The Western Australian Council of Social Service (WACOSS) has called on the WA Government to develop a Targeted Cost of Living Rapid Response Strategy, led by a Cost of Living Minister, to urgently help Western Australians deal with the cost of survival.
Outlined in its newly released 2027-28 State Budget Submission, WACOSS’s bold reform agenda is focused on the investments needed to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, strengthen essential community services and ensure WA’s prosperity is shared by everyone.
These investments include:
- $20 million in food and emergency relief
- Free public transport for TAFE and university students
- Providing all low-income concession card holders with access to vehicle licence concessions
WACOSS has listened to communities across metropolitan, regional and remote WA to develop this clear roadmap for action. It heard a consistent message: rising living costs, spiralling rents, workforce shortages and growing demand for support services are placing increasing pressure on households and communities.
Our economy is thriving, but far too many people are being left behind, locked out of the prosperity they helped create and struggling to afford life’s essentials. While employment remains strong, we know working families are struggling to pay the rent, put food on the table and get the community services they need for their children.
To help address these concerns, WACOSS’s roadmap for action calls on the WA Government to tackle the root causes of hardship and invest in the people, services and social infrastructure needed to build a stronger and more inclusive future for all Western Australians.
At the heart of WACOSS’s State Budget Submission is a call for a Targeted Cost of Living Rapid Response Strategy, led by a dedicated Minister for Cost of Living. The scale and persistence of the crisis now demands Cabinet-level leadership.
Rising living costs affect housing, energy, transport, food, health and community services, yet responsibility for these pressures is spread across multiple portfolios, resulting in fragmented and piecemeal responses.
Our support systems have not kept pace with the reality facing Western Australian households. One-off rebates, credits and grants may provide short-term relief, but they do not address the underlying pressures driving financial hardship or prevent more people from falling into crisis.
A dedicated Cost of Living Minister would sharpen the WA Government’s focus on delivering real cost-of-living relief, drive coordinated action across agencies and provide clear accountability for outcomes.
WACOSS is calling for a targeted strategy focused on the needs of real low and middle-income households, one that tracks the cumulative impact of government fees, charges and concessions, responds rapidly to emerging pressures and delivers lasting structural reforms rather than temporary handouts.
Western Australians do not need more short-term fixes. They need a government-led plan that tackles the causes of financial hardship and ensures prosperity is shared more fairly across the community.
WACOSS Chief Executive Officer Louise Giolitto said this – along with the rest of the recommendations in the submission – focuses on immediate relief, sustainable services and stronger communities.
“The true measure of a successful economy is not how much wealth it creates, but whether people can afford a decent life. Right now, too many Western Australians are being locked out of the prosperity they helped create and are just trying to meet the cost of survival.
“This submission sets out a practical roadmap for tackling the issues communities are telling us matter most. It combines immediate relief with long-term reform because Western Australians need more than temporary fixes, they need lasting solutions.
“Investing in social infrastructure is not a cost. It is one of the smartest economic investments a government can make. Strong communities, affordable housing, quality services and genuine opportunity are the foundations of future prosperity and social cohesion.”