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A render of the film studio under construction in Malaga.

Film BoomFilm industry plans to go ahead despite tariff threats

The State Government is moving forward with its plans to grow WA’s screen industry and workforce through incentives, admitting it likely wouldn’t be popular with the US President.

Liam Murphy

WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti.

state politicsCommentsPremiumSaffioti accused of ‘changing tune’ over WA’s debt monster

Rita Saffioti has shrugged off criticism of WA’s rising debt levels during heated debate in Parliament, insisting the State’s AAA credit rating is proof it is sustainable.

Jessica Page

Filing a tax return too early could result in amendments or an investigation, the ATO has warned. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

BudgetPremiumAustralians warned to not jump the gun on tax return

The national tax office has warned Australians to be patient in lodging their tax returns as the financial year comes to an end.

Fraser Barton

The NSW budget is based on "dubious assumptions", Opposition Leader Mark Speakman says. (Nikki Short/AAP PHOTOS)

BudgetPremiumBots doing mundane jobs among 'transformational' pledge

Australia's largest state budget, criticised as boring and vague, has prompted promises from political hopefuls of a more "transformational" government.

Jack Gramenz and Farid Farid

Roe MLA Peter Rundle blasted the State Budget as creating a “country versus city” divide.

STATE BUDGET 2025-26PremiumState Budget 2025 full of ‘wrong priorities’, Roe MLA says

The Member for Roe has slammed WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti’s State Budget, tabled on Thursday, as “city-focused” and a document full of “wrong priorities”.

Melissa Sheil

Glenda Jones serves at the Albany Tennis Club. The club is set to receive $1.5 million for new courts and lights.

Tennis boostPremiumBudget serves up lights and courts for Albany Tennis Club

Albany Tennis Club has been slated in the State Budget to receive $1.5m in funding to add four courts and floodlighting to its new North Road facility.

Claire Middleton

Queensland's Liberal National government has been accused of lacking a renewable energy plan. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

BudgetPremiumAlarm as LNP takes wind out of energy plan, renewables

Plans to prop up ageing coal-fired power stations by a state government have been labelled a "waste of money" amid concerns over its energy transition.

Savannah Meacham and Fraser Barton

Much-needed higher-density housing and apartments face many hurdles, industry experts say. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

BudgetPremium'Boring' budget to get finances ready for future shocks

Having sped up home approvals, a building laggard is shifting focus to getting construction going in a bid to reduce the biggest strain on family finances.

Jack Gramenz and Alex Mitchell

The NSW budget is aiming to help boost the property market by providing incentives for developers. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

BudgetPremiumWinners and losers hammered out in NSW budget

Property developers and school students can celebrate NSW Labor's third budget, but drivers and some animals are set to lose out.

Luke Costin

Alannah Bickey and 13-year-old son Matthew pictured outside the Bassendean Caledonian Soccer Club at Jubilee Oval, in Eden Hill.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
state politicsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Hidden Budget sting: WA government scales back on kids sport

The Cook Government has quietly reduced KidSport vouchers that help struggling families from $500 to $300, it can be revealed, as cost of living support is reined in. 

Jessica Page

Minister for the Great Southern Reece Whitby presented the State Budget to an audience at the Great Southern Development Commission’s budget briefing.

Any questionsPremium‘Question time: ‘When will you fix the hydrotherapy pool?’

“The hydrotherapy pool at Albany Health Campus hasn’t worked for four years, when will it be fixed?” 

Claire Middleton

State Budget funding means the airport master plan can be completed by March-April next year.

AIRPORT UPGRADESPremiumMayor thrilled by $11.5m for “big-ticket” airport upgrades

Albany’s mayor says the $11.5 million dedicated to finishing the upgrades of the Great Southern’s largest airport, announced in last week’s State Budget, means the facility can be completed in early 2026.

Melissa Sheil

ACT Treasurer Chris Steel will hand down the territory's budget on Tuesday. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

BudgetPremiumACT budget on life support amid health funding woes

As he readies his first budget, ACT Treasurer Chris Steel warns the territory's finances are unsustainable without a health funding boost from the Commonwealth.

Jacob Shteyman

Diabolik bookstore owner Scott Jones pictured at the store in Mt Hawthorn

WA BUDGET CommentsSmall businesses react to State Budget with quiet optimism

Small business owners in Western Australia have not had their low expectations surpassed in Thursday’s State Budget, with one saying there was little to write home about.

Oliver Lane

Treasurer Rita Saffioti speaking at the state budget lockup at Dumas House on Thursday afternoon.

analysis
analysis
Ben Harvey CommentsPremium
analysis
Transcribing Saffioti’s State Budget speech

Ben Harvey reveals the truth behind the words of a Budget speech that could send you to sleep.

Ben Harvey

Rita Saffioti delivering the budget at WA Parliament House on Thursday.

WA BUDGETCommentsGST win coming for west as fight looms over lucrative deal

WA will see its GST share lift above the legislated 75 cent floor for the first time in more than a decade the Budget has predicted, as Labor prepares to argue for the deal which has proven an economic boon.

Dylan Caporn

Premier Roger Cook and Treasurer Rita Saffioti.

analysis
analysis
WA BUDGET
analysis
This is not a sexy Budget, but it delivers the essentials

The cost-of-living crisis is over for some, if not all. But record population growth means the hospital and housing crisis is not yet abating.

Jessica Page

Rita Saffioti said the government were focused on creating housing to match the infrastructure spend. 

WA BUDGETCommentsPremiumRegional projects to run over-budget with housing the focus

Millions of extra funds will be put into a range of regional infrastructure projects to see them completed, the State Budget has revealed.

Oliver Lane

‘We are also unlocking underutilised land for housing development and have led the nation on cutting red tape in the planning system,’ John Carey said.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
State PoliticsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
$101 million in latest boost to tackle housing supply

Labor will unlock 33,000 residential lots across WA in a $101 million investment in water and power infrastructure in Thursday’s State Budget.

Dylan Caporn and Oliver Lane

Rita Saffioti is pinning her job on creating jobs for WA.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
state politicsVideoCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
No sign of rebates as Saffioti prepares to hand down Budget

WA families appear likely to miss out on power bill credits for the first time in five years as Rita Saffioti prepares to hand down her second Budget.

Jessica Page and Dylan Caporn

The NSW budget will include big education spending, including $9 billion on infrastructure. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

BudgetPremiumSchools, buses headline early budget promises

Public schools and the way kids get there will both receive major funding boosts when the NSW government unveils its budget next week.

Tom Wark

Pacific workers are being encouraged to do the paperwork necessary to claim their superannuation. (University of South Australia/AAP PHOTOS)

BudgetPremium'Many millions' in unclaimed super for Pacific workers

Pacific workers are being hindered in accessing their Australian superannuation by tricky rules, access to technology and language barriers.

Ben McKay

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says he wants to push ahead with his plan to increase the tax rate on high-balance superannuation accounts in the form previously proposed.

analysis
analysis
Federal PoliticsCommentsPremium
analysis
Everything you need to know about superannuation tax fight

What is the superannuation tax fight all about and will you have to pay it?

Katina Curtis

Victorian Treasurer Jaclyn Symes announced a $2.3b cost-of-living package as part of the budget. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

BudgetPremiumDebt piles up as public service faces $3b budget cut

Taxpayers are set to foot the bill as interest on debt eats a $29-million-a-day hole in a state budget, despite public service job cuts and higher tax revenue.

Callum Godde

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