MATT TINNEY:
Joining us now live on Sunrise in Perth is Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Treasurer, good morning to you. Who in WA will get a smaller cut than under Scott Morrison's plan?
JIM CHALMERS:
Good morning, Matt, from the banks of the Swan River, another stunning morning here in Perth. Thanks for having me on your show. What the numbers that we've released today show that more than eight in ten people will get a bigger tax cut. But, the good news is that every single WA taxpayer will get a tax cut under our cost‑of‑living tax cut plan, but more than eight in ten will get a bigger tax cut. We recognise that in WA, the average income is a bit higher than the rest of Australia. That's a good thing. And the average tax cut is a bit higher as well. This is all about ensuring that the workers of WA can earn more and keep more of what they earn. It means more help for more people with these cost‑of‑living pressures that we know people are under.
TINNEY:
But who's going to get a smaller cut?
CHALMERS:
Well, everyone's going to get a tax cut. Every taxpayer is going to get a tax cut, but obviously fewer in two in ten will get a tax cut which is smaller than what was legislated five years ago, but more than eight in ten will get a bigger tax cut. Every taxpayer gets a tax cut. This is all about ensuring people can earn more and keep more of what they earn, so that we can help people with these cost‑of‑living pressures that we know people are under.
TINNEY:
Now to the WA nickel crisis, Federal Cabinet has been deliberating a rescue package for the ailing industry. What's the outcome of those discussions?
CHALMERS:
Well, I think we all understand and appreciate that the nickel industry is really important for WA, but really important for the national economy, for our supply chains, for the energy transformation. And so, we have been engaging with Premier Cook and Treasurer Saffioti, I've been personally engaging with the companies and peak organisations, and already we've added nickel to the critical minerals list so that can access more funding. That's in recognition of the pressure that the industry is under. And we are actively considering what, if anything, we can do in addition to that, to help what is a really important industry. Nickel is a crucial, crucial part of the future of our energy system, the future of our state and national economy. We know that, and that's why we're engaging with everyone who's got an interest in finding a way through here.
TINNEY:
Just quickly, on the GST, the Prime Minister signed a reporter's arm yesterday, pledging to keep WA's GST or deal as it is. Will that stop your state counterparts from knocking on your door and trying to get a slice of our GST?
CHALMERS:
Look, they're always knocking on the door and that's fine by me. But we've made it clear our commitment to the GST deal. We've got a good arrangement, the PM and I – he signs the arms, I sign the cheques. We've brought the big dollars to WA and including today, we'll be making another big announcement on defence and all of this, whether it's the GST deal, the commitment to continuous shipbuilding at Henderson, we are big believers in the future of WA, and the billions of dollars that we're investing here reflects that.
TINNEY:
All right. Good to see you in WA this morning. Thank you, Treasurer.
CHALMERS:
Thanks so much, Matt. All the best.