Premier's Budget Lunch - Peel Development Commission

Premier Mark McGowan highlights strong economic future for the Peel at Budget Lunch

WA’s strong budget position enables record investment in regional infrastructure, a significant funding boost for health and mental health, and delivers cost of living relief for local households.

Premier and Treasurer Mark McGowan delivered his second annual Peel region State Budget update to a crowd of 130 guests at Halls Head Bowling Club on Friday, 13 May 2022.

The Premier detailed what the 2022-23 State Budget means for Peel, highlighting the State’s strong budget position and responsible fiscal management throughout the pandemic. This has enabled a record investment in regional infrastructure and $1.3 billion to further strengthen and diversify our economy to create local jobs and set up Western Australia for the long-term.

Across the State, regional health and mental health services will receive a major $158.3 million boost, and important cost-of-living relief for local households will include a $400 Household Electricity Credit and further subsidies to keep regional water and electricity costs in line with what metropolitan users pay.

The Budget includes a record $12 billion investment in regional infrastructure and more than $4.2 billion of Royalties for Regions expenditure over the next four years – including $263 million to deliver regional election commitments and other new regional initiatives.

For Peel, this includes the allocation of further support for jobs, education and training, health, schools, regional roads, tourism, and community facilities including:

An initial $5.9 million for forward works on the Byford Health Hub;
Delivering the new $25.8m Madora Bay Primary School;
$480,000 for the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council;
$250m for the Pinjarra Heavy Haulage Deviation Stages 1 and 2;
Delivering the $110m Mandurah Estuary Bridge duplication;
$11m to expand Target 120 early intervention program, including bringing it to Mandurah.

Following the Premier’s presentation, attendees participated in a Q&A session where the Premier answered questions from the audience about how the Budget will support specific issues and challenges, including job creation and attracting investment in the Peel, cost pressures in the building sector, and environmental protection initiatives.

The Peel Development Commission Chair, David Doepel, said “We were pleased to have the Premier return to Peel to discuss the State Budget and its implications for the region as we look for the new normal and what that means for our businesses, households, and communities.

“I have observed a general feeling of gratitude from many people for the safe passage through COVID-19, both from a health perspective and an economic perspective.

This gives us the capacity now with the budget surplus to do significant things – so while paying down the debt we are also investing strongly in the regions. Some of the standout numbers were on the infrastructure side, reflecting the great work by the WA Government to secure Federal co-investment for projects that will set the State up for a strong future.”

Visit www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au for a detailed look at the 2022-23 WA State Budget.