- 2025-26 State Budget delivers an additional $1.4 billion to help to boost housing supply across the State to ensure every Western Australian has a home
- Funding increase brings Cook Government's record investment in additional housing measures to $5.8 billion since 2021
- Key election commitments funded, including:
- $210 million for 1,000 Keystart shared equity loans for new apartments and townhouses
- Reducing stamp duty for first home buyers
- Measures to continue to expand the construction workforce
- A new Housing Innovation Fund and significant investments in regional housing
- Additional $246 million investment in social and affordable housing, lifting social housing program to more than 5,800 homes with over 3,000 already delivered
- First $101 million tranche of the Cook Government's $400 million Housing Enabling Infrastructure Fund to unlock around 33,000 additional residential lots
- Range of housing initiatives are working with the construction workforce at record levels, housing completions increasing to their highest level in more than seven years, and the rental market returning to a more balanced position
The Cook Labor Government's 2025-26 Budget delivers an additional $1.4 billion investment to boost housing supply, bringing its overall new investment in housing measures to $5.8 billion since 2021 to ensure every Western Australian has a home.
The State Government's wide range of measures to boost housing are working, with building completions increasing to their highest level in more than seven years in 2024.
Key housing election commitments made by the Cook Labor Government earlier this year will be funded in the Budget, including:
- $210 million for a newly expanded Keystart shared equity scheme to support the delivery of 1,000 loans for new apartments and townhouses, helping thousands of Western Australians into home ownership, as well as new loan products including low deposit loans for modular homes and graduates and apprentices;
- $119 million to reduce stamp duty for first home buyers, which is expected to benefit around 5,500 purchasers per annum;
- $49 million to continue to expand the construction workforce including increasing the number of apprentices funded through the GTO wage subsidy to 1,000, and making more construction TAFE courses free to train more tradies, including bricklayers, plumbers and plasterers;
- $50 million for the Housing Innovation Fund to support Western Australian businesses to explore new ways to build houses faster and more affordably, facilitate uptake of new technology and boost productivity;
- $75 million to establish a new Build to Rent Kickstart Fund to be administered by Keystart that will provide no and low interest loans for build to rent projects that deliver affordable, long-term rentals;
- $104 million to double the GROH construction program investing in more than 100 additional homes across the State;
- $25 million over four years for the Regional Housing Support Fund, which will provide grants of up to $5 million to support new housing and land supply across regional WA, supporting regional subdivision and providing additional support to key worker and community housing projects;
- a range of investments in specific housing projects right across regional WA, including in Kalgoorlie, Kununurra and Albany; and
- $6 million to deliver the Community Housing Capability Program delivered in partnership with Shelter WA to boost the capacity and capability of our Community Housing sector.
This Budget also includes a new $246 million investment to deliver 548 social and affordable homes in partnership with community housing providers and the Commonwealth's Housing Australia Future Fund.
This investment expands the Cook Government's program of new social homes to over 5,800 homes, with more than 3,000 already delivered. This State is on track to deliver 1,000 social homes this financial year and next. An additional $177.4 million has also been invested maintenance of social housing.
The Budget delivers the first $101 million tranche of the Cook Government's $400 million Housing Enabling Infrastructure Fund to unlock around 33,000 residential lots through investments in power and water infrastructure. This builds on the $105 million Housing Support Fund announced late last year in partnership with the Commonwealth to unlock 28,000 lots.
To further support regional land supply, $43.2 million has been invested in this Budget for the Mulataga estate in Karratha to unlock 169 residential lots, in partnership with the City of Karratha and the Commonwealth.
The State Government is committed to ensuring the most vulnerable in the community have access to housing, through a range of initiatives:
- $10.4 million to expand metropolitan homelessness assertive outreach services to provide support to rough sleepers in the Perth Metropolitan area;
- $3.8 million to finalise service delivery arrangements for the management and operation of East Perth Common Ground, which is expected to commence operation in late 2025;
- $3.1 million to expand Housing First Support Services in Bunbury and surrounding suburbs for people experiencing homelessness or rough sleeping; and
- $4.8 million to continue providing a safe place for young people experiencing, or are at risk of homelessness, through the Perth Passages Youth Engagement Hub.
The WA Rent Relief Program has been extended to those experiencing rental pressures, with more than $12 million of support already provided to over 2,800 households, with average support of around $4,300.
For more information, visit https://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"WA's economy is the strongest in the nation, but our growing population has put pressure on our State's housing market.
"That's why my government is laser focused on ensuring every Western Australian has a home.
"During the election, we took a range of commitments to the people of WA that I'm proud to say are funded as part of this Budget.
"They include the introduction of shared-equity loans, reduced stamp duty for first home buyers, and measures to expand our State's construction workforce.
"My government's focus is on jobs, health and housing - and this what this Budget is delivering."
As stated by Housing and Works Minister John Carey:
"We're continuing to invest heavily into more social and affordable housing with a further $246 million uplift in this Budget to deliver a further 548 homes, in partnership with Community Housing Providers and the Commonwealth's Housing Australia Future Fund.
"Our program of new social housing now exceeds 5,800 homes, with more than 3,100 already delivered. We're on track to deliver 1,000 new homes, this year and next.
"We're delivering additional investment in housing right across the State, including doubling our GROH construction program, our Regional Housing Support Fund to enable more homes to get off the ground quicker, as well as investments in specific projects across the State."
As stated by Treasurer Rita Saffioti:
"As our population continues to grow, we continue to explore every measure to boost and invest in housing supply and affordability.
"We're addressing housing supply from all angles, from supporting homebuyers to enter the market through our new Keystart shared equity scheme to exploring new ways of building houses faster and investing more into our social and affordable housing stock.
"Housing data shows our policies are working, with our construction workforce at record levels boosting our capacity to deliver more homes, building approvals and housing completions growing by the fastest rate in the nation, and the rental market returning to a more balanced position."
As stated by Homelessness Minister Matthew Swinbourn:
"The Cook Government continues to support the most vulnerable.
"We are on track to open our first Common Ground Facility in East Perth later this year, which will provide accommodation and wraparound services.
"We're also boosting our investment to support homelessness outreach services, targeted investments to support young people at risk of homelessness and boosting service delivery in Bunbury.
"We've extended our WA Rent Relief Program, which is delivered in partnership with community service providers and has supported more than 2,800 households at risk of homelessness, providing over $12 million in support."
