Mark McGowan reveals Coronavirus stimulus package for WA.
WA household fees and charges have been frozen effective immediately as part of a $607 million stimulus package to provide immediate additional relief for WA households, seniors and small businesses.
I urge Western Australians to continue to support local businesses, and each other, as we continue to manage the impacts of the virus.
Mark McGowan
Twitter: $607 million stimulus package
Further statements by Mark McGowan revealed:
The package includes a freeze on household fees and charges until at least 1 July 2021, a doubling of the Energy Assistance Payment and measures to support small business. We are in uncharted territory and there’s no doubt our economy is going to feel the effects of COVID-19.
We had been examining ways to provide relief to households as part of the upcoming State Budget but, due to the ongoing concerns around COVID-19, we have opted to announce the freeze now, to give families some certainty going forward.
The freeze on electricity, water, motor vehicle charges, emergency services and public transport fare increases comes at a combined cost of $402 million to the government.
Watch: WA COVID-19 UPDATE
While the freeze is a welcome initiative, many comments on McGowan’s social posts show users aren’t excited about the freeze, but instead about the immediate need to pay bills and mortgages when employment uncertainty for many is at an all-time high.
No doubt there are further questions that need to be answered and tough time could very much well be ahead for many WA residents.
More to come.
Follow further updates via twitter.com/MarkMcGowanMP.
Further Coronavirus reads:
