News

In an announcement by the Assistant Treasurer, Senator Nick Sherry, the Australian School of Taxation (Atax) in the Faculty of Law, was named as the only University to be appointed to the Federal Government’s Tax Design Advisory Panel.

The establishment of the Panel, which comprises thirteen organisations, stems from a recommendation made in an earlier review of Government tax design and review processes which called for an increase in the use of external experts, including at the initial policy design stage.

“This is a major enhancement to the design of tax policy, formalising industry consultation as a vital early ingredient in the tax design process,” the Assistant Treasurer said.

“The Panel will complement the resources available within Treasury and the Tax Office by providing ready access to some of the best private sector brains in the field.”

Head of School, Associate Professor Margaret McKerchar, said that the announcement by the Assistant Treasurer confirmed the very high reputation and expertise of Atax staff.

“This really is a great achievement for Atax and keeps us right out there as the leading tax school in Australia,” she said.

Also named on the Panel with Atax are five accounting firms, five law firms and two economic research and modelling houses.

Press Release by Assistant Treasurer, Senator Nick Sherry (19 October 2009).