House of Representatives Committees

Standing Committee on Economics, Finance and Public Administration

Review of the ANAO audit report No.37 1998-99 on the management of Tax File Numbers

Media alert: 25 August 2000

HOUSE ECONOMICS COMMITTEE RELEASES REVIEW INTO TFNs

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics, Finance and Public Administration will release its report on the Tax File Number system this Monday 28 August 2000. The report, Numbers on the Run, focuses on the way in which the Australian Tax Office manages it Tax File Number system and data. Following the tabling of this report in Parliament at 12.50pm, the House Economics Committee will hold a media conference to discuss the findings of the report and the 26 recommendations.

Media Conference:
Numbers on the Run report launch by the House Economics Committee
When: Monday 28 August, 1.30pm 2pm [after tabling]
Where:Committee Room 2R2, Parliament House, Canberra.

Copies of the Report, Numbers on the Run, will be available from 12.50pm, Monday 28 August, in the Media Conference Venue, 2R2.

'The starting point for this inquiry into the management of Tax File Numbers was the Auditor-General's finding that $460 million in revenue was not being collected by the Tax Office,' House Economics Committee Chairman, David Hawker, explained. 'The weaknesses and inefficiencies we found in the Tax Office system, and the flow-on effects to other areas of government administration, make this $460 million a conservative estimate.'

For 15 years the Auditor-General and parliamentary inquiries have found shortcomings in the quality of ATO's data and systems. Numbers on the Run reinforces the significant problems identified in the Auditor-General's 1999 performance audit of the Tax File Number system.

'TFN data and systems are the basic building blocks of our tax revenue system', Mr Hawker said. 'High quality data and systems are crucial to ensuring the integrity of the administration of taxation, income support, superannuation and employment generally. The operation of the Australian Business Number is also dependent on the quality of TFN data and systems. It is vital that the Tax Office focus on getting the TFN basics right.'

For media comment contact:
David Hawker MP, House Economics Committee Chairman, 02 6277 4837, Parliament House

For further information contact:
Melissa Stutsel, Inquiry Secretary, on 02 6277 4587, EMail: EFPA.Reps@aph.gov.au
Sally Webster, House of Representatives Media Adviser, on 02 6277 2063 or 0401 143 724

For background information on the Tax File Number inquiry visit:
http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/efpa/