Now is not a time to be trading insults, said Shadow Treasurer Mike Baird in response to Treasurer Eric Roozendaal’s conduct over the proposed GST carve-up.

“Forget the name-calling and chest-beating – this issue is far too important for the Rees Labor Government to denigrate to that level,” Mr Baird said.

“I implore the Treasurer to get down to the real detail of securing every taxpayer dollar that NSW deserves.

“The NSW Liberal/Nationals have long argued NSW gets ripped off by the GST arrangements and Barry O’Farrell and I will continue to fight for a better deal.

“We have heard a lot from Nathan Rees and Eric Roozendaal about a new federalism delivering a better deal for NSW, however clearly it’s all spin.

“NSW is at risk of losing $900 million a year and all the Treasurer can do is engage in a war of words.

“NSW taxpayers deserve more action from Eric Roozendaal than childish references to Queensland and Western Australia.

“It’s time the incompetent Rees Labor Government stopped trading insults and lobbied Kevin Rudd and Wayne Swan for a fair GST for NSW.

“All of us want Eric Roozendaal to deliver on this and the NSW Liberal/Nationals are willing to work with the Government to secure these funds.

“However, given the Rees Labor Government’s record of incompetence in dealing with the Federal Government, it appears Mr Roozendaal is buttering up the public for failure,” Mr Baird said.

Senior treasury officials debated the Commonwealth Grants Commission’s proposed changes to the GST formula yesterday.

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