West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has ripped into his NSW counterpart as soon as once more over the continued GST battle and forthcoming state election, labelling the federal government a “catastrophe” and a “basket case”.
Asked about latest feedback NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet made about reviewing the GST income carve-up and his criticisms of the WA well being system, Mr McGowan was fast to shoot him down.
“He’s got an election coming so he’s just trying to divert attention away from the NSW government, which is a complete and utter basket case,” Mr McGowan instructed reporters on Sunday.
“They’ve been in office too long, they’ve failed on so many fronts, they’ve blown the budget, they’ve wrecked the finances, so many parts of their state is a disaster.
“The NSW government has been a catastrophe. They’ve been through four premiers over their time in office (and) multiple corruption scandals — they’re a bit of a catastrophe.”
On the GST — which has been a combat between WA and far of the remainder of the nation for years — Mr McGowan famous the formulation struck by then Treasurer Scott Morrison in 2018 was truthful.
“NSW gets back more than they put in, whereas we only get back 75c for every dollar we put in,” the Premier stated.
“So how that is unfair on NSW is a mystery to anyone with a brain.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has to this point dismissed calls from some states to shake up the GST system.
Mr McGowan stated he was assured the federal government would “stick to it”.
“Obviously, they understand the importance of WA and the fairness of the existing regime,” he stated.
“Clearly, if there was any prospect of changes that wold hurt the state, they’d have a big problem with the WA government.”
Regarding WA’s well being system, Mr McGowan stated his authorities invested extra within the native heath system per capita than every other state.
“NSW failed to keep Covid out and let it run wild. That, of course, impacted their health system, whereas we didn’t have that issue,” he stated.
In his remaining blow to the NSW authorities, Mr McGowan weighed in once more on the March 2023 election.
“They’ve had so many disasters, the NSW government, I think their time is up,” Mr McGowan stated.
