Power bill help ditched in WA Labor's big-spending infrastructure budget
The Cook government has done away with its flagship cost of living-beating $400 power credit as it seeks to convince those not feeling the benefits of the state's current prosperity that more targeted measures will do the trick.
Labor's ninth budget – Treasurer Rita Saffioti's second – has delivered a $2.5 billion operating surplus this year and more operating surpluses over the next four years from $2.4 billion in 2025-26 to $2.8 billion by 2029.
However, state spending continues to skyrocket and cash deficits are driving growth in state debt as the government pivots from road and Metronet spending to ports, poles and wires.
Premier Roger Cook said the budget delivered on his 'Made in WA' plan promised at the state election in March, which aimed to diversify WA's economy away from its reliance on iron ore.
'This budget keeps Western Australian ambitions on track,' he said.
The government will spend $963 million extra on cost of living support for WA households – but that will not include a state-funded power credit that has featured in the past four budgets.
Instead, Saffioti pointed to items like the $150 Commonwealth-funded power credit and the already announced $337 million residential battery scheme as evidence it was helping address power bill prices.
On broader cost of living support, Saffioti pointed to the $89 million school assistance payment currently on offer to parents of school children, and the $2.80 flat Transperth and TransWA fare due next year, which will cost $152 million.
This flat fare has helped bring down how much the average household pays in government fees and charges by 0.8 per cent from $6617 to $6565.
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