WA’s Special Deal: Fair Reward or Billion‑Dollar Rort?
From The Economy, Stupid by ABC Australia
February 26, 2026 · 30 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the implications of Western Australia's special funding deal and whether it is justified.
What happens when the nation’s wealthiest state gets extra funding on top of a needs‑based system? Since 2019, Western Australia has received a special billion‑dollar boost that no other state gets, and now the deal is under review. WA wants it to stay. The rest of the country is paying for it. So is the arrangement justified, or overdue for a rethink? Guests: Saul Eslake, Economic consultant and former chief economist for ANZ and Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Australia Matt McKenzie, Economics writer for The West Australian
People in this episode
Guests: Saul Eslake, Matt McKenzie
Topics covered
- funding
- economics
- state funding
- Western Australia
- government policy
Keywords
- Western Australia
- funding deal
- economic consultant
- billion-dollar boost
- needs-based system
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: ANZ, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Places: Western Australia, Australia
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