Achievements

Western Australia has the strongest economy in the nation. Much of our success as a State is the result of businesses, industries and people across our vast regional areas.

In the recent years, we have had a major focus on growing our economy, cost of living relief, boosting housing supply and investing in our medical system and hospitals.

Through some of the toughest global conditions, the Western Australian economy has prevailed. Here are some of the achievements that Kevin Michel and the Cook Labor Government have done for the Pilbara Region.

Health

  • $207 million to build the New Karratha Health Campus
  • $61 million to build the New State of art Health campus and Mental Health facility in Newman
  • $41 million to complete the Onslow Health Services Center
  • $15 million to build New MRI Unit at Hedland Health Campus
  • $2.5 million for Renal Dialysis wing equipment at Karratha Health Campus
  • Delivering redevelopments to Tom Price and Paraburdoo hospitals
  • Delivering the Step up - Step Down facilities in Karratha and Port Hedland
  • $18.5 million to increase the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) fuel subsidy from
    26c per kilometre to 40c per kilometre.

Education

  • $94 million for redevelopment of Roebourne District High School
  • 48.9 million to build 2 new workshops and modernise facilities at NR TAFE Pundulmurra
  • $31.7 million for Karratha Senior high school upgrades including IT classrooms, STEM and D&T workshops
  • $8 million for Roebourne TAFE campus upgrades
  • Solar Panel installations across all public schools in the Pilbara
  • $4 million for new residential facility for Martu students travelling to Newman
  • $217,000 for Exmouth Early Childhood Learning Center
  • $28 million to expand the School Breakfast Program to provide free breakfasts five
    days a week at more than 650 schools, including in the Pilbara.
  • $6.1 million for upgrades to Baler Primary School.
  • $6.3 million for upgrades to Cassia Primary School

Community

  • $187.5 million Port Hedland Spoilbank Marina
  • $21 million to upgrade & transform Karijini National Park
  • $15 million for the Murujuga National Park access road
  • $11 million for Murujuga Rock Art program expansion
  • $14.9 million for creation of Fortescue marsh reserve
  • $13.5 million for development of Port Hedland Seafarers center
  • $400,000 for Bayview Road Footpath expansion program
  • $250,000 expansion of Physiotherapy services
  • $203,000 for the Bullara Glamping and Camping Experience
  • $200,000 for Ningaloo Aggressor diving experience
  • $2.3 million for additional CCTV across the State to help combat anti-social behaviour
    including additional cameras in Karratha, Newman, Port Hedland, South Hedland,
    Roebourne and Wickham.
  • $3.5 million for major upgrades to the Newman Recreation Centre, located at Newman
    Senior High School.

Housing

  • $200 million to fund housing for Aboriginal communities
  • $16 million to house Aboriginal employees
  • $35 million to unlock development-ready land
  • $13 million for 51 lots at Karratha’s Madigan at Baynton West 
  • $6.9 million through the Infrastructure Development Fund key worker accommodation
  • $400 million Housing Enabling Infrastructure Fund to unlock residential land.
  • Assistance to first home buyers looking to build a home with the $10,000 First Homeowners Grant and transfer duty exemptions and concessions for land.
  • $43.2 million towards the Mulataga housing development in Karratha
  • $25 million over four years for the Regional Housing Support Fund
  • $103.8 million to double the Government Regional Officer Housing (GROH)
    construction program with over 100 new builds, plus land acquisition, across regional
    WA to support key government workers such as police and teachers.
  • Delivering through Keystart, a new low-deposit modular home loan product to assist
    more people, particularly in regional WA, to purchase a modular home.
  • Increased stamp duty threshold for first homebuyers to $500,000, with discounted
    rates applied to homes valued up to $750,000 in regional WA.

Jobs and Economy

  • $500 million to deliver enabling infrastructure in Strategic Industrial Areas including at Boodarie, Maitland, Ashburton North and Anketell.
  • $148 million to upgrades to the electricity network in the North West
  • $101 million for a new multi-user wharf at the Port of Dampier
  • $95 million to expand the Burrup sea water supply to connect Perdaman Urea Plant.
  • $70 million for the Pilbara Hydrogen Hub.
  • $21 million to transform and upgrade Karijini National Park.
  • $17 million for roadworks at Utah Point at the Port of Port Hedland.
  • $11 million to expand the Murujuga Rock Art Monitoring Program
  • $14.9 million to support the creation of the Fortescue Marsh Nature Reserve
  • $20 million to expand the Aboriginal Ranger Program
  • $50 million Battery Manufacturing Program to support local businesses to make
    household batteries here in WA
  • $1.6 million to support delivery of the Pilbara Energy Transition Plan to facilitate more
    common-use transmission infrastructure in the Pilbara and support industry
  • $96.6 million for the new Lumsden Point at the Port of Port Hedland, expanding port
    capacity and supporting our clean energy transition

Cost of Living Measures

  • Introduced Regional Airfare Caps for Pilbara residents, reducing one way fares to Perth, to a maximum of $299.
  • Slashed $700 off power bills in 2024, $2,100 since 2020.
  • WA Student Assistance Payment, $150 for every primary school kid and $250 for every secondary school kid.
  • Made regional TransWA services 50 per cent cheaper over summer.
  • Made 130 priority TAFE courses fee free.
  • $8.6 million to expand fee-free TAFE in the regions with an additional seven
    construction courses fee-free from 2026.
  • More than doubled assistance through the KidSport vouchers program
  • Doubled the travel and accommodation allowance for regional apprentices, trainees, cadets, and interns who are required to travel long distances for
    their training.