The Cook Labor Government’s 2026-27 State Budget has failed to deliver meaningful investment for Warren-Blackwood, despite a multi-billion-dollar surplus and growing pressure on communities.
Member for Warren-Blackwood Bevan Eatts MLA said the Budget ignored urgent needs across health, housing, education, family and domestic violence services, and road safety, while continuing to prioritise Perth-based projects over regional WA.
“This Budget proves once again that Labor’s focus stops at the metropolitan boundary,” he said.
“Despite a $3.5 billion surplus, there is virtually nothing in this Budget for the people of Warren Blackwood, while communities across our region continue to deal with ageing infrastructure, housing shortages, and unsafe roads.
“In fact, there is not a single mention of Denmark or Margaret River across the Budget Papers, showing just how little Labor cares for these growing regional hubs.”
No support for family & domestic violence refuge
Mr Eatts said one of his key priorities heading into the Budget was securing funding for a family and domestic violence refuge within Warren-Blackwood – a service the region still does not have.
“There is not a single refuge from Denmark to Margaret River to women and children escaping family and domestic violence,” he said.
“In a State as wealth as Western Australia, that is simply unacceptable.”
Mr Eatts said he had repeatedly raised the issue in Parliament, including this week, highlighting the disparity between metropolitan and regional investment into FDV services.
“The Government is spending more than $40 million expanding services in the City of Stirling alone, yet there is still no refuge anywhere in our electorate,” he said.
“Regional women and children deserve the same access to safety and support as those in Perth.”
Regional health continues to be overlooked
Mr Eatts said the Budget failed to address mounting concerns about ageing health infrastructure across the South West, particularly the urgent need to redevelop Margaret River Hospital.
“Margaret River Hospital is outdated, overcrowded, and no longer fit for purpose,” he said.
“The local population has more than doubled since 2001, the region welcomes more than one million visitors every year, and yet the hospital still has only 12 beds.”
Mr Eatts said WA Country Health Service had already submitted redevelopment plans for the hospital to Treasury in 2023, but no funding had been allocated.
“The Government knows this upgrade is needed. Their own department made the case for it years ago, yet once again regional health infrastructure has been pushed aside.”
He also criticised Labor for failing to deliver long-promised maintenance upgrades at regional hospitals and health facilities, including roofing works at Bridgetown Hospital and repairs at Northcliffe Nursing Post and Pemberton Hospital.
Mr Eatts said the Budget also ignored calls for a CT scanner at Manjimup Hospital.
“Manjimup residents are still forced to make a three-hour round trip to Busselton for CT scans. That places unnecessary stress on patients, families, carers, and volunteer ambulance crews.”
Education investment falls short
Mr Eatts said the Government had again failed to fund Stage Two of the Margaret River Senior High School redevelopment, despite growing enrolments and ongoing overcrowding.
“The school was originally built for around 700 students and is now supporting almost 1,200, with enrolments continuing to rise,” he said.
“Staff and students are being forced to work in overcrowded conditions because Labor has spent nearly a decade delaying the next stage of this project.”
Mr Eatts noted the former Liberal-Nationals Government funded the first stage of the expansion in 2016, delivering 16 new classrooms.
Road safety concerns ignored
With WA on track for its worst road toll in more than a decade, Mr Eatts said it was deeply disappointing that no major funding had been allocated to dangerous South West roads.
“The South Western Highway between Boyanup and Walpole, and the Denmark Mount Barker Road remain two of the most dangerous roads in the State,” he said.
“Motorists are dealing with narrow lanes, soft shoulders, and very limited overtaking opportunities every day.
“There is a particular need for overtaking lanes between Bridgetown and Manjimup, with the State Government promising these but failing to deliver.”
Mr Eatts also raised concerns about the Bussell Highway through Cowaramup, where speeding traffic and poor pedestrian infrastructure continue to pose safety risks.
“These roads have been repeatedly identified by the RAC as some of WA’s worst, yet this Budget contains no meaningful investment to improve safety.”
Housing measures miss the mark
Mr Eatts said Labor’s housing announcements would do little to improve affordability or supply in Warren-Blackwood.
“Labor’s so-called Seven Cities plan includes 500 new Government Regional Officer Homes across regional WA, but not a single one is earmarked for Warren-Blackwood,” he said.
“Communities like Denmark, Margaret River and Manjimup are crying out for more housing, yet they’ve been overlooked again.”
He also questioned the Government’s broader housing targets and the effectiveness of modest stamp duty changes.
“Raising the first home buyer concession threshold to $600,000 will make very little difference in towns like Margaret River or Denmark, where median house prices are already well above that,” he said.
Mr Eatts said the 2026-27 State Budget would ultimately be remembered as another missed opportunity for regional WA.
“While Labor pushes ahead with expensive Perth-based projects, regional communities are still waiting for investment in essential services like hospitals, schools, housing, and safer roads.
“Regional WA powers this State’s economy, but after nearly a decade of Labor, communities in Warren-Blackwood are still being left behind,” Mr Eatts said.
