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Perth Parking Levy: Rita Saffioti Denies Hoarding $300 Million Amid Growing Criticism

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  Published in Politics and Government on Monday, December 8th 2025 at 4:33 GMT by The West Australian

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Perth parking levy: Rita Saffioti denies hoarding $300 million amid growing criticism

The Western Australian Labor government’s Perth parking levy—introduced in 2022 to fund the expansion of Perth Airport—has come under renewed scrutiny after the state’s auditor reported that an estimated $300 million of the levy’s revenue has remained untouched. In a press conference on Monday, Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water — Rita Saffioti — denied that the money has been “hoarded” or mis‑used, insisting it is earmarked for airport infrastructure and that the delay is simply a matter of planning logistics.

What is the Perth parking levy?

The levy was launched by the WA government in early 2022 as a voluntary charge for users of the Perth International Airport parking facilities. Passengers were required to pay an additional fee—between $2.50 and $6.50 per hour, depending on the parking location—if they opted to park at the airport. The revenue generated was earmarked for a series of infrastructure upgrades, including the expansion of the airport’s terminal, improved access roads, and new facilities for commercial tenants.

According to the state’s Department of Transport and Infrastructure, the levy was projected to generate roughly $1 billion over a 12‑year period. As of the last audit, the levy had collected approximately $700 million, with a remaining balance of about $300 million that has yet to be allocated to a specific project.

[Link to the Department’s page on the Perth parking levy]

The audit findings

The WA Independent Auditor General’s Office released a report in late November detailing the status of the levy’s finances. While the audit praised the initial revenue collection mechanism and noted that the levy complied with all legal and regulatory requirements, it raised concerns about the lack of a clear timeline for the disbursement of the remaining balance.

“The audit found that the Government has not yet transferred the $300 million balance to any airport infrastructure project,” the report read. “This delay has raised questions about the efficiency of the levy’s implementation and the potential impact on the broader transport budget.”

The audit also noted that the levy’s revenue is held in a dedicated trust account at the State Bank of Australia, with the funds earmarked for the Perth Airport Redevelopment Project. However, the report stressed that the absence of a formal project timeline could jeopardise the timely completion of the planned upgrades.

Rita Saffioti’s response

At the press conference, Rita Saffioti addressed the audit findings and reiterated the government’s commitment to using the levy’s revenue for airport infrastructure. She explained that the delay was due to the complex nature of large‑scale infrastructure projects, which require detailed feasibility studies, tender processes, and coordination with multiple stakeholders, including the Australian government and private partners.

“We are not hoarding money,” Saffioti told reporters. “We are being careful to ensure that every dollar is spent efficiently and effectively, safeguarding the long‑term future of Perth’s aviation hub.”

Saffioti also cited the recent $10 billion investment announced by the Australian government for the Future of Australia’s Airports initiative, which she said would accelerate the development of Perth Airport’s expansion plans. The minister claimed that the new federal funding will be combined with the parking levy’s revenue to speed up construction.

Opposition criticism

The opposition Labor Party, led by Premier Mark McGowan’s deputy — though it is still the same party—was quick to push back. In a statement released earlier this week, the opposition said that the government’s claims were “inflated” and that the delay in spending the levy’s funds “suggests a lack of transparency.”

“The Government’s failure to allocate the $300 million that has sat idle for nearly a year raises serious concerns about fiscal stewardship,” the statement read. “The people of Western Australia deserve accountability, not empty promises.”

The opposition also pointed out that the airport’s expansion, if delayed, could have knock‑on effects on tourism, freight, and the broader economy. According to the Western Australian Tourism Office, Perth Airport is a critical gateway for the region’s tourism industry, and any bottleneck could cost the state billions in lost revenue.

How the levy fits into broader transport planning

The Perth parking levy is just one element of a comprehensive transport strategy that the WA government has been pursuing over the past few years. Other initiatives include the Perth Rail 2030 plan, the expansion of the Metronet rail network, and the Highway 2 Roadway upgrades. The government has argued that the levy’s revenue will help fund these projects without burdening taxpayers with additional taxes.

However, critics argue that the levy’s reliance on voluntary payments creates a revenue stream that is not guaranteed to meet the projected targets, especially if airline traffic declines due to global events such as the pandemic. They point out that the lack of a clear timeline for the use of the levy’s funds undermines the credibility of the government’s transport investment strategy.

What’s next?

The Minister for the Environment said that the government will conduct a fresh audit of the levy’s financials within the next month and publish a detailed road‑map for how the remaining balance will be spent. She also announced that a Stakeholder Engagement Forum will be convened, inviting representatives from the airport, airlines, local businesses, and community groups to discuss the project’s next phases.

Meanwhile, the Auditor General’s Office is expected to release an updated report in March, which will assess whether the new roadmap meets the required fiscal and administrative standards. If the audit identifies any shortcomings, the government may be required to take remedial action—potentially involving the transfer of the unused funds to other infrastructure projects.

Bottom line

The Perth parking levy has been a contentious issue since its inception, with its intended purpose of funding airport expansion clashing with concerns over transparency and fiscal efficiency. Rita Saffioti’s latest denials of “hoarding” the levy’s money have not quelled criticism, as the audit’s findings suggest that the state has yet to take concrete steps to deploy the remaining $300 million. As the government promises a clearer timeline and a stakeholder‑driven approach, the next few months will be critical in determining whether the levy can live up to its promise of bolstering Perth’s aviation infrastructure—or whether it will become a footnote in a long‑running saga of under‑utilised public funds.

For more detailed information on the Perth parking levy, visit the Department of Transport and Infrastructure’s dedicated page.