Page 1199 - Week 03 - Thursday, 31 March 2011
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reduced our relativity. The reasons for that are explained in the report. Some of those I can understand and others I cannot.
The situation for us is that we will be putting in a submission. We will be meeting with the review team. I have been arguing in my comments in the media that small jurisdictions need to have their issues recognised in this review.
Mr Coe interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: I think that in my discussions with the federal Treasurer yesterday he agreed that that is something that needs to be fundamentally—
Mr Smyth interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: a part of this review. So, Mr Smyth, it would be—
Mr Coe interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: One moment, Treasurer. I have given my expectations that the Treasurer should not be shouted down. Mr Coe and Mr Smyth, you are both warned. Treasurer.
MS GALLAGHER: Mr Smyth, it would be nice if you would perhaps work with me across the Assembly to actually provide a united voice in our submission to the review. It would be good, I think, if we could put political differences aside and point scoring aside and actually do something good for the community, and that is to work together and to put a united front about what we believe the issues are that should be recognised in a review that has both Liberal and Labor ex-politicians sitting on it.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Mr Smyth?
MR SMYTH: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Treasurer, since the recent loss of GST revenue and now in the light of this review, what work has Treasury undertaken in preparing material that will be used to argue the case for the ACT to increase its share of funding from GST revenues?
MS GALLAGHER: Treasury provide ongoing review and advice to the government around this issue. As Mr Smyth knows, the latest adjustment is a technical update. Certainly, Treasury continue to examine the reasons provided by the commission. I have since met with the federal Treasurer regarding our views around that update and some of the concerns we have in seeing further reductions in GST. But I think it is something that all jurisdictions are dealing with. As the GST pie has not grown at the pace that it has in recent years, all jurisdictions are suffering with the reduction in GST payments that are coming from the commonwealth. This is a challenge. As I see Barry O’Farrell and Ted Baillieu dealing with it in their budgets, we are dealing with it in ours.
MS HUNTER: A supplementary question, Mr Speaker?
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