The Governor-General has appointed Dr Alan Preston as one of three Second Commissioners of Taxation.
Dr Preston fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Mr Peter Simpson. Mr Simpson has had a public service career which spans over 40 years, primarily in the Australian Taxation Office, which culminated in his appointment to the role of Second Commissioner in May 1993. More recently, Mr Simpson has made a major contribution to the development of the Governments Tax Reform proposal.
Dr Preston will equally bring a wealth of experience to the role of Second Commissioner of Taxation. He is currently Secretary to the Review of Business Taxation. Before that Dr Preston spent a year with a Melbourne-based research and development firm undertaking implementation of improved risk management systems. His previous public service career includes some eight years as a Deputy Secretary of the Treasury with responsibility for taxation policy, including the review of financial arrangements and superannuation policy.
Dr Preston will take up his new position on 6 September, the date on which Mr Simpson goes on leave before his formal retirement on 1 November.