❓ Opposition questions the Premier about his meetings with Tony Abbott regarding GST distribution and Abbott's understanding of WA's concerns. Premier defends his engagement with Abbott and criticises the federal Labor government's GST allocation to WA.
AnsweredQoN 120Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GOODS AND SERVICES TAX DISTRIBUTION
120. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the GST issue and the Premier's comments
in this house —
At least Tony Abbott listens and
understands the debate.
I have had discussions with him
recently. At least he understands the issues involved.
(1) Does the Premier stand by these remarks?
(2) Exactly
how many meetings has the Premier had with Mr Abbott on this subject, and how
closely was he listening?
(3) How has Mr Abbott indicated he understands the problem?
120. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the GST issue and the Premier's comments
in this house —
At least Tony Abbott listens and
understands the debate.
I have had discussions with him
recently. At least he understands the issues involved.
(1) Does the Premier stand by these remarks?
(2) Exactly
how many meetings has the Premier had with Mr Abbott on this subject, and how
closely was he listening?
(3) How has Mr Abbott indicated he understands the problem?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3)
I meet with Tony Abbott fairly regularly—unlike the Leader of the
Opposition and the Prime Minister; I do not know if they have ever actually
met. Have they actually met yet? Has the Leader of the Opposition met the Prime
Minister?
Mr M. McGowan : Of
course!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Of course. Right. I am glad they have made up and at least had a meeting.
Mr P. Papalia :
Answer the question!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Oh, groaning on!
I met with Tony Abbott only a couple of weeks ago. He was
over in Perth.
Mr R.H. Cook : Did
he give you a commitment on the GST?
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
do stand by my comments when I have talked to him about the GST issue. He
clearly understands the long-term implications for Australia if it is not dealt
with. I thought for a while that Prime Minister Gillard had also understood
that when she set up the committee chaired by Nick Greiner and John Brumby, but
apparently she changed her mind. The Treasurer will no doubt say a bit more
about the GST today. But it is a parlous situation if we can expect a scenario
in which this state continues to suffer declines, not only in its GST share but
also in the absolute dollar amounts.
Last night, the federal budget made it clear that Western
Australia would receive in the coming financial year $400 million less than we
received this year—and members opposite wonder why we are having to
take measures on taxation. Members opposite may laugh and ridicule it, but what
I am afraid the reality will be for the Western Australian public if this is
not fixed, or at least a corrective measure put in place so that we can come
back to a more sustainable function, is that we will see measures like the
deferral of the tax exemption for non-real property, and we will see real
pressure on our services and on whether we deliver education in the same way or
health in the same way. That is the reality. The Labor Party always seems to
rejoice in the fact that the commonwealth government—the Gillard
government—took $400 million off this state last night. That is $400 million
for next year. I will not steal the thunder of the Treasurer. But the Gillard
government is reducing our GST by enormous amounts year in, year out. Commodity
prices were high in the Howard years. Did this happen? No, it did not. It is
happening under the Gillard government.
Mr M. McGowan : Not
true!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
What is not true?
Mr M. McGowan : GST
receipts did go down at various years during the Howard years.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Nothing like this. I mean, members opposite continue to defend a failed Labor
government in Canberra. The Leader of the Opposition continues to defend a
Prime Minister he has perhaps met only once in his life. On this side, we are
standing up for the state, for the people of Western Australia. What Tony
Abbott has in our conversations acknowledged is the fact that the four big
states, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia—90
per cent of the Australian population, 90 per cent of the Australian economy—have
all agreed and have all signed a letter. I will table that letter before the
end of question time. That letter is signed by the Premiers of each of those
states, publicly released, and it makes it very clear that we as Premiers
agree, as 90 per cent of Australia, to move to a GST distribution based largely
on population, and to achieve that over time and in a way in which no state
will see a reduction in its GST. I have had the letter sent in, and I would
like to give it to the Leader of the Opposition so that he can read it and
understand it. Here we go! The ever efficient Treasurer has got it. The letter
is signed by Barry O'Farrell, Premier of New South Wales; Ted Baillieu,
at the time the Premier of Victoria; Campbell Newman—''Can Do''
Campbell—the Premier of Queensland; and me. I table that letter, and
perhaps the Leader of the Opposition should read it and realise that at least
the conservative side of politics is willing to challenge and take on the
issue.
[See paper 314.]
I meet with Tony Abbott fairly regularly—unlike the Leader of the
Opposition and the Prime Minister; I do not know if they have ever actually
met. Have they actually met yet? Has the Leader of the Opposition met the Prime
Minister?
Mr M. McGowan : Of
course!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Of course. Right. I am glad they have made up and at least had a meeting.
Mr P. Papalia :
Answer the question!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Oh, groaning on!
I met with Tony Abbott only a couple of weeks ago. He was
over in Perth.
Mr R.H. Cook : Did
he give you a commitment on the GST?
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
do stand by my comments when I have talked to him about the GST issue. He
clearly understands the long-term implications for Australia if it is not dealt
with. I thought for a while that Prime Minister Gillard had also understood
that when she set up the committee chaired by Nick Greiner and John Brumby, but
apparently she changed her mind. The Treasurer will no doubt say a bit more
about the GST today. But it is a parlous situation if we can expect a scenario
in which this state continues to suffer declines, not only in its GST share but
also in the absolute dollar amounts.
Last night, the federal budget made it clear that Western
Australia would receive in the coming financial year $400 million less than we
received this year—and members opposite wonder why we are having to
take measures on taxation. Members opposite may laugh and ridicule it, but what
I am afraid the reality will be for the Western Australian public if this is
not fixed, or at least a corrective measure put in place so that we can come
back to a more sustainable function, is that we will see measures like the
deferral of the tax exemption for non-real property, and we will see real
pressure on our services and on whether we deliver education in the same way or
health in the same way. That is the reality. The Labor Party always seems to
rejoice in the fact that the commonwealth government—the Gillard
government—took $400 million off this state last night. That is $400 million
for next year. I will not steal the thunder of the Treasurer. But the Gillard
government is reducing our GST by enormous amounts year in, year out. Commodity
prices were high in the Howard years. Did this happen? No, it did not. It is
happening under the Gillard government.
Mr M. McGowan : Not
true!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
What is not true?
Mr M. McGowan : GST
receipts did go down at various years during the Howard years.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Nothing like this. I mean, members opposite continue to defend a failed Labor
government in Canberra. The Leader of the Opposition continues to defend a
Prime Minister he has perhaps met only once in his life. On this side, we are
standing up for the state, for the people of Western Australia. What Tony
Abbott has in our conversations acknowledged is the fact that the four big
states, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia—90
per cent of the Australian population, 90 per cent of the Australian economy—have
all agreed and have all signed a letter. I will table that letter before the
end of question time. That letter is signed by the Premiers of each of those
states, publicly released, and it makes it very clear that we as Premiers
agree, as 90 per cent of Australia, to move to a GST distribution based largely
on population, and to achieve that over time and in a way in which no state
will see a reduction in its GST. I have had the letter sent in, and I would
like to give it to the Leader of the Opposition so that he can read it and
understand it. Here we go! The ever efficient Treasurer has got it. The letter
is signed by Barry O'Farrell, Premier of New South Wales; Ted Baillieu,
at the time the Premier of Victoria; Campbell Newman—''Can Do''
Campbell—the Premier of Queensland; and me. I table that letter, and
perhaps the Leader of the Opposition should read it and realise that at least
the conservative side of politics is willing to challenge and take on the
issue.
[See paper 314.]
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