Cost of living relief misses the mark

Western Australia’s strong economy provides an important financial buffer in a time of global uncertainty and inflation, but today’s budget doesn’t do enough to prevent those doing it tough from falling deeper into financial hardship. 

The 2026-27 State Budget, handed down today by Treasurer Rita Saffioti, focuses on economic infrastructure to tackle some of WA’s biggest problems in health and housing but misses the mark in helping struggling households right now. 

The Western Australian Council of Social Service (WACOSS) welcomed the government’s recognition that many Western Australians are doing it tough and need cost-of-living relief. Today’s budget includes these measures: 

• $90 million for the Student Assistance Payment to help families with education costs 
• $51 million for energy bill relief for concession card holders 
• A $13 million, one-year extension of the WA Rent Relief Program (announced earlier this week), which has proved to be essential for keeping people in their homes 
• $6 million for KidSport vouchers 

However, WACOSS Chief Executive Officer Louise Giolitto said there was not nearly enough in this budget that helps the many Western Australians who are doing it toughest. 

“According to this budget, there will be very little relief for struggling families right now,” she said. 

“Every Western Australian with a driver’s licence will receive a $100 fuel voucher, but that is not a targeted measure.  

“There will be plenty of Western Australians who are not struggling to put food on the table right now that will receive this voucher. That’s money that could be better spent on other measures to help those who really need it most.  

“We need meaningful support, like the successful Rent Relief program, for the people we know need assistance to keep a roof over their heads and from falling into debt. I don’t see nearly enough targeted help in this budget, and I am sure many struggling households will be disappointed.” 

WACOSS was pleased to see some cost-of-living supports targeted at foster carers and grandcarers ($44 million) and concession card holders ($51 million electricity bill relief package), but was disappointed that many of the cost-of-living measures in this budget are not targeted at the growing number of people who live in financial hardship but do not qualify for concessions. 

WACOSS’s annual Cost of Living Report, released in December last year, showed that Western Australians on low income are experiencing entrenched and severe financial hardship, with working families and aged pensioners renting their homes among those struggling to afford life’s bare essentials for survival. 

These persistent pressures, layered on years of financial strain, are deepening hardship for those already struggling to survive and pushing even more people into insecurity. The fuel crisis and subsequent inflation fight to come will only entrench this issue deeper. 

To help these families, WACOSS had asked the State Government for targeted cost of relief measures like:  

• A $20 million injection into food and emergency relief and financial counselling;  
• Expanding car registration concessions beyond pensioners;  
• Boosting energy debt relief by expanding the Hardship Utilities Grants Scheme;  
• Extending free public transport to university and TAFE students; and  
• Increasing allowances to help regional people access healthcare via PATS, as we constantly hear people in regional WA don’t get the medical treatment they need as they cannot afford to travel.