Save Search

Note: Where available, the PDF/Word icon below is provided to view the complete and fully formatted document
 Download Current HansardDownload Current Hansard    View Or Save XMLView/Save XML

Previous Fragment    Next Fragment
Wednesday, 20 June 2001
Page: 24782


Senator MURRAY (5:20 PM) —I would like to indulge the committee first, if I may, with a general question to the minister. You would be alerted to the fact through my minority report on the consideration of the bill that I am particularly concerned with the area exposed by Ernst and Young and the United Distillers and Vintners on revenue leakage, particularly with regard to those items supposedly exported but which are actually used for domestic consumption. You did refer to it in your second reading speech but my question to you is: could you indicate at least in broad terms whether either the Customs department or the tax office or both are following up the allegations made in their public submissions by witnesses and referred to in both the majority and the minority reports? You did clearly indicate to us that the government is taking this matter seriously. If it is, my assumption is that there is an inquiry under way—an investigation—and in due course there will be a report. If you could perhaps give some additional information, apart from that which you gave in your second reading, that would be useful.