Western Australians are facing unprecedented financial hardship.

Rising costs of living, mortgage stress, and utility debt are forcing more and more families into financial distress.

Financial counselling services provide essential support, helping individuals manage their debts, maintain housing security, and navigate economic challenges.

In 2023, the Financial Wellbeing Collective (FWC) assisted 29,000 Western Australians through financial counselling, emergency relief, and utility grant access.

This included 5,700 people with financial stress, 10,000 people requiring emergency food relief, and 13,000 people struggling with utility debt.

Despite this growing demand, state funding for financial counselling has not increased since 2018.

Counselling services are overwhelmed, with waitlists growing and middle-income earners increasingly seeking help for the first time.

In a state as wealthy as Western Australia this is simply not acceptable.

The WA Liberals understand Western Australians deserve access to critical financial advice and support to prevent economic hardship from turning into crisis.

If nothing is done, more Western Australians will face homelessness, unmanageable debt, and financial instability.

Western Australians need a government that recognises the warning signs and provides the necessary support to its most vulnerable citizens.

Only a WA Liberal Government will do it.

The WA Liberals believe all Western Australians in financial stress should have access to targeted and effective support.

More and more WA families are finding themselves in financial crisis.

Many are struggling with food insecurity and debt, with financial hardship now impacting middle-income earners who have seldom needed assistance.

Waitlists for financial counselling services are growing, with organisations warning existing funding levels are inadequate.

The WA Liberal Party will take immediate action to fix the financial counselling crisis and increase funding for financial counselling services by 25 per cent.

This will deliver an additional $2.55 million a year for two years to service providers funded by the Department of Communities.

This funding boost will expand the capacity of financial counselling services across Western Australia, allowing more individuals and families to access critical support when they need it most.

By ensuring no one is left waiting for essential financial advice, we will empower people to manage their debt, keep their homes, and secure a more stable financial future.

We will also work closely with community organisations, to ensure funding is allocated efficiently and reaches those in greatest need.

Western Australians deserve a government that will provide practical, hands-on support to families in financial distress, ensuring they can navigate the growing cost of living challenges.

Only the WA Liberal Party is committed to delivering real solutions to financial hardship, ensuring Western Australians can access the help they need to secure their financial future.