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Tuesday, 10 February 2004
Page: 24207

(Question No. 1896)


Mr Murphy asked the Treasurer, upon notice, on 26 May 2003:

(1)  Is he aware of a letter sent by the NSW Bar Association to the Commissioner of Taxation dated 16 December 2002 titled `Tax-delinquent Barristers and Statutory Secrecy' (Reference 01/120).

(2)  Did paragraph 21 of that letter ask the questions: (a) “how was it possible for such delinquency to continue so long”, and (b) “does our system impose excessive requirements of secrecy in relation to taxation affairs”.

(3)  Has the Taxation Commissioner responded to these questions; if so, what was his response; if not, why not, and when will he respond.

(4)  What action is he taking to address the serious policy failure identified by the two questions posed by the NSW Bar Association to the Taxation Commissioner.


Mr Costello —The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1)  to (3) The Commissioner has responded to the letter but it is inappropriate to go into the terms of the response.

(4)  Refer to Commissioner of Taxation's Annual Report 2002-03.