Urban, CGC and PC

Comments on Peter Urban “Simplified GST sharing formula is simply wrong”, 18/11/2010, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/simplified-gst-sharing-formula-is-simply-wrong/story-e6frg6zo-1225955199371
While I am not in the position to comment on the validity of Urban's arguments on the issues of the CGC assessments, his recommendation of splitting the CGC and having the productivity commission to do the main reviews assumes that the PC is good at everything and is better positioned than the CGC to do those.

Unfortunately, that is a big, critical yet untested assumption.

It is interesting to note but difficult to understand why the PC could be good at everything and better than others that are engaged in their specialties.

It would be a much better approach to specify clearly what the governments want in the terms of reference given to the CGC for its reviews.