- $134.5 million to continue to implement out-of-home care reform
- $115.5 million to mainly support frontline child protection services including $20.1million to boost the number of child safety practitioners in WA
- $80.6 million emergency services package to protect Western Australians from natural disasters
- $10.5 million for Police and Community Youth Centres to keep kids on the right track
- $13.5 million to establish dedicated Children's Court and Therapeutic Court in Armadale
- $11.5 million to support expansion of the Safe at Home program
- $6.1 million to operate two new state-of-the art police stations in Perth's suburbs
- $1.4 million to progress planning for increased refuge capacity across the State
Western Australia will be safer than ever before under the Cook Labor Government, with the 2025-26 State Budget investing in a range of initiatives and delivering key election commitments that will protect WA's growing community.
These initiatives are headlined by a $134.5 million investment in out-of-home care reform.
Key priorities of this reform include greater stability for children in care, improved opportunities for reunification, additional engagement with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, and ensuring greater cultural connection for children in care.
This will be further supported by an additional $115.5 million to mainly support frontline child protection services.
Of this, $20.1 million will support an additional 31 full-time equivalent frontline child protection positions, which adds to the 55 child safety practitioners announced in December 2024.
The Cook Labor Government will also deliver key election commitments to expand the Safe at Home program and increase refuge capacity across the State.
This includes $11.5 million to support the Safe at Home program's rollout to seven new locations, including several in regional WA.
Safe at Home helps victim-survivors stay in their own homes by providing risk assessments, safety plans and security upgrades after the perpetrator has been removed.
An investment of $1.4 million will enable planning to commence for the expansion of family and domestic violence (FDV) shelters in Albany and Geraldton. Funding will also support the development of five business cases for increasing refuge capacity across the State.
The new funding is part of a $33.3 million package to support family and domestic violence victim-survivors and hold perpetrators accountable.
That package includes $19.1 million for electronic monitoring to support nation-leading FDV laws introduced by the Cook Labor Government that have made Western Australians safer.
Also included in the Budget is an $80.6 million emergency services package that honours several key election commitments.
WA's dedicated emergency services personnel will be better prepared to respond to natural disasters following this significant financial commitment, with $22.7 million allocated to a state-of-the-art Yanchep Career Fire and Rescue Service station, which will futureproof the demand for emergency services in Perth's rapidly growing northern suburbs.
The funding will also support 40 firefighters to staff the new station.
Other initiatives and funding that form part of this package include:
- $6.7 million to support DFES aerial fire response capability and establish two strike teams to mitigate the threat of crop fires during the grain harvesting season;
- $2 million to complete the planning of a new State Emergency Management Training Centre;
- $15 million committed towards the construction of the Wanneroo Emergency Management Complex;
- $10 million towards the construction of the Fitzroy Crossing evacuation centre and multipurpose complex;
- $8 million for the replacement of the Bullsbrook Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services station;
- $7.8 million to support operation of the national Emergency Alert warning system;
- $3.5 million for expansion of the Community Emergency Services Manager program;
- $3.1 million towards a new State Bushfire Mitigation Branch, including 12 additional staff;
- $1.6 million to assist the Shire of Donnybrook Balingup in development of a replacement facility for the Argyle Irishtown Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade; and
- $250,000 towards the planning of a new multipurpose evacuation centre in Kalbarri.
Elsewhere, $13.5 million has been committed to establishing a dedicated satellite court of the Children's Court and including a Therapeutic Court at the old Armadale Courthouse - another key election commitment.
The Budget will also support WA Police, with $246 million to ensure the State's streets and suburbs are protected now and into the future.
That figure includes $6.1 million for two new WA Police stations in Forrestfield and Baldivis, with the multi-million-dollar policing hubs to be operational later this year and help accommodate the needs of the growing WA Police Force.
To support at-risk youth and ensure they have a bright future, funding for Police and Community Youth Centres across the State has also increased by $10.5 million - delivering on another key election commitment.
This will complement other initiatives, such as the Cook Government's commitment of $5.9 million over the next three years to enhance community safety and improve outcomes for young people in Kununurra.
The funds will help establish the first Night Space program in the Kimberley town, providing a safe place for children after hours, as well as meals and access to culturally appropriate wraparound services.
This follows the allocation of $3.5 million at the 2024-25 Mid-year Review for the continuation of successful Night Space pilot programs in Broome and Fitzroy Crossing.
For more information, visit https://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au
As stated by Police and Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby:
"The Cook Labor Government is proud to have the nation's most capable and well-resourced Police Force, with our new stations in Forrestfield and Baldivis providing officers with the tools they need to do their job effectively and protect the community.
"We're growing the WA Police Force at an unprecedented rate.
"There are now more than 7,200 officers deployed across WA, and we are also ensuring young people are being diverted away from a life of crime.
"This year's State Budget reflects our commitment to the safety and security of every Western Australian."
As stated by Emergency Services and Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia:
"This continued investment shows the Cook Labor Government's determination to bolster emergency services capability and infrastructure and deliver initiatives to protect Western Australian communities.
"The northern suburbs are among the fastest growing parts of Perth, and the new Yanchep fire station will deliver more emergency service resources to cover the needs of communities in the area.
"We'll finalise the planning to deliver a new, world-class State Emergency Management Training Centre, which will provide valuable hands-on training for our valiant career firefighters and volunteers on the front line.
"All the programs funded in the budget combine to strengthen our commitment to keep our emergency services personnel, and communities across our vast State, safe."
As stated by Attorney General Dr Tony Buti:
"Community safety will always be a key priority for the Cook Labor Government.
"The delivery of these common-sense measures will provide quicker outcomes for victims and their families, ensure the decisions of Magistrates are subject to increased oversight if they grant bail to a violent offender and improve accountability of parents or caregivers responsible for young offenders.
"All Western Australians have every right to feel safe in their home and their community."
As stated by Child Protection and Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Jessica Stojkovski:
"Supporting vulnerable children and families is a priority of the Cook Labor Government.
"That's why we are investing more than ever into the child protection and out-of-home care system.
"We have boosted our record investment in child protection across early intervention, the child protection workforce, and out-of-home care and continue to do so with an additional $250 million as part of the 2025-26 Budget.
"We remain committed to strengthening our child protection system and building a skilled, capable and resourced workforce to support the safety and wellbeing of children, young people and their families.
"Meanwhile our investment in Safe at Home and FDV refuges demonstrates our commitment to support victim-survivors of family and domestic violence - it reflects our unwavering focus on safety, accountability, and building a future where violence has no place in Western Australia.
"The Cook Labor Government has invested more than half-a-billion dollars in family and domestic violence prevention measures since 2021 and our 2025-26 Budget commitment of an additional $33.3 million will deliver new refuge beds and support for victims to stay in their homes."
