Winner: Western Australians

With another stonking budget surplus, this time to the tune of $3.2 billion, all Western Australians share in the bounty.

The surplus is slightly lower than the $3.7 billion forecast in the mid year review, which treasurer Rita Saffioti has blamed on commodity price volatility and changes in the timing of Commonwealth payments.

It's also $1 billion lower than last year's surplus.

Nonetheless, WA's rate of economic growth, forecast at 5.25 per cent this financial year, is double the national rate of growth.

The government's splashing the excess cash on a variety of things, including cost of living relief, housing and big ticket infrastructure projects.

Winner: Homeless people

In the midst of a cost of living crisis, the government is tipping an extra $92 million into funding services for those without a roof over their heads.

This means more money for accommodation and outreach services, as well as specialist support services.

Neutral: Homebuyers

With the median cost of buying a house in Perth now a record $620,000, providing support for homebuyers has never been more critical.

An estimated 5,000 first homebuyers are expected to benefit from stamp duty concessions, but it's only those buying houses worth less than $450,000 who will escape having to pay the tax altogether.

Properties valued at up to $600,000 will attract limited relief from stamp duty, but after that there's no concessions. This means that if you're buying in Perth, chances are you won't be eligible for help.

The government's trying to open up more land for development in regional areas - Broome, Karratha and Kalgoorlie - and has allocated $35 million for this.

Winner: Households

Cost of living pressures continue to bite, and the government is tipping in $762 million on measures to try to ease the pressure on households.

It renewed its $400 electricity bill credit for all WA households and small businesses, and public transport will continue to be free for school students.

Pensioners in regional areas will have an extra $100 to spend on travel, with the government boosting the available credit to $675 per year.

Fees and charges have been kept below inflation.

In total the government estimates a family with two school-aged children will save $1,400 in household costs and charges, while a family eligible for concessions will save $3,500.

Families with a newborn who are currently renting but trying to save for a home deposit could save $700, while a pensioner in regional WA hits the jackpot with savings in excess of $3,000 possible thanks to budget relief, according to the government's modelling.

Loser: Health

With a growing population - an extra 94,000 people moved to WA this financial year - the government is keen to expand hospital capacity, and has allocated $3.2 billion in the budget for this.

There's $1.2 billion for hospital services, and $839 million to convert medical records to an electronic system.

The government's made a point of noting a 27 per cent reduction in ambulance ramping in 2023, but given that 2022 was the worst year on record, you would hope things had improved.

It's also touting a 31 per cent reduction in elective surgery waiting times - but again, that's coming down from record long waiting times in 2022.

Blowouts on big infrastructure projects at Bunbury and Geraldton hospitals have been costly.

While millions of dollars extra has been pumped into healthcare in regional Western Australia, extra funding for major hospital redevelopments in Bunbury and Geraldton will only cover the cost escalations of the projects.

The cost of upgrading the Bunbury hospital will now cost more than $451 million, while the Geraldton Health Campus budget has blown out to $166 million.

Winner: Parents

If your child's in school, you're eligible for some free cash. This already announced $103 million package provides $150 for each child in primary school and $250 for those in high school.

There's a catch though —  the government wants you to reactivate the ServiceWA app (remember that COVID-era check-in app?) to claim it.

There's also an extra $39 million for child development services, which will fund more paediatricians, speech therapists, occupational therapists and psychologists.

Neutral: Mental health

With mental health widely considered in decline among large sectors of the population, the government was under pressure to respond.

There's nearly $50 million in extra mental health spending in the budget for crisis care for children and adolescents.

Suicide prevention services will get $32.2 million, and there's $13.6 million to boost the workforce at private psychiatric hospitals.

This measure comes after the sudden closure of the Bethesda private psychiatric hospital earlier this year, less than a year after it opened, which was partially blamed on a lack of psychiatrists.

The government is converting the facility into a public clinic, which will include a dedicated eating disorder unit.

Mental health, drug and alcohol services receive an extra $260 million in total.

Neutral: Tenants

With rental vacancy rates reaching an historic low of 0.7 per cent in Perth in February, it's clear the government needs to do all it can to east the pain for renters.

But most of its rent relief measures are longer term, and there's not a lot of help available if you're desperately looking for a rental in WA's overheated market.

The government's throwing in an additional $400 million to build and refurbish social and affordable housing.

It's aiming to build more affordable housing across the metropolitan area, especially on sites close to Metronet lines.

It also announced earlier this year it would pay $5,000 to owners of vacant homes or Airbnb properties if they put them on the long-term rental market.

So far, 150 investment property owners have signed up, with 100 more expected this year.

Neutral: Education

To support the state’s ballooning population, an additional $88.4 million will be spent over 2023-24 to 2027-28 to build three new primary schools.

It’s not yet known where those schools will be located, but they are scheduled to open in time for the 2027 school year.

It’s on top of the two new school builds for Wellard East and Wungong, which were announced at the end of last year and are expected to open for the 2026 school year.

An additional $28.4 million has been allocated to these projects, bringing the total spend to $90.8 million.

There’s also $73 million for the second stage of the Piara Waters Senior High School expansion, which will double the school’s classroom capacity.

Loser: Small business

There's no payroll tax relief for small businesses, despite ongoing pleas from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry which has repeatedly pointed out that WA has the highest rate in the nation.

Only businesses with a turnover of more than $1 million pay the tax, which is about 10 per cent of WA businesses.

Small businesses are eligible for a $400 electricity bill rebate, but this hasn't risen from last year despite power price rises.

Winner: Apprentices

The government's especially keen to boost the state's building and construction workforce, and wants to encourage apprentices in the industry to complete their courses.

It's offering $1,000 for building and construction apprentices to complete training milestones, and is also providing $1,000 tool and safety equipment allowances at both the start and end of training.

There's also additional money for employers taking on apprentices, especially women and mature-aged trainees.

Neutral: The environment

There's $67 million over four years to fund 65 extra climate action jobs, and to set up a forest health monitoring plan.

Land conservation efforts will also be boosted to the tune of $73 million over four years, part of which will be used to establish the South Coast Marine Park, which has proved controversial amongst the fishing community.

And there's another $5 million for electric vehicle rebates, allowing you to claim  $3,500 if you buy an eligible EV. 

The government is keen to invest in renewable energy, and has added $324 million for the electricity network to expand renewables projects.

On the flipside, the government is also committing $36.4 million to slash green tape and speed up approvals for major projects.

Loser: Young detainees

There's still no money for a facility to house especially difficult inmates at the Banksia Hill youth detention centre, which the government's been promising for years.

Despite the death of 16-year-old Cleveland Dodd in the controversial Unit 18 youth detainee wing of the adult Casuarina prison, despite strident criticism from magistrates, children's advocates and Indigenous groups, the budget contains no funding for a new facility to replace Unit 18.

Money to develop a business case for building a new facility was provided in the mid-year review, but this has not been completed.

Which means Unit 18, touted as a "temporary" solution to the youth justice crisis at Banksia Hill, is looking a whole lot more permanent. 

The government’s added $16 million to youth justice programs, but will spend another $23 million on expanding Operation Regional Shield – a police response to regional crime, particularly among youth.

An extra $88 million for child protection might help resolve some issues sooner.

But there’s still lots of money going towards running detention, with $57 million extra spent on operating Banksia Hill and Unit 18 over the next four years.

Splitting responsibility for young people in the Department of Justice into its own directorate will cost $2.2 million over the same period.

Loser: Metronet

Metronet costs have blown out again, up another $707 million – most funded by the Commonwealth ($453 million) and the rest covered by the state.

Yanchep line extension costs have grown the most, up $288 million since last year and now more than double the original cost from about $520 million to $1.27 billion in total, with some spending pushed out to 2024/25.

The Thornlie-Cockburn link will cost an extra $228 million, Victoria Park-Canning level crossing removal an extra $120 million and extending the Byford line will need another $70 million.

Spending for both the Thornlie-Cockburn Link and Byford Line Extension has been pushed into 2025/26, but it’s understood this doesn’t mean there’s a delay to the projects.

Neutral: Women

The government’s already announced $96 million for measures aimed at preventing family and domestic violence.

It’s worth noting two Perth women have died in the last fortnight, since the announcement was made, allegedly at the hands of men they knew well.

And contrary to promises made by Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Sabine Winton, there’s no money allocated to keep tabs on offenders wearing ankle monitors.

Also previously announced is the provision of free period products in primary schools. These products are already provided free to high schools and TAFEs.

If you’re a woman who works for the public service and have taken unpaid maternity leave, you’ll get superannuation paid for 24 weeks, up from 12 weeks.

And there’s $5 million to upgrade women’s shower and locker rooms in fire stations.