- $11.3 million targeted investment to support maintenance priorities at WA public schools
- Targeted works ensure WA students are learning in the best possible environments
- Builds upon $1 billion investment in school maintenance and minor works since 2017
The Cook Labor Government will invest an additional $11.3 million to address priority maintenance items identified at public schools across Western Australia.
This targeted funding will provide additional support to schools to ensure classrooms, common areas, and outdoor spaces continue to meet the learning needs of students and staff.
Works that will be undertaken through this investment include upgrades to roofs, ceilings, and playing surfaces, as well as internal finishes.
The Department of Education will work with the Department of Housing and Works to deliver these works over 2025-26 and 2026-27, while minimising disruption to schools.
The funding is in addition to the State Government's annual $125 million investment in school maintenance programs. It builds on the $1 billion in school maintenance and minor works from the WA Labor Government since 2017.
The investment will bolster the government's ongoing commitment to delivering quality school infrastructure and services across WA.
It will complement existing maintenance and works programs already funded at public schools, such as toilet, air-conditioning and gas heater replacement projects.
As outlined in the 2017-2018 Building Condition Assessment Report, this Government inherited more than 40,000 defects in schools and facilities from the previous Liberal-National Government.
Since then, the WA Labor Government has reduced the total number of defects in public schools by more than 70 per cent across both metropolitan and regional WA.
Over the next four years, the Government will invest $1.7 billion in school infrastructure, including more than $669 million in 2025-26, which is almost double the previous Government's annual infrastructure spend.
As stated by Education Minister Sabine Winton:
"A well-maintained school supports not just learning, but also pride and belonging among students, staff, and their communities.
"Since coming to Government, we've made it a priority to fix a significant backlog of maintenance issues at our public schools caused by years of neglect under the previous Liberal-National Government.
"We have invested more than $1 billion in school maintenance and minor works since 2017, to significantly reduce the number of defects in our schools inherited from the previous Government.
"This latest investment is another example of our ongoing commitment to delivering real results for students and teachers across the State, and will further bolster our $1.7b commitment to school infrastructure over the next four years."
As stated by Housing and Works Minister John Carey:
"After inheriting more than 40,000 defects from the previous Liberal-National Government, the WA Labor Government has slashed the total number of defects in schools by more than 70 per cent.
"This targeted maintenance investment means we can respond quickly to high-priority issues, supporting local jobs and trades.
"Since 2017, we've delivered more than $1 billion in school maintenance and upgrades, a clear demonstration of our ongoing commitment to public education."
