When I was in Canberra as a senate adviser, I could not help noticing how disinterested Liberal and Labor senators were in sticking up for WA.
When the federal GST distribution to WA was at its lowest, the Productivity Commission investigated the matter. There was no collaboration of WA senators to try for a better deal for our state. Only 2 of the 12 WA senators actively pushed for reform, Peter Georgiou (One Nation) and Dean Smith (Liberal).
Suffice to say, there was no will to get a good deal for our state, the very reason the senate exists. If you are a senator for the Liberal or Labor parties in Canberra, it does your career no good to be sticking up for WA. They are outnumbered 6 to 1 by other state senators of their parties
Who quite like the arrangement of WA being the national cash cow.
For this reason, we desperately need independent senators from a strong WA based party in Canberra.
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