One Nation on the rise / WA State Election thread

[Pies4shaw]

Comparisons with the Federal system aren't relevant. The representation of the States in the Senate is the price of the Federation. At State level, though, it's just a matter of taste.

As to reform, only the Nats are being significantly advantaged by the teensy little electorates and they just became irrelevant. The Libs and the ALP could do this in an instant, if they wanted.

[David]

^ That's true. I just read up on it a little more and was surprised to find that WA is the only state that still has a malapportioned upper house, and that the Liberals have previously tried to fix it. The only question is whether they'd be able to overlook the short-term political benefit of making things hard for Labor.

[Pies4shaw]

^^^ There need not be any short-term political benefit for the ALP - any change would be implemented at some future election and given the volatility of the last two elections, it would be difficult to predict now who such a change might favour in 4 years.

[Skids]

Federal Liberals face wipe-out because of West Australian GST deal

Federal Liberals face a wipe-out at the next election as West Australians turn savagely against the Turnbull Government’s failure to deliver a better GST deal.

https://thewest.com.au/politics/federal-politics/federal-liberals-face-wipe-out-because-of-west-australian-gst-deal-ng-b88417096z

[Pies4shaw]

^^^ That'll be fine - the votes will go the Greens in the city.

[David]

[Skids]

A good question David. But surely, WA needs to get a better deal?

It is unfair.
Across Australia, the GST will give state and territory governments an average of $2370 for every resident next financial year. But the umpire has decided that one will get a lot more, some a bit more, some a bit less – and Western Australia will get just $714 per resident, 30 per cent of the national average.

If Western Australia received its population share of GST revenue (i.e. a GST relativity of 100%), it would receive an additional $4.7 billion in 2016-17 alone.

[David]

So it's basically about how much funding each state government gets allocated, right?

[Pies4shaw]

^^^ It's a matter of fairness, David. It really isn't appropriate for the Government to take money off some people and give it to other people. That's the function of capitalism.

[stui magpie]

[Pies4shaw]

^^^ No, that would be taking money off some people and allocating it according to assessed need. Capitalism is where you just take it off them and give it all to the rich (which is wise because the poor don't know what to do with money, anyway - so it just confuses and worries them, which is heartless).

[stui magpie]

^

You're wasted in corporate/contract law, you should be at MacDonald
Merholme

The Lambo would be great for chasing ambulances

[David]

WA Labor would be breathing a sigh of relief – the Greens have just moved ahead of the Shooters and Fishers in the South West district, meaning that Labor and the Greens are now only one vote shy of a majority in the legislative council. If that situation holds, they'll be able to get legislation through with the help of any one of the Nationals, Shooters and Fishers, Liberal Democrats or One Nation, which at least gives them more options.

[HAL]

I'm not sure if it could.

[Pies4shaw]