Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) head of tax Michael Croker and Deloitte partner John Nguyen were named as new members of the expert advisory panel on whistleblower protections.
In addition, Professor AJ Brown of Griffith University and Associate Professor Dr David Chaikin of the University of Sydney Business School have also joined the panel, which is chaired by the Treasury.
They join existing panel members including senior government agency representatives, academics and practitioners with expertise in tax law, corporations law, governance and whistleblower protections generally.
The Minister for Revenue and Financial Services, Kelly O'Dwyer, also released the terms of reference for panel, requiring it to review and comment upon draft legislation which the government expects to introduce this calendar year.
The draft legislation will establish whistleblower protections for people who disclose information about tax avoidance and other breaches of tax laws administered by the Commissioner of Taxation and will strengthen existing corporate whistleblower protections under statutes administered by ASIC and APRA.
“The Turnbull government is determined to get the whistleblower settings right,” Ms O’Dwyer said.
“We need a strong legal framework that gives whistleblowers the confidence to make disclosures; encourages larger companies to develop whistleblower policies and internal frameworks; provides effective redress to those who suffer reprisals as a result of blowing the whistle; and enables regulators and law enforcement agencies to act quickly and decisively upon whistleblower reports.”
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