- 2024-25 State Budget delivers cost of living relief for the Pilbara
- 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's right for the Pilbara, with the 2024-25
State Budget delivering significant cost of living relief while investing in
health facilities and services, housing, quality jobs, port infrastructure and
new 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 Pilbara will benefit from the Cook Government's massive $762 million
investment in cost of living relief measures, which includes:
- $492.4
million to provide a $400 electricity credit for every WA 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
- $13 million to unlock more development-ready
land for housing within the Madigan Road development in Karratha.
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;
- additional funding to finalise contract
negotiations with the Royal Flying Doctor Service;
- $15 million to deliver an MRI unit at
Hedland Health Campus, and $2.3 million for a four-chair dialysis unit at
Karratha Health Campus;
- $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, including
at Anketell, Ashburton North, Boodarie, Burrup and Maitland;
- $148 million to support the development of
transmission network infrastructure in the North West Interconnected System in
the Pilbara;
- $39.1 million towards the Burrup Seawater
Supply Scheme upgrades to support industrial growth;
- $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; 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. Key regional transport initiatives include:
- $169 million in additional funding for
regional roads, which forms part of a $4.5 billion investment in regional
roads over the next four years;
- $29.3 million to upgrade regional and remote
airstrips across the State, including at Onslow, keeping communities connected;
- $17
million to progress road works at the Utah Point Bulk Handling Facility in Port
Hedland to service heavy traffic loads, which are critical to facilitating
trade;
- $13.5 to build a
new, fit-for-purpose Seafarers Centre in Port Hedland's West End, catering to
the tens of thousands of seafarers who bring ships into the town's bustling
port each year; and
- $101 million in additional funding over four
years for construction of the Dampier Bulk Handling Facility.
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 Pilbara;
- $96.4 million for programs for family and
domestic violence across WA, including $26.4 million specifically for regional
initiatives; and
- $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.
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, including:
- $14.9
million in additional funds over the next four years for the proposed Fortescue
Marsh Nature Reserve; and
- $25.2
million to construct the Onslow Desalination Plant and upgrade the Cane River
Borefield.
The Cook Government is committed to encouraging Western Australians to
explore the State's great outdoors, while supporting regional local businesses.
Regional initiatives across the State in the Budget's Outdoor Adventure Tourism
package include:
- $69.6 million towards boating and
maritime facilities, including $6.5
million for the stage two of the Onslow Marina Community Boating Precinct and
$1 million for the Cape Keraudren Boat Ramp;
- $36 million for trails and other
recreational facilities, including $2.5
million to deliver a new hike and cycle trail at Red Gorge in Karijini National
Park; and
- $14.9 million to deliver a range of new and
upgraded campgrounds.
For more information, visit https://www.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 the Pilbara.
"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
Pilbara MLA Kevin Michel:
"This Budget delivers significant cost of living relief for
families in our region and highlights the importance of the Pilbara to WA's
economy.
"We're providing major investment in housing including unlocking
development ready land in Karratha and improving health services available to
locals with an MRI unit at Hedland and a dialysis unit at Karratha.
"The Cook Labor Government continues to support industrial growth
in our region through this Budget, and this investment will help diversify our
local economy and create local jobs."
