- 2024-25 State Budget delivers cost of living relief for the
Kimberley
- Major investments in regional housing, health services and
infrastructure
- Jobs and training to support stronger futures and diversify
regional economies
- More than $4 billion delivered through Royalties for Regions
program
The
Cook Labor Government is doing what is right for the Kimberley, with the
2024-25 State Budget delivering significant cost of living relief while
investing in transport infrastructure, community services and upgrades to
outdoor attractions.
The
2024-25 State Budget is focused on Western Australia's regions, with a record
$12.8 billion investment in regional infrastructure, and billions more to fund
regional service delivery.
More than $4 billion in
Royalties for Regions funding will go towards projects which enrich regional
communities, ensuring they remain great places to live, work and raise a
family.
Western Australians
living in the Kimberley will benefit from the Cook Government's massive $762
million investment in cost of living relief measures, including:
- $492.4
million to provide a $400 electricity credit for every Western Australian
household and eligible small businesses;
- $103.5
million WA Student Assistance Payment initiative - including a $25.8 million
regional allocation - to provide $150 or $250 for every WA school student,
easing the pressure of school expenses;
- $20.3
million to increase the value of the Regional Pensioner Travel Card by $100 to
$675, reducing transport costs for eligible pensioners in the regions; and
- $64.5
million in additional investment to continue the popular Regional Airfare Zone
Cap scheme.
This cost of living
support to regional families is on top of the Cook Government's $3 billion
commitment over the next four years to subsidise the cost of providing water
and electricity to regional Western Australians, to keep services affordable
for everyone.
The Cook Government is
supporting improved and expanded housing options across the State, with a total
investment of $1.1 billion in housing and homelessness services, including:
- $400
million for social and affordable housing projects, including in the regions;
- $60
million for a Regional Community Housing Grants Program, to support community
housing providers to deliver new dwellings or refurbish existing dwellings;
- $43.8
million in additional investment for Government Regional Officer Housing
(GROH), to fund new builds and land acquisitions; and
- $5 million for the Broome North Waranyjarri Estate,
delivering sustainable housing in the Kimberley.
Health facilities will be
upgraded, and programs to secure staff will be continued, to ensure Western
Australians have access to world class healthcare, regardless of where they
live. The Cook Government's $3.2 billion investment in health includes:
- More than
$2.6 billion per annum in regional healthcare investment;
- $405
million to boost regional health service delivery, including $11.9 million to
incentivise nurses and midwives to work in regional WA;
- $32.5
million to continue the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme, supporting those
travelling for treatment;
- $14.6 million to continue the Kimberley
Ambulance Service;
- Additional
funding to finalise contract negotiations with the Royal Flying Doctor Service;
- $8.6
million to expand child development services in the regions;
- $7.7
million to refurbish outdated staff accommodation; and
- $2.5 million
to develop an extension plan for the Ronald McDonald House facility, supporting
families travelling to Perth for medical treatment.
The Cook Government is
focused on diversifying regional economies and creating quality local jobs.
This includes investments of:
- $500
million for a new Strategic Industries Fund to transform WA's industrial areas
into major job-creating hubs;
- $1.1
billion in training programs across regional WA, to prepare Western Australians
for the jobs of the future;
- $8
million to extend the highly successful Fee Free TAFE program through the 2025
training year;
- $16.4
million over the next three years for biosecurity management, as well as $2.6
million for stockyard upgrades at the Kununurra checkpoint; and
- $36.4
million to slash green tape and facilitate approvals for job-creating projects
in the regions.
Country
roads and regional transport infrastructure will be upgraded, with a $6.4
billion investment which includes $67.5 million for programs to build
resilience in the Kimberley's transport routes, comprising:
- $53.6
million towards the replacement of the single-lane Brooking Channel Bridge,
which will also enhance the safety of the road and provide ongoing employment
for workers in the Fitzroy Valley;
- $8
million for upgrades to airstrips through the Aboriginal Community Airstrip
Renewal Program, keeping communities connected; and
- $6
million in new infrastructure at the Port of Broome to build greater import
capabilities and boost supply chains.
Additional funding has
also been provided for a new jetty crane for Broome.
The
Cook Labor Government's commitment to strong environmental protections and WA's
water security will be bolstered by a $536 million new investment in the
2024-25 State Budget. Key initiatives include:
- $1.2 million for four full-time staff to
repair stream gauging stations damaged by Tropical Cyclone Ellie;
- An additional $73 million towards Plan for
Our Parks;
- $4.5 million to buy out existing power
stations at Ardyaloon, Bidyadanga, Beagle Bay, Djarindjin-Lombadina and Warmun.
- $1.9 million for the Buccaneer Archipelago
Marine Park;
- $1.6 million for the Fitzroy River National
Park; and
- $1 million to upgrade the Kurrajong and
Walardi campgrounds at Purnululu National Park.
The 2024-25 State Budget
will continue to build safe, strong and fair regional communities. Key
initiatives include:
- $23.4
million to extend Operation Regional Shield, which allows WA Police to rapidly
deploy officers to the regional areas where they are needed most;
- $46.3
million to continue the successful Home Stretch WA program, which provides
support for young people leaving out of home care, including in the Kimberley;
- $96.4
million for programs for family and domestic violence across WA, including
$26.4 million specifically for regional initiatives;
- $15.6
million to support the 10-year Early Years Partnership initiative which
operates in Derby and Bidyadanga and aims to support and improve early
childhood outcomes;
- $7.7 million for various metropolitan and
regional career fire and rescue service stations, including $4.9 million to
provide firefighters with gender-separate facilities and $2.8 million to
install post-incident hygiene showers;
- $5.8
million to continue the Aboriginal Representative Organisation and Aboriginal
Family Led Decision Making programs;
- $3.1
million for the Aboriginal Community Connectors Program to provide place-based
support to street-present community members;
- $1.8
million to continue establishment and operation of the East Kimberley Place-Based
Partnership; and
- $1.3
million to continue the Bidyadanga project, a placed-based partnership to
enable a 'town like' community in Bidyadanga.
For more information,
visit ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au.
Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
"This Budget delivers on
my Government's commitment to always do what's right for Kimberley residents.
"We are focused on
providing real cost of living relief, with a major investment to ease the pressure
on families in our regions.
"Regional WA props up our
nation's economy, and this Budget delivers measures that will drive regional
economic growth, diversify regional economies and create jobs for our kids in
the regions.
"There's also major
funding for programs which enhance regional centres, ensuring they remain great
places to live, work and raise a family for generations to come."
Comments attributed to
Regional Development Minister Don Punch:
"Western Australia's
regions are the heart of our State, and the Cook Government is committed to
seeing them thrive.
"We want to ensure that
every Western Australian has access to great housing, healthcare, and
opportunities to grow - regardless of where they live.
"Our responsible
financial management means we are in a position to invest in our regions, with
billions of dollars flowing into these areas as part of the 2024-25 State
Budget.
"From enhanced tourism
infrastructure to community safety measures, and programs which diversify regional
economies, this Budget delivers on what matters for regional Western
Australians."
Comments attributed to
Kimberley MLA Divina D'Anna:
"The State Budget reinforces the Cook Labor Government's
commitment to helping make a positive different to the lives of people in the
Kimberley.
"We're providing significant cost of living relief, investing in
affordable housing projects and building a safer strong community by funding
important programs for our young people and most vulnerable.
"The Budget continues our Government's record of bolstering the
Kimberley's resilience and sees further investment in infrastructure that keeps
our communities connected."