The economy is booming—so why are our bills still climbing?
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Western Australia’s economy is booming—but many residents are left wondering why it doesn’t feel that way.
Despite another year of surplus, the latest state budget has sparked debate over who’s really benefiting from the state’s prosperity.
Here’s what the government unveiled…and why some say it’s missed the mark for everyday people.
Western Australia once again claimed the top spot as the nation’s strongest economy, reporting a $2.5 billion operating surplus in its latest state budget. But for many locals, that headline figure meant little when the cost of daily life continued to climb.
Premier Roger Cook and Treasurer Rita Saffioti walked into WA Parliament House with confidence ahead of Thursday’s budget announcement—the first since the Cook Labor government’s landslide re-election. But the measures unveiled didn’t sit well with all Western Australians, especially those feeling the squeeze of rising household bills.
Treasurer Saffioti emphasised the government’s cautious stance in the face of global unrest, citing conflict in the Middle East and trade tensions involving the US.
‘This budget cements WA as the most responsible budget manager of the nation, while investing in the economic and social infrastructure to power new jobs and investment in the state,’ she said.
‘In a world of global instability and uncertainty our government has a strong economic plan for this state.
‘It is a constant reminder of the importance of protecting WA’s share of the GST.’
WA’s slice of the GST pie was expected to grow by $400 million to $7.8 billion in the year ahead. The state received 75 per cent of its population share, but according to the government, WA still contributed $39 billion to other states—equating to around $13,000 per resident.
Still, that financial strength didn’t translate into direct relief for households. The $400 electricity credit that had been offered in previous years was scrapped, despite power and water bills increasing by 2.5 per cent. WA households were left to brace for higher expenses across the board, with electricity bills likely to hit around $1,950 and water charges to climb by $50 annually.
Road users weren’t spared either. For the first time, the cost of keeping a car on the road in WA crossed the $1,000 mark, following a roughly 3 per cent hike in car registration and driver’s licence fees.
Despite rising costs, the government pointed to a nearly $1 billion investment in cost-of-living measures, which included no-interest loans for battery purchases, cash for families with school-aged children, and cheaper public transport. These initiatives were aimed at easing pressure on low-income households—but for many, they didn’t outweigh the losses.
Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas was quick to voice his concerns.
‘The cost of water up, the cost of electricity up, the cost of the emergency services levy up,’ he said.
‘For the first time in Western Australian history, the cost of putting your car on the road has risen above $1000.
‘The question has to be asked, what is the point of this continued prosperity if we can’t lift up everyday people?’
Alongside household pressures, housing remained a critical focus of the budget. With rents and property prices soaring due to a housing shortage and rising population, the government allocated $1.4 billion to boost housing supply across Perth and regional areas.
Support for first homebuyers came in the form of reduced stamp duty and programs to encourage purchases of off-the-plan properties. Other strategies included fast-tracking infrastructure like energy substations and water systems to unlock housing lots, plus new schemes such as modular housing and shared equity loans for apartments and townhouses.
Jobs and workforce training also featured prominently. More than 1,000 tradespeople had already relocated to WA through government-led initiatives, and the Construction Visa Subsidy Program was extended to attract skilled migrants. A further $331 million was allocated to TAFE and training, including $12 million specifically to train AUKUS apprentices.
While WA basked in another year of budget surplus—its seventh since 2018–19—other states told a different story. Victoria forecast a modest $600 million surplus but expected net debt to hit $194 billion by 2030. NSW looked likely to deliver a $4.9 billion surplus by the end of June.
Treasurer Saffioti proudly declared WA as ‘the envy of the nation’ when it came to financial management and economic outcomes.
But as the budget’s glossy numbers settled into reality, many Western Australians were left asking if the benefits of their booming economy would ever reach their pockets.
It’s one thing to read the numbers—but seeing how they play out can offer a clearer picture.
If you want to better understand what this surplus really means for everyday people, give this short video a watch.
Source: Youtube/ABC News (Australia)
With the cost of living creeping higher despite the surplus, do you feel the government is doing enough to support seniors on fixed incomes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In a previous story, we took a closer look at how the 2024–25 state budget aimed to tackle cost-of-living relief—a topic that hits home for many seniors trying to make ends meet.
From energy bill assistance to public transport savings, the measures were designed to ease everyday pressures—but how do they stack up against this year’s changes?
If you’re comparing how support has shifted over time, that article is worth revisiting.
Read more: State government’s budget for 2024–25 tackles cost-of-living relief
Despite another year of surplus, the latest state budget has sparked debate over who’s really benefiting from the state’s prosperity.
Here’s what the government unveiled…and why some say it’s missed the mark for everyday people.
Western Australia once again claimed the top spot as the nation’s strongest economy, reporting a $2.5 billion operating surplus in its latest state budget. But for many locals, that headline figure meant little when the cost of daily life continued to climb.
Premier Roger Cook and Treasurer Rita Saffioti walked into WA Parliament House with confidence ahead of Thursday’s budget announcement—the first since the Cook Labor government’s landslide re-election. But the measures unveiled didn’t sit well with all Western Australians, especially those feeling the squeeze of rising household bills.
Treasurer Saffioti emphasised the government’s cautious stance in the face of global unrest, citing conflict in the Middle East and trade tensions involving the US.
Budget surplus declared as costs keep rising. Image source: Pexels/Photo By: Kaboompics.com
‘This budget cements WA as the most responsible budget manager of the nation, while investing in the economic and social infrastructure to power new jobs and investment in the state,’ she said.
‘In a world of global instability and uncertainty our government has a strong economic plan for this state.
‘It is a constant reminder of the importance of protecting WA’s share of the GST.’
WA’s slice of the GST pie was expected to grow by $400 million to $7.8 billion in the year ahead. The state received 75 per cent of its population share, but according to the government, WA still contributed $39 billion to other states—equating to around $13,000 per resident.
Still, that financial strength didn’t translate into direct relief for households. The $400 electricity credit that had been offered in previous years was scrapped, despite power and water bills increasing by 2.5 per cent. WA households were left to brace for higher expenses across the board, with electricity bills likely to hit around $1,950 and water charges to climb by $50 annually.
Road users weren’t spared either. For the first time, the cost of keeping a car on the road in WA crossed the $1,000 mark, following a roughly 3 per cent hike in car registration and driver’s licence fees.
Despite rising costs, the government pointed to a nearly $1 billion investment in cost-of-living measures, which included no-interest loans for battery purchases, cash for families with school-aged children, and cheaper public transport. These initiatives were aimed at easing pressure on low-income households—but for many, they didn’t outweigh the losses.
Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas was quick to voice his concerns.
‘The cost of water up, the cost of electricity up, the cost of the emergency services levy up,’ he said.
‘For the first time in Western Australian history, the cost of putting your car on the road has risen above $1000.
‘The question has to be asked, what is the point of this continued prosperity if we can’t lift up everyday people?’
Alongside household pressures, housing remained a critical focus of the budget. With rents and property prices soaring due to a housing shortage and rising population, the government allocated $1.4 billion to boost housing supply across Perth and regional areas.
Support for first homebuyers came in the form of reduced stamp duty and programs to encourage purchases of off-the-plan properties. Other strategies included fast-tracking infrastructure like energy substations and water systems to unlock housing lots, plus new schemes such as modular housing and shared equity loans for apartments and townhouses.
Jobs and workforce training also featured prominently. More than 1,000 tradespeople had already relocated to WA through government-led initiatives, and the Construction Visa Subsidy Program was extended to attract skilled migrants. A further $331 million was allocated to TAFE and training, including $12 million specifically to train AUKUS apprentices.
While WA basked in another year of budget surplus—its seventh since 2018–19—other states told a different story. Victoria forecast a modest $600 million surplus but expected net debt to hit $194 billion by 2030. NSW looked likely to deliver a $4.9 billion surplus by the end of June.
Treasurer Saffioti proudly declared WA as ‘the envy of the nation’ when it came to financial management and economic outcomes.
But as the budget’s glossy numbers settled into reality, many Western Australians were left asking if the benefits of their booming economy would ever reach their pockets.
It’s one thing to read the numbers—but seeing how they play out can offer a clearer picture.
If you want to better understand what this surplus really means for everyday people, give this short video a watch.
Source: Youtube/ABC News (Australia)
With the cost of living creeping higher despite the surplus, do you feel the government is doing enough to support seniors on fixed incomes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In a previous story, we took a closer look at how the 2024–25 state budget aimed to tackle cost-of-living relief—a topic that hits home for many seniors trying to make ends meet.
From energy bill assistance to public transport savings, the measures were designed to ease everyday pressures—but how do they stack up against this year’s changes?
If you’re comparing how support has shifted over time, that article is worth revisiting.
Read more: State government’s budget for 2024–25 tackles cost-of-living relief
