The Western Australian government will provide up to AU$12.8 million in funding aimed at alleviating ongoing brick supply pressures and assisting small and medium-sized builders across the state.
The funding initiative seeks to bridge a critical supply gap while home construction activity remains high. Building commencements reached 25,505 homes in the 2025–26 financial year, a 90 per cent increase from the 2023 calendar year low of 13,433.
With roughly 70 per cent of homes constructed in Western Australia utilising double brick, maintaining reliable material access is vital.
At the centre of the package is a AU$7.5 million freight subsidy program designed to facilitate the import of approximately 20 million bricks into WA over the next six months.
The scheme provides a rebate of 50 cents per brick for up to 10 million bricks allocated to small and medium builders, alongside a rebate of 25 cents per brick for up to 10 million bricks for large builders.
This assistance is projected to save builders between AU$2,500 and AU$5,000 per average double brick home, helping cushion costs under fixed-price contracts.
The subsidy targets two-course utility bricks experiencing the highest demand through approved importers.
Additionally, the government is providing a guarantee of up to AU$5 million in revolving credit facilities via commercial financers, alongside an estimated AU$300,000 in interest cost support, to aid builders with upfront cash flow requirements.
Premier Roger Cook stated that the government remains focused on ensuring secure housing by firming up material supply.
“My government is focused on ensuring every Western Australian has a home, and the security it provides,” the Premier said.
“One way we can do that is by firming the supply of bricks so we can build more homes, sooner.”
The initiative builds upon a prior AU$4 million government investment to restart Austral’s Cardup brickworks. That shuttered facility is slated to come online by March 2027, boosting domestic production by roughly 10 to 15 per cent and yielding around 17 million bricks annually.
Treasurer Rita Saffioti emphasised that the measures deliver immediate relief before local production ramps up.
“This investment will deliver immediate support for our builders by bringing millions of bricks into our state over the next six months before local production ramps up at Cardup next year.”
Industry leaders have welcomed the announcement, noting that short-term freight support is crucial to keep pipeline projects moving without triggering costly material redesigns.
