{
  "id": 834021,
  "title": "Albanese and Chalmers given escape plan from 'costly mistake' of WA GST deal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/albanese-and-chalmers-given-escape-plan-from-costly-mistake-of-wa-gst",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-14T04:00:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-14/albanese-and-chalmers-given-escape-plan-from-costly-wa-gst-deal/107038112"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The interim report from the Productivity Commission has called the Western Australia GST deal a costly mistake, recommending its scrapping. The deal, struck by Treasurer Scott Morrison eight years ago, has cost the federal budget $23 billion in its first six years, $22 billion of which went to Western Australia. The commission identified the deal as worsening state inequality and suggested alternatives to appease the state without scrapping the agreement entirely. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not yet commented on specific recommendations, but New South Wales Treasurer Daniel Mookhey described the deal as an expensive failure. Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki called the system unfair and detrimental. Victorian Treasurer Colin Brooks agreed with the findings, and South Australian Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis suggested a genuinely fairer system. Jim Chalmers, as the next Finance Minister, faces a decision: defend a broken system or support his home state and the national interest.",
  "summary": "The Productivity Commission finds the WA GST deal is a \"costly mistake\" that has led to \"perverse\" outcomes, and recommends it be scrapped.",
  "key_points": [
    "Western Australia GST deal deemed costly mistake by Productivity Commission",
    "Deal cost federal budget $23 billion in first six years",
    "Jim Chalmers faces decision on future of the agreement"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The report clears the way for the federal government to reconsider the Western Australia GST deal without appearing to renege on an agreement, potentially letting Albanese and Chalmers sidestep a costly political mistake.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}