I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr John Emerson AM to the Board of Taxation for a term of two years commencing from 15 January 2007.
I am also pleased to announce the reappointment of Mr Eric Mayne and Mr Curt Rendall as members of the Board for terms of three years respectively. These reappointments will commence from 15 January 2007.
Mr Emerson is a partner at Freehills law firm and head of the firm’s charity law practice. He joined the firm in 1971 and was admitted to partnership in 1976. Mr Emerson is recognised Australia-wide as an expert in the tax laws applicable to charities.
In 2004 Mr Emerson was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to law and to the community, particularly through the provision of advice to charities and not-for-profit organisations and the development of public administration reform to encourage philanthropy in Australia.
Mr Emerson is the Freehills Melbourne office pro bono partner and a member of a number of legal and public sector committees active in the charity tax and pro bono areas. He has been a member of the Board of Taxation Advisory Panel since December 2003.
I take this opportunity to congratulate Mr Emerson on his appointment to the Board.
In addition, I wish to thank Ms Jane Schwager for her contributions to the Board of Taxation over the past four years.
The Board of Taxation is an independent, non-statutory body established to advise the Government on the development and implementation of taxation legislation and the ongoing operation of the tax system.