Robert Carling writes that distributing goods and services tax (GST) revenue fairly among the Australian states is always a challenging task because GST revenue is a finite amount. He contends that distribution has become particularly daunting of late because the political leaders of Western Australia have made a point of highlighting to voters what they believe to be inequities in the distribution system. Carling describes the process as a “circus of intergovernmental relations” in which “the federal government always has to act as ringmaster if anything is to be achieved.” Read more here.
