Cost of living was front of mind with WA state budget recording a surplus of more than $3 billion dollars

The Western Australian premier and treasurer will be outselling their latest state budget after recording a surplus of more than 3 billion dollars.

Transcript

00:00 Well, after recording yet another budget surplus off the back of high iron ore prices, the

00:07 Cook government had to deliver cost of living relief for WA households in this budget.

00:11 And there are measures to ease the pressure.

00:13 A lot of it has already been announced, like cash for parents to help cover the cost of

00:17 school.

00:18 There were a couple of extra sweeteners in there too, like $400 electricity credits for

00:23 WA households.

00:25 And a bit of extra help for people wanting to break into the property market.

00:29 The government has lifted the threshold a little bit for stamp duty exemptions.

00:33 With an election due in March next year, the Premier was extra keen to sell it as a budget

00:39 for everyone.

00:40 My government is providing supports for families, for seniors, for tradies, for renters.

00:48 In fact, this budget delivers for every Western Australian.

00:53 For those struggling with the cost of living, the relief is welcome, but it has left them

00:57 wanting more.

00:58 Handouts are great and I appreciate them to be a hand up for a certain period of time,

01:03 but long term it doesn't actually help because that money disappears.

01:07 What we need is a long term alternative.

01:09 One budget item the government was not so keen to spruik was another cost blowout from

01:13 its flagship infrastructure project, Metronet.

01:16 An additional $707 million added to the bill there.

01:20 All in all, a budget with very few surprises.

01:23 Another budget surplus helped significantly by high iron ore prices and GST revenue.

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