Western Australian business leaders, industry groups and the WA Government have come together to discuss the critical need to maintain WA’s share of the GST.
A roundtable, convened by Premier Roger Cook, discussed the way industry, business and Government can work together in the best interests of the WA economy.
The group signed an open letter, calling for the 2018 deal, which gave WA a fairer share of GST revenue, to be maintained.
CCIWA’s Chief Economist, Aaron Morey, said the group is committed to keeping pressure on the Federal Government to maintain the status quo.
“WA’s strength is the nation’s strength. When WA’s economy does well, it lifts the living standards for all Australians,” he said.
“The additional GST revenue flowing back into WA under the 2018 deal allows our state to invest in the economic infrastructure that supports our national economy.
“This economic infrastructure includes the roads and rail networks that get WA resources to market, the crucial energy and water infrastructure that allows our industries to operate, and the housing, hospitals and schools that support the tens of thousands of workers who drive our industries.
“That’s why it’s vital for all Australians that WA is not left worse off under any change to the GST distribution.”
CCIWA was central to negotiations that secured the current GST deal and is again poised to play a pivotal role as the issue progresses throughout 2026.
“We have convened a powerful steering committee featuring prominent WA business leaders Andrew Forrest, Michael Chaney, John Pynton and Nigel Satterley, to guide CCIWA’s strategic advocacy on the GST,” Mr Morey said.
“Although we’ve been encouraged by the Prime Minister’s commitment to keep WA’s current GST arrangements, we know he will come under significant pressure from East Coast governments to reverse the 2018 deal.
“Now is not the time to be complacent. We have to make it clear to the rest of Australia that WA’s GST allocation supports the economic success of the whole country.”
