The COAG funding arrangements need dragging into the 21st century.
Go to the USA and you will experience very wealthy states like NY, California, median wealthy states like Texas, Florida and poor states like Alaska and many in the mid west.
Our COAG funding arrangements try to level the playing field to benefit all states, even when some contribute far less than others. All this does is encourage mendicancy which is only too obvious. The ACT doesn't contribute a $ to national exports, SA is content to turn it's citizens into cave dwellers with an idiotic adherence to the climate change religion and Tasmania .... well, they won't do anything. It just wants to be an industry free national park.
Time to rejig the funding formula. Mendicant states should be free to become like New Mexico or South Dakota - their choice.
Let those states who create the wealth, keep more of their wealth.
