Call to extend Rent Relief Program

Media Release | 26 November 2025
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David Bolt
Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness

Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness David Bolt has called on the State Government to extend its WA Rent Relief Program, due to end on December 31, in the wake of new statistics confirming Perth as the least affordable rental market in the country.

The WA Rent Relief Program, which provides payments of up to $5000 to help private tenants who are behind in rent and struggling with daily expenses, was given a 6-month extension in May.

“In a State as wealthy as Western Australia, we must be able to afford to help vulnerable people at risk of eviction,” Mr Bolt said.

“The Opposition is calling on the Government to give those tenants some peace of mind as we head into the Christmas and New Year period, and at the very least, extend the program until the end of the current financial year.”

Mr Bolt said a further review of the program – currently administered by Anglicare WA and Vinnies WA – would help provide information on budget requirements beyond that.

This week the National Shelter’s rental affordability index showed that Perth was the least affordable city in the country for a second year running.

“In just five years Perth has gone from the most affordable rental market to the least affordable, overtaking Sydney,” he said.

Mr Bolt said the State Government had ignored the worsening state of the housing market for nearly nine years, with some alarming statistics including:

• In four years, the median rent in WA has increased 118 per cent;
• The average Perth renter is now spending more than 30 per cent of their income
  on the median rent;
• There is a shortfall of 7,700 homes in Perth rental stock;
• There are more than 23,000 applications for public housing;
• There are 7755 applications on the priority waitlist, a 367 per cent increase
  between 2019 and now;
• The median social housing wait time has blown out from 58 weeks to 120 weeks
  in four years.
  “WA’s rental and housing markets are in crisis,” he said.
  “The message is clear – the Government must do more to increase housing supply and
  ease the burden, especially for those most in need.

“Extending the Rent Relief Program is one way to give certainty to people in need and address their very real and immediate stressful situation.

“The Cook Labor Government is big on announcements but not big on delivery. It’s response is clearly not meeting the scale of the crisis and more must be done urgently to ensure West Australians can access housing and keep a roof over their heads.”

MEDIA CONTACT: Graham Mason 0419 194 792

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