- Budget delivers real cost-of-living relief
and housing in the Wheatbelt 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
- Part of 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 delivering for the Wheatbelt region 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 Wheatbelt 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
Wheatbelt:
- $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;
- $419
million for more than 500 Government Regional Officer Housing (GROH) and key government worker dwellings through the Seven
Cities New Build program, including new houses, expansion of the GROH Investor
Program, and establishment of a revamped Home Ownership Subsidy Scheme
including shared equity options;
- $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;
- $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 Wheatbelt through
a range of initiatives, 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 10,900 students in the Wheatbelt.
Other cost-of-living
relief measures funded as part of this Budget include:
- $36.4 million to continue to provide free
public transport for school students,
including in Narrogin;
- $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; 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 Wheatbelt through the following
investments as part of the 2026-27 State Budget.
This includes $2 million
to support ongoing negotiations and due diligence on the State's freight rail
buyback proposal.
Other initiatives funded
in this Budget 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 to continue lower-fee and fee-free
TAFE in 2027, including in Northam, Narrogin, Merredin, and Moora;
- $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 Wheatbelt;
- $30 million to topup 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.
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 $61 million to be
invested in upgrades to Toodyay Road and a number of timber bridges to be replaced
as part of the $127.4 million Regional Bridge Replacement Program.
Significant
education-related initiatives funded in this Budget include:
- $310 million uplift in funding to
support students with disability at public schools;
- $219 million boost to school maintenance,
benefiting schools in the Wheatbelt;
- 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, and $5.4 million works on the piggery
at the WA College of Agriculture in Cunderdin;
- $45.8 million to fully fund Cool the Schools air‑conditioning
upgrades at 45 schools, including at Bindoon Primary School and Mukinbudin District
High School;
- $15.7 million to expand training and support for
staff working with students with disability; and
- $7.7 million to meet high demand for swimming
lessons and support supply of swimming teachers, particularly in regional
areas.
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 to continue the Target 120
early intervention program for young people coming into repeated contact with
WA Police, including in Northam;
- $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 Narrogin;
- $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 Wheatbelt;
- $24.2
million for WA Police to continue Operation Regional Shield in regional WA; and
- $20.3 million uplift in funding 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; 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:
"Wherever you live in
Western Australia, this Budget delivers for Western Australians and keeps WA
strong.
"The Wheatbelt 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 throughout the regions."
Comments
attributed to Regional Development Minister Stephen Dawson:
"The Cook Labor Government is investing in
the Wheatbelt 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 Wheatbelt Minister Sabine Winton:
"Regional
Western Australia remains a major priority for the Cook Labor Government, with
the Wheatbelt continuing to present strong opportunities for growth and
development.
"We
know how important the agriculture sector is and that the Wheatbelt is a key to
our renewable energy and manufacturing future.
"This
government is continuing to back the Wheatbelt through targeted investments
that will improve connectivity, strengthen essential services, and support the
long-term future of the region."
Comments
attributed to Sandra Carr MLC:
"I'm
proud to be part of a government that continues to deliver for Wheatbelt
families by investing in health, housing, and jobs to support a strong regional
economy, while backing key infrastructure like road upgrades and freight rail
to keep the region moving.
"We're
also delivering real cost-of-living relief for families, while boosting hosing
supply to support local communities and ensure the regions continue to play its
vital role in WA's nation-leading economy."
