A re-elected Cook Labor Government will boost the popular Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) by $34 million. 

This means that we’re increasing the PATS amount for regional families from $0.26 per kilometre to $0.40 per kilometre – an increase of more than 50%.

The Liberal-National Government did not increase the PATS fuel subsidy for eight years when they were in government. 

Our announcement builds on WA Labor’s proven track record of supporting PATS.

• We’ve increased the accommodation subsidy by 66 per cent since 2021
• Allowed more vulnerable patients to travel with a support person
• Delivered a $13.1 million boost in 2024 to increase the fuel subsidy to its current rate

The Patient Assisted Travel Scheme subsidises the cost of accommodation and fuel for eligible regional Western Australians travelling for specialist medical services that are not available locally.

The program currently supports more than 35,000 regional patients to make more than
70,000 trips every year. 

This announcement means WA has the highest value subsidy in the nation, along with New South Wales.