THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review into the effectiveness of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Bill 2020. The bill review was requested by the Minister for Home Affairs in a letter to the Committee available here.

The Bill amends the compulsory questioning framework in the ASIO Act by:

• enabling ASIO’s continued use of questioning warrants, but removing its ability to use questioning and detention warrants;
• replacing the existing detention framework with a more limited apprehension framework; 
• enabling the use of questioning warrants in relation to espionage, politically motivated violence (including terrorism) and acts of foreign interference; 
• providing the power for a police officer to conduct a search of a person who is apprehended in connection with a questioning warrant; and
• permitting ASIO to seek a questioning warrant in relation to minors aged 14 to 18 years old, but only where the minor is themselves the target of an ASIO investigation in relation to politically motivated violence 

The Committee requests submissions to the inquiry by Friday June 26, 2020.

Prospective submitters are advised that any submission to the Committee’s inquiry must be prepared solely for the inquiry and should not be published prior to being accepted by the Committee.

Further information about making a submission to a committee inquiry can be found at the following link.

Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the Committee’s website.

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THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit will be holding a public hearing for its Inquiry into Cyber Resilience, based on Auditor-General’s Report No. 13 (2019-20), Implementation of the My Health Record System, and Report No. 1 (2019-20), Cyber Resilience of Government Business Enterprises and Corporate Commonwealth Entities.

The public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19..

The Committee will also be holding public hearings for its Inquiry into the Defence Major Projects report, Auditor-General’s Report No. 19 (2018-19), and Auditor-General’s Report No. 22 (2019–20), Future Submarine Program—Transition to Design.

The public hearings are scheduled for the following dates:

-       Wednesday, May 20, which will consider in detail Auditor-General’s Report No. 22 (2019-20) and related matters

-      Wednesday, May 27, which will examine Auditor-General’s Report No. 19 (2019-20) and related matters

Further information about the inquiry is available on the Committee’s website.

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The Australian Taxpayers' Alliance today released a policy paper outlining five proposals for economic recovery in a post-COVID-19 Australia.

The ATA recommends:

1. Deregulation: Use cuts to red tape as a fiscal stimulus to jump-start the economy post-COVID-19.
2. Decentralisation of Power: Shrink the government back to its original size and put more power into the hands of the Australian people.
3. Taxation: Implement structural tax reform and get rid of government waste caused by inefficient and costly taxes.
4. Domestic Economy: Promote local manufacturing by making Australia globally competitive, not by instituting protectionism policies.
5. Superannuation: Keep the increased superannuation flexibility and give Australians more power over their retirement savings.

"Through this plan, we aim to identify waste so that the government can contain the deficit -- without increasing the burden on taxpayers or harming the economy," ATA policy director, Emilie Dye said.

“Policymakers can use this crisis to pinpoint weaknesses in Australia's tax and regulatory systems and then use the current momentum to push real structural reforms.

"Australian politicians have a choice: they can tax more, regulate more, and otherwise expand their powers, or they can use this disaster to restructure our tax and regulatory codes and put more power in the hands of the people.

"COVID-19 has disrupted people's lives, the economy, and government coffers in ways no one could have predicted. Policymakers have had to institute dramatic changes. But as we ease back into normalcy, we cannot become compliant,” said Ms Dye. “An overly authoritarian government and a dangerous debt still threaten the Australian public. Australian politicians need to make smart reforms now.”

[Read the full policy here]

Emilie Dye commented on each policy point: 

Deregulation: Use cuts to red tape as a fiscal stimulus to jump-start the economy post-COVID-19

“Cutting red tape can act as one of the most effective forms of fiscal stimulus. By reducing regulation, we can cut costs for both businesses and taxpayers.

“Regulation is the kryptonite of innovation. Businesses need all the strength they can get to recover from this crisis, and our government agencies need to focus all their resources on recovery.

“COVID-19 has revealed regulations Australia doesn't need, like restrictions on operating hours and redundant licenses that do not make consumers any safer. The state and territory government would be stepping backwards if they were to reinstate these archaic restrictions.”

Decentralisation of Power: Shrink the government back to its original size and put more power into the hands of the Australian people

“Australians have lost many of their fundamental rights during this crisis, and the state police departments have collected millions in fees for their governments. With on the spot fines and judge only trials, Australians have been treated like criminals who need to prove their innocence.

“We need to return to being a society that treats people as innocent until proven guilty. Australian's deserve to have their voices heard both in Parliament and in the courtroom.”

Taxation: Implement structural tax reform and get rid of government waste caused by inefficient and costly taxes

“Over the years, Australia has collected a cocktail of taxes, some of which are toxic to the economy. By cutting wasteful and inefficient taxes like the stamp duty, payroll tax, and the corporate tax, the government could spur economic growth and increase the tax take in other areas.

“To contain the debt, the government doesn't need to tax more; it needs to tax smarter.”

Domestic Economy: Promote local manufacturing by making Australia globally competitive, not by instituting protectionism policies

“COVID-19 uncovered the corpse of our manufacturing industry. Australia faced painful supply chain shortages that showed our nation's over-dependence on China.

“Instead of arguing for policies that would supposedly ‘protect’ Australian industry from foreign competition, we should make Australia globally competitive. Australian businesses don't have a fighting chance against foreign corporations, because we have handicapped ourselves with high taxes, unnecessary regulations, and inefficient bureaucracies.”

Superannuation: Keep the increased superannuation flexibility and give Australians more power over their retirement savings

“We can walk away from COVID-19 with a healthier, more resilient Australia, or the government can rigidly attempt to manage the lives and finances of every Australian. It's time we gave Australians power over and access to their own superannuation funds.

“Only individual Australians know best how to save and spend their own hard-earned money. Scott Morrison has temporarily allowed Australians to access up to $10,000 of their super tax-free. Let's make that change permanent.”

About the ATA

The Australian Taxpayers' Alliance is the nation’s largest grassroots advocacy group representing the everyday Australian taxpayer. Through our campaigns, we fight to oppose over-regulation, wasteful spending and burdensome taxes. ATA's mission is to transform our nation and build a better, freer, and more prosperous Australia.

www.taxpayers.org.au

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MANY EXPATS are likely to face “unexpected tax complications” because of the lockdown restrictions, warns the CEO of one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory and services organisations.

The warning from Nigel Green, chief executive and founder of deVere Group, which operates in 100 countries globally, comes as many nations around the world are beginning to ease the measures put in place to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

Mr Green said, “Many expats, and others who live outside their countries of origin, have found themselves stuck in other countries where they don’t normally reside due to the widespread lockdown measures, the closure of national borders, and almost no commercial flights.

“And despite the easing of some restrictions in some places, the current situation might not change for a while yet, especially due to the situation in the aviation and wider travel sector.

“People stranded in different jurisdictions could find that their residency status changes," Mr Green said. "Being stuck somewhere you hadn’t planned to be for an extended period of time could mean that you inadvertently become a tax resident there.  

“This could impact your tax planning strategies which, in turn, could affect other personal finance matters including retirement planning, estate planning and trusts. 

“The potential for unexpected tax complications is high, especially as each jurisdiction has its own individual regimes and regulations when it comes to cross-border tax planning.  Also because it is widely predicted that taxes are expected to rise.

“Those who feel they might be affected should seek expert cross-border financial advice sooner rather than later to mitigate any nasty surprises.”

Despite some reports to the contrary, the deVere Group CEO affirms that it is not just the very wealthy who could be hit by the impact of lockdowns on tax positions.

“There’s potential for a significant number of those who live and work or retire outside their country of origin.

“Typically there will be a series of legitimate solutions to reduce being hit with tax complications.  But to avoid burdensome, complex and costly issues arising, the sooner those who could be impacted seek advice, the better.”

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