Morrison-era GST deal with WA a multi-billion dollar mistake that should be reversed, Productivity Commission finds
News Source
β’Fri, 14 Aug 2026 04:00:19 GMT
π° What Happened
The Productivity Commission released a report saying the 2018 GST deal with Western Australia was a big mistake. The deal gives WA more tax money than other states. The commission said it has failed almost all of its goals. It makes the system less fair for everyone else. The deputy chair of the commission said taxpayers are stuck with a large and growing bill. The report calls for the deal to be reversed and the system to be reshaped to be fair for all states and territories.
π The Backstory
The GST deal was created under Prime Minister Scott Morrison in 2018. WA asked for the deal because the old system did not give them enough. The Labor Party also supported it at the time. But the deal has been very expensive. It is expected to cost $60 billion over ten years. Other states like New South Wales have lost billions because of it. Experts say WA is the only state that benefits. The Productivity Commission report says the deal hurts the whole country and should be unwound as fast as possible.
π― Why It Matters
This report says your tax dollars are being spent unfairly. If you live in NSW, Victoria, or any state other than WA, your state is getting less money because of this deal.
The Productivity Commission released a report saying the 2018 GST deal with Western Australia was a big mistake. The deal gives WA more tax money than other states. The commission said it has failed almost all of its goals. It makes the system less fair for everyone else. The deputy chair of the commission said taxpayers are stuck with a large and growing bill. The report calls for the deal to be reversed and the system to be reshaped to be fair for all states and territories.
The GST deal was created under Prime Minister Scott Morrison in 2018. WA asked for the deal because the old system did not give them enough. The Labor Party also supported it at the time. But the deal has been very expensive. It is expected to cost $60 billion over ten years. Other states like New South Wales have lost billions because of it. Experts say WA is the only state that benefits. The Productivity Commission report says the deal hurts the whole country and should be unwound as fast as possible.
This report says your tax dollars are being spent unfairly. If you live in NSW, Victoria, or any state other than WA, your state is getting less money because of this deal.