Anthony Albanese vows to turbocharge regional WA with $200m cash splash to boost housing and infrastructure

Anthony Albanese has vowed to turbocharge regional WA with a $200 million cash splash to boost housing and community infrastructure, as he landed in the State that swept him to power in 2022.

Mr Albanese flew into Kununurra on Wednesday night — his 27th visit to WA as Prime Minister — ahead of announcing the major package to build almost 1400 new homes across the State. It supports Premier Roger Cook’s push for more people to move to regional WA.

“Regional WA is a beautiful place to live, work and visit,” Mr Albanese said.

“My Government wants to ensure it has the housing and amenities it needs to continue to grow and thrive.”

The Federal Government will on Thursday announce $90 million for the delivery of water, power and road infrastructure to service 1367 new homes across Karratha, the Wheatbelt and Lockyer in the Great Southern.

Another $100m is being spent on local infrastructure in the State’s north, including $1.9m for a Kununurra riverbank recreation project, $15m for a Newman youth centre and childcare and $13m for new pontoons and landscaping to boost fishing tourism in Wyndham.

“Our WA Labor Government is working with the Albanese Federal Government to build more houses and deliver important investments right across regional WA,” Mr Cook said.

He revealed his ambition for Broome, Karratha and Port Hedland to become “big urban centres” in December, warning that Perth’s population boom was not sustainable.

Modelling predicting Karratha’s population could increase by 35 per cent by 2030 has alarmed residents.

The median rent in the region has almost tripled from $400 per week in 2016 to $1100 last year, according to the Real Estate Institute of WA.

That is almost double Perth’s median rent of $650 per week.

Port services in Wyndham, Ashburton and Dampier would also be expanded to secure local supply chains and fast-track imports if Labor wins the Federal poll, due before May 17.

Mr Albanese said changes to allow more direct international shipping would make a “huge difference” across the East Kimberley and Pilbara.

The so-called “first port of entry” changes across the trio of ports in WA’s north have been hailed a “game changer” by the State Government amid predictions export volumes out of Wyndham could increase five-fold to 1.3 million tonnes.

Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said it would save businesses millions in transport costs and time.

“With the number of vessels to pass through the port of Wyndham each year expected to double by 2033, this decision backs in critical WA businesses and supports communities in the north-east of the State.”

Meanwhile, the Port of Ashburton would establish ongoing international shipping services for the first time.

The Pilbara Port Authority has estimated 13 million tonnes of iron ore and rare earths could be shipped out of there by 2030.

The ramp-up of iron ore production has added to pressure on local housing supply and community infrastructure, even as the State Government tries to shift more of WA’s growing population to the regions.

Victory in nine WA seats swept Labor to power in Canberra in 2022, but the vast electorate of Durack that includes the Kimberley has remained in Liberal hands.

Heading west after touring regional Queensland and Northern Territory cattle stations, Mr Albanese copped criticism from some mining industry leaders after the Minerals Council of Australia flagged concerns over proposed laws to access tax breaks for critical minerals projects.

The MCA’s warning that some “community benefits principles” — to ensure the benefits of investment flow to local communities — could have “unintended consequences” were echoed by the Association of Mining and Exploration and by the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA on Wednesday.

In a submission to the Senate Committee examining the legislation, Mr Cook welcomed the assistance but said the community benefits principle was “yet to undergo consultation” and that more flexibility was needed, putting the Premier at odds with the Prime Minister.

“They are not right, we’ve developed the legislation in consultation with industry,” Mr Albanese said in the NT on Wednesday.

“This is a sensible reform, it’s a sensible reform that Peter Dutton’s opposed to.”