Productivity Commission expresses anger when West Australia premier labelled them ‘east coast clowns’ over goods and services tax

The Productivity Commission has condemned attacks on its integrity as “unacceptable” after its assessment of Western Australia’s sweetheart goods and services tax deal as a costly mistake sparked a fierce political backlash and name-calling.

Angela Jackson, a productivity commissioner and co-author of the report, said the country’s leading independent economic advisory body welcomed criticism and comments on its work. But Jackson then said comments from Roger Cook, the Western Australian premier, lampooning the commission as “east coast clowns” and describing the report as deceitful had “crossed a line”.

The commission was asked to review the 2018 legislation put in place under the Morrison government. Their interim report found that the 2018 legislation had achieved none of its objectives, made the system less fair and had funnelled an extra $23bn in taxpayer money to the nation’s richest state.

As Jim Chalmers, the treasurer, defended the “good people” at the commission and chided the WA Labor leader for his “inappropriate” language, Jackson said “we are used to public debate”.