The Productivity Commission finds the WA GST deal is a “costly mistake” that has led to “perverse” outcomes, and recommends it be scrapped.<\/p>\n
“Is it fair that 93 per cent of Commonwealth-owned natural gas should benefit just 10 per cent of Australia’s population?” Senator Hanson asked the chamber in September 2023.<\/p>\n
“My view is no.<\/p>\n
“Western Australia receives a huge benefit without compensating the other states because of the passage of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Making Sure Every State and Territory Gets Their Fair Share of GST) Act 2018.”<\/p>\n
In another speech delivered in March, Senator Hanson said the WA government was “addicted to Commonwealth-owned petroleum resources”.<\/p>\n
She noted the billions of dollars in royalties WA received from offshore gas projects were not included in calculations that underpinned the GST distribution. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now, it appears, her view has evolved.\u00a0<\/p>\n
GST stoush continues<\/p>\n
Amid a brawl between the states<\/a> over the Morrison-era deal, which the Productivity Commission last week labelled a “costly mistake” that only benefits WA<\/a>, the Queensland senator has emerged as a defender of the west.<\/p>\n The deal guarantees states a minimum return of 75 cents in the dollar, or no lower than NSW and Victoria, after WA’s share fell to below 30 cents.<\/p>\n “No, I’m not pulling anything from WA,” Senator Hanson told News24 last week.<\/p>\n “Yes they do have the mining and they’re a progressive state, but they’ve actually done business and encouraged business there, so the GST was increased.<\/p>\n WA premier lashes ‘east-coast clowns’ <\/a><\/p>\n An angry Roger Cook has lashed who he calls ‘east-coast clowns’ over an explosive proposed shake-up of the GST carve-up.<\/p>\n “What’s Victoria doing? They’ve destroyed the whole gas industry down there, the mining sector.<\/p>\n “These states cannot rely on other states to prop them up.”<\/p>\n Senator Hanson now endorses the deal, despite her own state complaining the carve-up was broken and that Queenslanders were being dudded.<\/p>\n “For years, Queensland has been denied its fair share. This report proves it,” Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki said on Friday.<\/p>\n Close relationship with Rinehart<\/p>\n The change of heart appears to coincide with Senator Hanson’s increasingly close relationship with billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart, who is born and bred in WA, where the GST is a very big deal.<\/p>\n Gina Rinehart (left), with Pauline Hanson, has become One Nation’s biggest backer. (ABC News: Baz Ruddick)<\/p>\n![\"Gina](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786999147_888_60b288ca9d1eec9785ff22b0a6f5c70f.jpeg\")
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![\"Anthony](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/a64f69a9d1fe1a510b32ba7709933d7f.jpeg\")
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