ACT loses $550 million in GST after population undercounted by Census
The ACT lost $550 million in GST revenue after the census undercounted the territory's population by 5.2 per cent.
Medicare address records are used between censuses to forecast population growth. This forecast sets how much GST each state and territory gets.
Canberra's population was significantly undercounted. This cost roughly $4000 per resident in lost federal funding.
The error has tripled at each of the past three censuses. The ACT Government is considering requiring residents to update their Medicare addresses.
It could require this at services like driver licence renewals. But it hopes the Commonwealth will instead set up a simpler fix.
Treasurer Chris Steel said the government cannot sustain services. It gets no revenue for this population.
- $550 million
- Lost GST revenue
- 5.2 per cent
- Population undercount
- $4000
- Lost per resident
- Tripled at each of past three censuses
- Error growth rate
Why it mattersThis directly hits ACT services and funding. Lost GST revenue roughly doubles in flow-on costs. This affects money for schools, hospitals and infrastructure.
