Household fees and charges are to be frozen and Western Australian small and medium businesses receive additional relief as part of a $607 million stimulus package announced by the WA Government.
Premier, Mark McGowan said the measures would provide relief to Western Australian families and small businesses and help support the State’s economy to respond to COVID-19.
“Effective immediately, a freeze will be placed on household fees and charges, including electricity, water, motor vehicle charges, the emergency services levy and public transport fares,” Mr McGowan said.
“An allocation of $402 million in the 2020-21 Budget will go towards paying for the freeze.”
He said that previously, the Budget included an increase of $127, or two per cent, in fees and charges — which was the estimated inflation rate for 2020-21.
“The stimulus package also includes $114 million in measures to support Western Australian small and medium businesses,” the Premier said.
“Payroll tax-paying businesses with a payroll between $1 million and $4 million will receive a one-off grant of $17,500 to assist them to manage the impacts of COVID-19.”
He said the Government would fast-track additional payroll tax relief for small businesses, with the payroll tax threshold to increase to $1 million from 1 July, six months earlier than planned.
“In addition, small and medium sized businesses affected by COVID-19 can now apply to defer payment of their 2019-20 payroll tax until 21 July,” Mr McGowan said.
He said the State was in uncharted territory and there was no doubt the economy was going to feel the effects of the pandemic.
“As a responsible Government, we must respond and we must provide certainty to both businesses and households,” Mr McGowan said.
“These measures will provide relief to WA families, seniors and small businesses to further support our economy to withstand the headwinds we face,” he said.
