West Australians Left Behind by Mid-year Review

Media Release | 18 December 2025
‍
Sandra Brewer MLA
Shadow Treasurer

West Australians are not benefitting from the windfall revenue gains being swallowed by the Cook Labor Government’s massive expense growth and out-of-touch priorities.

Shadow Treasurer Sandra Brewer said the increase in the revised surplus of $2.5 billion confirmed in the 2025-26 Mid-year Financial Projections Statement was not earned through reform or discipline, but through windfall conditions, high commodity prices and a growing tax take.

“This is good fortune rather than good economic management and the Cook Labor Government is not sharing this good fortune with West Australians,” Ms Brewer said.

“Rather than easing pressure, the Government continues to lean on households as a revenue source, with taxation revenue up an additional $3.2 billion over the next four years, including an extra $830 million in stamp duty revenue this year alone.

“While families tighten their belts, the Government shows no ambition to cut back or reform, choosing instead to entrench a high-tax, high-spend approach that leaves households worse off.

“The announced housing measures will do little to ease the pain West Australians are feeling through increased rents and tightening housing supply.”

Not one single quarter of dwelling completions since 2017 has been recorded above the 2009-16 average, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

“This Government is 64,000 dwelling completions short of their predecessors, while the social housing waitlist sits over 22,000,” Ms Brewer said.

“The Government remain the root cause of the housing crisis and all the statistics show extravagant failings.

“Expenditure continues to spiral out of control, revised up by $1.1 billion in 2025-26 alone, and $6.5 billion across the forward estimates, with the Treasurer showing no meaningful attempt to rein in spending.

“In eight years, despite windfall gains, this Government has not paid debt as promised. And looking forward there is no intention to pay down debt.”

Despite unprecedented revenue, West Australians continue to face acute cost-of-living pressures, with little to show for Labor’s record spending.

Ms Brewer said essential services remained under strain, housing supply had failed to keep pace with demand, and families were seeing no improvement in day-to-day affordability.

“That is unacceptable from a Government that claims to care about affordability while quietly taking more from West Australians,” she said.

“Treasurer Rita Saffioti has shown she’s happy to budget for pet projects, but relies on windfalls to catch-up on the essentials.

“In the most prosperous state in Australia, we should have the best hospitals, the best schools and every West Australian deserves to be able to get into a home.”

Media Contact – Graham Mason 0419 194 792

‍