In her third budget presentation today, Treasurer Rita Saffioti unveiled significant allocations for housing, healthcare, and education.
According to Saffioti, the state has recorded its eighth consecutive operating surplus, reaching $3.5 billion this year, with projections indicating an expected surplus of $2.4 billion for the coming year.
Despite this fiscal achievement, net debt is anticipated to rise to $34.5 billion by June 30, largely due to investments in infrastructure projects.
Saffioti emphasized that Western Australia maintains the lowest debt burden compared to other Australian states.
Starting July 1, over 2.1 million residents will be able to access the Service WA app to claim fuel support payments.
To complete the process, drivers must provide their license number and bank details via the app.
“Our nation-leading fuel payment will deliver real financial support directly to Western Australian motorists,” Saffioti said in her speech today.
Saffioti also announced an additional spend of $9.1 billion to invest into health and mental health services, including $6.5 billion for hospital services
Parents will receive a continuation of the student assistance payment with $150 available for every primary school or kindergarten student and $250 for each secondary student.
The payments are due to be paid from term three this year.
The government allocated $4.7 billion towards housing, with a measure targeted at younger West Australians.
The stamp duty exemption threshold will lift from $500,000 to $600,000.
However electricity and water charges are set to climb by more than $50 each, while running a car will cost an extra $35.
Saffioti said the state had been impacted by world events such as the Middle East conflict.
“This budget is being delivered in a time of great economic uncertainty,” Saffioti said.
“The tectonic plates upon which our global economy rest have shifted unexpectedly, exposing fault lines that no one could have foreseen.
“Our job as a government has been to cushion Western Australian households and our domestic economy from the impact of these fast moving plates.”
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