WA Budget 2026: West Aussies laugh off $100 fuel payment and knock back ambitious promises

Treasurer Rita Saffioti handed down an ambitious State Budget on Thursday, promising a history-making hospital building program and $100 in the pockets of every motorist, and West Aussies have had their say.

But according to a poll on The West Australian and PerthNow’s Facebook pages, the overwhelming public consensus is that West Aussies are worse off after the State Budget was handed down.

That was despite a surprise gift of the $100 “extraordinary” fuel handout was announced to be given to the roughly two million holders of a WA driver’s license.

The cost of living measure is a response to rising fuel costs, but West Aussies have laughed off the bonus, which barely covers one tank of fuel.

“That might just be enough to fill my lawnmower,” one comment said in reaction on social media.

While another sarcastic commenter wrote “Whoo hoo, 1/4 (tank) of fuel helps.”

“So what do we pay more for now to make up for it? Nothing is free,” one local questioned.

On top of this relief, a third round of student assistance payments was announced, worth $150 in primary school and $250 in high school.

However, eagle-eyed readers noticed that electricity and water charges would rise by 2.75 per cent despite the Budget touting a 3.3 per cent reduction to household bills.

These rises total a $108.43 increase into annual bills, effectively wiping out the fuel payment for each household.

“The Government says renewables are the cheapest form of energy yet our power bills will go up by 2.75 per cent, so maybe they aren’t cheap after all...” one commenter said.

“This is nowhere as good as the energy credit payments in the past, the rise in water health wipes out this $100 so its not a relief really,” another angry West Aussie wrote.

Labor’s headline promise in the 2026 State Budget is the history-marking $9.1 billion allocation into WA’s health sector.

A record $5.5 billion was committed into health infrastructure, delivering on the public demands over the dire need for more hospitals and support for the health sector.

While a welcome sight in the Budget, readers are sceptical that the promise will come to fruition.

“I can say a lot of things and I can promise $100 billion and people would believe it, but saying and doing are a completely different thing and promises are always made to be broken especially by politicians,” one person wrote.

“More labour (sic) promises to break,” another added.

Concerns were raised about Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital being left out of the Budget, with one saying “a serious look at all the old, degrading hospitals in Perth is called for”.

What do you think about the State Budget? Share your thoughts in the comments below.