The Nationals WA in Government will expand Royalties for Regions to include the Perth Hills and surrounding rural communities, ensuring these areas receive the investment they need to keep pace with rapid population growth.
Opposition Leader and Leader of The Nationals WA, Shane Love MLA, said the expansion would bring longoverdue support to local communities in the Shires of Mundaring, Kalamunda, Swan, Armadale and Gosnells,
areas that have been neglected under eight years of WA Labor.
“The Perth Hills face many of the same challenges are regional communities – population growth, ageing infrastructure and stretched services – but they’ve been overlooked for too long,” Mr Love said.
“By expanding Royalties for Regions, we will direct funding where it’s needed most, enhancing local infrastructure, improving community services, and supporting families, businesses and pensioners.”
To ensure funding remains focused on rural and regional areas, the City of Mandurah will be removed from the Royalties for Regions program as part of the policy shift.
One immediate benefit for the Perth Hills community will be access to the Regional Pensioner Travel Card, which The Nationals WA will increase from $675 to $800 per year to assist seniors with travel costs.
“For the first time, thousands of pensioners living in the Perth Hills will be eligible for this vital cost-of-living measure, helping them cover fuel and transport costs just like other regional West Australians,” Mr Love said.
Mr Love said Royalties for Regions – which The Nationals WA fought to introduce in 2008 – had reinvested over $7 billion in regional WA under the former National-Liberal Government, but was gutted by WA Labor after taking office in 2017.
“WA Labor hijacked more than $1.5 billion from Royalties for Regions, redirecting it to fund services that should be covered by consolidated revenue, like water and TAFE subsidies,” he said.
“The Nationals WA will restore and strengthen Royalties for Regions, ensuring mining royalties continue to benefit the communities that need them most, not just fill holes in Labor’s budget.”
Candidate for Kalamunda, Lisa Logan, said the Perth Hills had been left behind for too long and deserved real investment.
“Our communities like Pickering Brook and Piesse Brook have been ignored for years. The Nationals WA will restore integrity to Royalties for Regions and work closely with local governments, business, and community groups to deliver real results,” Ms Logan said.
Candidate for Swan Hills, Ben Giblett, said extending Royalties for Regions would bring the same benefits to the Perth Hills that regional WA had enjoyed for years under the former National-Liberal Government.
“This program has funded major projects, transformed local communities, and upgraded regional health services. I look forward to seeing those same benefits delivered in Swan Hills and the wider Perth Hills, ensuring rural communities get the infrastructure and services they need to thrive,” Mr Giblett said.
The expanded Royalties for Regions program will cover regional and rural areas of:
• Shire of Mundaring
• City of Kalamunda
• City of Swan
• City of Gosnells
• City of Armadale
