Western Australia’s premier Roger Cook has launched a blistering attack on what he called “east‑coast clowns,” accusing the authors of a new GST distribution report of mounting an “attack” on the people of WA. His fury follows the release of an interim Productivity Commission review showing WA was the only state to benefit from the 2018 overhaul of the GST carve‑up.
The GST system is designed to ensure every state and territory can deliver services and infrastructure to a similar standard. But the report found WA received enough GST revenue to meet 113 per cent of its assessed fiscal needs in 2024–25, compared with 98 per cent for all other states. The federal government then topped up the remaining 2 per cent to bring WA to the guaranteed floor.
Cook said any push to unwind the current system would unfairly punish Western Australia for its economic strength “simply to prop up other lazy states.” His comments reflect long‑running tensions between WA and eastern states over how GST revenue is shared, tensions that have flared again as national debate over fiscal fairness intensifies.
The premier’s remarks signal a fierce political fight ahead, with WA determined to defend the reforms that have boosted its revenue and critics arguing the system now leaves other states short‑changed.
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