- 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 South West, 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, 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 South West 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:
- $36.3 million to expand the WA Virtual Emergency Department and enable people to access expert emergency care from their own home, no matter where they live;
- $20.3 million in additional funding to the major Bunbury Regional Hospital redevelopment bringing the total to $471.4 million;
- $13.8million to commence a mental health child and adolescent Acute Care and Response Team in Bunbury;
- $12.2 million to enable virtual access to specialist mental health care through a Virtual Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Hub (VICAMHS) for rural and remote areas of WA; 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 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, combined with the Commonwealth scheme, plus households with incomes of less than $210,000 per annum can access no-interest loans of up to $10,000;
- $152 million to cap public transport fares at the cost of a one-zone ticket including Bunbury, Busselton and Dunsborough bus services;
- $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 South West;
- $25.7million to increase the Regional Pensioner Travel Card by a further $100;
- $18.2 million to halve Transwa fares including for the Australind train service and for bus services connecting towns in regional WA, including across the South West;
- $18.5 million to increase the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) fuel subsidy from 26c per kilometre to 40c per kilometre;
- $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.
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;
- $13.7 million for regional staff accommodation costs to attract and retain staff in regional areas;
- $3 million from the Housing Enabling Infrastructure Fund to deliver wastewater infrastructure to enable development of over 5,000 residential lots in Dalyellup, Busselton and Margaret River; and
- $3.1million to expand Housing First Support Homelessness Services in Bunbury and surrounding suburbs for people experiencing homelessness or rough sleeping.
The Cook Government has committed $219.7 million to boost regional education infrastructure, as well as a range of measures to support families across regional Western Australia, including for early education and outside of school hours care. Key initiatives include:
- $42 million for the first tranche of minor works for schools across the State including:
- $1.8 million to deliver new STEM facilities at Donnybrook District High School; and
- $1.35 million to deliver student support centre upgrades at Bunbury Primary School.
- $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:
- $1.4 million to upgrade air conditioning at Dardanup Primary School;
- $1 million to upgrade air conditioning at Picton Primary School; and
- $970,000 to deliver air conditioning upgrades at Harvey Primary School.
- $30.3 million for the School of Isolated and Distance Education to support more students learning in regional Western Australia;
- $15 million to expand the number of outside school hours care services at public primary schools, of which $1 million is for schools in Manjimup and Bunbury;
- $10million for additional transportable classrooms in regional schools;
- $8.6 million to facilitate a range of infrastructure works in the regions as part of the New Schools and Maintenance Vision commitment;
- 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; and
- $1.9 million to start planning for the new Vasse West Primary School, to open Term 1 2028.
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, up skilling the local workforce to build regional houses; and
- $3million through the Adult Apprentice Incentive Scheme and the Collie Job App.
The 2025-26 State Budget will continue to build safe and strong regional communities with key initiatives, such as:
- more than $480million perannum for services provided by the WesternAustralia Police Force's regional districts, including 123police stations and around 1,900police officers and staff;
- $390million perannum on court and tribunal administration in the regions, community corrections, and the operation of the State's eight regional prisons (and workcamps);
- $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;
- $3 million to continue an uplift in baseline funding to financial counselling services across the State, including the South West District Financial Counselling Service;
- $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; and
- $1.6 million to assist the Shire of Donnybrook Balingup in development of a replacement facility for the Argyle Irishtown Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade. $1 million to PCYC for youth diversion programs in Bunbury.
Regional roads and transport infrastructure will continue to be upgraded, with investments in key projects across the regions including:
- $250 million over five years to expand the Regional Road Safety Program to local roads across the State;
- $40 million towards Transforming Bunbury's Waterfront, that will complete construction of the Casuarina Harbour breakwater, bringing the total project to $112 million;
- $8.5 million towards stage one of the signalised pedestrian crossings program, including near Monash Boulevard in Eaton to cater for students at Glen Huon Primary School; and
- $8.3million to progress commercial options analysis regarding the future of the State's freight rail infrastructure.
Securing the South West's water future is a priority for the Cook Government, with substantial investments in the budget, including:
- Emergency Bulk Water agreement to purchase water for the Warren-Blackwood Regional Water Supply Scheme following an extended dry season.
The Cook Government is focused on diversifying regional economies, delivering more jobs and powering WA. This includes 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;
- $30million towards the Collie Industrial Transition Fund (allocated beyond the forward estimates) to further support the transition of Collie's economy to new and emerging industries;
- 8.8 million for the resourcing of occupational licensing operations to support government initiatives for the construction and energy sectors;
- $6.7million for the Grain Harvest Program and aerial fire response capability including the establishment of two strike teams;
- $6million to more than double the State's contribution to the Wine Industry Export Growth Partnership;
- $4million (funded from the Collie Industry Attraction and Development Fund), to deliver the Allanson Farm Shop Restaurant and Caravan Park;
- $1 million to the Collie Mine Workers Institute; and
- $600,000 towards Collie Job Matching App
The Cook Government's budget will also support local industry and amenity, sport and recreation across regional WA. Some of the projects and initiatives include:
- $93 million towards the first tranche of sport and recreation infrastructure upgrades across the State including:
- $1.25 million towards the Manjimup Rea Park and Collier Street Redevelopment;
- $850,000 towards upgrades to Eaton Boomers Football Club including lighting upgrades, outdoor seat covers and electronic scoreboard; and
- $700,000 towards minor upgrades at Carey Park Football Club in Bunbury.
- $25.2million to establish a Regional Racing Fund for key infrastructure upgrades at up to 24 racing, harness, turf and trotting clubs, including $627,000 for Bunbury Trotting Club, $180,000 Collie Race Club, $109,000 for Bunbury Turf Club; and $20,000 for Busselton Trotting Club;
- $15.5 million towards the upgrade and expansion of the indoor courts at the Leschenault Leisure Centre;
- $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;
- $3 million to increase the marron population and boost recreational fishing opportunities at Wellington, Harvey and Logue Brook dams;
- $2.9 million to expand the kiosk and undertake water and electrical upgrades to facilities at Wellington National Park;
- $1.3 million for medical facilities at all Karting WA clubs, including $100,000 for Bunbury City Kart Club;
- $1 million to support the delivery of a new 45kilometre spur trail off the Munda Biddi Trail;
- $1 million to deliver new recreational facilities at Turkey Point in Bunbury including paths, seating and barbeques;
- $1 million to upgrade and improve the amenity and paths at the access to Dalyellup Beach, next to the Dalyellup Beach Surf Life Saving Club;
- $1 million towards upgrades at the Collie Mine Workers Institute;
- $750,000 for Bunbury Speedway, $750,000 for Bunbury Motorcross, and $450,000 for Collie Speedway;
- $750,000 towards a new all abilities playground at Meriden Park in Harvey;
- $750,000 towards clubroom upgrades at Bunbury Motorcycle Club; and
- $450,000 towards upgrading the toilets and ablutions at Collie Speedway.
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 South West Minister and Bunbury MLA Don Punch:
"We want the South West to be a place where you can get a job, start a business, build a home, educate the kids and have access to great health care in a place you love.
"Throughout our region we are investing in jobs, homes, health and schools, including the biggest regional health project in our State's history at Bunbury Regional Hospital."
As stated by Collie-Preston MLA Jodie Hanns:
"I'm proud to be part of a government that is investing in Collie-Preston's future, by committing funding to major election commitments through this Budget.
"By supporting jobs through further investments in Collie's Just Transition, we are diversifying our local economy, delivering more jobs in regional WA and ensuring Collie continues to power our State into the future.
"I'm also very pleased to see record investments in local schools, housing infrastructure and hospitals to support our growing region."
