The McGowan Labor Government is investing in the future of regional Western Australia with a record $9.1 billion investment in infrastructure, $4.2 billion for Royalties for Regions and billions more to deliver quality services such as health, education, TAFE and police.
The 2021-22 State Budget includes $627 million of regional election commitments and other new initiatives, with billions more through the delivery of services around the State.
The McGowan Government is delivering on its 10 regional plans, with the WA Jobs Plan to provide further job-creating support to regional economies.
The State Budget delivers a strong surplus which enables the McGowan Government to invest in major initiatives for all Western Australians.
It includes ongoing support for vital services across regional WA, including $463 million for regional school bus services, and $2 billion to subsidise regional electricity and water costs to keep charges in line with the metropolitan area.
Importantly, only nine per cent of the massive $9.1 billion infrastructure investment is funded through Royalties for Regions, highlighting the McGowan Government's massive investments in regional WA to keep country communities strong.
As part of this, the State Budget is delivering $4.5 billion for road projects and programs throughout regional WA - including $194 million for the Regional Road Safety Improvement program.
The State Budget includes hundreds of millions of dollars of job-creating projects for the regions, including the $100 million Investment Attraction and New Industries Fund, $120 million to speed up project approvals, the continuation of the successful $40 million RED grants program, $12.9 million for regional arts and major investments in agriculture and biosecurity.
The Budget includes $200 million to improve WA's agricultural supply chain in the Wheatbelt, Mid-West, Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions with major freight network transport upgrades.
$19.8 million will fund the Regional Airfares Zone Cap to make air travel for regional residents more affordable - delivering on an election commitment for regional WA.
Western Australia's successful regional tourism industry will be supported with millions of dollars of projects around the State.
This includes $45 million for the Aboriginal Ranger Program to expand remote and regional land and sea management and tourism activities, and $12.1 million to implement the regional component of the Jina: Western Australian Aboriginal Tourism Action Plan 2021-25.
Regional WA will benefit from a $1.9 billion boost to WA health and mental health, delivering improved care for all Western Australians - with millions of dollars also invested in new and upgraded hospitals and healthcare facilities.
The McGowan Government is delivering its $19.7 million election commitment to enhance the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) - increasing the accommodation subsidy to $100 per night, and increasing eligibility for vulnerable and disadvantaged people, and women travelling to give birth.
The McGowan Government is also employing an additional 25 full-time equivalent paid paramedics in regional WA to support the network of volunteer paramedics - delivering another election commitment.
Regional WA will also benefit from a share of the $374 million State-wide investment in Aboriginal well-being.
$1.5 billion will be spent each year to provide regional students with a quality education, in addition to $427.5 million over the next four years for refurbishments, upgrades and new builds for regional primary and secondary schools.
$198 million per annum over the next four years will deliver vocational education and training, career advice and TAFE support services in regional WA.
WA's national parks, marine reserves, forests and other environmental assets will be supported with $212 million this financial year.
To keep regional Western Australians safe, over $370 million per annum will be invested in WA Police's regional districts over the next four years.
Full details of the hundreds of State Budget programs and initiatives to support regional WA are available at https://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"We are investing in regional WA's future - using our strong Budget surplus to fund a record $9.1 billion program of job-creating infrastructure works throughout the State.
"We're delivering $4.2 billion through Royalties for Regions, with billions more to fund quality services for all Western Australians.
"The State Government's work to keep regional WA safe has kept country economies open and delivered the biggest intrastate tourism boom the State has ever seen.
"This strong management of COVID-19 and the State's finances enables us to re-invest in regional WA - supporting continued job creation in our communities and ensuring WA remains the engine room of the nation.
"Our WA Jobs Plan will build on our work to reduce the unemployment rate to its lowest level in almost eight years - delivering more jobs for regional WA and keeping our country towns and cities strong."
As stated by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
"Our Government is continuing to build strong and resilient regional communities, working to diversify our regional economies and create local jobs.
"We are delivering on our election commitments, and helping our regions to embrace future opportunities and 21st century industries.
"We're continuing to deliver Royalties for Regions, but our investment into regional WA is so much more - including a record infrastructure spend, providing modern roads, schools, hospitals and facilities right across the regions."
