WA’s money, WA’s decisions.
Under the 2018 GST laws, WA now receives a guaranteed minimum share of GST. Figures from the Commonwealth Grants Commission put WA’s share in 2026–27 at about $6.6 billion more than it would have received under the old formula.
The Commonwealth’s “no worse off” top-up payments to the other states are temporary, so the deal will come under pressure when they end.
The deeper problem is that Canberra collects the taxes and the states spend them. A better way is for the government that spends your money to be the one that raises it.
What we’d do
- Defend WA’s GST floor in law.
- Push taxation responsibility back towards the states, and support competitive federalism.
- Pair any return of taxing powers with lower overall tax.