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There is growing uncertainty that a crucial report on the future of the GST carve-up will not be released before the end of June. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had originally assured Australians that the Productivity Commission’s report on potential changes to the way GST revenues are distributed to the states would be released publicly by June 30. But it is now understood the pivotal document may not see the light of day until July, with the so-called Super Saturday of byelections looming ever closer. The ramifications of the report are shaping to be enormous for the future direction of Tasmania, as any changes to the GST system could see the state lose up to $367 million in the 2021-22 financial year alone. GST represents Tasmania’s single biggest source of revenue. The PC report is believed to contain a number of recommendations around how the GST distribution model might be improved. Western Australia has agitated for a revamp of the GST carve-up, feeling it has been dudded as a result of the current horizontal fiscal equalisation model.

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