❓ Mr. Pratt questions the Premier on cost-of-living relief measures. The Premier outlines various government initiatives including free public transport for students, capped airfares, fuel assistance, and TAFE fee reductions.
AnsweredQoN 256Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Cost-of-living relief
256. Mr Stephen Pratt to
the Premier:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to deliver meaningful cost-of-living relief for
Western Australians. Can the Premier please outline to the house how the Cook
Labor government is supporting Western Australian households across Perth and in
our regions?
256. Mr Stephen Pratt to
the Premier:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to deliver meaningful cost-of-living relief for
Western Australians. Can the Premier please outline to the house how the Cook
Labor government is supporting Western Australian households across Perth and in
our regions?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for the question. This budget is about our priorities of jobs, health and
housing, and providing cost-of-living relief. We have faced global challenges
before: the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and now the conflict in the
Middle East. We have had three global shocks in just six years. Despite these
shocks, our strong financial management has meant that we still have the
fastest growing economy in the nation; more people than ever before in
full-time jobs, education or training; and the lowest debt burden of any state
in Australia.
We want a strong
economy because of what it means to Western Australians, and what it means is
delivering meaningful cost-of-living support to support Western Australians in
their everyday lives. Every day, when people send their kids to school on the
bus or train, they will pay nothing, and when they get to school, they can get
a free breakfast, giving them the best possible start to the day. People who
catch the train will pay as little as $2.80. When people pay their power bill,
they will know it is cheaper because we have kept our energy system in public
hands and kept increases in power bills well below inflation. If people travel
through our regions for health care, they will get 40c per kilometre for fuel
from the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme. If people live in the regions and fly
into Perth, they know that their airfare is capped because of the WA Labor
government investment. People know that when they need to refill a script or
get a treatment for a common condition, they can go to their local pharmacy. Those
are everyday things that have been made easier because of our WA Labor
government.
This budget takes
our cost-of-living relief and delivers widespread support. Every Western
Australian with a valid driver's licence will get $100 to support them with the
cost of fuel and other costs associated with the conflict in Iran. For families
with schoolkids, we will deliver our third student assistance payment—$150 for
every primary and kindergarten student and $250 for every
high school student. For first home buyers and renters we will deliver stamp
duty relief and extend the WA rent relief program, and for those upskilling and
training, we will continue our low fee and fee-free courses at TAFE. We now
have more than 49,000 Western Australians enrolled in TAFE—the biggest number on
record—because of our low fee and fee-free TAFE courses.
This budget delivers
for all Western Australians. It builds upon our strong record of delivering
cost-of-living relief and builds upon our investment to make every day easier
for Western Australians by providing meaningful cost-of-living relief while keeping
WA's economy the strongest in the nation.
for the question. This budget is about our priorities of jobs, health and
housing, and providing cost-of-living relief. We have faced global challenges
before: the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and now the conflict in the
Middle East. We have had three global shocks in just six years. Despite these
shocks, our strong financial management has meant that we still have the
fastest growing economy in the nation; more people than ever before in
full-time jobs, education or training; and the lowest debt burden of any state
in Australia.
We want a strong
economy because of what it means to Western Australians, and what it means is
delivering meaningful cost-of-living support to support Western Australians in
their everyday lives. Every day, when people send their kids to school on the
bus or train, they will pay nothing, and when they get to school, they can get
a free breakfast, giving them the best possible start to the day. People who
catch the train will pay as little as $2.80. When people pay their power bill,
they will know it is cheaper because we have kept our energy system in public
hands and kept increases in power bills well below inflation. If people travel
through our regions for health care, they will get 40c per kilometre for fuel
from the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme. If people live in the regions and fly
into Perth, they know that their airfare is capped because of the WA Labor
government investment. People know that when they need to refill a script or
get a treatment for a common condition, they can go to their local pharmacy. Those
are everyday things that have been made easier because of our WA Labor
government.
This budget takes
our cost-of-living relief and delivers widespread support. Every Western
Australian with a valid driver's licence will get $100 to support them with the
cost of fuel and other costs associated with the conflict in Iran. For families
with schoolkids, we will deliver our third student assistance payment—$150 for
every primary and kindergarten student and $250 for every
high school student. For first home buyers and renters we will deliver stamp
duty relief and extend the WA rent relief program, and for those upskilling and
training, we will continue our low fee and fee-free courses at TAFE. We now
have more than 49,000 Western Australians enrolled in TAFE—the biggest number on
record—because of our low fee and fee-free TAFE courses.
This budget delivers
for all Western Australians. It builds upon our strong record of delivering
cost-of-living relief and builds upon our investment to make every day easier
for Western Australians by providing meaningful cost-of-living relief while keeping
WA's economy the strongest in the nation.
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