Building WA

The 2008-09 State Budget is about building WA, with a massive investment in economic and social infrastructure.

• Record Capital Works Program for 2008-09 of $7.6 billion, including:
  • $1.2 billion on electricity infrastructure to meet the needs of our rapidly growing economy, including commencement of over 500km of new transmission lines;
  • $1.1 billion on water infrastructure, including commencement of the $955 million Southern Seawater Desalination Plant;
  • $810 million on roads;
  • $502 million on hospitals and other health facilities;
  • $377 million on ports to expand export capacity; and
  • $347 million on schools and TAFE colleges.
• Massive $26.1 billion Capital Works Program over the next four years, including:
  • New major stadium at Kitchener Park;
  • New museum on the former East Perth power station site; and
  • Perth Waterfront development.

Priority Services

• Health up $247 million (5.8%), with increased spending on mental health, better pay for nurses, and initiatives to address emergency department demand.
• Law and order up $138 million (8.3%), with improved pay for police officers, and Crime Regional Response Teams to investigate serious cases of child abuse and other issues facing Indigenous communities.
• Education and training up $135 million (3.9%), with improved wages and conditions for teachers, and additional places for apprentices and trainees.
• Child protection up $48 million (16.5%), with additional caseworkers and implementation of mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse.

Tax Cuts – Fifth Year In A Row

• Building on previous rounds of tax relief, the 2008-09 State Budget provides tax cuts of $1.2 billion over the next four years.
• Stamp duty on the purchase of a median-priced house cut by 15% or nearly $3,000 from 1 July 2008, to assist housing affordability.
• Further land tax relief and payroll tax reform, and a bring-forward of the motor vehicle stamp duty cut announced in last year’s budget (to 1 July 2008).

Responsible Management

• Eighth consecutive balanced budget.
• Using the surplus to provide infrastructure such as the new $1.76 billion Fiona Stanley Hospital, which will be built debt-free. 
• No increase in household electricity charges in 2008-09, with the overall increase in household fees and charges (2.4%) below inflation.
• Economy to continue growing strongly, with a third consecutive year of above 6% growth forecast for 2008-09.