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

The first thing I would say is that obviously the re-election of the Hodgman government is what is in the best interests of the people of Tasmania, because, if you look at the economic growth achieved under the Hodgman government, it leaves any previous Labor-Green administration absolutely for dead. So I would strongly encourage the Tasmanian people to re-elect Will Hodgman as the Premier of Tasmania.

The next thing I would say is, from a national point of view, we want all states and territories and the people in all states and territories to have the best possible opportunity to get ahead. That is why we want to ensure that horizontal fiscal equalisation arrangements will achieve the largest possible pie of GST to be shared around. Now there is no report before government. When there is a report before government, we will consider it and, in relation to any recommendations that we may decide to support, we will seek a consensus with all states and territories.