Every dollar given to a chosen company or industry is raised from taxpayers, including the small businesses competing with it. This page sets out what the budget papers and media statements show.
Key findings
1. One urea plant, more than $300 million in public support
- Fact: For Perdaman's $6 billion Pilbara urea project, the WA Government said it had "executed agreements that will deliver more than $300 million in funding for the development of the project and the region". The package included $255 million in Commonwealth Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility loans to two State entities: $159 million to the Pilbara Ports Authority for a new wharf, and $96 million to the Water Corporation for a seawater supply scheme that "will connect to the Perdaman Urea Plant once built". The State itself committed more than $50 million for early design works and upgrades to public infrastructure.
- Our read: the infrastructure is described as "common-user", but it was built because of one private project, and taxpayers carry the risk on the loans.
Sources: WA Government media statement, 3 Feb 2022; Joint media statement, 26 Apr 2023
2. A $1 billion fund for "strategic" industries
- Fact: The 2026-27 Budget allocates a further $91.7 million from the $1 billion Strategic Industries Fund for land assembly, planning and infrastructure in industrial areas. The same Budget includes $156 million for the Made in WA Energy Affordability Investment Program ($153.3 million of it in low-interest loans to manufacturers), $85 million for green iron and steel including the NeoSmelt pilot, up to $45.4 million for the Lithium Industry Support Program and a nickel loan facility, and a further $30 million for the Investment Attraction Fund, aimed at critical minerals, renewable hydrogen, green iron and carbon capture.
Source: 2026-27 Budget Paper 3, Chapter 5
3. $148 million to 40 chosen projects in one round
- Fact: In July 2023 the Government announced $148 million from the Investment Attraction Fund for 40 "job-creating diversification projects", including $5 million for a green hydrogen project in Northam.
Sources: WA Government media statement, 18 Jul 2023; WA Government media statement, Northam hydrogen, 18 Jul 2023
4. Small business gets a much smaller share
- Fact: The Small Business Development Corporation, the State agency that advises and advocates for all WA small businesses, has a total cost of services of $21.8 million in 2026-27.
- Our read: that is one year's running cost for an agency serving every small business, while one lithium and nickel support package may receive up to $45.4 million over two years. Small firms mostly benefit from lower taxes and simpler rules, not grants, and that is where the State does least.
Source: 2026-27 Budget Paper 2, Volume 1, Small Business Development Corporation
5. Events funding is kept from Parliament
- Fact: Tourism WA's major events budget was $58.8 million for 2025-26. Ministers have refused to tell Parliament how much was paid for individual events, citing section 82 of the Financial Management Act 2006 and commercial confidentiality. The Auditor General found these refusals "reasonable", including for the 2023 Perth Festival Björk performance and a 2018 World Cup qualifier. In 2015 the Auditor General noted that Tourism WA's advice "did not indicate when the information could be provided".
Sources: Legislative Assembly Estimates, 1 Jul 2025; Auditor General, Tourism WA's campaign expenditure; Auditor General, 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier opinion
What could change
- Publish every grant, loan and concession to a named business, with the amount and the expected return.
- Release event funding amounts after a set period, once the commercial reason has passed.
- Use the money for broad tax relief, such as lifting the payroll tax threshold, rather than picking firms.