Broader praise for Western Australia's ‘ironclad budget’ has been accompanied by industry calls to build the state's investment appeal and diversify the economy.
A $715 million state budget package to ease financial pressures from households will include $450 million worth in energy bill relief from the WA government.
ANALYSIS: The state budget has been designed so Mark McGowan can announce unexpectedly good outcomes in future but also sets the scene for a bitter GST battle with other states.
Payroll tax changes will save Western Australia’s largest employers around $230 million next financial year, according to state government budget papers.
A move to extend the price cap for apartments eligible for stamp duty rebate is expected to cost the state government $33 million, as part of a $750 million package to boost housing.
The McGowan government’s seventh annual budget features a $3.3 billion surplus, with households and businesses to benefit from $566 million in energy bill credits and modest payroll tax relief.
The federal budget has significantly expanded a Telethon Kids Institute-led early intervention scheme to treat autism, devoting more than $22 million to boost the pilot program.
The federal budget mapped out a path to ‘green hydrogen superpower’ status, championed critical minerals relationships and altered taxes on oil and gas. Here’s how industry responded.
Western Australia’s property groups have welcomed the state budget, in particular no new taxes or charges for property, but continue to call for housing stimulus timeframe extensions.
The state's public sector workers who have had to accept flat annual pay increases of $1,000 a year for the past four years will have to get used to it.
Both Ben Wyatt and Josh Frydenberg have avoided big reforms to boost productivity this week, with CCI today arguing the state government missed an opportunity.
A big boost in royalty income has largely offset the revenue hit of COVID-19, as Treasurer Ben Wyatt borrows in the hope of an infrastructure-led recovery.
The state government has done little to support struggling households and businesses and left the heavy lifting to the federal government, according to Dean Nalder.
Click through for a summary of initiatives in the $74 billion JobMaker package, including a $4 billion wage subsidy and $3.5 billion of research incentives.
