Western Australia's GST wins, Israel death penalty for West Bank, and mapping the wilderness

This episode of Late Night Live explores three major global and domestic issues. First, it examines the controversial $60 billion Western Australian GST deal, a political compromise initiated by Scott Morrison in 2014 that guarantees WA a cap on its GST contributions while ensuring no other state is worse off. Despite being financially unsustainable and politically entrenched, the deal remains unchallenged due to WA’s growing federal influence under the Albanese government. The segment, featuring economics correspondent Shane Wright, highlights systemic flaws in Australia’s horizontal fiscal equalisation system, including opaque definitions that cost New South Wales $200 million in one change alone. Second, the program turns to Israel’s newly passed law mandating the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis in military courts—while exempting Israeli settlers who commit similar acts. Palestinian activist Mustafa Bargoti condemns the law as fascist and apartheid-like, emphasizing the stark double standard and the lack of accountability for settler violence. He warns the law will fuel resistance rather than deter it. Finally, the episode concludes with a deep dive into Australia’s wilderness, where researchers led by Professor James Watson have mapped the country’s remaining wild spaces for the first time in 40 years. The map reveals that 30% of Australia remains wilderness, though 20% has been lost since the last survey, primarily due to mining and development. Despite conservation commitments like '30 by 30', political will to protect these areas remains weak, with development often winning out over ecological preservation. The episode ends on a note of cautious hope, emphasizing the importance of data-driven conservation and Indigenous stewardship.