THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy is holding a further hearing in Sydney on the prerequisites for nuclear energy in Australia.
The committee will hear from a number of witnesses during the course of the day.
The committee intends to hold further public hearings, which will be announced in due course on the inquiry website: https://www.aph.gov.au/nuclearpower.
THE Queensland Resources Council has welcomed first gas produced from Senex Energy's Project Atlas near Wandoan in the Surat Basin.
QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the achievement from Brisbane-based Senex was testament to the diversity of Queensland's gas industry and getting the State Government's policy settings to promote development of gas in Queensland for Queensland use.
"Queensland has both large and small producers such as Senex supplying gas which allows all gas fields to be developed. Everyone benefits when we develop our gas responsibly," Mr Macfarlane said.
“Gas from Atlas will supply Queensland manufacturers, including CSR, Orora and O-I and coincides with the completion of a pipeline connecting the project to the Wallumbilla gas hub.”
Project Atlas was granted a domestic only supply lease by the Queensland Government in March 2018.
“At the time it was a pilot guarantee for gas for domestic use which avoided the overly prescriptive conditions in a gas reservation policy. Now it's a flagship example of best-practice regulation in action – fast, effective and focussed on outcomes," Mr Macfarlane said.
“This project vindicates the Palaszczuk Government’s decision to release land specifically for developing gas for the domestic market but sadly Queensland continues to do all the heavy lifting to provide extra gas for the eastern Australian market.”
THE Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) has commended the Federal Government for reconfirming its commitment to ease the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) penalty regime by reintroducing a Bill for a one-off amnesty for historical SG underpayments.
“With increased transparency around when employers make SG contributions on behalf of employees thanks to Single Touch Payroll (STP), it is an opportune time for employers to make good any outstanding SG liability without the full draconian penalty regime applying, which acts as a disincentive in coming forward,” said IPA chief executive officer, Andrew Conway.
“We fully support the extended amnesty as it gives employers who wish to be compliant the opportunity to make good past underpayments and we encourage all Parliamentary parties to support the measure.
“The Opposition previously did not support the amnesty on the basis that employers should not be rewarded for SG non-compliance.
“While any non-payment of this worker entitlement represents wage theft; a practice never to be condoned, the IPA supports this amnesty period as it incentivises employers to come forward and do the right thing by their employees by paying any unpaid superannuation in full.
“We acknowledge that small businesses can sometimes experience cash flow issues, making them vulnerable when it comes to meeting their SG obligations by the required due date. This amnesty gives them time to atone.
“At the end of the day money is been directed into employee’s superannuation accounts with some interest added and that’s a good thing.
“Employers that do not take advantage of the one-off amnesty will face significantly higher penalties if they are subsequently caught. In addition, throughout the amnesty period the ATO will continue its usual enforcement activity against employers.
“We are now urging all parties to support the amnesty and make it happen for employers to make the most of the situation,” said Mr Conway.
***Ends***
About the Institute of Public Accountants
The IPA, formed in 1923, is one of Australia’s three legally recognised professional accounting bodies. In late 2014, the IPA acquired the Institute of Financial Accountants in the UK and formed the IPA Group, with more than 37,000 members and students in over 80 countries. The IPA Group is the largest SME focused accountancy organisation in the world. The IPA is a member of the International Federation of Accountants, the Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board and the Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants.
The bill, introduced to the House of Representatives by Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie, would amend the Commonwealth Electoral Act to require the agent or financial controller of the party, branch or campaigner to advise the electoral commission, within five days, of any donation received by the party, branch or campaigner that meets or exceeds the disclosure threshold of $13,800.
The Committee invites written submissions addressing any or all aspects of the bill.
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.
Submissions are requested by October 21, 2019. 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.
A MAN charged with 106 offences has been sentenced to five years jail today at the Brisbane District Court after it was found that he lodged 62 fraudulent income tax returns, attempting to obtain over $500,000 in refunds.
Between August 2015 and July 2016, Micah Robby Elstak used the aliases Robert Ketting-Oliver and Ryan McCarthy to orchestrate an elaborate online job scam through various companies, ultimately stealing the identities of 52 taxpayers.
After conducting fake interviews over the phone, Mr Elstak would email applicants to confirm they had been successful in their application for the job. He would also request a scanned copy of their driver’s licence, bank account details, tax file number and shirt size.
Mr Elstak used this information to fraudulently create myGov accounts, or if they already had an account, he used the information to take over their account and change the details as required. He would then link the myGov accounts to ATO online services where he would lodge false income tax returns in their names. The resulting refunds were credited to one of 63 bank accounts in his control.
Many of the taxpayers reported the scam after they realised the job didn’t exist.
Internal bank anti-fraud measures, in conjunction with efforts by the ATO and Queensland Police Service, resulted in $378,099 of the $565,895 Mr Elstak claimed being stopped before it reached his bank accounts.
Assistant Commissioner Ian Read welcomed the sentence handed down today.
“As demonstrated today, people who try to cheat the tax system will get caught and we will take firm action, including penalties and criminal prosecution”, Mr Read said.
In light of Stay Smart Online week, Mr Read said that this sentencing serves "as a timely reminder for people to be aware of what you share".
“Never give out your personal identifying information unless you are certain of who you are speaking to. If your TFN (tax file number) or other personal information has been stolen, disclosed to or used by an unauthorised person call our Client Identity Support Centre on 1800 467 033," Mr Read said.
“Remember, your employer will only need details like your TFN and bank account through a TFN declaration form once you commence your employment.
“To protect taxpayers’ information, we are also encouraging myGov users linked to the ATO to update their myGov sign-in options and opt to receive a security code by SMS. It’s a quick and secure way to sign in to access ATO online services.
“You can help stop refund fraud. If you suspect someone of being involved in tax fraud, you should report it," Mr Read said.
Debtset – Bailiff-Sheriff Aust MEMBER Login
How to resolve AdBlock issue?