Oh it does not. Take GST division. WA is now getting back about 38 cents in every dollar it collects leaving a massive state budget deficit. States like South A

Oh it does not. Take GST division. WA is now getting back about 38 cents in every dollar it collects leaving a massive state budget deficit. States like South Australia get back $1.20 or more. Why? Because when the GST was introduced WA'S resource income was counted... During an unprecedented resources boom that has since collapsed. You know what doesn't get counted? Poker machine income, which is substantial in the three Eastern states. Can it be changed? Technically, yes. Practically is incredibly difficult because no one wants to give up revenue and politicians are worried it'll be electoral suicide, which it may well be. The fact that the government has proposed anything at all, however anemic, is kinda amazing.