The extra cash will take the state’s total pandemic-related spending to A$11.2 billion ($7.9 billion) and will cover a suite of measures including A$635 million ($449 million) for the supply of free rapid antigen tests.
Another A$537 million ($380 million) will be spent on health services, including medical equipment and the ongoing vaccine rollout while A$237 million ($167 million) will be used to support businesses, including grants to small companies.
There will also be A$42.5 million ($30 million) in Thursday’s budget to cover ventilation strategies in schools along with enhanced cleaning.
“WA’s COVID experience has been unique and we owe our success to our safe management of COVID-19, which has enabled Western Australians to live largely free of restrictions, which is in stark contrast to the experience of the eastern states in the past two years,” Premier Mark McGowan said.
“Despite the global pandemic not being over, WA secured a soft landing as planned by putting the health and safety of the community first with responsible border policies and achieving world-leading vaccination rates.
“Our safe and cautious handling of the pandemic has kept businesses in operation, people in jobs.
“As the engine room of the Australian economy, we kept the nation going at the height of the pandemic.”
