Friday 14th August 2026
ALBANESE CAN’T STAND UP TO EAST COAST WHINGERS ON GST
The Productivity Commission’s interim report on Australia’s GST arrangements presents a cloud of uncertainty over WA’s GST Deal.
The recommendation to return to the pre 2018 arrangements, which saw WA’s GST share fall as low as 30c on the dollar presents a clear disparity between what this Labor Government says, and what they are prepared to do.
Member for Forrest Ben Small MP says The Prime Minister won’t be saved if he cannot stand up to east coast whingers on WA’s GST deal.
“If the Prime Minister was lying to Australians when he signed his GST promise on the arm of a local journalist before the election, nothing will save him from what WA voters will do.”
“WA’s fair share is under attack. Mr Albanese must guarantee that WA’s GST share won’t fall by a cent.”
The current arrangement, which was secured under the previous Coalition Government, ensured WA would receive no less that 75c per dollar of the GST take. This is where it should stay.
Mr Small, who is also the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure emphasised that WA’s GST share is delivered by Western Australians and must be kept for Western Australians.
“There’s an alternative to this atrocious betrayal, and that’s the end of fiscal equalisation altogether. Let’s see how long the eastern states last without any of our tax money at all, because my local voters would be very happy to dig a fiscal moat at the Nullabor and keep all of our money right here where it is made.”
“Rather than crying poor and trying to steal money earned right here in WA, east coast whingers should actually exploit their natural resources and take some risks, like the finest WA entrepreneurs do. Our prosperity in WA is not an accident - it is the result of decades of risk taking and investment by the private sector enabled by forward-looking governments.”
“Mr Albanese lied when he told Australians he wouldn’t touch CGT and negative gearing. If he backflips on this under the justification of ‘changing his position’, Western Australian’s will know it was just another Labor Lie.”
WA Premier Roger Cook and Treasurer Rita Saffioti visited Canberra in 2025 to visit the Prime Minister in what we know now was an unsuccessful attempt to convince the Government not to touch WA’s GST.
“We must remember that every dollar of GST raised in WA is taken off hardworking tradies, nurses or professionals. This is real money taken off real people and hard working Western Australian’s deserve to see at least 75c of benefit for every dollar of tax they pay.”
The Prime Minister promised to secure WA’s GST deal, now he needs to deliver it.
ENDS