Leader of The Nationals WA, Shane Love MLA, says the Cook Labor Government’s upcoming State Budget must deliver practical cost-of-living relief for regional Western Australians, starting with targeted fuel relief.
Mr Love said The Nationals WA have put forward practical measures to ease pressure, including lifting the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) fuel subsidy from 40 cents to $1 per kilometre, and increasing the Country Age Pension Fuel Card from $750 to $1,000 and restoring CPI indexation.
“In regional WA, fuel isn’t optional — it’s essential,” Mr Love said.
“Whether it’s getting to work, taking kids to school, running a business or travelling long distances for medical care, people in the regions are paying more and feeling it more.
“The current PATS fuel subsidy is completely out of step with real travel costs and is leaving vulnerable Western Australians out of pocket, just so they can access essential medical treatment.
“No one should have to choose between their health and the cost of getting there, but that is the reality for many regional Western Australians right now.”
Mr Love said the Regional Pensioner Travel Card remains a critical support and lifeline to older Western Australians, but has also failed to keep pace with rising costs.
“Increasing the card to $1,000 is a modest, practical step that would deliver immediate relief and restore some fairness.”
Mr Love said The Nationals WA would support these measures being introduced for a defined period, subject to regular review, and maintained for as long as cost-of-living pressures persist.
Mr Love also criticised the Government’s ‘Seven Regional Cities’ announcement, labelling their promise of 500 GROH homes as “…all talk and no delivery.”
“Building regional communities takes more than just announcing houses,” he said.
“It requires reliable water, stable power, strong transport corridors and the essential infrastructure that makes towns liveable and able to grow.”
“When Port Hedland is running out of water and Kalgoorlie continues to suffer repeated power outages, it raises serious questions about the Government’s ability to deliver large-scale housing when it can’t get even the basics right.
“This is a Government that has failed to plan and failed to deliver for regional Western Australia.”
