, Busselton, Margaret River, Collie, Harvey, and Manjimup;
  • $113.5 million for road maintenance across WA;
  • $55 million for Western Power to undertake enabling works to expand network capacity at the Kemerton Strategic Industrial Area;
  • $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 South 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;
  • $4.8 million for the Southern Ports Authority to develop a business case for additional capacity at the Port of Bunbury; and
  • $1.4 million to deliver a second round of the Small Business Growth Grants.

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 $100.9 million in the Bunbury Hospital redevelopment, the largest regional health infrastructure project undertaken in Western Australia's history with a total investment of $572 million.

Other investments include:

  • $294 million additional investment in regional health infrastructure;
  • $214 million for an uplift to WA Health's statewide 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 expand suicide prevention initiatives;
  • $27.1 million for the free flu vaccine, FluMist, and RSV immunisation programs;
  • $16 million for the continuation of the Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Bunbury Hub, providing specialist mental health support for young people;
  • $4.9 million to expand the Children and Young People Responsive Suicide Support  program into the South West to provide support to children and young people who have lost a significant person to suicide; and
  • $4.1 million to expand the Enhanced Access Community Pharmacy Pilot project.

To support a high quality of life for all Western Australians, no matter where they live, the 2026‑27 State Budget will continue to deliver quality infrastructure and services across WA.

Significant investments in infrastructure as part of this Budget include $89.1 million to complete the Transforming Bunbury's Waterfront project, $45 million to support increased Australind train services with the new fleet of modern trains, and 9.4 million allocated to priority works on water drainage bridges in the South West.

South West residents will also benefit from $10.7 million investment in Cowaramup Primary School to deliver a new early childhood education block.

Other investments include:

  • $310 million uplift in disability funding for public schools across the forward estimates;
  • $219 million boost to school maintenance, benefiting schools in the South 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;
  • $41.1 million to fully fund the commitment of 61 minor upgrade projects for undercover areas, courts, play areas, STEM facilities, and parking, which includes Bunbury Primary School and Donnybrook District High School;
  • $45.8 million to fully fund our commitment to Cool the Schools through air-conditioning upgrades, which includes Dardanup Primary School, Harvey Primary School, and Picton Primary School; 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, including in Bunbury;
  • $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, inclusive of $11.6 million in operating costs for five new or expanded refuges currently under development, including one in Bunbury;
  • $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 South West; 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;
  • a further $8.5 million towards the Fisheries Support Package, including funding for an enhanced science program and upgrades to the FishCatchWA app; and
  • $6.2 million to further support Healthy Estuaries WA.

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

Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook: 

"Whether you live in Bunbury or the towns throughout the South 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 South 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 South West Minister and Bunbury MLA Don Punch:

"This Budget demonstrates a clear, long-term commitment to the South West as one of Western Australia's most important regional engines of growth.

"It reflects responsible financial management and continued investment in regional WA, building on record hospital funding and ensuring the South West remains a great place to work, raise a family, and build a future."

Comments attributed to Collie-Preston MLA Jodie Hanns:

"Through this State Budget, the Cook Labor Government is delivering for the South West by backing in major investments in health, including the Bunbury Hospital redevelopment, alongside housing, infrastructure, and jobs to support growth and unlock new economic opportunities.

"We're also delivering practical cost-of-living relief for families in my community while investing in housing and key projects to support a growing population and strong regional centres and continuing to provide lower fee and fee-free TAFE in 2027 at the Collie Campus."