The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA (CCI) welcomes calls by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson to fix the unfair and unequitable GST distribution in the interest of all Australians.
Ms Hanson’s position demonstrates the growing level support for GST reform from outside of WA – something that will ensure the nation’s economy remains strong and is able grow.
We are all Australians first and must put the national interest ahead of any one state, which means fixing a broken and fundamentally flawed GST system.
Queensland has a strong economy that its people can be proud of. There is simply no reason why a strong and proud state like Queensland must be subsidised to the extent it currently is by Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria through the GST system.
States must be encouraged to stand on their own two feet, and the only way to achieve this is through meaningful, long-term reform, not Band-Aid solutions.
The Productivity Commission has highlighted that GST distribution is holding back the national economy and should be fixed.
CCI will continue to work with all sides of politics to fix the broken GST system and acknowledges the hard work of Senator Peter Georgiou in helping to raise the issue nationally.
