Business News Releases

Auditing the ATO

THETax and Revenue Committee will meet today with the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) at a public hearing for the inquiry into taxpayer engagement with Australia’s taxation system.

Committee Chair Mr Kevin Hogan MP said the ANAO conducts audits of all Commonwealth entities, companies and their subsidiaries. 

“The Auditor-General not only ensures that each agency’s financial statements fairly reflect the entity’s operation and financial position, but it also reviews the entity’s governance structures for internal audit and fraud control”, Mr Hogan said.

At the hearing, the acting Deputy Auditor-General and staff will discuss forthcoming audits and the results of recent ANAO evaluations of the Australian Taxation Office’s capabilities and strategies to reduce the cash economy and its administration of the Superannuation Guarantee.

Mr Hogan said that, in the wake of a major tax fraud being investigated by the ATO and Australian Federal Police, the Committee will also consider the robustness of ATO regulatory powers and practices to identify black economy traders and collect revenue due as payments systems go electronic.

“The Committee will be keen to hear ANAO opinions about the effectiveness of the ATO’s risk management frameworks for identifying non-compliance, and the challenges posed by the proliferation of digital payment platforms offering global real-time 24/7 payment transfers, not offered by banks”, Mr Hogan said.

Public Hearing details: 4:15pm – 5:30pm, Wednesday 24 May, Committee Room 1R2, Parliament House, Canberra

The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website. 

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Driverless vehicles inquiry in Canberra today

THIS MORNING in Canberra, the Parliamentary Industry, Innovation, Science and Resources Committee continues its driverless vehicles inquiry by hearing from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), the Australasian College of Road Safety and the ARC Robotic Futures Research Team.

Committee Chair Michelle Landry MP pointed out that safety issues are central to discussions of driverless vehicles.

“The Committee is looking forward to hearing from two of Australia’s key safety organisations”, Ms Landry said. “Following that session, the Committee will be able to discuss some of the many interesting questions about driverless vehicles raised in the submission from the Robotic Futures Research Team”.

The Committee has recently travelled to Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane for hearings and inspections, and will hold further hearings with key stakeholders in Canberra in May and June.

Public hearing details: 10.45am – 12.15pm, Wednesday 24 May, Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra

10.45 – 11.30am: Australasian New Car Assessment Program & Australasian College of Road Safety
11.30am – 12.15pm: ARC Robotic Futures Research Team
12.15pm: Close

The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website. 

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Australia Post and the Federal Government partner to improve digital services

AUSTRALIA Post will partner with the Federal Government to develop user-friendly solutions for the public to access government's digital services.

Australia Post will work with the Digital Transformation Agency to integrate its own identity technology into the Commonwealth's Digital Identity Framework.

The partnership will focus on developing a proof of concept to help government agencies enhance how they provide access to services online and over the counter.

Australia Post Managing Director & Group CEO Ahmed Fahour said the partnership reinforces Australia Post's commitment to helping people connect to important government services such as health and community services.

"Our new Digital iD™ platform provides Australians with greater choice and control in how they prove their identity online," Mr Fahour said.

Mr Fahour said there are millions of interactions with government and private sector organisations each year that are time consuming, requiring people to produce at least two or more forms of ID to prove who they are.  

"Our research shows these processes cost the Australian economy up to $11 billion a year in proving identity alone, and can be unlocked by making it easy, safe and secure to prove that you are who you say you are when interacting online," Mr Fahour added.

"We envisage an identity solution, like Digital iD™, could unlock significant benefits for everyday Australians doing business with government."

The Commonwealth's Digital Identity Framework is a set of standards, processes and partnerships to guide the Government's formation of a federated system of identity providers.

www.auspost.com.au

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Government looks to review measurement labelling laws

THE Australian Government has responded to industry calls to cut red tape around product packaging regulations, with options to change measurement marking placement rules released for public consultation.

Under national trade measurement regulations, markings showing the product’s exact weight or volume must currently appear on the front of packaged products.

The government is seeking feedback on options for reform, including the option allowing the marking to be placed anywhere on products, as part of wider regulatory reforms in this area.

Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Craig Laundy invited Australians to have their say on the options paper released today.

“Businesses have told us that the current regulations are too prescriptive and need to be reviewed, and that’s what we are doing,” Mr Laundy said.

“By exploring ways to make it easier for business to operate, while maintaining the checks and balances that the public expect from government, we can start to make a real difference.

“We also know that consumers want safeguards in place to ensure they are getting value for money. This review is a detailed, transparent process to plot the best path forward for both industry and consumers.”

The review is part of the Australian Government’s deregulation agenda and will investigate options including alignment of these regulations with other Australian labelling frameworks. 

The Options Paper is available for feedback until 30 June 2017.

Submissions can be made via https://consult.industry.gov.au/packaging-review-team/review-of-the-nmi-regulations-2009-p4

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2017 Australia's Digital Pulse Report to be released at CeBIT by ACS

THE Australian Computer Society (ACS), the professional association for Australia’s ICT sector, is launching the 2017 Australia’s Digital Pulse Report, prepared by Deloitte Access Economics, on Wednesday, May 24 during the CeBIT Conferencefrom 5pm to 7pm at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Darling Harbour, Sydney. 

The contribution of digital technologies to the Australian economy is forecast to grow from $79 billion in 2014 to $139 billion in 2020. 

This years’ Digital Pulse Report highlights the latest data, insights and megatrends on key issues in Australia’s ICT industry and digital economy, including ICT jobs growth, Australia’s ICT skills shift, cybersecurity and the economic policies needed to support and accelerate Australia’s digital transition. 

The event will discuss the Report’s major themes, and feature a panel discussion with influential voicesincluding, Angus Taylor MP, Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation, John O’Mahony, Deloitte Access Economics, NickO’Donnell, Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs, LinkedIn Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, and Michelle Price, Chief Operating Officer, Australian Cyber Security Growth Network. 

The event is held during the CeBIT Conference.  

Event details: 

What:             ACS Australia’s Digital Pulse Report 2017 Launch

When:             Wednesday, 24 May 2017

Time:              5.00pm – 7.00pm

                      Registration opens 5pm, followed by pre-drinks and canapés from 5pm – 6pm

                                    Launch of Digital Pulse 2017 starts at 6pm

Venue:                        ICC, Main Showroom Floor, 14 Darling St, Sydney, NSW 2009

Speakers:       Andrew Johnson – ACS CEO

                      Anthony Wong – ACS President

                      John O’Mahony – Partner Deloitte Access Economics

                      Nick O’Donnell – Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs, LinkedIn Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia

                     Angus Taylor MP – Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation (video link)

                     Michelle Price – Chief Operating Officer, Australian Cyber Security Growth Network

 

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