WA Budget leaves little for small business

While the WA State Budget delivers major investments in health, education, and housing, small business has largely been left out in the cold, says BDO Indirect Tax Director, Phil Renshaw.

“This is a high-spending budget that still retains a significant surplus but there’s very little in it for small business,” Phil said.

“It’s good to put money away for a rainy day, but for WA that rainy day is still a while away, so it would have been good to help small business who are desperate for assistance now.”

While the budget outlines major investment in healthcare, affordable housing, and training, it misses key opportunities to ease cost-of-living and operating pressures on small businesses.

There is no change to payroll tax, no new relief measures for SMEs, and the $400 electricity rebate has been scrapped—replaced with less direct incentives.

“The extension of the First Home Owner Duty Rebate to 5,500 more applicants and increased fuel subsidies for remote patients offer targeted support to individuals and regional communities,” Phil said.

Investment in infrastructure and training, especially in apprenticeships and high-value engineering, is welcome but the benefits are longer-term.

“There’s strong investment in areas like battery development and manufacturing capability, and that’s good to see,” Phil said.

“But there’s not a lot of detail, and not much that immediately helps the small businesses already under pressure.”

“This budget puts WA on a path for growth, but small business needed more than just a nod to training. Direct relief would have gone a long way.”

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For media enquiries:

Tate Papworth 
Manager, Media 
E: Tate.Papworth@bdo.com.au 
Ph: 0433411189