Overview
The 2026-27 Budget includes new investment to strengthen governance and support capacity across the wider public sector.
The Budget earmarks $21.1 million of new investment from the State’s Digital Capability Fund, including $12.3 million to establish a central Artificial Intelligence (AI) Investment Fund to enhance public sector productivity, and a Rapid AI Delivery Team to support eligible agencies and provide oversight of AI projects. The budget also includes an additional $15 million annually to enhance cybersecurity resilience.
The Budget provides for a $16 million increase in funding for the Western Australian Electoral Commission over the next four years to support the ongoing implementation of reforms following the Special Inquiry into the Planning and Delivery of the 2025 Western Australian State General Election. The forward estimates forecast an increase in total appropriation to $20.5 million for the next 2027-28 Local Government election year – up from actual expenditure of $14.6 million in the previous 2025-26 Local Government election year.
The budget also includes an increase in operating funding for the Local Government Inspector function (new funding of approximately $660,000 annually), and $16.5 million for an Organisational Efficiency and Alignment Review for the broader Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety.
WALGA Comment
WALGA welcomes the State Government’s investment in capacity building in the public sector across WA.
New funding to support the safe piloting of AI aligns closely with WALGA’s pre-budget advocacy. WALGA will continue to work with the State Government to explore how Local Governments can further participate in AI piloting and cybersecurity resilience initiatives.
Additional funding for Indigenous Land Use Agreement negotiations and to meet the increasing demand for Aboriginal Heritage services is also welcomed.
The 2026-27 Budget acknowledges that there has been a significant increase in demand for Aboriginal heritage management services since the introduction of the amended Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972. The Government has allocated $11 million to convert 13 temporary positions to permanent roles, to maximise internal capacity available within the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage.
WALGA continues to engage closely with the Local Government Inspector to support the operations of the new statutory office.
