Cost of Living Support
The 2023-24 Budget includes more than $715 million of cost of living measures to support Western Australians.
The McGowan Government has a strong track record of delivering cost of living relief for Western Australians, as a dividend of responsible financial management.
More than $2.8 billion in cost of living assistance has now been delivered over the past five years.
- All Western Australian households will receive at least $400 of energy bill relief to ease cost of living pressures faced by the community.
- Additional support will be provided to those that are most in need, with $826 of total support available for around 350,000 households eligible for the Energy Assistance Payment.
- In addition, Hardship Utilities Grant Scheme payments will be increased by 10 per cent for those who are in financial hardship and are unable to pay their utility bills, with grants of up to $640 per household, or $1,060 for households in the north of the State.
- An additional $20.7 million will be spent towards the successful Regional Airfare Zone Cap Scheme to support affordable flights for regional residents.
- Public transport will be free on the first Sunday of every month, as part of the Government’s Fare Free Sunday Sessions.
- The Seniors’ Cost of Living Rebate will also be increased in line with inflation at a cost of $15.6 million.
- The Budget continues to deliver the Government’s commitment to keep fees and charges low, with increases to fees limited to 2.4 per cent in 2023-24 – well below forecast inflation.
- Electricity price rises are much lower than the double-digit percentage increases being imposed on households on the east coast given WA Labor Government decisions to retain ownership of our electricity assets and our gas reservation policy.
- Small businesses across the State will receive a credit of $650 on their power bills, in recognition of higher overheads and costs.
- Initiatives already in place include free flu vaccines for all Western Australians in May 2023, which follows WA’s free flu vaccines in 2022.
- Capping Perth public transport fares to two zones has made travel in our suburbs cheaper, saving commuters up to thousands of dollars a year.