Building Stronger, Fairer Communities
Building stronger and fairer communities results in better outcomes for Western Australians and future generations.
The McGowan Government is using its strong budget position to deliver initiatives that support the State’s most vulnerable and encourage communities across the State to thrive.
At a glance:
- $1.3 billion increase in State contributions to the National Disability Insurance Scheme, supporting an increase in the number of Western Australian participants.
- $125.5 million increase for child protection services for children at risk of harm and their families, including investment in out of home care services.
- $54.6 million in additional support for initiatives that reduce the number of youth and vulnerable people coming into contact with the justice system, including extending the Target 120 and Kimberley Juvenile Justice Strategy programs for at-risk youth, and continuing the Aboriginal Community Connectors Program.
- $52.5 million boost for family and domestic violence (FDV) initiatives, including funding for refuge and safe house service providers, and connecting victim-survivors with the services they need, through a new FDV Hub in Broome and extending the operation of the Mirrabooka and Kalgoorlie FDV Hubs.
- $18.9 million to support legal services for people in need, including funding for Community Legal Centres and to support Legal Aid WA to attract private practitioners.
Community Safety
Keeping lines of help open and available to those in need is crucial in building safe, strong and fair communities.
In response to the destructive once-in-a-generation Ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie, the Government has allocated more than $322 million to support affected communities in the Kimberley.
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie response measures include:
- $80 million for emergency road recovery works and to repair flood affected internal community and access roads.
- $42 million for a Freight Assistance Package.
- $33 million for a Temporary Accommodation Package.
Community safety is a priority and additional measures to support our frontline officers in the 2023-24 Budget include:
- $81.7 million to upgrade and maintain the State’s emergency radio network and equipment used by frontline officers – including police officers and firefighters.
- $24.4 million to permanently appoint 29 dedicated disaster recovery officers to form WA’s largest ever recovery team to respond to this and any future disasters.
- $11.7 million to extend Operation Regional Shield, maintaining additional police resourcing in communities hardest hit by youth crime.