Western Australia poverty report sparks dispute over government support

A new report puts Western Australia's poverty rate at 15.1%. The premier defended cost-of-living support, while the opposition said the measures were failing to deliver sufficient results.

The Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre report, published on October 11, estimates that 456,000 Western Australians live below the poverty line, including almost 99,000 children. The poverty rate rose from 11.8% in 2021 to 15.1% in 2026. The researchers link hardship to inadequate household incomes and high housing costs.

Speaking at a Sunday news conference, Premier Roger Cook said the current state budget provided a billion Australian dollars in cost-of-living relief. He pointed to measures covering public transport, school expenses and fuel, and said governments at different levels needed to work together.

Opposition leader Basil Zempilas said the poverty rate showed that the government's support was not working adequately. He urged it to focus on living costs, housing, health and police resources rather than relying on announcements of large spending commitments.

Centre director Alan Duncan said the extent of households' income shortfalls mattered alongside the number of people in poverty. The report recommends expanding access to social and affordable housing and supporting households struggling with rent.