The government of the state of Western Australia announced earlier this week a stimulus package to support households and small businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 emergency worth $607 million.
The biggest portion ($402 million) will go to freeze all household fees and charges, including electricity, water, motor vehicle charges, emergency services levy and public transport fares, which will not increase at least until July 1st, 2021.
To date, 52 cases of COVID-19 and 1 death have been reported in Western Australia (514 cases and 6 deaths for the entire country).
State Treasurer Ben Wyatt said his government ‘was examining ways to provide relief to households as part of the upcoming state budget but, due to the ongoing concerns around COVID-19, it’s appropriate that we announce the freeze now, to give families some certainty going forward’
State-owned Water Corporation, who has assured its customers on the safety of the water supply, increased its tariffs for water, drainage and wastewater services by 2,5% on July of last year, according to Water Source, the online platform of the Australian Water Association. The increase planned for 2020-21 ─ now cancelled ─ was 2%, as per the estimated rate of inflation.
