Overview
- The Cook government’s 2026–27 budget, released Thursday, reports a $3.5 billion surplus this year and a $2.4 billion surplus next year powered by GST and iron ore income.
- Every WA driver with a licence can claim a $100 fuel support payment from July 1 via the ServiceWA app, alongside ongoing free Sunday public transport and a new round of student payments.
- Housing supply is the centrepiece with $4.7 billion over four years, a $2 billion federal–state plan to deliver 34,000 homes including 11,000 for first‑home buyers, plus stamp duty breaks and a higher first‑home grant cap.
- Health gets about $9.1 billion over four years and the infrastructure program peaks at a record $13.2 billion in 2026–27 to expand hospitals and core services.
- Savings come from a voluntary 1,500‑job public sector redundancy program and cuts to consultants, as net debt sits at $34.5 billion this year and is set to top $40 billion next year with risks from commodity prices and a looming GST review.