States back demands for tax reform review

In the face of a weak tax-reform agenda, state treasurers back Ken Henry’s call to review tax and spending responsibilities.

Samantha Hutchinson, Tom McIlroy, Tom Rabe and Simon Evans

Apr 7, 2024 – 4.22pm

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State and territories have swung their weight behind a Ken Henry-led push to review and overhaul a “mess” of state and federal spending responsibilities, in a move economists and business groups say would lead to a broader and overdue national tax system overhaul.

As productivity experts decry a flat-lining tax reform agenda, state treasurers backed Dr Henry’s call for a “foundational” overhaul of how tax and spending are divided up nationally in areas including education, health and infrastructure.

Samantha Hutchinson is the AFR's National Reporter. Most recently, she was CBD columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Before that, she covered Victorian and NSW politics and business for The Australian, the AFR and BRW Magazine.

Tom McIlroy is the Financial Review’s Canberra bureau chief based in the press gallery at Parliament House. He was previously the AFR’s political correspondent.

Tom Rabe is the WA political correspondent, based in Perth.

Simon Evans writes on business specialising in retail, manufacturing, beverages, mining and M&A. He is based in Adelaide.