Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

With respect to Senator Milne, I do not propose to traverse again what occurred in the context of the passage of the MRRT. I think the arguments for and against that amendment were traversed in that debate and I am sure the senator is aware of them. The government's position is as the Treasurer has articulated in this letter to the states, and I would point out that the independent GST review, which is looking at a range of issues, including this issue, noted in its interim report that it was:

… unrealistic for the states to think they can … capture the revenue stream generated by the Commonwealth's undertaking of a significant and challenging reform.

That remains the government's position.