WA’s GST share: Rita Saffioti opens the door to overhaul of carve-up as Queensland demands a bigger share

WA’s Treasurer Rita Saffioti has backed interstate calls for an overhaul of the GST carve-up but has vowed to lead the charge to protect WA’s fair share. Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki wrote to Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers to request a re-think and flagged “significant concern” over QLD’s reduced share of GST payments. He argued $7.2 billion promised towards a Bruce Highway upgrade should be quarantined from GST calculations, while NSW has been agitating for the GST pie to be divided according to population. Ms Saffioti said she was open to a per-capita formula. “Even after the incredible deal that we did with the Federal Government we still don’t get our population share of GST coming to the State,” she said. “I’m happy to have that discussion because it means billions of dollars of extra funds to WA.” WA will receive around $7.8 billion in GST in 2025–26, under the current formula, $395 million more than in 2024–25. Queensland is set to receive more then $2 billion less, while Victoria’s take increased by $3.7 billion. Ms Saffioti rejected Opposition claims the appointment of former under-Treasurer Michael Barnes as WA’s GST “fairness fighter”, ahead of a Productivity Commission review, could undermine the State’s case to maintain a floor of 75c per dollar of GST raised, and top-up payments for other states. “I would just observe that having a bureaucrat take the lead on this might not produce the best outcome for our State,” Shadow Treasurer Sandra Brewer said on Thursday. “We need strong political leadership that stands up for our State.” She confirmed she had not yet raised the issue with Queensland’s LNP Government. “This is news today, certainly it creates the opportunity,” Ms Brewer said. “I do know members of the Queensland Government, so I’ll be looking to connect.” Ms Saffioti said Mr Barnes is a “seasoned and very accomplished” person to lead the fight but vowed she would oversee the Government’s response. “Sandra Brewer is all over the place, we’ve seen in Parliament she’s a bit erratic to tell the truth, but Michael Barnes is well respected,” she said. “We are very confident with the deal, with the commitment that the Prime Minister has given an assurance that they’ll keep the deal. “But we continually work to make sure that the ((Productivity Commission) review of the Commonwealth grants formula doesn’t disadvantage WA and, as I said, if the other states are pushing for population share then we’re with them.”