Australia
Pauline Hanson shifts stance to back WA on GST carve-up
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has reversed her position to support Western Australia's share of the national GST pool.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has shifted her stance on the distribution of the Goods and Services Tax, now offering her support to Western Australia. According to wire reports, this marks a significant turnaround from her previous public statements on the controversial funding formula.
The shift comes three years after Senator Hanson openly criticised the arrangement. At the time, she singled out Western Australia, claiming the state received a "huge benefit" from the GST carve-up, which has long been a point of friction between Australian states and territories.
The details surrounding Senator Hanson's sudden change of heart remain limited. Wire reports did not specify the exact reasons for her shift in policy, nor is it yet clear what prompted the timing of her new alignment with Western Australia's interests. One Nation has not publicly detailed any specific conditions or policy platforms attached to this updated position.
The GST distribution formula remains a highly sensitive political issue across Australia. Other states have frequently argued that Western Australia receives an unfair share under the current deal, which was legislated by the federal coalition government in 2018 to guarantee a minimum return to the resource-rich state.
While Senator Hanson's new-found backing will be welcomed by Western Australian advocates, it is not yet confirmed how this shift will influence her party's broader legislative strategy in the federal parliament.
Political observers will now be watching to see how other states react to her policy shift ahead of the next federal election.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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