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Explore the most significant policies of the two major parties asking for your vote in the 2021 WA Election.
On March 13, WA will head to the polls once again.
The two major parties have already made hundreds of spending promises as they battle to win as many seats as they can.
Premier Mark McGowan has described his Labor Party’s election commitments as “modest and affordable”.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Zak Kirkup says his Liberal Party’s promises show they have a “clear economic plan”.
Ultimately, you will be the judge — and to help, we’ve compiled their most significant policies in an easy to digest guide, which will be updated daily.
Agriculture and food
WA Labor:
- $15 million towards a program to support carbon farming projects on freehold land and develop new agricultural management techniques.
- $10 million to build a food technology facility in the Peel region to assist primary producers and food and beverage businesses develop, test and produce new and improved products.
Photo:
The WA Liberals have pledged to build an aquaculture research centre in the northern Perth coastal town of Two Rocks. (ABC News: Gian De Poloni)
WA Liberals:
- $38 million to develop WA’s commercial fishing sector, including a new aquaculture research centre in Two Rocks.
- $36 million to boost recreational fishing initiatives including the development of a regional fish restocking program and the installation of new artificial reefs.
Business and industry
WA Labor:
- An extra $20 million towards the Collie Industry Attraction Fund to help diversify the local industry and create new local jobs.
Photo:
Both parties have plans to transition the South West town of Collie away from the coal industry. (ABC News: Eliza Borrello)
WA Liberals:
- $100 million to open up new international markets for WA industries hit by disruptions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
- $100 million to attract private companies to WA to invest in priority industries.
- $100 million to transition the town of Collie from a coal-energy hub to other forms of employment.
- $50 million to expand the manufacturing of items of critical importance to the state.
- A commitment to deliver 200,000 new jobs over the next five years.
- A commitment not to sell and privatise Western Power.
- A commitment not to build the Cockburn Sound Outer Harbour in Kwinana.
- Extend Sunday shopping hours in Perth’s CBD by allowing trade to begin at 8:00AM.
- Allow households and small business to shop around for cheaper electricity providers.
- An unknown amount to deliver payroll tax relief of up to $30,000 per year for around 5,500 small businesses.
Climate and the environment
WA Labor:
- $21 million to expand WA’s electric vehicle network and encourage uptake of electric vehicles.
- $13 million for a scheme to encourage households to replace low-efficiency appliances.
WA Liberals:
- $60 million to expand WA’s electric vehicle network, promote uptake, plan a hydrogen vehicle network and install additional fuelling stations.
- A $27 million spend on a shark mitigation policy including the supply of drones for all surf lifesaving clubs, a whale carcass removal strategy, a SMART drumline plan and an upgraded beach warning system.
- An unknown amount, in conjunction with the private sector, to build a new solar and wind energy facility in the Mid West and create an extra 4,500 megawatts of wind and solar energy by 2030.
- A commitment for WA to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030 through the closure close all state owned coal-fired power stations by 2025.
Community services
WA Labor:
- $58.6 million to support at-risk youth, including money for PCYC’s and the continuation of the Homestretch program helping 18 to 21-year-olds’ transition out of child protection care.
- $48.9 million to address homelessness, including the establishment of an Aboriginal short-stay accommodation facility in Perth.
- $29.5 million for two family domestic violence hubs in Perth and regional WA.
- $14.3 million to provide crisis accommodation for 100 rough sleepers in Perth and Fremantle.
- $9.3 million into not-for-profit organisations that focus on animal protection and welfare, including the RSPCA.
- $6 million to triple the cash payment for the grandparent carers of children.
- Re-introduce legislation to stop backyard puppy farming in WA.
- An unknown amount to keep power, water and public transport fare increases to the rate of inflation over the next four years.
Photo:
Both parties have announced measures to address homelessness after the issue came to a head during the pandemic. (ABC News: Jessica Warriner)
WA Liberals:
- $60 million to cut the cost of stamp duty for seniors looking to downsize.
- $57.5 million to address homelessness by refitting hostels and backpackers as interim accommodation for rough sleepers.
- $45.5 million to address and prevent family and domestic violence through funding for Department of Communities and awareness campaigns.
- An unknown amount to keep all fee and charges increases to the rate of inflation over the next four years.
Education
WA Labor:
- $91.5 million to extend a freeze on all TAFE fees to at least 2025.
- $87.2 million to build new primary schools in Landsdale, Mandurah and West Swan and rebuild Hillarys Primary School.
- $42.2 million for more than 100 additional psychologists in WA schools.
- $29.8 million to create an extra 4,000 places for Vocational Education and Training (VET) places at TAFE by 2024.
- $5.2 million to get 200 additional mature aged apprentices into quality training.
Photo:
The Liberals have committed to spending $10 million to upgrade school playground equipment. (ABC News: Robert Koenig-Luck)
WA Liberals:
- $200 million to boost the number of apprentices and trainees in WA by 20,000.
- $56.4 million for upgrade of Rossmoyne Senior High School and upgrades to schools in Kingsley and Kallaroo.
- $30 million for 10 extra early childhood centres.
- $30 million expand Kinross College.
- $10 million to improve school playgrounds
Entertainment and the arts
WA Labor:
- $25 million to support artists, filmmakers and other creatives living in regional WA.
- $3 million to continue the Contemporary Music Fund, which offers grants to local musicians to produce and promote their music.
Photo:
Girls Rock! — an initiative that supports young female, trans and non-binary musicians — is funded under the Contemporary Music Fund. (Supplied: Girls Rock WA)
WA Liberals:
Health
WA Labor:
- $1.8 billion for new women and babies hospital at QEII with works to begin in 2023.
- A $361.6 million mental health package to address gaps in the system, including two new mental health emergency centres in Rockingham and Armadale, a 10-bed facility in South Hedland and an expansion of WA’s eating disorder treatment programs.
- $152 million for a major redevelopment of the Peel Health Campus in Mandurah.
- $24.1 million to construct and operate a new renal dialysis centre in Halls Creek.
- $19.7 million to increase the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) from $60 to $100 per night for people living in regional areas to access medical appointments.
- Trialling a banned drinkers register in Kalgoorlie, restricting problem drinkers’ access to takeaway alcohol.
Photo:
Both parties have committed to upgrading the Peel Health Campus, Mandurah’s regional hospital. (ABC News: Briana Shepherd)
WA Liberals:
- $500 million to a dedicated maternity and gynaecological hospital at QEII in Nedlands.
- A $316 million mental health package, including funds for a state suicide prevention strategy, to employ more school psychologists and to launch a youth mental health plan.
- $167 million to upgrade Peel Health Campus as well as expand the emergency department.
- $50 million to provide three new mental health observation units in regional WA and expand the service in the city.
- $40 million to reduce the elective surgery waitlist by about 6,500 cases.
- $40 million to boost palliative care services provided at home.
- $30 million to boost services offered by Silver Chain in WA.
- Undertake an audit of WA’s public hospital bed needs in an effort to reduce ambulance ramping.
Police and emergency services
WA Labor:
- $44 million for new police station in Baldivis and Forrestfield, as well as a new Mobile Command Centre to support emergency services in the event of a major emergency.
- $38.4 million towards WA’s firefighting capability, including 36 additional career firefighters in Albany, Geraldton and Kalgoorlie and a new fire station in Armadale.
- $30.1 million for 18 more professional paramedics to be deployed throughout regional WA to support existing volunteer services.
- $16 million to provide a rebate of up to $400 for seniors to purchase home security and safety equipment.
Photo:
Labor have budgeted for an extra 800 police officers, while the WA Liberals want to recruit an extra 1,200 officers. (ABC News: Andrew O’Connor)
WA Liberals:
- A $500 million spend on the WA Police force, including 1,200 new officers to be assigned to a range of new and improved specialist squads.
- The funding would see the establishment of 250 officer-strong Northbridge/CBD police unit as well as a new police station in Kalamunda.
- The fund also includes $20 million for seniors to purchase home security and safety equipment.
- Increasing the mandatory minimum jail sentences for convicted meth dealers.
Sport
WA Labor:
- $20 million towards the redevelopment of East Fremantle Oval, home to the East Fremantle Sharks football club.
Photo:
The WA Liberal Party want Perth Stadium to revert to its original planning name. (Supplied: WA Liberal Party)
WA Liberals:
- $20 million towards the redevelopment of East Fremantle Oval, home to the East Fremantle Sharks football club.
- $20 million towards the redevelopment of the State Tennis Centre at Burswood.
- $7 million in additional funding towards the Community Sport and Recreation Facilities Fund for local sport facilities.
- An unknown amount to re-name the city’s stadium to Perth Stadium.
Tourism
WA Labor:
- $10 million for road and camping infrastructure at Mount Augustus in the Gascoyne.
- $9.5 million towards the construction of an underwater marine observatory along the Busselton Jetty.
Photo:
WA Labor want to build a part-submerged marine observatory along Busselton’s famous jetty. (ABC News: Gian De Poloni)
WA Liberals:
- $50 million to boost Tourism WA‘s budget to assist with tasks like marketing.
- $50 million to attract one-off major international events to WA.
- $50 million to establish a tourism infrastructure and attraction fund.
- $10 million to develop four new Indigenous-lead campgrounds on Aboriginal lands from the Gascoyne to the Great Southern.
Transport
WA Labor:
- $60.6 million to provide cheaper public transport fares from January 2022, with all fares capped at a maximum of $5.
- $55 million to widen the Mandurah Estuary Bridge.
- An extra $52 million towards the jointly State-Federal funded Regional Road Safety Program to improve safety on country roads by sealing gravel shoulders and installing audible edge lines.
- $38 million to expand the carpark at Greenwood Station.
- $35 million for the development of a new Broome boating facility at the local port.
- $24.4 million to upgrade ticketing systems on public transport to allow payment by debit and credit cards, as well as smartphones.
- An extra $16.7 million to expand and improve cycling infrastructure across the state.
- $19.8 million to make air travel for regional residents more affordable through the introduction of caps on fares.
- A commitment not to build the Roe 8 and 9 highway extension.
Photo:
A 2016 concept of the proposed Roe Highway extension traversing the Beeliar Wetlands. (Supplied: Main Roads WA)
WA Liberals:
- $700 million to extend Roe Highway into Fremantle (Roe 8 and 9).
- $445 million to the expedite the delivery of the jointly State-Federal funded Regional Road Safety Program to improve safety on country roads.
- $81 million to improve cycling infrastructure, including filling gaps on Perth’s bike paths, a cycling circuit around Kings Park and a continuous coastal bike path between Hillarys and Fremantle.
- $56 million to make public transport free for seniors and school children.
- $30 million to build an interchange at Reid Highway and Erindale Road.
- $5 million to plan the sinking of the passenger rail line in West Perth.
Notes:
This list does not include projects already funded or underway, and omits 2017 election commitments (such as the government’s Metronet rail project), otherwise where noted for fairness.
These lists expenditure committed to solely by the State Government and not any other tiers of government or the private sector, otherwise where noted.
It does not include commitments made by minor parties.
It will be updated daily as the campaign continues.
Source: websites of WA Labor and WA Liberals.
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