GST floor confuses Liberals, Crook
Author: Tony Crook
Published on: 31-August-2011
Nationals WA Federal Member for O’Connor has pointed to comments made by the Liberal Candidate for O’Connor in relation to Mr Crook’s GST motion as “cheap political point scoring” and “generally inaccurate.”
The Liberal Candidate for O’Connor has been circulating a letter to the editor this week regarding Mr Crook’s Private Member’s Motion to establish a 75 per cent floor on GST relativities.
Mr Crook said his Private Members Motion would provide all States and Territories with greater economic security.
“By establishing a floor on GST relativities, States will be secure knowing their share of the GST pie could never fall to an inequitable level - such as the 33 per cent return WA is forecast to receive in coming years.
Mr Crook said the motion would also call on the Federal Government to formally acknowledge that WA is being ripped-off at a Federal level.
At the recent Liberal Party State Conference, Federal Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, indicated his support for a fairer GST system.
“The support for a GST floor for our State is clear. The WA Premier, the Leader of the Nationals WA and the Leader of the Opposition all believe action needs to be taken on this issue.”
Mr Crook said the comments by the Liberal Candidate for O’Connor this week highlighted the confusion among WA’s Liberal representatives in Canberra.
“While I have made no secrets about the content of my motion – a signed copy is available for viewing online – the WA Liberals, at a Federal level, do not seem to understand my proposal,” Mr Crook said.
“They either support a better deal for WA or they don’t.”
Mr Crook said he would be happy to brief any of WA’s Federal Members of Parliament on his GST motion to deliver $4 billion back into WA over the next two years.
“If the WA Liberal Party truly supports this motion – as the Liberal Candidate indicates they do – then I look forward to their support in Canberra when this motion is debated.”
Further information on WA’s GST rip-off can be found online at www.tonycrook.com.au.
See this article on the member's website