WA Charities Face Collapse as Soaring Fuel Costs Cripple Volunteer Networks

WA Charities in Crisis as Skyrocketing Fuel Prices Halt Operations

Western Australia's not-for-profit sector is facing a severe crisis, with skyrocketing fuel prices bringing operations to a standstill and forcing volunteers off the road. The state's peak business body, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA (CCIWA), has issued a stark warning, highlighting that these organisations were already operating on wafer-thin margins before the recent surge in fuel costs.

Volunteer Shortages Threaten Vital Community Services

CCIWA chief executive Will Golsby emphasised the dire situation, stating, "When shocks like this occur, it's very hard for not-for-profits, especially those in the community and care sector, to find the extra money to cover additional costs, particularly for those operating under fixed pricing structures." He further warned that many organisations rely heavily on dedicated volunteers, but it has become increasingly difficult for people to afford the commute to and from their roles.

At Cat Haven, the state's only open-admission shelter, the impact is particularly acute. The facility often takes in up to 70 cats daily, but chief executive Roz Robinson describes the current economic climate as unsustainable. "We are in difficult times and have been with the cost of living, and this is just really the final straw," she said, expressing pessimism about the next 12 months.

—

Wide Pickt banner — collaborative shopping lists app for Telegram, phone mockup with grocery list

Staffing Shortages Lead to Dire Consequences

Ms Robinson revealed that the shelter has already lost volunteers, many of whom are older pensioners unable to afford rising travel expenses. The staffing shortage has become so severe that she and her regular team are now performing manual labour typically reserved for volunteers. She issued a grim warning: if the shelter cannot operate at capacity due to financial constraints, the outcome for WA's stray cat population could be devastating, with animals potentially being dumped or euthanised.

Urgent Calls for Government Intervention

In response to the mounting pressure, CCIWA has released a suite of policy recommendations to both the State and Federal Governments. These include:

A freeze on fees and charges such as car registration
A pause in the collection of payroll tax
Measures to assist businesses locked into fixed-price contracts

Mr Golsby urged governments to prioritise not-for-profits for any relief measures, stating, "We urge both the State and Federal Governments to carefully consider what relief they could give to all businesses, including the community and care sectors." The crisis underscores the fragile state of WA's charitable sector, with rising costs threatening to undermine essential services that rely on volunteer support.