Scott Bacon and Labor should be focusing on getting Bill Shorten to commit to as good a deal on GST as Scott Morrison has offered for Tasmania.
The facts are that we made clear to the Federal Government that any change to GST arrangements must leave Tasmania better off and that’s exactly what happened with the deal we secured from Scott Morrison and the Federal Government.
Tasmania will on face value be $112 million better off and that’s good for Tasmania.
As we have said, along with the other States and Territories, we are now working with the Federal Government to understand the Productivity Commission modelling underpinning their offer and this matter will be considered in detail later this year.
In contrast, Bill Shorten has promised to give Western Australia more GST but has made absolutely no guarantees for Tasmania. Rebecca White needs to stand up to Mr Shorten and get a guarantee from him that Tasmania will be no worse off than under the Federal Government’s proposal.
The Federal Government’s plan not only sees Tasmania’s fair share of GST locked in, Tasmania actually gets $112 million in additional GST funds.
Make no mistake the Tasmanian Government pushed hard to get this deal and it’s a sign of the productive relationship we have with Mr Morrison and the Federal Government that the GST outcome has been a positive one for Tasmania.