Latest news with #RitaSaffioti
West Australian
7 hours ago
- Automotive
- West Australian
Kennedy Street to receive upgrades under State Government's Black Spot Program
Road safety in Port Hedland will receive a boost as part of the State Government's 2025-26 Black Spot Program, in an effort to save lives. Raised plateaus will be installed on Kennedy Street between Banksia Street and Cottier Drive with the State Government injecting $183,333 into the non-staged project. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the injection was part of the biggest investment the State Government had ever made into road safety programs. 'Improving road safety is a high priority for our government, which is why we continue to make significant investments to upgrade roads across WA,' she said. 'We know that small changes can make a massive difference when it comes to road safety, and the investment we're announcing today will support upgrades at more than 100 locations around the State.' Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby said the funded projects have a proven crash history or are high risk for drivers. 'Which is why the Cook Government is ramping up its efforts to fund important projects like these,' he said. 'Despite another devastating year so far in road fatalities, we're working hard in delivering road upgrades, increasing the safety for all drivers across our State.' The funding is a part of the State Government's $57 million investment in more than 100 projects across the State under the 2025-26 State Black Spot Program and the Safer Roads Program.
West Australian
a day ago
- Automotive
- West Australian
Kimberley road works funded in State Government's Road Safety cash injection
Two road works in the Kimberley will receive funding as part of the State Government's 2025-26 Black Spot Program. Lakeview Drive in Kununurra will be funded to the tune of $227,526 for stage one works, widening the narrow seal on the road, upgrading pedestrian paths and installing pavement markings, signs and delineation. Stage two of the project is to be funded in the future with a total cost of $436,871. Fairbairn Street in Derby will also receive upgrades, widening the seal, formal parking and bus bays, install pedestrian path, kerbing and upgrade lighting at Derby Senior High School at the cost of $75,000 for stage one. Stage two will be funded in the future with a total cost of $1,057,963. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the injection was the biggest investment the State Government had ever made through the two road safety programs. 'Improving road safety is a high priority for our government, which is why we continue to make significant investments to upgrade roads across WA,' she said. 'We know that small changes can make a massive difference when it comes to road safety, and the investment we're announcing today will support upgrades at more than 100 locations around the State.' Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby said the funded projects have a proven crash history or are high risk for drivers. 'Which is why the Cook Government is ramping up its efforts to fund important projects like these,' he said. 'Despite another devastating year so far in road fatalities, we're working hard in delivering road upgrades, increasing the safety for all drivers across our State. The funding is a part of the State Government's $57 million injection to more than 100 projects across WA under the 2025-26 Black Spot Program and the Safer Roads Program.
ABC News
2 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
As Western Australia posts worst inflation figures in nation, state government spruiks 'responsible' financial management
Thinking about the cost of living and the pressures of inflation are things we would all rather leave in the past, right? The WA government certainly wants you to. "The inflation beast has been tamed," Treasurer Rita Saffioti said in handing down this year's state budget, with its noted shift away from cost-of-living relief and towards the government's focus on diversifying the state's economy. But has the beast really been tamed? The latest inflation data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics — the authority on these things — showed an improving picture nationally which strengthens the argument for an August interest rate cut. Western Australia was the outlier, recording a 1.9 per cent increase in the cost of living between March and June, and a 2.7 per cent increase over the year — both the highest in the nation. The vast majority of that was caused by a 116.8 per cent increase in power bills, with Commonwealth and state government rebates coming to an end. That has added an extra $550 to most homes' power bills compared to last year. "Thanks to our responsible management of the state finances, we've been able to provide significant cost-of-living relief to Western Australians through the worst of the cost-of-living crisis," was how Ms Saffioti said she saw the inflation numbers. "When excluding the impact of electricity credits being unwound, [quarterly] Perth CPI rose by 0.7 per cent." It is a line the government has often repeated since the budget: if you leave electricity out of inflation calculations, the increases are significantly lower. Which is true, of course — across the rest of the economy, the price shocks of years gone by have significantly settled. At one point, we were seeing annual increases of over eight per cent. "It would be nice to exclude certain increases, [but] that's not the lived experience of people living in Western Australia at the moment," independent economist Conrad Liveris said. Because, while having a less heated economy on the whole is helpful for people making ends meet, it does not change the fact that power bills are going up significantly over the year. That couple of hundred extra dollars will have to come from somewhere. Also not helping is that wages have not kept up with rising prices, as anyone trying to balance a household budget knows. Between March 2020 and March 2025, inflation rose 22 per cent in Perth — but wages rose only 17 per cent. That is among the biggest gaps in the country, despite wage growth in the west being the third strongest around the nation. "Unfortunately, Western Australian families have to pay escalating rents and mortgages whilst wages aren't budging," shadow treasurer Sandra Brewer told a business breakfast on Wednesday. "We've had no productive reforms in this state to drive wages above inflation and create prosperity for the people [since 2017]. "I welcome the lead of Jim Chalmers's roundtable to boost productivity and real wages because we have not seen any initiative from WA Labor." At the end of the day, though, yesterday's inflation numbers show Western Australians not only endured the second-worst increase in cost of living over the past five years, but also the longest period of pressure. "Effectively, in one way, [the electricity credits] delayed the pain that households are experiencing and they'll have to contend with that now," Mr Liveris said. Ripping off the multi-billion-dollar power bill credit band-aids was always going to hurt. The question, which can only be judged with the benefit of hindsight, is whether that support was ultimately well-timed to suppress what could have been an even worse cost-of-living crisis, or whether it could have been better managed to prevent such a harsh end. The next challenge for the government to confront is how to help wages catch up with inflation in the long term and really share the prosperity of the nation's richest state with those who have helped create it.
Perth Now
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Perth's northern suburbs to host Australia Cup double-header
Perth's northern suburbs are set for a blockbuster week of soccer, with Perth Glory now facing Wellington Phoenix at Kingsway Reserve in Madeley this Sunday as part of the Australia Cup. The match will be part of a double-header, with Olympic Kingsway set to take on Melbourne Victory on Tuesday at the same venue. Olympic Kingsway regularly competes in the National Premier League, WA's second-tier competition featuring semi-professional players. The Glory vs Phoenix match was initially scheduled for Sam Kerr Football Centre in Queens Park, but has been moved to the Olympic Kingsway Sports Club for unknown reasons. Founded in 2013, the Australia Cup has hundreds of clubs from across the country, including A-League Men and lower-tier teams, battle it out, with the winner progressing to the Asian Cup. On Tuesday, the State Government announced a $40,000 grant to support temporary infrastructure upgrades at the ground, boosting Kingsway Reserve's capacity to host the fixture and provide an enhanced matchday experience. Perth Glory and Wellington Phoenix will join Olympic Kingsway and Melbourne Victory in battling it out at Kingsway Reserve as part of the Australia Cup. Credit: Supplied The Round of 32 tournament began on Saturday, July 19, and will continue through to Wednesday, July 30. Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti said she was proud to support grassroots community clubs in hosting some of the country's leading footballers. 'We are delighted to support Olympic Kingsway play a role in this year's Australia Cup, which has become an institution for uniting the country's top teams with our semi-professional sporting community,' she said. 'This investment is helping ensure WA continues to deliver roundball events that excite and unite not only football fans, but sport fans across the board.' Landsdale MLA Daniel Pastorelli said the significant upgrades to the Kingsway sporting complex in recent years made hosting these matches possible. 'The Landsdale community is proud to host these two massive Australia Cup knockout games, right here at Kingsway Reserve.' 'I have no doubt that the magic of the cup across these two blockbuster games will inspire a generation of young football stars.' Glory vs Phoenix kicks off at 3pm on Sunday, while Olympic Kingsway faces Melbourne Victory at 7pm on Tuesday. Tickets for both matches start at $20 for standard adult entry.
Daily Mail
20-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
The popular tourist town about to be wiped from Australian maps as unstoppable force slowly destroys it
A coastal town popular with tourists for its spectacular beaches and fishing is at risk of being wiped off the map by severe erosion. Residents of Lancelin, about 125km north of Perth, have spent years pleading for emergency intervention after their town was identified as one of 55 erosion hotspots in Western Australia in 2019. But their desperation reached a new high after poor weather conditions exacerbated the issue with 10metres of land lost to the sea since May. As the sand continues to fall away, thousands of locals and business owners are facing the loss of their homes and livelihoods. Lancelin Sands Hotel owner of three years Glen Trebilcock was warned his pub, overlooking the beach, would come roughly half a metre closer to the sea each year. However, the recent uptick in erosion has seen his business come dangerously close to the shoreline - years ahead of schedule. 'Without immediate intervention, the safety of the foreshore and the integrity of essential coastal infrastructure remain at serious risk,' Mr Trebilcock told 7News on Saturday. 'We strongly believe that a retreat is not a viable solution.' A petition for the state government to provide emergency funding and specialist technical assistance has received 800 signatures. Gingin Shire President Linda Balcombe wrote to WA Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti on behalf of her 6,000 ratepayers, but hasn't heard anything back. 'We're not asking for millions of dollars at the moment, we're just asking for a little bit of financial assistance,' Ms Balcombe said. Including the massive loss of land in the last few months, Lancelin has lost more than 25metres of coastline to erosion in the last year. The loss includes the community-built lookout which has been ruled a safety risk. It's set to be torn down next week after being a source of town pride for several decades. The crisis is already affecting the town's tourist market. 'Six tour companies that used to come through every day, they've all disappeared. They bypass and they just go directly up to Jurien (Bay),' Mr Trebilcock said. Former WA opposition leader Shane Love has repeatedly called for government intervention. 'North Lancelin erosion demands urgent action,' he said last week. 'I raised a grievance in Parliament on May 22, and followed up again in Budget Estimates a fortnight ago - and still no action from the Minister. 'I've said it before, and I'll say it again: the State Government must step up with emergency funding and a rapid response.' The WA Government told 7News it is 'aware of the issues and is actively looking at options to assist'.
