Media Release
8 May 2026
Kimberley Community Legal Services welcome WA Budget reforms, but housing crisis demands stronger action that includes public housing
Kimberley Community Legal Services (KCLS) welcomes the WA Budget and the Cook Government’s commitment to addressing the housing and cost‑of‑living crisis, including significant rental reforms and increased investment in Government Regional Officer Housing (GROH) and a $127 million top up of the Remote Communities Fund, including $82 million of additional housing investment in remote Aboriginal communities.
KCLS commends the Government’s commitment to end no‑grounds terminations, introduce minimum standards for rental properties, extend rent relief to eligible households for a further 12 months. These reforms come at a critical time for the Kimberley, where renters are facing some of the most severe pressures in Western Australia. Since 2021, rents have increased by 221% in Broome, 192% in Derby and 132% in Kununurra, contributing to homelessness, overcrowding and workforce instability.
KCLS recognises the WA Government’s focus on housing in today’s Budget, but notes that addressing housing need in the Kimberley must include a commitment to new builds and fixing the maintenance system in public housing, especially in remote Aboriginal communities. The top up to the Remote Communities Fund is a step in the right direction, but without systemic reform of the way maintenance is conducted to ensure tenants are living in suitable housing, Kimberley people will be left behind.
KCLS continues to see serious and chronic issues with the quality and maintenance of public housing across the region. Through its ongoing Kimberley public housing maintenance project, KCLS is gathering evidence from tenants across towns and remote Aboriginal communities about delays, repeat repairs, and unsafe living conditions, particularly in the context of our regions extreme heat and humidity.
“Remote Aboriginal communities continue to experience chronic overcrowding and inadequate housing. Not including them in the solution in a meaningful way is deeply concerning,” Mr Panayi said.
“Housing sits at the centre of almost every legal issue we see, from family and domestic violence to elder abuse,” Mr Panayi said.’
KCLS is calling on the State Government to pair renter protections with urgent and sustained investment in social housing and remote Aboriginal community housing across the Kimberley.
“We welcome the top up to the Remote Communities Fund, but without a serious commitment to new builds and reforming the maintenance of public housing, Kimberley tenants will continue to live in substandard conditions”
Media contact:
Akira Boardman
akira_boardman@kcls.org.au
0431 385 255
