WA GST Deal Remains Intact, Minister Affirms Amid Controversy

Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King has firmly reassured Western Australians that the federal government will uphold the current GST agreement, following a controversial report from the Productivity Commission.

The report suggested cutting Western Australia's share of the tax, a claim King labeled "unbalanced, highly speculative, and clearly incorrect". This comes after WA Premier Roger Cook condemned the report as an "attack on Western Australians", criticizing its authors as "east-coast clowns".

At a campaign launch in Secret Harbour, south of Perth, King emphasized the Albanese government's commitment to WA, stating, "I want to make it clear to all Western Australians that the Albanese Labor government has your back." Premier Cook confirmed he had received similar assurances from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who pledged that WA would receive its fair share of GST. However, he indicated that further comments would wait until the final report is released in December.

The ongoing debate surrounds a deal established by former Treasurer Scott Morrison, which guarantees WA a greater portion of GST revenue than it would receive under the national distribution formula, designed to assist states with greater financial needs. Cook's administration argues that altering this arrangement would unjustly penalize WA for its economic success.

Source: www.abc.net.au