Anthony Albanese commits to maintaining WA GST deal

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged to maintain the federal government’s “fair share” GST tax deal with Western Australia and said the promise was solid enough to be inked in as a tattoo.

Reporter with The West Australian newspaper Dylan Caporn asked Mr Albanese at a press conference in Perth on Monday to sign the newspaper’s front page signalling his support for the deal, which is expected to distribute billions into the state’s coffers.

But Mr Albanese said his pledge was worth more than a paper signature.

“I reckon you should get a tatt and get a signature on the tatt,” he said.

“I’d be happy to sign your arm if you like … if we’re going to have a stunt let’s do a good one.

“Let’s go to a tattoo parlour we can get it tattooed or if you like I can do it by texta or whatever you would like.

“You want something permanent? Let’s get serious. I’m worried about your lack of commitment here that you won’t go and get a tatt but anyway, my office they’re available.”

Mr Albanese signed Mr Caporn’s arm with the words, “no change to GST”.

The prime minister is in WA for a Cabinet meeting, where the GST deal and the state’s struggling nickel industry are top of mind.

“We actually have put in place, not just the definition for WA, the certainty that’s there, we’ve provided at the last national cabinet every state and territory with their no worse off GST guarantee funding,” the prime minister said.

“That was worked through. So I don’t know if people paid attention to that but it occurred at that time.”

WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti last week warned if the federal government walked back on the 2018 deal, which sets a floor under how much GST revenue the state receives from the government, it would face a wipe-out at the next federal election.

“They would basically, I think, lose every seat in WA, so there’s just no way,” she said.

The federal government holds a slim majority in the House of Representatives with just 78 members, giving it a two-seat margin.

WA is home to several marginal electorates and the state will be a key battleground in next year’s federal election.

On a radio interview on Monday morning, Mr Albanese also said the arrangement with WA would not change even if elevated iron ore prices flooded the state with money.

“The arrangements, we’ll make no changes to it,” he said.

“We’ve made that very clear. And what’s more, we have put in place the funding for the other states and territories to make sure that they are not worse off as well.

“And we did that through a process involving Premier Roger Cook, involving every other Premier and Chief Minister.

“It’s fair to say that there’s not a cheer squad for this policy in other states, but the measures that we put in place ensures that that is confirmed going forward.”

Despite Mr Albanese’s pledge, WA Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash said voters should not trust the commitment.

“There’s a liar in the Lodge, his name is Anthony Albanese, and I do not believe him,” she said.