- Cook Government urging Western Australians to join the fight and help keep the share fair with new GST campaign
- Campaign promotes how WA's GST is working for Australia to support not just the WA economy but the national economy too
- GST deal secured by WA Labor in 2018 part of government's strong financial management
The Cook Government is urging Western Australians to join the fight and help keep the GST share fair with a national advertising campaign kicking off today explains how the State's GST deal is working for Australia.
WA Labor secured reforms to the GST distribution in 2018, which were legislated by the Commonwealth, whereby the State receives a guaranteed floor of 75 percent of its population share.
As part of the requirements of the legislation, those arrangements are currently being reviewed by the Productivity Commission.
Prior to the 2018 reforms, Western Australia's GST grants had fallen to just 30 per cent of our population share. Even with the 75 per cent floor as part of the 2018 reforms, WA still receives a lower GST share per person than any other State has ever received.
If the 2018 reforms are wound back, Western Australia would be around $6 billion per year worse off, which would significantly reduce the State's ability to invest in the economic infrastructure that supports not only the State's economy, but the national economy too. It would also place at risk efforts to ensure every Western Australian has a home and access to the health care they need, when they need it.
As part of 'WA's GST is working for Australia', a new national campaign launched today, the government is educating the rest of the nation about the deal's benefits.
Western Australia is the most productive State with the highest output per capita and accounts for almost half of the nation's exports. Unwinding the 2018 reforms would jeopardise the State's ability to continue to be the nation's economic powerhouse.
The campaign will also call on Western Australians to show their support for the GST deal - which has helped deliver essential services like hospitals, housing and infrastructure - by having their say. This will help inform the WA Government's official submission to the Productivity Commission.
Submissions can also be made directly to the Productivity Commission.
For more information and to have your say visit: www.wa.gov.au/gst .
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"While I want to acknowledge and commend Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers for recognising this and committing to protecting WA's fair share of the GST, we know eastern states commentators will stop at nothing until the deal is scrapped.
"My vision is for Western Australia's economy to remain the strongest in the nation, which is why it's critical that WA keeps its fair share of the GST.
"The GST deal is a proud WA Labor achievement and has helped my government maintain confidence in our economy so we can continue providing the infrastructure and services that industry and the community need.
"It's meant WA has become the best place in the world to get a quality job and made the State a global leader in investment attraction, industry facilitation and regulation.
"That's why my government needs Western Australians to join this fight.
"WA's GST is working for Australia, and my government needs business leaders and the community to come together as Team WA and help keep the share fair."
As stated by Deputy Premier and Treasurer Rita Saffioti:
"On the east coast there are commentators, pundits and governments lining up to tear down this deal, but WA is ready for the fight.
"Prime Minister Anthony Albanese absolutely understands the importance of WA to the national economy, and we recognise and welcome his commitment to the deal. But we can't sit on the sidelines while others try and get the current arrangements scrapped.
"This isn't just about our government or our key industries - it's about every Western Australian.
"We want every Western Australian to have their voice heard during this review and that's why we're encouraging people to sign the 'People's Submission' and send a strong message to the rest of the country."
