Leaked Docs Show WA Event Spending Hits $1.2B

Leaked government documents reveal Western Australia has spent $1.2 billion in taxpayer funds to attract major events, according to a report on the At Close of Business podcast.

The documents, obtained by the podcast's hosts Gary Adshead and Sam Jones, detail spending across multiple years on events including concerts, sporting fixtures, and cultural festivals. The figure far exceeds previously disclosed amounts, the hosts said.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has not commented on the WA-specific figures. The federal budget, due in coming weeks, is expected to include updated projections for state-level event funding.

The podcast also covered broader economic pressures facing the state, including inflation and housing costs. No further details on the documents' contents were provided in the segment.