The Western Australian Council of Social Service has today released its 2025-26 State Budget Submission, setting out key recommendations on the public investment that will be critical for the wellbeing of our community and the resilience of our economy for years to come.
In this time of crisis, Western Australians are looking to their State Government for help. In the short-term, they want targeted cost of living relief that recognises and relieves pressure on household budgets by reducing the cost of essentials such as housing, food, utilities and transport. They want recognition that things have become hard in a way that feels unfair and unequal, and a commitment to put things right and restore the balance within our community and economy.
Beyond immediate relief, Western Australians are looking to government for a credible longer-term plan that addresses the underlying causes of the hardship experienced by many Western Australians. A plan that supports an equitable, sustainable, and resilient WA where everybody can thrive.
Over the past two decades our population has boomed, while WA’s public expenditure in the areas that support equity and community wellbeing – for example, education, housing, and social services – has remained largely fixed and is not meeting demand or community expectations.
We have reached a tipping point where some critical social systems are failing. A lack of affordable housing means many crisis services – from emergency departments and hospital wards through to women’s shelters – have nowhere to safely transition people other than into homelessness. Inadequate funding has hollowed out many essential supports, while access to others increasingly depends on individuals’ ability to pay. The cohort of people who cannot afford support is growing, with more Western Australians being left behind.
Our shared task is to create a fairer and more effective system that ensures all Western Australians have access to decent food, safe and secure housing, the opportunity to participate in our community and feel like they belong and are valued.
It is time to rise to community expectations and create a more equitable system, where all Western Australians can access the goods and services they need.
WACOSS Chief Executive Officer Louise Giolitto said:
“Population growth and rising living costs have driven unprecedented levels of social need. Community services across our state report growing demand from clients facing complex challenges.
“Meanwhile, unstable and insufficient funding leaves services unable to do regional outreach, provide their staff with job security, or reduce waitlists. Too many of the people who dedicate their working lives to helping others now feel stretched and burnt out.
“The decisions we make now are critical for the resilience of our economy and the wellbeing of our community for years to come. This is why our political priorities now need to focus on restoring our social safety net, investing in social infrastructure, building human capital, and diversifying our economy to be inclusive, adaptive and future-focused. It is time to build community.
“Western Australians share a vision for the future where everyone has access to a safe, secure and healthy home, where our children have the best start in life, and our young people are given the backing they need to build our future. It is a vision where everyone can access social services that are timely and enabling, where all of us have the chance to live our best lives.
“WA is a great state – let’s make it a fair one too.”
WACOSS’ WA State Budget Submission can be found here.
