Background

On 13 May 2008 the Australian Government announced "Australia's future tax system":  a review of Australia's tax system.

The review will look at the current tax system and make recommendations to position Australia to deal with the demographic, social, economic and environmental challenges of the 21st century.

The review will encompass Australian Government and State taxes, except the GST, and interactions with the transfer system.

As part of the review the Australian Government also announced an investigation into measures to strengthen the financial security of seniors, carers and people with disability (the Pension Review).  

The Commonwealth Office for Women has asked NFAW in association with Womenspeak to develop responses to both aspects of this review (retirement income and the future tax system) that will reflect, as far as possible, the views of the women's alliances. All four women's Secretariats funded by the Commonwealth will be involved in this process. 

NFAW will also be encouraging women and women's groups to make separate submissions to the review and to participate in the consultations conducted by the review.

Timing of submissions

The submissions time-frame is short, with the final report due to be delivered to the Treasurer in December 2009.  The first submission is due by 27 February 2009 and the second submission is due by 30 April 2009.  

Australia's Future Tax System:  Retirement income Consultation Paper - responses due by 27 February 2009.

Australia's Future Tax System Consultation Paper - responses due by 30 April 2009. 

Our approach

Given the tight timeframes and the extensive work involved in communicating complex material in a way that is accessible to a wide range of women, NFAW has developed a project management approach to the Tax Review.

Marie Coleman, Chair of the NFAW Social Policy Committee, will be the project manager.  She will be supported by Jenni Colwill, who will be responsible for NFAW's communications approach for the project. 

Professor Patricia Apps, of the University of Sydney, will be involved in the preparation of the submission given her extensive publications on women and taxation. 

Associate Professor Marian Baird of the Women and Work Group at the University of Sydney (and a member of the NFAW Social Policy Committee) will also participate as a researcher.

Reference Group

To facilitate communication with the Women's Secretariats, the following reference group has been established:

Steering Committee

In addition to the Reference Group, an NFAW Steering Committee will support the project manager and provide oversight on behalf of the NFAW Board. The Steering Committee includes two NFAW Directors, Anne Buttsworth and Ruth Medd, and Pat Manser and Julia Perry.