September
- Exclusive
- Interest rates
Surprise government spending blowout hits $70b
Treasury may have underestimated a state and federal government budget spending splurge by $70 billion, which a string of economists warn will add to inflation.
- Updated
- Michael Read
May
‘Unprecedented’ migration blamed for jump in WA spending
Treasurer says the state government had been forced to spend more on education, housing and healthcare after 95,000 people moved to WA last year.
- Tom Rabe
WA taps Albanese for $200m critical minerals hub
WA has earmarked land near where Alcoa is closing its alumina refinery and a BHP nickel refinery is hanging by a thread for a critical minerals processing hub it wants the Albanese government to co-fund.
- Brad Thompson
WA Budget Winners and Losers
Households and prospective home buyers are expected to benefit from new spending measures, while there is no additional funding for farmers, and still no changes to the state’s payroll tax system.
- Updated
- Tom Rabe and Brad Thompson
- Updated
- WA Parliament
WA infrastructure spending goes ‘up another gear’
Premier Roger Cook has vowed to shift infrastructure spending “up another gear” as the state splashed billions on cost-of-living and housing, to absorb the record 95,000 people who moved west last year.
- Tom Rabe
Landlords offered $5000 lure for housing fix
Amid a surge in Perth property prices, the WA government will give owners of vacant homes $5000 if they make them available for long-term renters.
- Tom Rabe
- Exclusive
- WA Parliament
Fast and unpopular: Why running WA economy’s like driving for Red Bull
Treasurer Rita Saffioti says Western Australia is the Red Bull Formula 1 team of the states, as she prepares to hand down her first budget.
- Tom Rabe
- Exclusive
- Iron ore
WA to raise iron ore projections in budget
The WA government will increase its long-term price assumptions for iron ore at this week’s state budget.
- Tom Rabe
December 2023
Surging WA government costs eat into $3b iron ore windfall
Surging iron ore prices have delivered the West Australian government an extra $3 billion in royalties, but two-thirds will go on increased state expenses.
- Tom Rabe
November 2023
- Opinion
- The AFR View
GST magic pudding shows there’s no appetite for tax reform
State and federal financial relations are a dog’s breakfast. But premiers are more interested in entrenching their own interests than reforming the mess.
- The AFR View
July 2023
Fruit left to rot as ‘strongest state’ can’t get enough workers
WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti lauds double AAA rating, but business warns worker shortage is a drag on economy.
- Tom Rabe
June 2023
- Opinion
- The AFR View
State debt addictions harder to add up
The least creditworthy jurisdictions face paying a higher risk premium on their borrowings unless they get their houses in order by bringing down debt.
- The AFR View
May 2023
‘A tale of two countries’: Perth long lunches continue amid budget boom
Fresh from handing down yet another multibillion-dollar budget surplus, WA Premier Mark McGowan said if other states had problems “they really need to look in the mirror”.
- Tom Rabe
McGowan eyes Texas in bid to diversify WA away from iron ore
Mark McGowan wants to diversify his state away from its heavy reliance on iron ore.
- Tom Rabe
- Updated
- Mark McGowan
McGowan on track to deliver a decade of surpluses for WA
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has handed down a budget surplus of $3.3 billion, and the state is on track for 10 consecutive years in the black, buoyed by overflowing mining royalties.
- Updated
- Tom Rabe
The winners and losers in the WA budget
Who benefits, and who missed out from Thursday’s WA budget.
- Tom Rabe
WA to spend $3b on major battery storage system, wind power
The West Australian government will allocate almost $3 billion to a renewable battery storage system and new wind power in Thursday’s state budget.
- Tom Rabe
WA flags massive energy grid expansion to support industry
Western Australia has flagged an expansion to its energy grid to support a future influx of renewable generation needed to support heavy industry.
- Tom Rabe
April 2023
- Opinion
- Government debt
States need fiscal revolution to avoid debt bomb
NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey is laying the groundwork for a revamping of state government finances.
- Christopher Joye
December 2022
WA reveals budget boost as iron ore stays stronger and longer
WA premier Mark McGowan raises spectre of a recession as the resources-rich state receives budget boost from higher than forecast iron ore royalties.
- Brad Thompson