On 16 March 2020, the Western Australia government announced a $607 million economic stimulus package to support WA households and small businesses in response to the state of emergency amid the coronavirus outbreak. These measures include:

BUSINESS / HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT

• Freezing household fees and charges until at least 30 June 2021 including electricity, water, car licences / registration, public transport fares and emergency services levy. Government Funding/Tax cuts - $402 million

• Doubling the energy assistance payments up to $600 to vulnerable western Australians including pensioners. Government Funding/Tax cuts - $91 million.

• One-off grants of $17,500 to small to medium businesses with a payroll between $1 million and $4 million, automatically be paid by cheque from July 2020 (providing relief to 7,400 WA businesses). Government Funding/Tax cuts - $114 million

• Bringing forward the increase in payroll threshold to $1 million to 1 July 2020 (i.e. 6 months early than planned) (to support 11,000 businesses).

• Deferral of payroll tax payments until 21 July 2020 for small business with $7.5 million or less Australian taxable wages.