ATO leaving tax money on the table
Angus Grigg: There's one number the ATO does not like to talk about. It's called collectible debt.
Karen Payne: Around the time we were looking it was about $34 billion.
Angus Grigg: Karen Payne is a former Inspector General of Taxation. The figure she mentioned has now grown to almost $53 billion. That's undisputed money owed to the ATO, which it has failed to collect.
Karen Payne: It's a big number and if you bring that number back into the revenue then that means hopefully less taxes that everybody else has to pay. It's in all of our interests that the debts get collected.
Angus Grigg: More worrying for Karen Payne is that this number has more than doubled over six years.
Karen Payne: The fact that it keeps rising is troubling.
Angus Grigg: The ATO collects hundreds of billions of dollars of our taxes every year, but despite its scale is subject to little oversight. This is a long held frustration for Senator Barbara Pocock.
Barbara Pocock: There's a lot that happens behind the closed door of the ATO that isn't open to scrutiny for us as average citizens and taxpayers.
Angus Grigg: The ATO tells us it's doing a stellar job, even as the scandals mount and evolve. Two years ago the ATO reported $2 billion was stolen in a GST scam that became known as the TikTok fraud.
News report: The ATO is blaming influencers on TikTok for promoting the scam.
Angus Grigg: New details uncovered by Four Corners show the ATO was warned its fraud detection systems were badly lacking. Ali Noroozi is a former Inspector General of Taxation.
Ali Noroozi: There have certainly been on notice that their risk assessment tools could do better.
Angus Grigg: Not only did the ATO fail to heed this warning, just two months before the GST scam blew up in mid-2021, it downgraded the fraud risk from severe to low.
Ali Noroozi: So given any kind of fraud really, you need to take it seriously. You need to act on those early warning signs.
Angus Grigg: Of the $2 billion stolen in the TikTok scam, just 8%, or $160 million, has been recovered. And of the 57,000 people who took advantage of it, just 122 have been convicted. The ATO says GST fraud is not widespread and the majority of businesses are doing the right thing. Karen Payne says we should all care about tax administration because it funds essential services.
Karen Payne: That allows the government to fund the services that we all benefit from. So health, defence, security, infrastructure. So it's a pretty key part of our democracy.
Rachel Mealey: The former Inspector General of Taxation, Karen Payne, ending Angus Grigg's report. And you can catch Four Corners tonight at 8.30 on ABC1.
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News.com.au
7 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘We were the common enemy': Racing Victoria chief Aaron Morrison chats about his first-year challenges and what the future holds for the state
Aaron Morrison walked into a furnace, as instability reigned then 'common enemy' Racing Victoria. The newly-appointed RV chief executive in late September last year, less than two months officially in the hot seat, faced agitated Victorian racing stakeholders in the boardroom at Epsom Rd. Their passion resonated with Morrison despite initial angry and frustration-charged spicy exchanges. 'I really saw the raw emotion on display from people,' Morrison told the Herald Sun in an exclusive wide-ranging interview after 12 months in the top job. 'It's fair enough and it's helpful for me and my team and my directors to understand it. 'What we do directly impacts peoples' livelihoods, it's not a hobby. They're all in, fully invested.' The meeting last year, ironically to discuss ramifications of a matter beyond RV control – Australian Black Type Guidelines – inspired evolution. Morrison scheduled quarterly roundtables to discuss racing matters with those most affected. 'A real lesson and education (first meeting) in the importance of consulting and understanding the impacts from a real raw and personal perspective,' Morrison said. 'It made me absolutely committed to making sure we consult on big issues … we're all about the stakeholders, the people that have everything invested in the game, their blood, sweat and tears. 'They're the people we're trying to look after and deliver outcomes for now, but also make sure they are sustainable and their businesses continue to thrive and survive in the next five to 10 years.' Morrison was appointed interim chief executive last year in May after the resignation of predecessor Andrew Jones. RV survived an 'uncomfortable' board spill and proceeded to revamp the executive administration. 'Racing Victoria was the common enemy of all the stakeholders (at the time),' Morrison said. 'While we had a vote in our favour, at the end of the day, it was still a very uncomfortable time. 'I'd like to think, now, we're not the common enemy.' Morrison traded in passion, long before any professional and executive pursuits. His late grandfather Ernie, a North Melbourne diehard, operated a bottle recycling shop in Kensington, a convenient front for his side hustle, as pencil-man for an illegal starting-price bookmaker. Punters could drop off the empties and put on sneaky bets in one trip. Morrison's passions for racing and North Melbourne started in Kensington. The temperature has 'cooled a bit' – on racing matters, unfortunately not the beleaguered Kangaroos – with 'a good amount of respect' upheld in recent Epsom Rd forums. 'We've got a lot of experience across the industry and it would be silly for us not to be drawing upon that,' Morrison said. Transparency has allowed RV to flag potential ideas, changes and reasons for same. RV had come under scrutiny in the past for racing decisions without real consultation. 'It was pretty obvious that was the number one issue,' Morrison said. 'We'd lost confidence of our stakeholders … managed to steady the ship through consultation and engagement … get feedback on whether an approach is something they support or don't support. 'Clearly you're never going to get a single consensus view, nothing's changed in terms of that. 'You can't please everyone. 'Most often, you're definitely not pleasing everyone but if you can go some way towards including everyone in your decision-making process … they feel included and are generally supportive. 'I think they have confidence we know what we're doing – we're doing it for the right reasons.' SKIN IN THE GAME Morrison has interest in eight horses currently, including Jason Warren-trained Pakenham debut winner Keep Thinking and multiple with Cranbourne horseman Robbie Griffiths. 'I've got the photos of every one of their first wins, four or five up there now,' Morrison said. 'I haven't had any Group success or major success, just for the fun of it, racing with mates. 'It's one of those roles (work in racing) you fall in love and want to get involved any way you can.' THE FUTURE Morrison has focused on the strengths of Victorian racing overall – from grassroots to elite level – to drive the industry forward. 'I don't think it's a case of revolution, it's more evolution,' Morrison said. 'Levering the strengths of what we've got in Victorian racing. 'We want to get racing back up there again as a top-tier sport in front of a mainstream audience as it was in the heyday, we've got an opportunity to really push that. 'I don't sit here and say we've got something completely disruptive going forward, it's really building on all the things that make us already successful and continuing to be good at what we do. 'We are the number one racing jurisdiction in Australia, with the highest quality racing, participants, infrastructure and closest links with our communities. 'We have come under threat at times from others trying to compete for a share of the limelight and we got to address that and continue to do well at what we do already. 'In the past I think we got a little bit fixated about worrying what NSW were doing, and they're going to continue growing their jurisdiction. 'We just need to worry about what we're doing and make sure we remain the best at what we do. 'We are genuinely investing back into grow the sport and look after our participants … all we need to worry about. 'If we do all those things and take care of that, we'll continue to be the number one jurisdiction and continue to be successful, I don't think we need to over-complicate things.' THE MEDIA Victoria has the broadest media distribution of any Australian racing jurisdiction – a cornerstone for success. Wagering turnover, the lifeblood of the industry, is about 15-20 per cent higher than any other state and Morrison largely attributed the position to Victorian racing aired nationwide on multiple platforms. Other states largely rely on subscription television, Sky Racing and Thoroughbred Central. Victoria has a presence on Sky but also daily free-to-air coverage on (Channel 78), which includes races from South Australia and Western Australia. 'We also have arrangements with all the WSPs (wagering service providers) for streaming and we're on Kayo,' Morrison said. 'We're the only ones on Kayo and will be the only ones on Kayo going forward.' Morrison is focused on investment in media assets and partnerships to reach wider audiences and create 'a whole army of advocates for racing'. He staunchly refuted commentary or suggestions RV media assets haemorrhaged money. 'I'm aware of those statements being pushed around and I just disagree with them,' Morrison said. 'We generate a positive EBITDA from the media businesses alone, about $17 or $18m. 'We also pay out media rights to the clubs, about $35m a year … generated from our media assets. 'If you were looking at it as a stand-alone business, it's actually a profitable business.' THE WAGERING Morrison said the wagering turnover slide post-pandemic has flattened out a bit. 'The outlook at the moment, is for year-on-year to be flat, which would be a reasonably heroic assumption compared to the evidence of the last couple of years,' Morrison said. Wagering turnover soared to a $9.2bn 'high watermark' during Covid but retreated to $7.6bn since – still above the $7.3bn pre-pandemic level. THE RADIO Morrison declared the recent sale of RSN 927 to the Sports Entertainment Network (SEN) 'a no-brainer' for the Victorian racing industry. RSN largely survived on about $2m in annual shareholder contributions – from RV, Harness Racing Victoria and Greyhound Racing Victoria. SEN takes control of the station from September 1. 'Hutchy has got the ability, willingness and desire to invest and to grow,' Morrison said. 'It's a good deal, we're getting paid for the assets ($3.25m over three years) and we keep a bunch of assets (transmitters and property) worth a lot of money.' Morrison moved to clarify the $7.5m valuation the Victorian racing industry paid in 2021 to outbid SEN at the time and retain RSN. He said price doubled as financial assistance to racing clubs in need of cash during the pandemic. RV, who previously owned 70 per cent of RSN, tried to make the station 'work better as part of our broader media business' but ultimately decided on the 'better opportunity' to partner with SEN. 'You can't really compare those numbers (2021 valuation),' Morrison said. 'We've been paid for the assets, we're keeping assets worth several million and we no longer have a couple of million dollars a year in operating costs for at least the next six years. 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News.com.au
7 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Lithium might be back but the ride will be wild
There's been some violent gyrations in lithium markets over the past couple of weeks but sentiment appears to be turning. Liontown Resources (ASX:LTR) managing director Tony Ottaviano pointed out on Tuesday that spodumene futures had surged by US$60 per tonne on Friday but then dropped by US$50/t on Monday. 'Notwithstanding that, we've seen some green shoots in the past two weeks,' he said. Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS) managing director Dale Henderson is cautiously optimistic. 'There are signs the lithium winter may be lifting, but it's early in this change,' he said yesterday. 'The lithium market has long been marked by volatility, with prices prone to sharp and sometimes counterintuitive swings. 'The volatility is not incidental. It reflects a still nascent market with limited liquidity, few futures mechanisms and undeveloped trading infrastructure. Pricing remains inefficient. 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Shanghai Metals Market's baseline forecast for August was a 300 tonne surplus, but it suggested even limited disruptions could reduce monthly supply by 2000-2500t. In the case of moderate disruption, meaning a temporary suspension of Jiangxi mines, the impact would be 8000-10,000t in August, easing to 5000t a month by the December quarter. If mines are completely shut down, it forecasts a 10,000t impact to supply in August, escalating to 14,000t a month by the end of the year. 'Now, we remain cautiously optimistic but continue to monitor whether the flagged supply side adjustments will eventuate,' Henderson said. Picking the bottom Joe Lowry, the US-based founder of advisory Global Lithium, believes the lithium winter has ended. 'I believe the market has bottomed and we've started the next cycle,' he said in a video posted to X. IGO boss Ivan Vella yesterday seemed less convinced, commenting on the unseasonably cold winter in Perth this year and comparing it to the lithium winter. 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ABC News
7 minutes ago
- ABC News
Councillors facing abuse say police won't act unless there's a death threat
A growing number of local government elected officials in Victoria are being threatened, abused and harassed online and in person. But councillors say unless there is a "lynch mob" at their door threatening to kill them they have no protection and no way to make it stop. Last year, Latrobe City councillor Tracie Lund made multiple appeals to Victoria Police, WorkSafe, the Local Government Inspectorate, the eSafety Commissioner, and the courts following what she described as a "relentless" campaign of harassment from members of the public. Cr Lund said she was repeatedly told the content was either non-threatening due to its online nature, "not prosecutable", or simply "political dialogue". "Every time I tried to escalate things for my physical and mental safety, I was told, 'You're a public profile. This is part of democracy,'" Cr Lund told the ABC. "The more help I sought, the more of a target I became. "There's been narrative around putting me in the ground … all I could do was capture it and hope like hell it didn't escalate offline." Her comments mirror the experiences of other councillors around Victoria. The ABC spoke to 22 councillors from 14 Victorian councils who reported similar roadblocks trying to enlist help from social media platforms and monitors, local government oversight bodies, law enforcement agencies, and the courts to protect them from abusive residents. Multiple councillors said they had acted on police advice and applied for intervention orders, only to have them rejected by the courts. They said it did not matter if the abuse came from anonymous online accounts, community members, or fellow councillors, or took place online, over the phone, via email, or in person. The advice they received was consistent: "ignore it", "don't poke the beast", "lay low", and keep a "journal". One councillor echoed the fears of many: "It would have to take somebody coming onto my property to call the police," she said. "I have a fear there's going to be a knock on the door and I open it and there's a lynch mob. "And then what do I do, call triple-0 and say there's a group of constituents at my door?" A statewide survey by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA) found more than 80 per cent of Victorian councillors in the 2020-24 term had experienced threatening or intimidating behaviour. Almost two-thirds of those reported bullying and non-sexual harassment, and nearly half said abuse and intimidation from members of the public had worsened since they were elected. VLGA chief executive Kathryn Arndt said the statewide survey of Victoria's 606 councillors was the first formal dataset on the treatment of local government officials. "The state government needs to reflect that they have a responsibility to local government." Victoria Police would not comment on the number of abuse allegations it received from councillors, or its ability to resource investigations. They said all questions about protection of councillors should be sent to local government. A Victorian government spokesperson said all threats or criminal activity should continue to be referred to Victoria Police. Earlier this year, a Melbourne councillor called the police to report a text message he had received from a resident allegedly saying, "There is nowhere in this nation you can hide from me". The resident posted a screenshot of the message on social media with the hashtags #RunBitch and #BigBadWolfComingForYou. The councillor was allegedly advised by police that unless the resident explicitly threatened them or they were already at their house, there was nothing authorities could do. That councillor said it took two weeks of repeated text messages from the resident, four trips to the police station, and the involvement of a senior detective before authorities took the threat seriously and applied for an intervention order on his behalf. Stories like these are consistent across the state. In Melbourne's south, Kingston councillor Hadi Saab was in a restaurant when a man pointed a finger at his chest and called him a "f***ing disgusting woke clown" and a "smiling monkey" taking over Australia by "stealth". Cr Saab, who is of Arabian heritage, said those slurs were pulled "word for word" from content posted online. In Melbourne's south west, Hobsons Bay Deputy Mayor Rayane Hawli said a resident called her a Lebanese terrorist during a doorknock campaign and said, "I know what you're doing" because they had read about her online. In regional Victoria, a councillor received a text message from a resident saying they wanted to shoot them in the head for being a "f***ing f****t". Pictures of their car and home were published on social media, prompting them to pay for a security assessment, which recommended two large trees be removed from their front yard because they posed an ambush risk. Memes of that councillor's partner doctored to make them appear dressed in pink Nazi uniforms were also circulated online amid baseless allegations that they both supported paedophilia. In May this year, Central Victoria's Hepburn Shire reached boiling point. Mayor Don Henderson called urgent meetings with Local Government Minister Nick Staikos, Victorian Police Minister Anthony Carbine and local authorities in an attempt to tackle the "concerning rise" of councillor abuse. He co-wrote a letter to Mr Staikos calling on the state government to introduce legislation that offered better online protections and support for councillors and council staff. Cr Henderson blamed online community groups and forums for spikes in aggressive behaviour, alleging they were a lightning rod for disaffected residents. A spokesperson for the eSafety Commission said that in order to prompt an investigation, content had to meet the legal definition of "adult cyber abuse", which included realistic threats and content that put a person in physical danger. Councillors subjected to abuse told the ABC, the lack of protection from authorities meant their only option was a costly one — to take their alleged abusers to court. Last month, Stonnington Mayor Melina Sehr spent more than $100,000 in legal fees getting an intervention order against the head of the statewide pro-ratepayer group, Council Watch. Victoria Police made the initial intervention order application but withdrew, citing a lack of resources and claiming Council Watch's content targeting Cr Sehr was "political in nature". A magistrate ruled the opposite, finding Council Watch's president Dean Hurlston had stalked and harassed Cr Sehr for years under the guise of political discourse via online posts and communications. While the court found many of Mr Hurlston's posts, texts, emails and videos were genuine political commentary, it found that the nature, frequency and persistence of Mr Hurlston's communication had caused it to "lose its political character". The magistrate pointed to multiple examples of Mr Hurlston pairing genuine criticism with personal attacks, including one instance in which he accused Cr Sehr of financial impropriety alongside a "pretty personal attack" that alleged the councillor had weaponised the death of her mother for political gains. Intervention orders are a civil matter and Mr Hurlston, who denies any wrongdoing, has not been charged with any offence and is appealing the two-year order. Cr Sehr said, although she was "incredibly relieved", it would take her a long time to return to her old self and routines, given how long the harassment had been allowed to continue. Former journalist and ex-City of Melbourne councillor Stephen Mayne said councillors needed a union to protect them from people who "continually rip into" them. Currently, institutional peak bodies such as the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) or the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) are responsible for oversight of local government, but they represent councils, not councillors. Mr Mayne said a councillors' union would plug that gap and serve as a third-party body to stop the growing movement of anti-government conspiracy theories, pile-ons, and abuse. He said until that happened, good councillors would continue to be "kicked" and stalked, while those perpetuating the abuse would continue to gain traction and end up being elected to council.
