Mr Murphy asked the Treasurer, upon notice, on 2 December 2003:

(1) Further to the answer to question No. 1886 (Hansard, 15 September 2003, 19412), what action is he taking to make more uniform and certain the taxation law's punitive provisions for failure to lodge tax returns, particularly in respect of defaulting legal practitioners.

(2) What action is he taking with the NSW Bar Association to coordinate the exercise of the disciplinary provisions available to it under the Legal Profession Act (NSW) with the punitive provisions available to the Commissioner of Taxation under taxation law and, if no action is being taken, why not.

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

(1) Refer to the joint news releases R048/2003 and R049/2003 of 16 December 2003 between the Attorney General, the Hon Philip Ruddock, and the Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer, Senator the Hon Helen Coonan.

(2) Refer to the Commissioner of Taxation's Annual Report for 2002-03.