WA Government Concedes Perth Park Racetrack Budget May Exceed $217.5 Million

Western Australia Treasurer Rita Saffioti has admitted that maintaining the $217.5 million budget for the controversial Perth Park project will be difficult, despite previous assurances to taxpayers. The project, initially pitched as a motorsport street circuit, includes a multi-use racetrack, a 12,000-capacity amphitheatre, and other facilities. While the government secured a crucial 3.7-hectare land swap with Crown Casino worth over $36 million at no cost, Saffioti acknowledged ongoing budget pressures common to all major contracts. Additionally, a planned hospitality venue within the precinct was excluded from the initial budget estimate, a move criticized by Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas as an admission that the total cost will inevitably rise. Zempilas argued that separating this venue undermines the government's cost claims and lacks transparency. The project has faced significant public backlash and political opposition from resident groups, the Liberal Party, and the Greens since its announcement during the last election campaign. Despite the controversy, the government maintains that the core elements were clear from the start and continues to target the original estimated total cost, though future adjustments remain possible.