WA Budget 2026: Winners and losers from motorists and renters to public sector workers and landlords

Winners

Drivers:

The flagship cost of living relief announced on Budget day was a $100 fuel support payment available for anyone with a driver’s licence. While not restricted to being spent on fuel, the measure is expected to be accessed by around 2 million people at a cost to the Government of $198 million. Drivers dreaming of ditching their wallets for a digital licence instead are also in for a treat with $8.3 million put aside for developing the phone-based licences set to begin rollout by the end of 2027.

Renters:

While renters have faced the reality of increasing prices and demand, they are in for a slight win this Budget. The existing rent relief program has been extended until July 2027, providing up to $5000 for people who are behind in rent and facing severe financial hardship. Renters will also face more security with no-grounds evictions set to be banned, bringing WA in line with every other State in the nation.

Building companies:

This year’s Budget includes a number of “unprecedented” measures for the State Government to step in and get more homes off the ground. The Cook Government will underwrite apartment buildings for developers yet to receive enough sales for financing to get construction underway. The scheme is expected to cost $250 million and unlock up to 1200 new apartments and townhouses.

First-homebuyers:

While resisting calls from economists to implement wider stamp duty reform, first-homebuyers have still been given a boost with the threshold for the tax increasing by $100,000. Now homes bought for up to $600,000 will be exempt from stamp duty and those bought for up to $800,000 will be given concessions. The Government estimates the changes will benefit more than 25,000 first-homebuyers.

Families:

Families will again be able to rely on the Cook Government to provide student assistant payments. Families will be able to access $150 per primary or kindergarten student and $250 per secondary student. It is the third round of the payments and will rollout in term three of 2026.

Foster parents and grand carers:

Foster parents and grand carers will receive a number of benefits, most notably a new Gold Card that will provide “future supports and benefits”. The first will be $377 in energy bill relief, which will stack on top of existing bill relief for concession cardholders. The subsidy rate for foster parents and grandcarers will also increase by 10 per cent.

Losers

Public sector workers and consultants:

About 1500 public sector workers will be sacked as part of a culling of wage spending. Treasurer Rita Saffioti assured that the cuts would not be made to frontline staff such as nurses and doctors, instead warning “back end” staff would be first to go. She also said that there would be less spent on the use of consultants, saving the Government $579 million.

Landlords:

While renters benefit, landlords will be faced with less options on what they can do with their property. The ending of no-grounds evictions means landlords will no longer be able to terminate a lease without giving one of an expanded list of seven reasons.