Fired up about WA’s GST

One Nation party leader, Pauline Hanson and Senator Peter Georgiou have wrapped up a tour of the Pilbara by firing parting shots at WA’s share of GST.

The pair started their regional tour in Karratha before making their way to Cloudbreak mine and Port Hedland to gather information about the issues affecting residents.

Mr Georgiou, the One Nation senator for WA said a fair share of GST was constantly raised by locals.

“Unfortunately I’m the only senator from WA speaking up about it,” he said. “We are being ripped off here in WA because we commit so much to the national economy and our fair share needs to be sorted out sooner rather than later. Make a system for everybody in Australia which encourages States to invest, such as in the Pilbara.”

Ms Hanson said some of the Eastern States were closing their major industries and allowing WA to “prop them up” to the detriment of the State.

“I believe it’s not fair, I’ve made that quite clear — I’m not saying rip it out of Queensland but other States are getting quite a bit back from it,” she said.

“They don’t contribute to it and they shut down their main industries — Tasmania is a case in point. They allowed the greenies to shut down their timber industry and they expect the rest of the country to prop them up. For me it’s a hands-on approach.

“We actually now have a good understanding with what the Pilbara brings to the economy, the money from mining, the employment that it brings to WA.”

“The trouble is a lot of members of Parliament and senators don’t get out to these communities — they are led by bureaucrats or minority groups.”