Anthony Albanese’s ‘red army’ of MPs in Western Australia told to put WA first amid GST fight

Anthony Albanese’s WA “red army” is being told to put their State first, as a massive GST fight, changes to penalty rates and debate over new environmental laws loom large over his Government’s second term.

But also in focus will be how the confident Prime Minister and his party handle the cut and thrust of Parliament with a slimmed-down Opposition, led by Sussan Ley.

Pundits and parliamentary watchers will be keeping a close eye on how Labor’s frontbench strongmen line up to attack the Opposition, with suggestions since the election the Government may find it more difficult to attack Ms Ley than her predecessor, Peter Dutton.

A record number of WA Labor MPs are heading to Canberra this weekend in preparation for Tuesday’s opening of Parliament. Unexpected wins in Moore and Bullwinkel, where Tom French and Trish Cook beat their Liberal opponents, sees Mr Albanese’s 94 members in the 150-seat House of Representatives include 11 West Australians.

Four Liberals and Curtin Teal MP Kate Chaney will also be part of the WA contingent in Canberra.

Fresh from a week-long visit to China, Mr Albanese’s top Parliamentary priorities are expected to include legislation to cut student debt by 20 per cent and strengthening the regulation of the childcare industry as key post-election priorities.

And it will also be a test for new Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, who will likely use one of her first face-offs in Question Time to quiz the Prime Minister about a leaked Treasury report which casts doubt on a Federal target of 1.2 million new homes over five years, and to drill down on mooted tax hikes.

The report warned the Budget cannot be repaired with raising taxes and slashing spending, and said Mr Albanese’s election promise to build 1.2 million homes across Australia would not be met.

Business is also protesting the penalty rate changes, which will have measures to enshrine overtime and other perks to keep them from forming part of overall pay rates.

But WA MPs will be faced with big decisions on issues important to the people who voted them into office.

A recent survey of nearly 1000 West Australians by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA gives a strong hint as to what Sandgropers believe their MPs need to stand up for this term.

With a Productivity Commission review of a 2018 GST deal — which saw WA’s GST take raised from 30¢ in the dollar to no less than 75¢ — due in 2026, West Australians are worried billions in GST receipts are at risk.

More than three in five West Australians said they were concerned about a potential reduction in the State’s GST share.

“Without that deal in 2018, WA would be getting back just 18¢ for every $1 we pay in GST, or around $6 billion less than with the 75¢ floor in this financial year alone,” CCIWA acting co-chief executive Aaron Morey said.

“That would hamstring WA from developing the infrastructure we need to continue to power the national economy.”

Premier Roger Cook this week backed the Albanese Government not to dud WA on the GST.

“While eastern state whingers won’t stop coming for WA’s fair share of the GST, I know Anthony Albanese and his Cabinet has WA’s back and will ensure our State receives its fair share of the GST,” Mr Cook said.

Western Australians made it clear at the election: they want a party that backs them.

But concerns remain the Commonwealth’s debt-laden budget will put pressure on the Government to re-visit the deal, and in turn put pressure on Labor solidarity — on show last year when WA Senator Fatima Payman publicly spoke out against the party’s stance on the Middle East conflict, resulting in her resignation to sit as an independent.

Notre Dame Professor of Politics and International Relations Martin Drum said West Australians would expect that “the representatives they send to Canberra stick up for their State”.

“I’d expect that every time the Prime Minister comes to WA, local MPs are in his ear about the importance of holding the line on this issue,” Professor Drum said. “That said, it would be politically disastrous of the government to consider any change to the GST, which saw WA disadvantaged.”

WA has two representatives in the Albanese Cabinet: Resources Minister Madeleine King and Small Business Minister Anne Aly.

Perth MP Patrick Gorman, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, said he and his colleagues were well aware of the importance for WA of maintaining the 2028 GST deal.

“Our WA team are proud members of the Albanese Government and will continue to work together to ensure WA’s fair share of GST and the economic policies that will deliver a more productive WA economy,” he told The Sunday Times.

“Western Australians made it clear at the election: they want a party that backs them.”

But Senator Michaelia Cash — the most senior WA Liberal in Sussan Ley’s shadow cabinet — is not so sure WA Labor MPs will break ranks and fight the government on behalf of their State.

She said elected WA Labor members and senators “should remember who sent them to Canberra”.

“The first test for the Labor WA team will come at the Treasurer’s so called reform summit where no doubt WA’s fair share of the GST will come under attack,” Senator Cash said. “They need to make sure WA’s hard-fought win on GST under the former Coalition Government is not wound back.”

Senator Cash said proposed new environment laws were also vitally important to WA.

“I’ll be watching closely where Labor goes with its so-called nature positive laws,” she said.

Curtin MP Kate Chaney said she needed no reminders of the need to put the local community first.

“As it was in my first term, my absolute priority will be the concerns and values of the Curtin community,” she said.

Ms Chaney said new environmental laws were of vital importance to WA.

“As we transition our economy for future prosperity in a decarbonising world, we urgently need to fix our ineffective, unworkable national environment laws.”