Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Wang for that supplementary question. Of course a lot has happened since Senator Wang asked me that question. The government has done a lot of work to improve our tax system. For example, the government got rid of Labor's mining tax, which was very good news for the great state of Western Australia. That helps to strengthen growth, attract investment and generate more jobs in Western Australia. The government got rid of Labor's carbon tax, which is very good news for Western Australia—for families, small businesses and the resources sector in Western Australia. It helps attract investment, it helps generate growth and it helps create more jobs.

As I indicated in my answer to the primary question, the government has provided an additional $500 million investment in infrastructure projects in Western Australia in order to ensure that the WA share of the GST did not drop to the inappropriate 30 per cent that the Commonwealth Grants Commission recommended last year. Our commitment to Western Australia is that we will assess what might be required in a similar fashion this year. (Time expired)