Gallop Government ramps up the fight for State rights

30/04/05
The Gallop Government has announced a campaign calling on Canberra to put an end to its attack on State rights and return a fair share of Commonwealth revenue to Western Australia.
Acting Premier Eric Ripper said the campaign would urge the Howard Government to honour the GST agreement signed in 1999 and raise public awareness of the high level of Commonwealth taxation compared to State-based revenue.
Starting from tomorrow, print advertisements will run highlighting Canberra's attempted power grab and impending threat to State finances.
"We are in the fight of our lives to stop Canberra's assault on State rights," Mr Ripper said.
"Our Government will always put WA first.
"Peter Costello's threat to re-write the GST agreement and cut funding to WA would have a devastating impact on our ability to fund essential services and key infrastructure.
"At the same time, Canberra is reaping big economic benefits from record growth in WA and enjoying massive revenue from income tax and company tax.
"But there is a bigger issue here - Canberra's attempt to undermine the State Government's ability to make policy in areas such as taxation, industrial relations, health and education on behalf of the WA community.
"Once State rights are lost, it is very hard to get them back - this campaign aims to raise awareness of what is at stake."
The Acting Premier said the Gallop Government had more than met its obligations under the GST agreement.
"We have abolished the three taxes listed for abolition and scrapped a further three taxes listed for review only," he said.
"In addition, we have abolished another two taxes outside of the agreement and implemented $1.5billion worth of tax cuts since last year.
"ABS figures show that the Commonwealth tax take is $10,462 per person, while just $2,503 per person is derived from State-based revenue.
"Western Australians deserve to know that Canberra collects more than $2billion from WA than it returns each year - that is $1,000 per person.
"Canberra also redistributes 90 per cent of all royalty revenue generated in WA to the other States.
"WA more than pulls it own weight when it comes to supporting the Federation - making Peter Costello's threat to withhold GST funding all the more outrageous."
The Gallop Government is urging all Western Australians to lobby WA-based Federal parliamentarians on the issue.
"We are simply asking the Howard Government to honour the GST agreement and ensure WA receives its fair share of Commonwealth funding," Mr Ripper said.
Acting Premier's office: 9222 8788