Corporate tax secrecy
Corporate tax secrecy just reached a new level of farce.
It turns out the Senate was successfully lobbied to support corporate tax secrecy laws by a families institute that represented no families.1
Everyone is entitled to express their views, but they shouldn't be allowed to hide or misrepresent who they're speaking for through faceless groups.
It just so happens this "institute" was set up just days after the legislation was introduced, by people who represent some of the richest private companies in Australia, and clearly want their tax secrets to stay secret. But the senators didn't know that (and didn't ask).
The senators say they're "embarrased", but that's not good enough - we need answers and we need to make sure that our democracy isn't hijacked like this again.
Ask the Senate Committee Chair to investigate shadowy groups that represent no one.
References
[1] The 'institute' with no members embarrasses Senate committee, Sydney Morning Herald, 8 November 2015
It turns out the Senate was successfully lobbied to support corporate tax secrecy laws by a families institute that represented no families.1
Everyone is entitled to express their views, but they shouldn't be allowed to hide or misrepresent who they're speaking for through faceless groups.
It just so happens this "institute" was set up just days after the legislation was introduced, by people who represent some of the richest private companies in Australia, and clearly want their tax secrets to stay secret. But the senators didn't know that (and didn't ask).
The senators say they're "embarrased", but that's not good enough - we need answers and we need to make sure that our democracy isn't hijacked like this again.
Ask the Senate Committee Chair to investigate shadowy groups that represent no one.
References
[1] The 'institute' with no members embarrasses Senate committee, Sydney Morning Herald, 8 November 2015