❓ Mr. Wyatt questions the Premier regarding statements made about the Abbott government's assistance in how iron ore fines are treated by the Commonwealth Grants Commission, specifically regarding a reported $200-300 million benefit to the state. The Premier acknowledges the issue and credits the Abbott government for addressing it, promising further details at the midyear review.
AnsweredQoN 904Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
IRON ORE FINES —
COMMONWEALTH GRANTS COMMISSION — PREMIER'S STATEMENTS
904. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Premier:
I refer to the Premier's radio interview this morning
and his statement on the Abbott government that, ''On a few technical
matters they have actually assisted us very significantly in the way iron ore
is treated by the Commonwealth Grants Commission, something that was talked
about under the Labor years but we got nowhere, and the changes in the way the
iron ore fines are treated has been worth $200 million to $300 million to the
state already under the Abbott government.''
(1) Has the
Abbott government committed to treat Western Australian iron ore fines in the
low royalty group in 2014–15?
(2) What
specific changes in the way iron ore fines are treated by the Abbott government
has resulted in $200 million to $300 million already being returned to the
state?
COMMONWEALTH GRANTS COMMISSION — PREMIER'S STATEMENTS
904. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Premier:
I refer to the Premier's radio interview this morning
and his statement on the Abbott government that, ''On a few technical
matters they have actually assisted us very significantly in the way iron ore
is treated by the Commonwealth Grants Commission, something that was talked
about under the Labor years but we got nowhere, and the changes in the way the
iron ore fines are treated has been worth $200 million to $300 million to the
state already under the Abbott government.''
(1) Has the
Abbott government committed to treat Western Australian iron ore fines in the
low royalty group in 2014–15?
(2) What
specific changes in the way iron ore fines are treated by the Abbott government
has resulted in $200 million to $300 million already being returned to the
state?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I did not think the interview on ABC was that good, but clearly the member was
fascinated by it. The question I was asked on ABC, which is obviously now
pre-eminent, was along the lines of how the Abbott government has responded to
the inequity of Western Australia's share of GST as compared with the
Rudd and Gillard governments. I do not remember exactly what I said this
morning, but certainly the Rudd government showed some sympathy and
understanding of the Western Australian situation. Julia Gillard did not show
any interest at all in the Western Australian situation. I contrast that with
the Abbott government; there is, as I said on the radio, quite a technical
issue relating to the way in which the Commonwealth Grants Commission treats
lump versus fines iron ore. It is a technical matter. Following representations
made by the state Treasurer, the Abbott government has reacted positively.
There was no response from the Labor government. It understood the issue but it
did not act. That means —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first
time today.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It is quite a technical and complex issue, but the Grants
Commission was heading down a path whereby we would have seen an even greater
loss of GST from this state of the order of $200 million to $300 million a
year. To the credit of the Abbott government, Western Australian federal
members of Parliament and the Treasurer in particular, we have been given a
reprieve from that, which is worth at least $200 million to $300 million. The
Treasurer will report on the detail of that at the midyear review.
I did not think the interview on ABC was that good, but clearly the member was
fascinated by it. The question I was asked on ABC, which is obviously now
pre-eminent, was along the lines of how the Abbott government has responded to
the inequity of Western Australia's share of GST as compared with the
Rudd and Gillard governments. I do not remember exactly what I said this
morning, but certainly the Rudd government showed some sympathy and
understanding of the Western Australian situation. Julia Gillard did not show
any interest at all in the Western Australian situation. I contrast that with
the Abbott government; there is, as I said on the radio, quite a technical
issue relating to the way in which the Commonwealth Grants Commission treats
lump versus fines iron ore. It is a technical matter. Following representations
made by the state Treasurer, the Abbott government has reacted positively.
There was no response from the Labor government. It understood the issue but it
did not act. That means —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first
time today.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It is quite a technical and complex issue, but the Grants
Commission was heading down a path whereby we would have seen an even greater
loss of GST from this state of the order of $200 million to $300 million a
year. To the credit of the Abbott government, Western Australian federal
members of Parliament and the Treasurer in particular, we have been given a
reprieve from that, which is worth at least $200 million to $300 million. The
Treasurer will report on the detail of that at the midyear review.
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