Liberals are coming for Tasmania’s GST share

The Tasmanian Greens today called for a state tripartisan commitment to oppose the Liberal Party’s latest moves to wind back the GST distribution model, which will cost frontline jobs in Tasmania.

Greens Treasury spokesperson Tim Morris MP was responding to reports that the Western Australian government would use its support for lowering the GST threshold on online purchases as “leverage” to force the Commonwealth to support a per-capita GST distribution model.

“This is savage economic blackmail and it is an attack on the federation, and Tasmania needs to present a united front in opposing it,” Mr Morris said.

“Will Hodgman has been clay in the hands of right wing extremists in his party for too long, and now that they are coming for Tasmania’s GST share he needs to grow a backbone.”

“Tasmanians cannot afford to lose $700 million from our annual GST share.”

“The GST distribution model is shaping up to be a critical issue leading into the election and so far the Tasmanian Liberals have failed at the first hurdle.”

“The Greens strongly support the existing distribution model and will never support a per-capita distribution.”

“Unless Tasmania stands up to this Liberal attack, it will mean sudden and brutal cuts to vital frontline workers like teachers, nurses and emergency services.”

“Unfortunately Mr Hodgman’s track record is that he lacks the courage or the political conviction to stand up to Tony Abbott and his local hatchet man, Eric Abetz.”

“The Liberals seem to be forgetting that Australia has been a federation since 1901, and that the system of horizontal fiscal equalisation is about ensuring all states and territories get a fair go.”
Greens’ Treasury spokesman Tim Morris