Delivering cost of living support
The 2024-25 Budget includes more than $762 million in cost of living measures to support WA households and small businesses, including record support for families. More than $3.5 billion in cost of living assistance has now been delivered since 2017.
At a glance:
- $492 million to deliver a fourth electricity credit, with $400 of assistance to all households and more than 90,000 small businesses.
- Additional energy bill relief will be provided to those most in need, with $734 of support for pensioners and at least $1,086 for eligible families.
- $103 million for the WA Student Assistance Payment, providing further support for families with $250 available for each high school student and $150 for each kindy and primary school student.
- $41 million to provide free public transport to school-aged students, saving a family with two children up to $560 per year, free public transport for everyone on Sundays, and the Summer of Free Public Transport in early 2024.
- $65 million to continue WA Labor’s affordable airfare caps for regional WA residents.
- $20 million to boost the Regional Pensioner Travel Card by $100, to $675, to support pensioners in regional WA with travel costs.
- $8 million for free flu vaccines in May and June for all Western Australians aged six months and older.
$3.6 billion in 2024-25 for Social Concessions, with a range of additional targeted support including:
- KidSport vouchers
- Dependent Child Rebate
- Clothing Allowance
- Rebates on local government rates and water charges
- Vehicle licence discounts
- Free off-peak public transport for seniors and pensioners
- Subsidies on regional school and town bus services and TransWA fares, and more