Peter
Gutwein’s own agency has revealed the true extent of the Treasurer and
Premier’s dud and unfair GST deal which will result in Tasmanians
struggling even more to access essential services.
Shadow
Finance Minister Dean Winter said a State Treasury analysis of the dud deal Mr
Gutwein signed in 2018 had revealed every Tasmanian will be $147 a year worse
off within six years while Western Australia will be swimming in revenue under
the Treasurer’s hopelessly ill-considered deal with Canberra.
“Peter
Gutwein simply didn’t read the fine print,” Mr Winter said.
“At
the time of the proposal three years ago Mr Gutwein said he would go through it
with a fine-tooth comb but he forgot to get the comb out.
“He
instead believed Canberra’s spin that Tasmania would not be worse off in dollar
terms but now the facts have come home to roost.
“Mr
Gutwein was warned at the time by Labor that he was at risk of selling out
future generations and that would be his legacy.
“His
clear legacy is now that by 2027-28, every Tasmanian will be $147 a year worse
off while every West Australian will be almost $2,000 better off.
“His
own Treasury’s analysis shows the inequity embedded in this dud GST
distribution deal is becoming clearer and clearer and Tasmania will ultimately
be $100 million a year worse off.
“At
a time when Tasmania is already facing crises across health and housing this
dud deal will have significant impacts across the government’s ability to
deliver essential services like education and health care, policing and child
protection.
“Mr
Gutwein is now trying to spin his way out of what leading economist Saul Eslake
has today described as a ‘corrupt’ deal.
“But Mr Gutwein has to do more than spin. He needs to tell Tasmanians why he sold them out, how he is going to guarantee basic services going forward or whether he has the backbone to admit this major bungle and stand up to the Morrison Government to get a fair deal.”
Dean Winter MP
Shadow Minister for Finance and Economic Development
