The West Australian Government has announced an economic stimulus package worth $607 million in an effort to stave off the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak.

Key points: Household fees and charges will be frozen until the next financial year

Household fees and charges will be frozen until the next financial year Eligible small businesses will receive a one-off $17,500 grant

Eligible small businesses will receive a one-off $17,500 grant WA public sector workers can access new COVID-19 leave

The new package is on top of a $17 billion Federal Government economic stimulus package already announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

In announcing the package, Premier Mark McGowan said WA was currently in a state of emergency and these extraordinary times required extraordinary measures.

The package includes measures for both households and businesses. So what does the announcement mean for you?

Household fees and charges frozen

The largest amount of funding, or $402 million, is being directed at households.

Household fees and charges will be frozen until the next financial year — June 30, 2021.

To be clear, you will still have to pay household fees and charges. But there will be no increases to a range of bills which were set to rise this year with inflation.

This includes:

Electricity charges

Electricity charges Water charges

Water charges Car licenses and registration

It also means no increase to public transport fares or the Emergency Services Levy which is added to your council rates to fund services like firefighters and the State Emergency Services.

The Premier said the freeze could be extended beyond the end of the next financial year.

This year's budget had previously included an increase to those charges of 2 per cent, in line with the inflation estimate, which would have cost $127.

For vulnerable West Australians, including pensioners , the Government also announced it would double the current Energy Assistance Payment (EAP) up to $600.

That measure will cost the budget $91 million.

Big boosts for businesses

Small to medium businesses with a payroll of between $1 million and $4 million will receive a one-off grant of $17,500.

It will cost the Government $114 million and is expected to bring relief to 7,400 businesses in WA.

On top of that, changes to the payroll tax exemption threshold are being brought forward, in an effort to support 11,000 businesses.

The threshold was previously lifted from $850,000 to $950,000, with an increase to $1 million scheduled for January 2021.

That will now happen six months earlier, on July 1, 2020.

Small businesses which pay less than $7.5 million in taxable wages each year can apply to defer their payroll tax payment to July 21, 2020.

The Government has also relaxed retail trading hours for supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths, allowing them to open one hour earlier to cater for elderly and disabled customers.

Paid COVID-19 leave for public sector workers

If you work in Western Australia's public sector, you will benefit from the introduction of 20 days paid COVID-19 leave.

The paid leave will also be extended to casual workers, which the Premier hopes will ensure those who are sick stay home.

The leave will be available for workers who:

Have contracted the virus themselves

Have contracted the virus themselves Need to self-isolate because of the virus

Need to self-isolate because of the virus Need to care for family due to school or childcare closures, or

Need to care for family due to school or childcare closures, or Are otherwise unable to attend work due to the virus

Who should present to COVID-19 clinics? People who have EITHER a fever of 38 degrees Celsius OR acute respiratory infection

People who have Symptoms to look out for include fever, shortness of breath, cough or sore throat

Symptoms to look out for include or Patients who are tested should remain isolated at home until they receive their test results. Major clinics have been set up at Perth hospitals including Royal Perth, Sir Charles Gairdner, Fiona Stanley, Joondalup, Armadale, Rockingham and St John of God Midland. They are open from 8:00am–8:00pm daily. In Southern WA a clinic is operating at Bunbury Health Campus from 10:00am–4:00pm daily. In Northern WA a clinic is operating at Broome Hospital from 8:30am–4:00pm daily. Outside these areas, people with symptoms should present to their local hospital. For more information go to the Health Department website.

This is a special leave entitlement available in addition to regular sick leave.

The Government said it would benefit all public sector workers, but particularly those with low personal and sick leave credits and casual workers.