The Hon. Roger Cook, Premier of Western Australia; The Hon. Stephen Dawson, Minister for Regional Development, Joint Media Release, 7 May 2026

The Cook Labor Government is delivering for regional Western Australia in the 2026-27 State Budget through investments in health, housing and jobs for the regions, while providing significant cost-of-living relief for families.

Regional WA has been central to the economic success of the State for generations and building strong regional cities in Western Australia is vital to unlock the next wave of opportunities.

Seven regional cities will drive delivery of new economic opportunities across the State. In particular, the development of large-scale renewables will mean we can make more things here, export embedded renewable energy in WA products and realise opportunities in space, data centres and AI processing. The seven cities are Karratha, Port Hedland, Broome, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Bunbury and Albany.

These cities must be ready to seize these new economic opportunities, which requires housing, infrastructure and services to support growth, so they can attract and retain families and skilled workers.

They must also be capable of servicing surrounding communities and industries, which is what this Budget will deliver with housing a key priority.

The following initiatives will help unlock and deliver more land supply, build new homes and help first home buyers get into the market in regional WA:

• $1.6 billion for the construction and refurbishment of more than 1,800 social and affordable dwellings, 500 homes for first home buyers, land acquisition and maintenance;
• participation in the Commonwealth’s 100,000 Homes for First Home Buyers Program, supporting the delivery of over 11,000 dwellings over eight years reserved exclusively for first home buyers;
• $297 million tax package to support first home buyers and boost housing supply, including first home owner duty concessions, increased first home owner grant cap, and an extension of the off-the-plan transfer duty concession;
• $250 million First Home Buyer Commercial Financing Fund to provide concessional loans for affordable housing projects;
• $419 million for more than 500 GROH and key government worker dwellings through the Seven Cities New Build program, including new houses, expansion of the GROH Investor Program, and establishment of a revamped Home Ownership Subsidy Scheme including shared equity options;
• $116 million to boost residential land supply in regional WA;
• $50 million top-up to the Regional Housing Support Fund, increasing the fund’s value to $75 million. The Regional Housing Support Fund provides grants to support local housing and residential subdivision projects in regional WA; and
• $48 million to boost modular housing and apartment construction capacity via investment in advanced manufacturing facilities in Kwinana and Neerabup. The facilities are expected to provide prefabricated housing and infrastructure to regional WA.

Real cost-of-living relief will be delivered to regional Western Australians through a range of initiatives that provide financial support for households, with the Cook Labor Government committing $198 million for a $100 Fuel Support Payment available to those with a valid driver’s licence.

A further $89.5 million will be invested to deliver a third round of the Western Australian Student Assistance Payment, which is providing $150 for each primary and kindergarten student and $250 for each secondary school student.

Other cost-of-living relief measures funded as part of this Budget include:

• $36.4 million for free public transport for school students;
• $35 million for a significant 10 per cent uplift in the value of the Energy Assistance Payment, Dependent Child Rebate, and Air Conditioning Allowance;
• $33.7 million to provide free travel on public transport on Sundays;
• $16 million to extend delivery of the Energy Ahead program to 2028-29, delivering energy efficiency upgrades and education to more than 8,000 low-income Synergy and Horizon Power customers;
• $14.5 million to establish a new Foster and Grand Carer Gold Card, offering concessions to carers providing a stable home and support to children and young people in out-of-home care arrangements;
• $14.2 million to support and expand bus services;
• $13.5 million to extend the WA Rent Relief Program;
• continued investment in the Regional Airfare Zone Cap Scheme to keep airfares capped and affordable for eligible regional residents; and
• $3.8 million to support continued operation of the Inter-Regional Flight Network.

The Cook Labor Government’s vision to diversify WA’s nation-leading economy so that it remains the strongest in the nation will be secured in regional WA through the following investments as part of the 2026-27 State Budget:

• more than$150 million in loans to manufacturers to improve energy efficiency and invest in advanced manufacturing equipment as part of the Made in WA Energy Affordability Investment Program;
• $124 million for lower fee and fee free TAFE in 2027;
• $113.5 million for road maintenance across WA;
• $48.6 million for the Social and Emotional Wellbeing program, in the Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields-Esperance, Mid West and South West regions;
• $33.1 million contribution to the nationally coordinated Fuel Excise Relief Program, and a further $4.5 million for the deferral of heavy vehicle fee increases;
• $30 million to top up the Investment Attraction Fund for a second round of grants through the New Energies Industries Funding Stream;
• $18 million to deliver Aboriginal tourism initiatives under the Jina: Western Australian Aboriginal Tourism Action Plan 2026–2030; and
• $1.4 million to deliver a second round of the Small Business Growth Grants Program.

The 2026-27 State Budget will ensure all regional Western Australians can access the healthcare they need, when they need it, including through:

• $294 million additional investment in regional health infrastructure;
• $214 million for an uplift in WA Health’s State-wide maintenance programs;
• $143 million for additional investment in WA Health’s Medical Equipment and Imaging Replacement Program;
• $68.6 million for additional funding to the WA Country Health Service, supporting regional palliative care, renal care, cancer and eye services, and continued initiatives including the Country PatHS homelessness service, and remote area nursing posts;
• $49.8 million for the State’s investment in the Child Development Services System Reform Program;
• $43.8 million for an uplift in baseline funding for existing community mental health and alcohol and other drug services;
• $29.7 million for and to expand suicide prevention initiatives, including $9.9 million in the regions;
• $27.1 million for the free flu vaccine, FluMist and RSV immunisation programs; and
• $4.1 million to expand and enhance the Enhanced Access Community Pharmacy Pilot Project.

Quality infrastructure and services will also be supported through the Budget, with the following investments to bolster schools throughout the regions:

• $219 million boost to school maintenance, benefiting schools in regional WA;
• more than $100 million for targeted maintenance and minor works projects across WA, which includes the replacement of roofs, hardcourts and toilets, as well as the Schools Clean Energy Technology Fund;
• $310 million uplift in funding to support students with disability at public schools; and
• $15.7 million to expand access to training and support for staff working with students with disability.

The Cook Labor Government will continue building safe and inclusive communities so that all Western Australians feel secure at home and at work through the following investments:

• $421 million for child protection services, in addition to $52.4 million extra to support foster carers and grandcarers;
• $361 million for Foundational Supports – Thriving Kids services over the next five years, to provide support for children aged 8 and under with developmental delays or autism;
• $127 million top-up to the Remote Communities Fund to deliver additional housing investment, undertake municipal works, and support essential infrastructure and services in remote Aboriginal communities;
• $91.1 million funding boost for new and continuing homelessness services;
• $61.4 million for the Target 120 early intervention program for young people coming into repeated contact with WA Police;
• $60.7 million to provide ongoing funding for road safety community awareness campaigns and school education programs across WA;
• $44.6 million uplift in operational funding for family and domestic violence refuges and safe houses across WA;
• $31.2 million towards the fire and emergency fleet replacement throughout WA;
• $29.5 million uplift in resourcing for the Home Stretch service supporting young people as they age out of the child protection system;
• $24.2 million for the WA Police Force for Operation Regional Shield in regional WA;
• $20.3 million uplift in funding for at-risk youth services around the State;
• $8.8 million for the WA Police Force to employ additional community liaison officers and a program coordinator across both regional and metropolitan areas; and
• $1.5 million in 2026-27 to support continuation of the safeSPACE program in Kununurra, Kalgoorlie and Roebourne.

Protecting and restoring WA’s environment so future generations can continue enjoying its economic and lifestyle benefits will be secured with the following investments:

• $52.9 million to establish a Regional Water Source Fund supporting water source planning and investigation in regional Western Australia;
• $24.7 million for biosecurity and animal disease preparedness activities;
• a further $8.5 million towards the Fisheries Support Package, including funding for an enhanced science program and upgrades to the FishCatchWA app; and
• $2.5 million to strengthen climate resilience planning across the State Government and support development of sector adaptation plans.

For more information, visit ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au.

Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:

“Whether you live in one of our regional cities, towns or remote communities across our State, this Budget delivers for Western Australians and keeps WA strong.

“Our regions have been central to WA becoming the strongest economy in the nation and will be critical to our future economic success.

“That’s why this Budget will help seize the big job-creating projects in regional WA, with investments in the economic infrastructure needed to expand our Seven Cities as hubs to provide quality services to the towns and remote communities within their regions.”

Comments attributed to Regional Development Minister Stephen Dawson:

“When we invest in our regional communities we are investing in the economic growth of our State.

“Through this State Budget we are ensuring regional Western Australia has the infrastructure and resources needed to grow more job opportunities now and into the future.

“Whether it’s health, housing, or cost-of-living support, the Cook Labor Government is committed to helping our regions grow.”

Related stories: WA Budget 2026-27