Australia news live: WA premier’s ‘east coast clowns’ barb was unacceptable, Spender says; value of Japan’s melon gifts to PM revealed

The Guardian reports that Australia's Productivity Commission is standing by its interim report on the GST, which called the special deal with Western Australia a costly mistake. That comes after Western Australia's premier, Roger Cook, dismissed critics as 'east coast clowns' and warned that changes would rip six billion dollars from the state's economy. Commissioner Angela Jackson told ABC Radio that while debate and criticism are welcome, attacking the commission's integrity goes too far. She insisted the process will not be influenced by the prime minister's comments, and that the commission remains above politics.

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