- 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 Peel, with the 2025-26 State Budget providing significant investments in health infrastructure, mental health services, community safety, housing and community services.
Billions will be delivered to the regions, supporting the Cook Government's commitment to Western Australians, whether they live in our suburbs, regional centres, towns, or remote communities, they will have access to local job opportunities, major services and quality infrastructure.
The Budget will help keep costs down for Peel 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.
Western Australians in Peel will benefit from the Cook Government's $121 million investment in regional health and mental health infrastructure and services, including:
- $12.2 million to enable virtual access to specialist mental health care through a Virtual Infant Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Hub; 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 State Budget delivers cost-of-living support with rebates and concessions for people across regional WA, 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 Synergy customers with up to $5,000 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;
- $152 million to introduce the Suburban Flat Fare that will cap public transport fares at the cost of a one-zone ticket for all public transport, including for commuters on the Mandurah rail line, as well as regional bus services including the Waroona Shopper;
- $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, including the Australind train and bus services connecting towns in regional WA;
- Increasing the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme fuel subsidy from $0.26perkilometre to $0.40perkilometre at a cost of $18.5million;
- $8million for the Country Week Assistance Program to support regional students participating in Country Week events; and
- $250 for every secondary student and $150 for every primary and kindergarten student, through the second round of the Western Australian Student Assistance Payment.
The Cook Government is focused on diversifying regional economies, delivering more jobs and securing our water future. This includes investments of:
- $20 million to expand the Aboriginal Ranger Program;
- $9.7 million to commence providing infill sewerage services in Falcon; and
- $8.5 million to improve the water quality in the PeelHarvey estuary and continue the delivery of the Bindjareb Djilba (Peel-Harvey Estuary) Protection Plan.
The Cook Government's Budget will deliver a $1.4 billion investment 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;
- $19.4 million through the Housing Enabling Infrastructure Fund to upgrade water and power infrastructure to enable the development of more residential housing lots in Mandurah, South Yunderup and Pinjarra;
- $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 2025-26 State Budget is investing in the transport infrastructure that our regional communities need to stay connected, including $250 million over five years to expand the Regional Road Safety Program to local roads across the State and the following commitments for Peel:
- $8.3 million to progress planning and negotiations to bring the Freight Rail Network back into Government hands;
- $8.5 million towards stage one of the signalised pedestrian crossings program, including on Mandurah Road, near Coodanup Drive in Dudley Park, to cater to students at Dudley Park Primary School; and
- $3 million to improve access to Forrest Highway from Austin Lakes in South Yunderup, including upgrades to Shoales Bend and the intersection of Forrest Highway and Beacham Road.
The Cook Government has committed $219.7 million to boost regional education infrastructure and support early education initiatives and outside of school hours care. Key initiatives include:
- $28 million to expand the School Breakfast Program to provide free breakfasts five days a week at more than 650 schools, including in the Peel region;
- $30.3 million for the School of Isolated and Distance Education to support more students learning in regional WesternAustralia;
- $10million for additional transportable classrooms in regional schools;
- $8.6million to facilitate a range of infrastructure works in the regions as part of the New Schools and Maintenance Vision, including $200,000 to begin planning for a proposed new secondary school in Dawesville; 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.
About $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
- $5.3million through the Adult Apprentice Incentive Scheme and AUKUS Incentive Scheme.
The Cook Government will continue to build safe and strong regional communities with key initiatives, such as:
- more than $480million perannum for services provided by the Western Australia Police Force's regional districts, including 123police stations and around 1,900police officers and staff;
- $14.3million to redevelop a WesternAustralia Police Academy accommodation block, which will be used to provide free accommodation to regional recruits to encourage people living in regional areas to become police officers;
- $6.7million for the Grain Harvest Program and aerial fire response capability including the establishment of two strike teams;
- $3.5 million for expansion of the Community Emergency Services Manager program; and
- $3.1 million towards a new State Bushfire Mitigation Branch to undertake mitigation works on Unallocated Crown Land and Unmanaged Reserves, as well as $3 million to continue an uplift in baseline funding to financial counselling services.
A commitment of $33.3 million to support family and domestic violence victim-survivors has been included in the budget, including:
- $11.5 million to deliver the Safe at Home program to seven additional locations, including several in regional Western Australia.
The Cook Government's budget will also support local industry and amenity, sport and recreation across regional WA to support local industry, community activities and recreation across regional WA. Initiatives for Peel include:
- $93 million towards the first tranche of sport and recreation infrastructure upgrades across the State including:
- $20 million towards the new Peel Netball Centre, with the location to be developed in consultation with the community and Netball WA;
- $6 million towards additional multi use indoor courts at Mandurah Aquatic Centre to cater for basketball, volleyball, badminton and netball; and
- $200,000 towards storage at Peel Reserve Oval to cater to the Halls Head Cricket Club and Mandurah City Football Club.
- $25.2 million to the Regional Racing Fund to upgrade infrastructure at regional racing clubs across the State including:
- $7.5 million for major facility upgrades at the Pinjarra Race Club; and
- $2.2 million for upgrades to the Pinjarra Harness Racing Club.
- $2.2 million for upgrades to the Pinjarra Harness Racing Club.
- $8.5 million to continue to implement the Bindjareb-Djilba Protection Plan for the Peel Harvey Estuary including a $5 million community grants program to deliver nutrient reduction and river restoration projects;
- $6 million to establish the Boosting Women and Girls Participation in Sport fund to encourage women and girls to get involved in community sport, including $1.5 million for upgrades to Dwellingup Oval;
- $5 million for Stage One of the Jarrahdale Trails Centre, which will provide a new hub for the growing trails tourism industry in Serpentine-Jarrahdale;
- $4 million to establish the Veterans Facilities fund to help RSL and veterans organisations upgrade their local facilities and RSL clubs;
- $1.5 million to create a new walking and cycling path from Serpentine town to the Serpentine National Park;
- $1.45 million towards a new pavilion at Dwellingup Oval, including women's changerooms;
- $800,000 towards new women's changerooms at Waroona Football Club;
- $800,000 towards upgrades at North Pinjarra Park including for the multi-use courts, play area and barbeques;
- $750,000 towards upgrades at Edenvale Heritage Precinct including lighting and toilets;
- $400,000 towards lighting and storage upgrades at Merlin Street Reserve, used by the Halls Head Football and Netball Club; and
- $180,000 to improve women's facilities at Sir Ross McLarty Oval in Pinjarra.
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 Peel Minister Jessica Stojkovski:
"By investing in the Peel region, the Cook Government is building a stronger and more connected Western Australia now and into the future.
"We are delivering real outcomes for regional communities like Peel, improving access to quality healthcare, helping relieve cost-of-living pressures, upgrading infrastructure and keeping community support close to home.
"This Budget is about building safer, secure and more liveable communities."
As stated by Mandurah MLA Rhys Williams:
"This budget delivers real outcomes for Mandurah and the Peel region - with record investment in community infrastructure, support for local groups, and targeted relief for families doing it tough.
"It reflects the Cook Government's strong financial stewardship and commitment to local communities."
As stated by Dawesville MLA Lisa Munday:
"I'm proud to see the Cook Government delivering real results through investments that truly improve people's lives - from better healthcare and cleaner water to more sporting opportunities.
"This is a Budget that delivers for you: practical, people-focused, and ready for the future."
