• Cook and Albanese Labor Governments to support WA households with a new $700 electricity credit
• Funding the WA Student Assistance payment, worth up to $250 for every WA school student
• Sensible Budget management provides an operating surplus to allow for investments in things that matter, like cost of living, health and housing

Tackling cost of living is our number one priority – which is why the Cook Labor Government’s 2024-25 State Budget provides a record $762 million in support for families.

This includes a $700 electricity credit as a result of the State and Federal Budgets for every Western Australian household.

The Household Electricity Credit backs in the WA Student Assistance Payment, worth $150 for each kindergarten and primary school student or $250 for each high school student.

Our responsible Budget management means we can invest in the things Western Australians care about – like health and housing – without the skyrocketing debt seen under the Liberals and Nationals.

Our credible track record means that, in addition to the Household Electricity Credit and WA Student Assistance Payment, the 2024-25 Budget includes:

• A small business energy credit of $725 from the State and Federal Budgets
• Capped public transport fares, making travel in our suburbs cheaper
• Free public transport for students to and from school
• Free public transport for everyone travelling on a Sunday
• Increases to the Seniors’ Cost of Living Rebate
• The WA Rent Relief Program, giving tenants at risk of eviction up to $5,000 in direct rental support

In Health, our investments in emergency department reform are working, with a 30 per cent decrease in ambulance ramping across the South Metropolitan Health Service in the six months to March compared to the same period last year.

Our additional $3.2 billion investment in Health will deliver more beds for our hospitals, more nurses and doctors, and further reforms to address ramping and surgery wait times. The 2024-25 State Budget includes:

• $1.2 billion for public hospital services to meet the growing need for WA families
• $260 million on mental health and alcohol and other drugs services
• $39 million for the rapid expansion of Child Development Services - providing an additional 114 health professionals including paediatricians, clinical nurse specialists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, psychologists and audiologists
• $155 million for initiatives that will continue to improve emergency access and reduce ambulance ramping
• Funding for another free flu vaccine in 2024
• Taking over the 75 bed Bethesda Healthcare clinic in Cockburn

Every effort is being made across this Budget to increase housing supply and affordability in Western Australia. The Cook Labor Government’s investments in social housing have delivered 2,100 social homes with another 1,000 under construction.

This 2024-25 State Budget includes:

• An additional $400 million in extra investment into the expanded Social and Affordable Housing Investment fund – supporting the purchase or construction of our target of nearly 5,000 social homes
• $92 million to the State’s homelessness service providers – representing an unprecedented increase in funding for these services that do so much good for our fellow Western Australians
• $5 million to provide an incentive of $5,000 to owners of currently vacant properties to offer them to Western Australians on the long-term rental market
• Stamp duty relief for first home buyers - saving many first home buyers thousands

To support our work continuing to keep WA safe, our Government is committed to funding frontline services and initiatives, with this Budget also including:

• $96 million of new investment for family and domestic violence prevention, response and reform initiatives, helping tackle the scourge of domestic violence
• $23 million for an additional 60 Career Fire and Rescue Service firefighters, which brings the total commitment in this term of Government to 132 extra career firefighters

Our transformative program of works to build METRONET is being bolstered, with a further $254 million being invested in this Budget  – bringing the total investment to $4.8 billion over the forward estimates. Our METRONET program includes:

• $116 million for Westport, including for early marine, civil and road works to transition container trade from Fremantle to Kwinana, unlocking future trade opportunities and economic capacity.
• Completing the WA Railcar Program, with 246 new passenger railcars being locally built and manufactured right here in WA
• The Thornlie Cockburn Link – connecting our south-east and helping make travel easier for people between our growing suburbs
• The construction of the Lakelands train station
• $10 million to expand school zone speed limits to all warden controlled crossings

Providing quality education and training opportunities for Western Australians is an important responsibility of Government – and this State Budget includes an additional $1.3 billion for education and training initiatives to continue our track record of investment, including:

• $391 million will be invested to meet student enrolment growth for both public and non-government schools
• $85 million to expand the capacity of our construction workforce, including cash rebates for apprentices
• A further $8 million to continue Free TAFE courses
• $410 million in additional funding for new schools, maintenance and upgrades

The Cook Labor Government is investing $1.6 billion over the next four years to build, redevelop and upgrade schools, including:

• $60 million for Rockingham Senior High School and Education Support Centre
• $40 million for Safety Bay Senior High School

I will always stand up for Rockingham. Which is why we’re also delivering:

• $1 million for Point Peron upgrades and redevelopments
• $2.75 million in necessary safety and accessibility upgrades to the Penguin Island Jetty
• $10 million for planned upgrades to our local Mike Barnett Sports Complex, with $2 million of maintenance works already completed
• $11 million for the Rockingham Mental Health Emergency Centre at Rockingham General Hospital

To view snapshots of the budget, head to: https://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au/

To read the full budget pages, visit: https://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au/budget-papers.html