❓ Mr. Norberger questions the Treasurer about the Commonwealth Grants Commission's review of GST revenue distribution to WA, prompted by concerns over volatile commodity prices. The Treasurer accuses the opposition of failing to advocate for WA's fair share of GST.
AnsweredQoN 238Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
COMMONWEALTH GRANTS COMMISSION — GOODS AND
SERVICES TAX
238. Mr J. NORBERGER to the Treasurer:
Before I ask my question, on your behalf, Mr Speaker, I
welcome to the Legislative Assembly students from the Infant Jesus Primary
School from the electorate of Mount Lawley.
The federal opposition leader, Bill Shorten, today criticised
the federal Treasurer, Joe Hockey, for asking the Commonwealth Grants
Commission to look at ways of combatting the effects of volatile commodity
prices on WA's goods and services tax revenues. Can the Treasurer
explain to the house why the Commonwealth Grants Commission should consider Mr Hockey's
request?
SERVICES TAX
238. Mr J. NORBERGER to the Treasurer:
Before I ask my question, on your behalf, Mr Speaker, I
welcome to the Legislative Assembly students from the Infant Jesus Primary
School from the electorate of Mount Lawley.
The federal opposition leader, Bill Shorten, today criticised
the federal Treasurer, Joe Hockey, for asking the Commonwealth Grants
Commission to look at ways of combatting the effects of volatile commodity
prices on WA's goods and services tax revenues. Can the Treasurer
explain to the house why the Commonwealth Grants Commission should consider Mr Hockey's
request?
AnswerView source ↗
Everybody in this house knows Western Australia is being
dudded out of receiving its fair share of GST. Over the past few years, WA's
share has gone down to 38 per cent, the lowest that any state has received in
history. The reason that happened was due in part to WA receiving large amounts
of iron ore. As everybody in this state knows, our revenue from iron ore has
plummeted, so we on this side took up the leadership role of arguing the case
to the Commonwealth Grants Commission, Treasury and the federal government. I
went repeatedly, as did Treasury officials. The Premier and I, and, I might
add, Western Australian Liberal backbenchers from the Senate and the House of
Representatives—members of Parliament and senators—argued the
case and have been doing so for month after month. The crunch time is now
coming. The real question is: what do members opposite stand for—their
Labor mates or Western Australia? Have they stood up to Shorten, who is not
only attempting to stop us from getting our fair share of GST, but also putting
political pressure on Joe Hockey to prevent him from doing it, because he is
getting involved in the New South Wales election? He is being joined by the
shadow Treasurer, along with his Labor mates in Queensland.
Mr D.A. Templeman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member
for Mandurah, I call you to order for the first time.
Dr M.D. NAHAN :
What have members of the opposition done? They have said and done nothing. I do
not expect them to come up with any ideas. I do not expect them to go to
Canberra, like Eric Ripper agreed to do, and to have a bipartisan approach, but
I do expect them to go to their Labor mates here and lobby their Labor mates
over there. They have not done that. Whom do they stand for? Stand up for the
state! They are elected by the people of Western Australia, not their Labor
mates. Stand up for WA! Do something!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Mandurah! Treasurer, are you finished?
Dr M.D. NAHAN : No.
The SPEAKER : You
had better wind it up.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : I
have to congratulate Alannah MacTiernan, the real leader of the opposition. She
is standing up. She is arguing the case for WA. Do something! Do something!
dudded out of receiving its fair share of GST. Over the past few years, WA's
share has gone down to 38 per cent, the lowest that any state has received in
history. The reason that happened was due in part to WA receiving large amounts
of iron ore. As everybody in this state knows, our revenue from iron ore has
plummeted, so we on this side took up the leadership role of arguing the case
to the Commonwealth Grants Commission, Treasury and the federal government. I
went repeatedly, as did Treasury officials. The Premier and I, and, I might
add, Western Australian Liberal backbenchers from the Senate and the House of
Representatives—members of Parliament and senators—argued the
case and have been doing so for month after month. The crunch time is now
coming. The real question is: what do members opposite stand for—their
Labor mates or Western Australia? Have they stood up to Shorten, who is not
only attempting to stop us from getting our fair share of GST, but also putting
political pressure on Joe Hockey to prevent him from doing it, because he is
getting involved in the New South Wales election? He is being joined by the
shadow Treasurer, along with his Labor mates in Queensland.
Mr D.A. Templeman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member
for Mandurah, I call you to order for the first time.
Dr M.D. NAHAN :
What have members of the opposition done? They have said and done nothing. I do
not expect them to come up with any ideas. I do not expect them to go to
Canberra, like Eric Ripper agreed to do, and to have a bipartisan approach, but
I do expect them to go to their Labor mates here and lobby their Labor mates
over there. They have not done that. Whom do they stand for? Stand up for the
state! They are elected by the people of Western Australia, not their Labor
mates. Stand up for WA! Do something!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Mandurah! Treasurer, are you finished?
Dr M.D. NAHAN : No.
The SPEAKER : You
had better wind it up.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : I
have to congratulate Alannah MacTiernan, the real leader of the opposition. She
is standing up. She is arguing the case for WA. Do something! Do something!
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