Corrupt GST bargain boosts Western Australia’s embarrassing budget
It is outrageous that the federal government is adding billions to its budget deficit to enable the only government in Australia with a surplus to run an even bigger one.
Western Australia is the only government in Australia – and one of few in the world – currently running, and expecting to continue running, budget surpluses. Last week’s state budget confirmed that those surpluses are expected to be bigger than previously forecast.
In the 2020-21 financial year, Western Australia recorded a “net operating surplus” of $5.6 billion – the largest in its history.
Saul EslakeContributorSaul Eslake is former chief economist of ANZ Bank and of Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Australia, and is now principal of Corinna Economic Advisory based in Hobart.
