SENATOR DEAN SMITH
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE SHADOW TREASURER
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR THE COST OF LIVING
LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA
1 April 2026
WA COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS DEEPENS AS HOUSEHOLDS AND BUSINESSES HIT BREAKING POINT
Western Australians were already under pressure before the Middle East conflict with new data showing the crisis is now accelerating.
The latest CCIWA Consumer Confidence Survey reveals confidence has fallen to its lowest level since March 2023, with cost-of-living pressures driving growing economic anxiety.
The survey of 836 households found that 72 per cent identified living costs as their biggest concern, while 28 per cent expect economic conditions to worsen.
More than half—54 per cent—are already planning to cut discretionary spending, including on dining, retail and entertainment.
At the same time, a CCIWA snap survey of more than 430 WA businesses highlights the scale of the fuel-driven shock to the economy.
The survey found 82 per cent of businesses are experiencing higher supplier costs, with 45 per cent directly impacted by fuel shortages.
Nearly one in three—31 per cent—describe the impact as significant or severe, while just 7 per cent report no impact.
Businesses are being squeezed from both sides, with 56 per cent absorbing higher costs and 44 per cent passing those costs on to consumers.
This confirms a clear reality: the cost-of-living crisis in Western Australia was already entrenched—and is now worsening.
Households are facing rising mortgages, rents and fuel prices, while businesses deal with higher costs and supply disruptions.
The result is a compounding cycle where higher business costs drive higher consumer prices.
The economic consequences are already emerging with nearly half of businesses cutting non-essential spending, while one in four are reviewing staffing levels, raising concerns about jobs and economic resilience.
With households tightening budgets, sectors like retail, hospitality and tourism—particularly in regional WA—are expected to feel the impact first.
Quotes attributable to Senator Dean Smith
“Western Australians were already under pressure before this latest shock – this data makes clear the Albanese Labor Government has failed to get on top of its cost-of-living crisis.”
“More than 70 per cent of households say living costs are their biggest concern, while over 80 per cent of businesses are facing higher costs – yet Labor continues to deny it has a spending problem that is driving inflation and making it harder to run a business in WA.
“This is what happens when you have a high spending government fuelling inflation – business costs go up, families cut back, and yet Labor remains out of touch with what is happening on the ground.”
Western Australians deserve a government focused on easing COST-OF-LIVING pressures, not making them worse – because right now, families and businesses are being left behind.”