Australia: Hold-out premiers refuse to hand over GST income
THE three hold-out premiers were last night refusing to hand over 30 per cent of their GST despite an extra $1.2 billion sweetener from Kevin Rudd.
The NSW, Victoria and Western Australia premiers said negotiations yesterday on the Prime Minister's health reform package had been productive but they warned they would not part with their GST funds.
NSW Premier Kristina Keneally emerged from yesterday's preliminary discussions to say she remained opposed to handing over GST revenue.
"NSW won't sign up to a plan that disadvantages our taxpayers," Ms Keneally said at the Coalition of Australian Governments summit in Canberra.
Source: The Australian
