- Cook Labor Government to invest $1.4 billion in future that is Made in WA as part of 2025-26 State Budget
- Investment includes $500 million expansion of the Strategic Industries Fund
- Additional investment also committed to Investment Attraction Fund, New Industries Fund, and Collie Industrial Transition Fund
- $38.5 million to support defence, mining and exploration and hospitality sectors
- $209.4 million to boost local manufacturing of buses, batteries and ferries
- $331 million investment in training initiatives including $122 million extension of popular Fee-Free TAFE initiative and additional provision of construction courses
The Cook Labor Government is making Western Australia's economy more resilient in the face of rising global tensions and uncertainty with at least $1.1 billion to be delivered through the 2025-26 State Budget to secure a future that is Made in WA.
That figure is headlined by a $500 million investment in the Strategic Industries Fund, which brings the fund's total value to $1 billion.
The additional investment will support a range of key priorities outlined within the government's Made in WA plan, including fast-tracking clean energy and major industrial projects which will be core to securing the WA economy's nation-leading status.
These investments will support a range of job-creating projects across WA and will be complemented by:
- $30 million for new energies industries through the Investment Attraction Fund;
- $50 million to support establishment of Perth's Biomedical Precinct;
- $40 million to top up the New Industries Fund; and
- $30 million to top up the Collie Industrial Transition Fund and support the town's Just Transition.
Economic diversification is a core focus of this Budget, with a further $38.5 million to be invested in job-creating initiatives and programs, including:
- $13.5 million to prepare for AUKUS including through a $11.5 million industry incentive scheme and a $2 million SME Readiness Fund;
- $8.9 million to support the Exploration Incentive Scheme, which will assist miners to locate the minerals required for the global energy transition;
- $6 million to more than double the government's contribution to the Wine Industry Export Growth Partnership;
- $5 million to continue building capacity in the Perth film industry;
- $2.9 million to reform liquor laws and begin formulating a night-time economy strategy;
- $2.8 million for the Live Music Support Package to support the Contemporary Music Fund and create a WA Gig Guide;
- $2 million to support a Space Launch Facility Study;
- $1.3 million to implement the Small Business Growth Grants Program; and
- $1.1 million to deliver an Advanced Biofuels Strategy.
Elsewhere in the Budget, manufacturing will receive a significant $208.4 million boost, including through:
- $61.9 million to fully transition to manufacturing electric buses;
- $50 million for the Local Battery Manufacturing Program, which will complement the WA Residential Battery Scheme;
- $50 million to encourage productivity and new technologies through the Housing Innovation Fund;
- $25 million for advanced manufacturing in Forrestfield and Picton, and a Local Industry Development Fund; and
- $21.5 million towards building ferries as part of METRONET on the Swan.
Investing in skills and education so Western Australians are ready for the jobs these projects will create is key, which is why the Budget will also include $331 million to support TAFEs and other key training initiatives. This includes:
- $100 million investment to support Fee-Free TAFE;
- $21.9 million in additional fee-free construction and housing courses at TAFE;
- $33.9 million uplift in funding for the TAFE Modern Equipment program;
- $25.2 million for an additional 225 places in the successful Group Training Organisation Wage Subsidy program;
- $17.4 million for a new heavy vehicle driver training facility in Neerabup facilitated by North Metropolitan TAFE;
- $429,000 to undertake planning for the $17.1 million expansion of South Metropolitan TAFE's Munster campus to include renewable industries training facilities; and
- $8.5 million to reintroduce the Adult Apprentice Employer Incentive program.
For more information, visit https://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"Our economy has been made strong through the hard work of generations of Western Australians.
"Together with my government, we have created the strongest economy in the nation.
"We've created hundreds of thousands of jobs, overseen a massive surge in apprenticeship starts, and seen businesses investing in WA like never before.
"We want to build on that record, make more things here, power WA on clean energy, supply the materials required for the world's clean energy transition, and diversify our economy by leveraging our existing strengths.
"Only my government can deliver a future that is Made in WA, and that's what this Budget will deliver."
As stated by Deputy Premier and Treasurer Rita Saffioti:
"Protecting our economy and creating more jobs for Western Australians will always be a key focus for our government, and our Made in WA plan will help deliver on that.
"We've already set incredibly strong foundations in recent years with both our trains and buses being locally manufactured, while our plan to expand ferry services will also see our new fleet of electric ferries built right here in WA.
"Western Australians have an entrepreneurial spirit - and we have incredible capacity within our State to build the things we need to take WA forward."
As stated by Manufacturing and Skills and TAFE Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"This Budget continues to deliver on the Cook Government's key priorities: the energy transition, economic diversification, cost-of-living relief, and training to ensure our workforce is job ready with the skills needed for the opportunities created through our Made in WA plan.
"Our investment in training continues to support Fee-Free TAFE, with additional building and construction courses, and we've held 2026 course fees at 2025 levels.
"But we've gone further, with funding to ensure students are trained using state-of-the-art equipment they will encounter when they graduate and start working.
"And we've seized the opportunity provided by AUKUS to train the defence workforce of tomorrow through our $11.5 million Industry Incentive Scheme.
"Our WA Residential Battery Scheme including no-interest loans - available to around 100,00 WA households - will deliver ongoing cost-of-living relief, enable households to harness more of their solar energy to use when they need it most, and play a vital role in securing our energy future.
"We are helping local businesses to grow to take advantage in the surge of interest in home batteries created by the WA Residential Battery Scheme with our $50 million Local Battery Manufacturing Program.
"This will give Western Australians the opportunity to buy batteries made in WA.
"Our Budget priorities ensure the Western Australian economy continues to grow, delivering more jobs and opportunities for Western Australian workers and businesses."
