Treasurer Keeps GST Submission Under Wraps from Team WA

Media Release | 25 February 2026

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Sandra Brewer MLA

Shadow Treasurer; Shadow Minister for Housing; Women’s Interests

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Despite the WA government spending hundreds of millions of dollars in consultants and

advertising to promote their fight for the GST, a report is yet to materialise just days

before the Productivity Commission (PC) submissions are due.

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Shadow Treasurer Sandra Brewer has questioned why the State Government has not

shared its submission and sought support from across the Western Australian

community, including business and the WA Opposition.

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“How can West Australians join the campaign to protect our fair share of the GST and

make substantive submissions, when they don’t know the premise of the WA

government’s arguments?” she said.

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“I wrote to the Treasurer requesting a briefing on the State’s fight with an intent to back

up the State Government, but this request was ignored.”

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A GST "fairness fighter" team within Treasury was established to lead the State's

response to the Productivity Commission review. At the time of its establishment in

May 2023, State Budget Estimates revealed it would cost $1.6m and engage 8 FTE’s.

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Questions on Notice lodged by the Shadow Treasurer last year revealed that former

Under Treasurer Michael Barnes was appointed as the GST Project Director on 19 May

2025 and that Western Australia’s response would cost Treasury almost $1.4m to

prepare and manage.

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“West Australians quite rightly expect that the State Government would make a strong

case. Yet just days from the deadline, we’ve seen no case at all”, Ms Brewer said.

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“For what is the most important submission for Western Australia, critical to our State’s

finances, the Treasurer has decided to go it alone.

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“When it comes to the State’s finances, the Treasurer is in charge - full stop. If the

Productivity Commission recommendation costs Western Australia even one dollar, the

Treasurer and this Cook Labor Government will be accountable.”

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Submissions to the Productivity Commission close on Friday 27 February.

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Media Contact – Graham Mason 0419 194 792

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