Save
Call for investor favourites to face tax crackdown
The Australian government is facing increasing pressure to crack down on tax havens, after reports have surfaced that more than $1 billion in mining profits was allegedly shifted out of Africa in just one year.
Call for investor favourites to face tax crackdown
The Australian government is facing increasing pressure to crack down on tax havens, after reports have surfaced that more than $1 billion in mining profits was allegedly shifted out of Africa in just one year.
Information in a report from Oxfam, the United Church and the Tax Justice Network Australia – Buried treasure – has revealed that mining giants are “secretly moving money” by not publishing enough tax information for anyone to understand their tax payments and practices around the world.
According to Oxfam Australia’s chief executive, Dr Helen Szoke, Australian mining is just one aspect of an “enormous” global problem.
“Our research showed that in Ghana, Perseus Mining has not paid a cent in corporate tax to the Ghanaian government since it began operating the Edikan gold mine in the small, impoverished town of Ayanfuri in 2011 – despite an annual turnover of $250 million in most years of operation,” said Dr Szoke.
The report said that $1.1 billion in profits may have been shifted out of Africa by Australian mining companies using tax havens, which saw them avoid paying $289 million to some of the world’s poorest countries.
“To put this in context, the estimated nearly $300 million lost in 2015 through the unethical tax practices of Australian mining companies is almost seven times the total cost of national malaria control programs in nine of the poorest countries across sub-Saharan Africa,” Dr Szoke highlighted.
The spokesman for the Tax Justice Network Australia, Mark Zirnsak, has called on the government to crack down on these tax havens.
“Australian mining companies rarely reveal enough tax data for the public to easily understand their full global tax practices, and the handful that do primarily do so in response to laws changing in countries other than Australia,” he said.
With the estimated tax avoidance by the Australian mining sector in Africa just one part of what Mr Zirnsak called a global problem, he said “this is simply not good enough”.
“It is time for Australian companies to lead the way on transparency and the government to act to bring an end to this scourge.”
The report did praise countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union, for initiating tougher laws and requirements for companies, citing their demand for greater transparency around what is being taxed by companies and where.
The organisations behind the report considered Australia as “laggard” when it comes to global mandatory tax transparency.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About the author
About the author
Tax saving
How are Australians planning on spending their tax savings?
Essential bills, savings accounts, Christmas gifts and exchange-traded funds appear to be the big winners from the latest round of tax cuts, new research has revealed. ...Read more
Tax saving
First in the world: SA imposes EV tax
The South Australian government is the first government in the world to introduce an electronic vehicles tax following an announcement by the treasury. ...Read more
Tax saving
5 tips as tax deadline looms
Australians are being warned that they have just two weeks left to get their finances in order if they have not posted a tax return yet. ...Read more
Tax saving
ATO warns businesses of JobKeeper scam
The ATO is warning the community about a JobKeeper scam which is asking members to enter personal information. ...Read more
Tax saving
Why fast-tracking tax cuts won’t stimulate the economy
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has flagged that previously legislated tax cuts could be moved forward in a bid to help stimulate the Australian economy. ...Read more
Tax saving
Last-minute items to check off before 30 June
With the end of the financial year almost here, an accounting firm has outlined key changes with tax returns this year and flagged some last-minute tax strategies to consider before 30 June. ...Read more
Tax saving
Australia’s richest owe the Tax Office $772m
Australia’s elites and private companies fell $772 million in taxes due to miscalculations and deliberate tax avoidance, the Australian Taxation Office has revealed. ...Read more
Tax saving
Do you have to pay taxes on a trust?
Trusts are usually set up for business, estate planning and investment purposes to separate the legal and beneficial ownership of assets held within the structure. ...Read more
Tax saving
How are Australians planning on spending their tax savings?
Essential bills, savings accounts, Christmas gifts and exchange-traded funds appear to be the big winners from the latest round of tax cuts, new research has revealed. ...Read more
Tax saving
First in the world: SA imposes EV tax
The South Australian government is the first government in the world to introduce an electronic vehicles tax following an announcement by the treasury. ...Read more
Tax saving
5 tips as tax deadline looms
Australians are being warned that they have just two weeks left to get their finances in order if they have not posted a tax return yet. ...Read more
Tax saving
ATO warns businesses of JobKeeper scam
The ATO is warning the community about a JobKeeper scam which is asking members to enter personal information. ...Read more
Tax saving
Why fast-tracking tax cuts won’t stimulate the economy
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has flagged that previously legislated tax cuts could be moved forward in a bid to help stimulate the Australian economy. ...Read more
Tax saving
Last-minute items to check off before 30 June
With the end of the financial year almost here, an accounting firm has outlined key changes with tax returns this year and flagged some last-minute tax strategies to consider before 30 June. ...Read more
Tax saving
Australia’s richest owe the Tax Office $772m
Australia’s elites and private companies fell $772 million in taxes due to miscalculations and deliberate tax avoidance, the Australian Taxation Office has revealed. ...Read more
Tax saving
Do you have to pay taxes on a trust?
Trusts are usually set up for business, estate planning and investment purposes to separate the legal and beneficial ownership of assets held within the structure. ...Read more
More articles
Website Notifications
Get notifications in real-time for staying up to date with content that matters to you.
