12 February 2009

Forward Work Program for Tax Measures

The Assistant Treasurer, Chris Bowen, today released the Government's forward work program setting out the consultation it plans for announced tax measures and indicating the legislation it plans to introduce in the 2009 Autumn sittings.

'The publication of a forward work program for tax measures provides greater transparency in the tax design process,' Minister Bowen said.

'The publication of a forward work program was a key recommendation of the Tax Design Review Panel's report Better Tax Design and Implementation. The Government accepted in principle all the recommendations of the report, which have the potential to make significant improvements to the development of tax measures.'

The Government will publish a forward work program for announced tax measures at the start of each sitting of Parliament.

Measures announced by the previous government but which were not enacted will be included on the forward work program as the Government decides how or whether they should proceed.

The forward work program will be placed on the Treasury website.