Good afternoon, and happy Friday.
The controversial Morrison-era GST deal with Western Australia has been criticised by the Productivity Commission, which says it was a costly mistake that should be reversed and that tens of billions of dollars of taxpayer money has since gone to the country’s richest state.
An interim report from a PC review of the deal said the reform – requested by WA and implemented under the former Morrison government with Labor’s support – had achieved almost none of its objectives and made the system less equitable.
A commissioner at the Productivity Commission laid out a scenario where, if there was a devastating bushfire in New South Wales, it could still mean WA would receive more GST revenue – for a natural disaster it didn’t have.
The Albanese government, however, shows no signs it is backing away from the agreement, and based on budget forecasts the total cost of the deal will reach $60bn by 2029-30.
Top news
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Johnny Young, host and creator of Young Talent Time, dies aged 79
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North Sydney pool closed and drained a week after much-hyped reopening following $122m overhaul
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‘TikTok wouldn’t open at all’: Taiwan simulates an internet blackout, with an eye on China threat
In pictures
Australia has been galvanised by “melon-gate”. And while Anthony Albanese is facing scrutiny over his comments – and hand gestures – the fruit in question has received less attention. So what is the luxury fruit at the centre of the PM’s controversy?
What they said …
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“I will not sadly be attending the count.” – Nigel Farage
Voting has closed, and Nigel Farage has won a decisive – but arguably empty victory – in Clacton against dozens of independent, fringe, extreme or otherwise oddball opponents. But the Reform UK leader said he would not attend the byelection count after advice from Essex police about a plot to embarrass him on stage during the announcement of the result.
The victory comes as Farage is being investigated by the parliamentary standards watchdog over allegations he failed to declare gifts and donations, including a £5m gift from the crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, first revealed by the Guardian.
Australian Politics podcast
Ask me anything: ‘melon-gate’, One Nation’s media ban and the PM’s ambition
Tom McIlroy, Krishani Dhanji, Josh Butler and Sarah Basford Canales, from Guardian Australia’s Canberra bureau, answer questions from listeners and readers.
Before bed read
Nicole Kidman has opened up about her divorce from Keith Urban and reflected on her marriage to Tom Cruise, saying she was warned being his wife would overshadow her career. “Suddenly I was 22, 23 years old and I had this huge movie star husband,” she said. “But it just seemed completely natural. We just fell madly in love and it was that simple. I remember people saying to me, ‘OK, well this is really going to affect your career.’ I’m like, ‘I don’t care. I’m in love. I want to be married.’”
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: RUST. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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