The Coalition has tied itself in knots over their position on changes to the GST distribution.
Tony Abbott today tried to use weasel words to cover up his plans for the redistribution of the GST, which would have the effect of ripping away money from smaller states like Tasmania and South Australia.
"Madam Speaker, in Question Time today the Prime Minister accused me of wanting to rip off the people of Tasmania. I want to make it crystal clear that in respect of GST allocations Tasmania will not be worse off under any future Coalition Government."
[House of Representatives, 13 March 2013]
This is despite his earlier statements backing a rethink of the GST distribution:
"I think that it does seem quite unfair that the people of Western Australia get so little back for the GST revenue that they provide to the rest of the country. I think that what ought to be very seriously considered by the government right now is the proposal that all the Liberal states have put up, that the GST revenue should be distributed on what is closer to a per capita arrangement. This is the unified position of the Coalition premiers. I think it makes a lot of sense."
Doorstop, 1 May 2012
Mr Abbott's deputy, Julie Bishop, made a similar attempt to cover up her plans to take money away from the smaller states:
"Yes in Question Time today the Prime Minister maintained that I had insisted on a per capita basis for the GST, I have never made such claim, not ever."
[House of Representatives, 13 March 2013]
This is despite her earlier comments only days ago that a Coalition Government would revisit the distribution of the GST:
"Tony Abbott has said he will work with Colin Barnett on this matter, and we'll look at it should we get into Government.
[Meet The Press, 10 March 2013]
And of course, Tasmanian Senator Eric Abetz confirmed two days ago that the Liberals would consider a per capita distribution of the GST that would take money away from his own state:
"... what Tony Abbott has said is that he is willing to consider a closer arrangement to a per capita... so not a per capita basis, but closer to..."
[11 March 2013]
The Coalition have tied themselves in knots trying to hide their plans for the GST. They need to come clean with the people of states like Tasmania and South Australia and tell them how much money they intend to rip away if they are elected to Government.