Barnett won't budge on National's deal
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Barnett says Nationals voters would want the party to support the Liberals. (ABC)
The Liberal Leader, Colin Barnett said he will not agree to the National Party's $700 million Royalties for Regions proposal, even though agreement could deliver him Government.
The state election result remains undecided, both major parties have won 24 seats each in a hung parliament, with the Nationals holding the balance of power.
The Nationals Leader Brendon Grylls said he will support whichever party endorses his plan to earmark a quarter of the state's mining and petroleum royalties for regional W-A.
Mr Barnett hopes to form a coalition with the National Party, but the Nationals say that is not the best option for the regions.
Mr Barnett said Nationals voters and supporters would want the party to support the Liberals.
"The royalties raised by the mining industry in this state are very significant, but because of the equalisation, so-called, done under the Federal-State relations, Western Australia only actually keeps about a net 10 per cent of the royalties, so there is no 700-million dollars lying around. "
Mr Grylls says he will push forward with the proposal, and is prepared to negotiate with both parties to deliver the best outcome for regional Western Australia.
"Once we've put that on the table and seen some agreement from either Labor or Liberal then we can discuss the mechanics of how we put that together, but at the moment, neither of the major parties have shown any interest in that policy, we look forward to the discussion going forward."
