WA Budget 2025-26: Key regional spending revealed, with major investments across the Mid West
But while the majority of Mid West election funding promises were kept, notably Labor's pledge to fund a Royal Flying Doctor Service base in Geraldton did not crack a mention this time around.
In the lead-up to the election, the Cook Government committed $7.5 million towards establishing the long-awaited RFDS facility in the Mid West, but the funding was nowhere to be seen in this year's Budget — prompting frustration from Member for Geraldton Kirrilee Warr who said the service is critical for timely emergency care in the region's remote areas.
'I'm disappointed there appears to be no funding towards an RFDS base here in Geraldton in the State Budget,' Ms Warr said.
'Nearly 2000 patients were retrieved by the service in the Mid West over the past year — more than five people per day.
'I will continue to back important projects across the electorate and will hold this State Government to account to ensure it delivers the funding they promised at the election.'
Minister for the Mid West Jackie Jarvis said she had spoken to the RFDS chief executive and said all election promises would eventually be delivered in Geraldton.
'We're working with them again to understand their timelines and to make sure that they have fully costed the project,' she said.
'It has been 105 days since the State election, that election commitment, all election commitments made in Geraldton, will be honoured as part of our four-year term.'
But the Mid West did come out a winner with an additional $500m committed to the State's Strategic Industries Fund — supporting key priorities under the Made in WA plan, including fast-tracking of clean energy and major industrial projects — with the Oakajee precinct set to share in the funding.
Oakajee remains part of the State Government's plan to create a renewable energy hub in the Mid West with $60m invested in the project so far.
So who were the other Budget winners in the Mid West this time around? Here's the Guardian's five-minute guide to what was in it for our region.
Business and development:
Geraldton's port will benefit from $3.5m for detailed design of Berths 8 and 9, 'supporting future renewable energy exports like wind turbine components'.
Meanwhile, $8.9m has been set aside to boost the Exploration Incentive Scheme to drive regional mining jobs.
Other investments include $20m to expand the Aboriginal Ranger Program and $8.3m to progress plans to return WA's freight rail network to public ownership.
Cost of living support:
A second round of the WA Student Assistance Payment will allow households to apply for a $150 payment for each primary aged child or $250 payment for each secondary aged child. This comes as the first round is due to close on July 4.
Eligible concession card holders will receive a one-off rebate on their water bills and $25.7m has been pledged to increase the Regional Pensioner Travel Cards by a further $100, to $775.
TransWA fares will be halved, including fares for bus services connecting towns in the Mid West in an $18m promise. The reductions will begin from January 1.
The Country Week Assistance Program has been given $8m to support regional participant in country week events.
Housing:
The Mid West is set to benefit from a major injection of funding aimed at tackling housing shortages and supporting essential workers across the region.
As part of a $1.1 billion Statewide investment, $400m has been committed to building and upgrading public housing in regional areas, including Geraldton and surrounding towns.
The Government will double its Government Regional Officer Housing construction program with $103.8m to build more than 100 homes and acquire land for key workers such as police and teachers.
A further $25m will go into the new Regional Housing Support Fund, offering grants up to $5m to unlock housing and land supply — including subdivisions and key worker accommodation.
To improve home ownership access, Keystart will also introduce a new low-deposit loan product to help more Mid West residents purchase modular homes.
Health:
Planning for an expansion of renal services and a radiation oncology service can begin, with $1m apiece put aside for that purpose within this year's Budget.
While in Kalbarri a further $1m will go towards upgrading the health centre's air-conditioning system, improving comfort and safety for patients and staff.
The Budget also includes $8.2m to attract and retain health workers in regional areas, with the Government touting that families will also benefit from a $12.2m investment in the Virtual Infant Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Hub for children which will provide specialist care for children and young people via telehealth.
Those who need to rely on the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme will see the benefit of a $18.5m to allow the fuel subsidy to be increased from 26¢ cents to 40¢ per kilometre.
Communities:
Geraldton will see more CCTV installed as part of a $2.3m Statewide rollout to combat antisocial behaviour, while $1m is going to Police and Community Youth Centres to support youth diversion programs in the city.
More than $480m per year is set to be spent on police services across regional WA, including 123 stations and nearly 1900 officers and staff, with $14.3m to provide free police academy accommodation for regional recruits.
Regional courts will also benefit from $5m in security upgrades.
Planning for a new evacuation centre in Kalbarri can begin with $250,000 pledged for the project as well as the Statewide commitment of $6.7m to support DFES's aerial fire response capability, with two strike teams to mitigate the threat of crop fires during the grain harvesting season.
Sport:
Geraldton's GBSC Sport Park will receive $3m for new toilets and change rooms, including facilities for women, while the Geraldton Netball Association is getting $2.8m to upgrade its Wonthella courts and amenities.
The Backroads Gravel Festival will be supported with $450,000 in funding to keep the Mid West cycling event running for the next three years.
The Midwest Kart Club in Geraldton will receive $100,000 to improve onsite medical facilities and the Dongara-Irwin Race Club has been allocated $92,000 for infrastructure upgrades.
Education:
Geraldton Senior High School is set for a $8m windfall for classroom refurbishments, LED lighting and air-conditioning upgrades, while Champion Bay High School will have a new gymnasium after a $23.5m promise.
More than $20m will fund the establishment of new regional university study hubs, giving students in the Mid West and other regions greater access to tertiary education.
Another $28m has been given to expand the School Breakfast Program to provide free breakfasts five days a week at more than 650 schools, including in the Mid West.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
2 hours ago
- West Australian
Michaelia Cash: Anthony Albanese's Palestinian statehood push is a reward for terror
When Anthony Albanese announced that Australia would unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state, he claimed it was a 'practical contribution to peace'. It was nothing of the sort. It was a gift to Hamas, proof of which came just 48 hours later when Mr Albanese was praised by the terrorist group for his decision. When terrorists congratulate your foreign policy, you are doing something very wrong. The endorsement of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, co-founder of the terrorist group Hamas, of Mr Albanese's decision to recognise Palestine as a state should horrify all Australians. That's the same listed terrorist organisation responsible for the massacre of October 7, the kidnapping of hostages, and the ongoing rocket fire into Israel. You do not achieve peace by rewarding terrorists. All Australians should be appalled at the massive propaganda victory Mr Albanese has handed Hamas on a platter. Mr Albanese has been proven to be completely out of his depth on this vital foreign policy matter. He told Australians Hamas would reject his position to recognise a Palestinian state. The decision does not make the world a safer place, expedite the end of the conflict, deliver a two-state solution, see the free flow of aid, support the release of hostages or put an end to the terrorist group Hamas. Mr Albanese's decision is effectively unconditional recognition. It will go ahead in September, no matter what. Recognition before the hostages are freed, before Hamas is defeated, and before any security guarantees are in place is not diplomacy. It is dangerous naivety. It hands Hamas one of the strategic objectives they sought when they unleashed their campaign of terror in 2023. Recognition should come at the end of a genuine peace process, not at its beginning. It should be the culmination of negotiations in which both sides make real compromises, leading to a secure Israel and a secure Palestine living side by side. That was the bipartisan consensus in this country for decades. By breaking from that cautious, measured approach, Mr Albanese has abandoned the position that recognition must be conditional on the renunciation of terrorism, the release of hostages, and the recognition of Israel's right to exist. If recognition is to mean anything, it must be tied to clear, enforceable conditions. Mr Albanese himself has said these include: no role for Hamas in a future Palestinian state; full demilitarisation; recognition of Israel's right to exist in peace and security; free and fair elections; governance reform, financial transparency, and education oversight to prevent incitement to violence. But here's the problem: none of these conditions have been met. And worse still, Mr Albanese has given no timetable for when they must be. How will these conditions be enforced? What proof will be required? And if they are broken, will recognition be revoked, or will Labor simply turn a blind eye? These are basic questions any serious government would answer before making a major foreign policy decision. Mr Albanese has answered none of them. In truth, the Palestinian Authority, which Mr Albanese claims can deliver these guarantees, has a poor record of honouring its commitments. It has failed to comply with the Oslo Accords, continues to make payments to convicted terrorists and their families, and has not held proper elections in nearly 20 years. Worse, just last year, the Palestinian Authority signed the 2024 Beijing Declaration with Hamas, agreeing to form an interim unity government that would include Hamas, the very terrorists Labor now says will have 'no role' in a Palestinian state. Polling from the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research — based in Ramallah — shows about 40 per cent of Palestinians currently support Hamas. In Gaza, almost half still back them to govern. Recognising a Palestinian state now risks legitimising a terrorist organisation with significant public support, entrenching their power rather than isolating them. The US has been clear: it does not support unilateral recognition. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that similar recognition by France actually caused talks with Hamas to collapse. Mr Albanese should also answer a simple question: what state is he recognising? A state with no agreed borders? No single government in control of its territory? No demonstrated capacity to live in peace with its neighbours? Australians want the war in Gaza to end. So do I. But that will not happen because of a symbolic gesture from Canberra. It will happen only when the conditions for peace are in place — and that means removing Hamas from the equation entirely. Until then, recognition is not just premature. It is reckless. And the Albanese Government's decision will be remembered as a political gesture that rewarded terror, weakened our alliances, and made lasting peace harder to achieve.
AU Financial Review
2 hours ago
- AU Financial Review
Government to freeze housing code as part of red tape blitz
Housing Minister Clare O'Neil has reaffirmed the government's intention to prohibit further adjustments to the National Construction Code to reduce compliance costs and building delays, as the government swings the focus of next week's economic summit away from tax towards red tape reduction and deregulation. O'Neil, who a week ago told The Australian Financial Review the code freeze was in play, despite Labor attacking the opposition for taking such a policy to the last election, said on Thursday her consultation with industry had driven a change in thinking.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
How AI is used to bust illegal parking in Brisbane – and where you're most likely to be fined
Every detection is manually checked by an inspector, who then decides if a fine should be issued. Most people pay for their parking through street meters or machines. They brought in $23.9 million during the financial year, compared with $18.3 million from the CellOPark app. Residents made almost 44,000 complaints about illegal parking over that time. 'A single car stopped in a clearway can cause traffic chaos for thousands of people,' the LNP council's customer services chair Sarah Hutton said. The new data was obtained by the Labor opposition through questions on notice. Leader Jarred Cassidy argued council has not been forthcoming in how it spends the significant funds raised through fines. 'When residents get pinged, they would at least expect that their money is going towards projects to bust congestion and make our streets safer,' he said in a statement. 'What we have learnt today … is that the LNP Council cannot detail where exactly parking infringement revenue is going. 'They also can't detail how much they've collected after spending almost $7 million on AI technology to help them ping people.' Hutton dismissed the claims. 'Every dollar raised by ensuring people park appropriately and safely is invested straight back into the community to deliver services and build better roads to keep Brisbane moving,' she said. 'This includes projects like our Moggill Road Corridor Upgrade, our turn-up-and-go Brisbane Metro bus rapid transit system, our Clearway Action Plan and smarter corridors.' Top 10 streets and roads for parking fines in Brisbane:
