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

Let me point out again what I've pointed out all week: right now, all that is happening is a Productivity Commission inquiry into the effects of horizontal fiscal equalisation on national productivity and wealth. That is because this federal government wants to ensure that the pie that is available to be shared around Australia, across all of the states and territories across Australia, is as large as possible. We want to ensure that our economy is as strong as possible, which is why we are wanting to make sure that policy settings facilitate stronger growth and, also, a bigger pie of GST revenue to be distributed among all.

There has been no final report. There have been no final recommendations. There is no government position in relation to a report that has not yet been received. The whole question is hypothetical, it's academic and I've addressed it in detail over the past week.