Daniel Mulino:
…$100 million in taxes. In addition, what it shows is that the proportion of large corporations voluntarily paying all of their tax has increased to 96.3 per cent. And also that the proportion of large corporations who aren’t paying any tax has for the first time fallen below 30 per cent to 28 per cent. So, this report shows that through the actions of the government in investing in the ATO’s capability and the actions of the ATO, we are seeing large corporations paying more of their share towards Australia’s overall tax take. And that’s good for our tax system and for our broader community. Thank you.
Journalist:
One of the companies that seemingly didn’t pay corporate tax was Singtel, Optus’s parent company. Can we ask why does that seem like tax avoidance to you?
Mulino:
So, my understanding is that the ATO has undertaken some actions in relation to Singtel in 2024 and that the ATO was successful in relation to some of those hearings. What I would say more generally is that it’s not appropriate for me to comment on the tax situation of any individual taxpayer, whether they be an individual person or a corporation. But my understanding is that the ATO has taken some actions in relation to that particular taxpayer. I also want to stress that, that tax situation is a totally different set of issues, of the issues that have been raised in recent times in relation to Optus.
Journalist:
If it’s legitimate, how do you think Optus customers who couldn’t even call triple zero recently will feel about this company making $8.2 billion and not paying any tax?
Mulino:
Well, I think Optus customers and I think people across the broader community should rightly feel very concerned and angry at the fact that there were a number of instances where triple zero calls weren’t connected. And that is a totally separate issue to the amount of tax paid by the parent company. There is a clear legal obligation on the part of telecommunications companies that they should connect all triple zero calls. This is a matter, potentially of life and death. And so that is a totally unacceptable situation. That responsibility falls on Optus. And I think it’s really appropriate that when the Minister found out about this, she immediately referred this matter to the independent regulator ACMA, for ACMA to dig into exactly what happened in this situation.
Journalist:
The states are accusing the federal government of short-changing them on the National Health Funding deal. Premiers and chief ministers claim the new health funding proposal will result in a shortfall of tens of billions of dollars. What’s your response to that?
Mulino:
I think these matters are constantly a matter of negotiation between the federal government and state governments. Look, this government went to the last election with a very broad suite of policies when it comes to our health system. This was, in fact, one of the issues that I talk to my electors about most frequently. They very much welcomed the investment in our Medicare system in increasing rates of billing. I’ve seen investment in urgent care clinics in my electorate, and they are already seeing many, many patients and doing great work. As to the broader ongoing negotiations between the state and the federal government, I’ll let those play out their course. But what I would say is that this government is right now making investments in our health system, which are making a real difference in the lives of people.
Journalist:
Will you honour the commitments made at National Cabinet in December of 2023?
Mulino:
Are you talking about commitments in relation to the health system? Look, as I said, I’m very focused on the fact that we went to the last election with a set of policies in relation to health, which I’ve seen play out in my electorate right now. That’s the priority of the government to fulfil its election commitments. There are complex negotiations going on between the federal government and state and territory governments, and as I said, I’ll let them play out their course.
Journalist:
Private health providers around the country are struggling with some, like Hobart’s mental health clinic, set to close. Given the federal government regulates the private health industry, will you use it to ensure it’s more sustainable?
Mulino:
So, I think those are really detailed matters more for the Health Minister. I think that again, what I would focus on is the fact that when it comes to health, the priority of the government is to fulfil its election commitments. And I’ve seen that play out in Australia broadly and also in my electorate, I’m seeing it actually make a tangible difference in people’s lives.
Journalist:
Just again on that, shouldn’t the federal government pay more for patients who are ready to be discharged, that don’t have an aged care place to go?
Mulino:
So, look I think that again is a more detailed question. I’d let the Minister for Health deal with that particular set of issues around his portfolio.
Journalist:
And just back in regards to Optus, when will the legislation for a triple zero guardian being introduced to parliament?
Mulino:
So, that is imminent. What I would stress is that there is a triple zero guardian already in place, and that’s an important regulatory function. It’s an overarching system‑wide oversight function. We will be introducing legislation that will increase the powers of the guardian. But I do want to stress that the guardian has a different set of roles than real‑time monitoring of 000, and even after the passage of that legislation that would not have stopped what we saw with Optus. So, there is legislation that will be brought before the parliament soon. But the triple zero outage as a result of Optus’s actions is a different set of issues, and that’s something which Optus needs to take full responsibility for.
Journalist:
An independent manager was recommended to the government in early 2024 after an earlier Optus outage. Why [indistinct]? Sorry, an independent manager. An independent manager recommended to the government in early 2024, perhaps on triple zero calls. Why is there a delay to that now being brought forward now?
Mulino:
So, my understanding is that there is a custodian in place, that there are a range of measures being considered to strengthen those arrangements when it comes to the specific set of issues that arose in relation to the triple zero outages as a result of Optus, but they’re being examined in detail by ACMA and wait for ACMA’s findings to arrive there.
Journalist:
So, you can’t speak to why there’s been such an imminent response after the most recent delay, when in fact it happened in early 2024?
Mulino:
So, my understanding is that ACMA is looking at the specific situation that occurred in relation to Optus and that it would be premature for me to comment on what occurred there until we hear from ACMA. Great, thank you.