WA State Budget falls short in delivering long-term solutions

The 2026-27 State Budget was released last Thursday, revealing the Cook government's focus on funding infrastructure, health and housing. Although the Budget offers some cost-of-living relief, there was a distinct lack of solutions in place for the mounting number of households falling into financial distress. 

420,000 West Australians are living in poverty (1 in 7 people). That number has doubled in less than a decade. However, if you look at the 1,300 pages that are in the three volumes of State Budget papers, you will not find the word poverty once.

After successive crises – a debt crisis, a pandemic, and now a global economic crisis – hardship is changing in WA. The cost-of-living will keep rising, poverty is growing, and more and more people are seeking support who may not be able to access the measures provided. Without sustained, targeted action, households already on the margins will continue to fall deeper into hardship.

Anglicare WA CEO Mark Glasson said that the measures outlined in the State Budget are welcomed but only addresses a fraction of the demand that exists in our community.

"With our economic position, WA needs to extend those benefits that were given to people on concession cards, foster carers and grand carers to other people in our community who are doing it tough. We need to cast the net wider, and we can afford to.

"We are asking for targeted measures that meaningfully help those doing it tough long-term. These are programs that can put food on the table, like accessible financial counselling and Emergency Relief and Food Assistance, and investment in more beds for adults and young people experiencing homelessness", Glasson said. 

Snapshot of household support initiatives in WA State Budget:

• $198 million for the Fuel Support Payment - $100 to all Western Australians with a valid driver's licence
• $13.5 million to extend the WA Rent Relief Program to June 2027
• $46.3 million to boost supports for foster and grandparent carers, including a new Foster and Grand Carer Gold Card, and increased foster carer subsidy
• $89.5 million on a third round of WA Student Assistance Payment - $150 for each primary and kindergarten student, $250 for each secondary school student
• $29.5 million uplift for the Home Stretch WA service supporting young people leaving care
• $70.1 million for free public transport on Sundays and students travelling to and from school
• $208 million in stamp duty relief for first home buyers
• $51 million for a 10% boost to the Energy Assistance Payment, dependent child rebate, air conditioning allowance and to extend the Energy Ahead Program
• $27.1 million for free flu, FluMist and RSV vaccines
• $33.1 million towards the fuel excise cut - households save 32 cents per litre on fuel for three months
• $124 million for continued lower fee and Fee-Free TAFE
• $91.1 million funding boost for new and continuing homelessness services

Progress to be made

There are some really welcomed measures in the budget. Improved protections for renters and the extension of the WA Rent Relief Program for another 12 months are fantastic. We also applaud concessions for carers, extensions of programs like Energy Ahead, and extra funding for Home Stretch to support children leaving out of-home-care. However, with WA’s eighth consecutive surplus and more forecast, the WA Government has the finances to make sure the safety net and social infrastructure of WA actually meets what hardship looks like in 2026.

WA needs a long-term focus to grow our safety net to catch vulnerable people before it can’t catch anyone at all. Anglicare WA is calling on a Cost-of-Living Strategy or a plan for addressing poverty.

We can’t wait for another 12 months until the next budget to extend this necessary support, it needs to happen much sooner. We look forward to continuing to work with the Cook government and partner to provide solutions as we move towards the Mid-Year Review.

Media contacts:

For all media enquiries, please email media@anglicarewa.org.au.