Senator JOHNSTON (Western Australia—Minister for Defence) (15:03): We had no plan to change the rules regarding the distribution of the GST or to increase the GST. What I said to my fellow Liberals in Western Australia was: 'If you are unhappy, if you are outraged and if you think it is a scandal, have your say.' Let's come back to the problem. The problem is that for so long— Senator Abetz: Sixteen years. Senator JOHNSTON: For 16 years Tasmania have been nothing more than a passenger. Tasmania have been a mendicant state. On their west coast, they have fabulous mineral reserves. Will they touch them? No! They want their state to be a national park. We do not agree with that, and we do not want to pay for it either. Senator Abetz: Mr President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.