Regional Western Australia Left Behind In Labor’s Budget Assault On Ambition

MR RICK WILSON MP

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR O’CONNOR

13^th May 2026

Regional Western Australia Left Behind In Labor’s Budget Assault On Ambition

After five Labor Budgets, Australians are paying more, working harder, and going backwards.

Mr Wilson said it was a Budget of higher taxes, more debt, more division and no plan to restore Australians’ standard of living or support regional economies.

“This Budget confirms Prime Minister Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers are presiding over a government that is making Australians worse off, especially in regional WA.

“In regional WA, not only does Labor’s Budget make people poorer, it cuts infrastructure funding that could make communities stronger and more productive.”

Across the Budget, regional Australians face more than $11 billion in cuts to infrastructure and essential services, including reductions to infrastructure spending, the National Water Grid, regional communications, and support for farmers managing pests, disease, trade and drought.

“This Budget confirms that regional WA is not a priority for this government.

“For communities across O’Connor, there is no new named road funding, no investment in water security through dams, and no support for industry to expand and create jobs.”

In another blow to households, the Budget confirms inflation will remain elevated, meaning interest rates will stay higher for longer.

“The Budget confirms that living standards will continue to go backwards, with families across O’Connor already under pressure from rising costs and falling real wages,” Mr Wilson said.

“Families are feeling the impact of wages not keeping up with inflation, with the buying power of Australians’ wages declining under this government.”

Australians are still staring at a decade of deficits, with debt forecast to reach $1.25 trillion. The yearly interest bill on that debt will exceed $42 billion.

“At a time when Australians are tightening their belts, this government continues to spend at record levels while failing to deliver the infrastructure that grows the economy.”

The Treasurer has claimed that by July 2026, 80 per cent of Australians will live within 20 minutes of a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic. Yet there is not a single Medicare Urgent Care Clinic across my vast electorate of O’Connor.

Additionally, the Budget has withdrawn $21.4 million in funding for regional communications infrastructure, including the Regional Tech Hub, a practical service many in regional WA rely on to stay connected.

“That means every community across my electorate is left out of Labor’s commitments. Once again, regional WA is overlooked.”

“This Prime Minister is the master of saying one thing before an election and delivering another once returned to office,” Mr Wilson said.

“Jim Chalmers talks about ambition and intergenerational fairness, but this Budget removes the pathways that have allowed Australians, especially younger generations and those in the regions, to build wealth.”

“Labor has stepped back from growing regional Australia’s economy, with no serious investment in roads, water infrastructure or the industries that sustain our regional, state and national economies.”

“For the last four years, the Albanese government has failed to get its spending under control, and last night’s Budget is no different.”

On Thursday night, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor will deliver the Budget in Reply and outline the Coalition’s plan for a better Australia.

A plan to restore Australians’ standard of living.
A plan to support regional communities.
A plan to back hard work, reward aspiration, grow the economy and get Australia on the right track.

Australians cannot afford more broken promises, more taxes, more debt and more division.

ENDS

Media contact: Reuben Keyser

  Communications and Community Engagement Adviser

  [email protected]

  (08) 9842 2777

  0455 125 035