DOCUMENTS › Legislative Assembly of Western Australia: Revenue Distribution
The SPEAKER (15:34): I inform the House that I have received a copy of a resolution passed by the Western Australian Legislative Assembly on 10 November 2011 relating to GST revenue distribution. I do not propose to read the resolution to the House. Copies are being circulated to members in the chamber and the full text will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings and in Hansard. The resolution read as follows— That this House: (1) notes that GST revenues are distributed to the States and Territories in accordance with a formula driven by horizontal fiscal equalisation principles and legislated for in the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009 (Cth); (2) notes that for 2010-2011 Western Australia received just 68 per cent of what it would have received if GST revenue were distributed across Australia on a per capita basis - the lowest relativity applied to any State since the formula was introduced; (3) notes that every other State and Territory, by contrast, received not less than 91 per cent of what it would have received if GST revenue was distributed equally across Australia; (4) calls on the Federal Government to amend the Act to stipulate a minimum GST revenue-sharing relativity of 75 per cent, which would allow continuing respect for the principles of horizontal fiscal equalisation, but with proper recognition for population and without Western Australia being unfairly penalised for its disproportionate contribution to our national economic prosperity; and (5) calls on Federal Members of Parliament to support the private Members’ motion as moved by Mr Tony Crook MP, Member for O’Connor, in relation to a fairer GST distribution.