Queensland demands answers on GST
Published Thursday, 14 June, 2018 at 04:37 PM
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
The Honourable Jackie Trad
Queensland has demanded answers on the Turnbull Government’s proposed GST carve up which would see the state $1.6 billion worse off a year.
Deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad said that the Government had been silent on the proposed cut for a month.
“It has been a month since the Productivity Commission handed their final report to Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison and we have had radio silence ever since,” Ms Trad said.
“I wrote to Scott Morrison weeks ago seeking a briefing on the final report and we have heard zero about what’s in the report and what it means for Queenslanders.
“Meanwhile, Malcolm Turnbull is laughing it up with his Liberal colleagues in Tasmania promising them that they won’t be a cent worse off.1
“It’s clear, as usual, that this Federal Government has one rule for Queensland and one rule for everyone else.
“If Malcolm Turnbull agrees to the scheme proposed by the Productivity Commission Queenslanders would be $1.6 billion worse off every single year.
“That’s equivalent to cutting 5,000 nurses from our hospitals, 5,000 teachers from our schools, taking 3,000 police off the beat and more than 1,000 firefighters off our streets.
“That’s on top of the $400 million of GST they’ve already slashed from Queensland this financial year.
“I’m urgently calling on the Prime Minister to give the same commitment to Queensland that he has given to Tasmania.
“He needs to guarantee Queensland’s fair share.”
ENDS
Media Contact: Clare Manton 0432 446 268