David Leyonhjelm (NSW, Liberal Democratic Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the and the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Cormann. The government has announced that it will provide more taxpayers' funds to the states via the GST fund. The government has not taken the advice of the Liberal Democrats to stop all transfers from the Commonwealth to the states, which would help fund massive income tax cuts, prompt the states to manage their spending and make each level of government accountable for its own actions. Can the government confirm that its $9 billion announcement this week will cost each and every Australian $360 of extra tax or extra debt? Will the government admit that there is no longer any semblance of a link between GST revenue raised and the amount of money shovelled to the states, proving that federal financial relations are a shambles?