- 2025-26 State Budget delivers on Cook Labor Government's vision for regional WA
- More than $10 billion invested in the regions
- Significant investments in health, community safety, education and housing
- More than $4 billion delivered through Royalties for Regions Program
- Ensuring people living in regional Western Australia have access to the infrastructure and services they need
The Cook Labor Government is delivering its vision for the Wheatbelt, with the 2025-26 State Budget providing significant investments in health infrastructure, mental health services, community safety, housing and community services.
Billions of dollars will be delivered to the regions, supporting the Cook Government's commitment to Western Australians, that no matter if they live in our suburbs, regional centres, towns, or remote communities, they will have local job opportunities, and access to major services and infrastructure.
The Budget will help keep costs down for Wheatbelt families with billions of dollars in rebates and concessions, and household fees and charges being kept affordable with below inflation increases for a sixth consecutive year.
More than $4 billion in Royalties for Regions funding will also go towards projects which enhance regional communities, ensuring they remain exceptional places to live, work and raise a family.
Regional Western Australians will benefit from the Cook Government's $121 million investment in regional health and mental health infrastructure and services. This includes:
- $12.2million to implement a Virtual Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Hub, which will provide virtual mental health treatment and support services for children and their families; and
- $8.2 million to establish GP ASK to connect WA GPs to dedicated and experienced specialists without the need for patients to travel to a hospital.
The 2025-26 State Budget delivers cost-of-living support with rebates and concessions for people across the Wheatbelt, including:
- $3.5billion over the next fouryears to keep regional water and power prices in line with metropolitan prices;
- $337 million towards the WA Residential Battery Scheme, providing Horizon Power customers with up to $7,500 towards the cost of a household battery together with the Federal Government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program, plus households with incomes of less than $210,000 per annum can access no-interest loans of up to $10,000;
- $88.7 million in cost-of-living relief to families for school expenses, including $250 for every secondary student and $150 for every primary and kindergarten student, through the second round of the Western Australian Student Assistance Payment;
- $28 million to expand the School Breakfast Program to provide free breakfasts five days a week at more than 650 schools, including in the Wheatbelt;
- $25.7 million to deliver a further $100 increase to the Regional Pensioner Travel Card, bringing the total card value to $775 per year;
- $18.2 million to halve Transwa fares for bus services connecting towns in regional WA, including across the Wheatbelt;
- increasing the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme fuel subsidy from $0.26perkilometre to $0.40perkilometre at a cost of $18.5million; and
- $8million for the Country Week Assistance Program to support regional students participating in Country Week events.
The Cook Government will invest $219.7million in regional primary and secondary school infrastructure, upgrades and new builds, as well as a range of measures to support families with early education and outside of school hours care. Key initiatives include:
- $43.3 million towards the first tranche of the Cool the Schools program that will deliver air conditioning upgrades to schools across the State including:
- $1.1 million to deliver air conditioning upgrades at Bindoon Primary School; and
- $680,000 to upgrade air conditioning at Mukinbudin District High School.
- 30.3 million for the School of Isolated and Distance Education to support more students learning in regional WesternAustralia;
- $15 million to boost before and after school care in schools;
- $10million for additional transportable classrooms, including $4.4 million for the Alternative Learning Settings programs in Northam and Karratha;
- $8.6million to facilitate a range of infrastructure works in the regions as part of the New Schools and Maintenance Vision; and
- More than $4million as part of the Government's small commitments to support minor works and noninfrastructure projects at more than 70 public and nongovernment schools.
Around $277 million per annum will be invested to deliver Vocational Education and Training, career and employment advice, and TAFE support services across regional WesternAustralia, with further asset investment of $65 million towards regional TAFE projects. This includes:
- $11.6million for another round of the TAFE Modern Equipment program to enhance facilities and infrastructure assets in the regions;
- $8.6million to deliver fee-free TAFE-housing and construction courses, upskilling the local workforce to build regional houses; and
- $2.4million through the Adult Apprentice Incentive Scheme to cover the wage gap for employers engaging apprentices aged 21 years and over.
Regional roads and transport infrastructure continue to be upgraded, with investment in key projects across the regions including:
- $250million over five years to expand the Regional Road Safety Program to local roads across the State;
- $25 million to deliver the Northam Pithara Road Realignment and Bridge Replacement project; and
- $8.3million to progress commercial options analysis regarding the future of the State's freight rail infrastructure.
An investment of $1.4 billion will be delivered to support housing and homelessness measures. Key regional housing initiatives include:
- $103.8 million in funding to deliver more Government Regional Officer Housing homes for essential government workers in the regions;
- $25 million for the Regional Housing Support Fund that will provide grants of up to $5 million to support new housing and land supply across regional WA, assisting with a wide range of costs, with local government projects and regional subdivisions eligible; and
- $13.7 million for regional staff accommodation costs to attract and retain staff in regional areas.
The Cook Government will continue to build safe and strong regional communities with key initiatives, such as:
- $15.6 million to redevelop accommodation at the WA Police Academy to provide free residential accommodation for regional police recruits during the six-month training period, with the option for them to be placed in their home policing districts for the first four to six years of their careers;
- 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;
- $3 million to continue an uplift in baseline funding to financial counselling services across the State, including the Share and Care Wheatbelt Financial Counselling Service and the Narrogin Financial Counselling Service; and
- $2million, funded by the Commonwealth Government, to establish a WesternAustralian Telecommunications Resilience Pilot Program in the Wheatbelt and Western Goldfields.
A focus on diversifying regional economies, delivering more jobs and powering WA on clean energy continues, with the Cook Government delivering investments of:
- $500 million increase to the Strategic Industries Fund (to $1 billion), which will support activating Strategic Industrial Areas across the State, including in the Pilbara, South West and Mid West; and
- $6.7million for the Grain Harvest Program and aerial fire response capability including the establishment of two strike teams.
The Budget will also support local industry, sport and recreation across regional WA, including:
- $25.2million to establish a Regional Racing Fund for key infrastructure upgrades at up to 24 racing, harness, turf and trotting clubs, including:
- $500,000 for Narrogin Race and Pace;
- $420,000 Wagin Trotting Club;
- $332,000 for Northam Harness;
- $315,000 for Northam Race Club;
- $30,000 for York Racing; and
- $19,000 for Williams Harness Racing Club.
- $6 million to establish the Boosting Women and Girls Participation in Sport fund to encourage women and girls to get involved in community sport;
- $4 million to establish the Veterans Facilities fund to help RSL and veterans organisations upgrade their local facilities and RSL clubs;
- $1.3 million for medical facilities at all Karting WA clubs, including Lake King Kart Club and Hurricane Go Kart Club in Wundowie; and
- $1.1 million for upgrades to Hurricane Go Kart Club in Wundowie, including track extension and resurfacing, and other infrastructure improvements.
The Cook Government's 2025-26 State Budget delivers another strong surplus for Western Australia, and with debt levels remaining affordable, puts WA in the best position to invest in what matters for all Western Australians.
For more information, visit https://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au
As stated by Wheatbelt Minister Sabine Winton:
"Regional communities are a key focus of the Cook Government, and the Wheatbelt is a region of significant opportunity.
"The Wheatbelt plays an important role in the economic growth and diversification of Western Australia. The region is well-placed to be a key player in the Cook Government's plan to make more things in WA and transition to a low-carbon economy.
"I am pleased that this Budget sees funding for several initiatives to further support the Wheatbelt, including upgrades to key roads, attraction and retention initiatives.
"I am pleased that these investments in the Budget will help further support the Wheatbelt including upgrades to key roads, attraction and retention initiatives, and health services."
