Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I am speaking in continuation on the Tax Laws Amendment (Implementation of the Common Reporting Standard) Bill 2015. I did digress a little before the start of question time. We were discussing the fact that this is more work that has been done by the parliament, and by all political parties, to try to progress the issue of tax transparency and multinational tax avoidance, and to provide the ATO, the Australian Taxation Office, with better laws and information to tackle the problem. I was congratulating Labor for being constructive and working with the government and the Greens to deliver something on multinational tax avoidance.

I did not get a chance to talk to the amendments that Labor will be putting to the chamber in the committee stage, but I will leave that until then. I commend Labor for putting up amendments, although earlier they voted some Greens amendments down on the principle that we did not follow due process, which I find very interesting considering they were excellent amendments. We worked hard with tax transparency stakeholders to try to improve that legislation, and there was nothing particularly controversial about it.

I would also like to take this opportunity to especially thank the tax transparency network, who I know have worked with Labor to develop the amendments that we are going to hear about shortly. I also congratulate Dr Andrew Leigh's office on the work that they have done in helping to present these amendments. The Greens will be supporting the bill. Of course, we support the intention of the bill to provide new laws and powers to the Australian Taxation Office to help crack down on multinational tax avoidance. We will be working constructively and as adults, supporting the amendments, which improve this legislation and actually deliver an outcome for Australians on multinational tax avoidance. Good on you, Labor, for doing something constructive on this issue.

(Quorum formed)