Senate Economics Legislation Committee [Part 2]

Senate Estimates hearing,

Searchable transcript of the Senate Economics Legislation Committee [Part 2], 28 Oct 2026 Senate Estimates hearing, with chapters: Climate Change and Emissions Reduction Strategies, National Security and Public Safety Protocols, Introduction of ATO and ACNC Officials, Timeline of ATO Credit Card…

Chapters

  1. Climate Change and Emissions Reduction Strategies (7:43)

    Examination of climate change mitigation strategies and progress toward national emissions reduction targets.

  2. National Security and Public Safety Protocols (32:27)

    Inquiry into national security frameworks and measures to ensure public safety across the country.

  3. Introduction of ATO and ACNC Officials (53:10)

    The committee welcomes representatives from the Australian Taxation Office, the Tax Practitioners Board, and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission for questioning.

  4. Timeline of ATO Credit Card Surcharge Decision (54:32)

    Commissioner Hefron outlines the timeline of the RBA's credit card surcharge decision and the ATO's internal process for deciding to cease accepting credit card payments.

  5. Small Business Impact of Credit Card Ban (1:00:42)

    The ATO discusses the impact of the credit card ban on small business cash flow and acknowledges that earlier stakeholder engagement could have improved the transition.

  6. Options for Tax Payments via Credit Card (1:05:29)

    Officials explain the options considered for credit card payments, including government funding, and provide data on the 256,000 small businesses currently using credit cards for tax.

  7. Family Trust Elections and Integrity Rules (1:08:44)

    Senator Bragg questions the ATO on Family Trust Elections (FTE) and the integrity rules designed to prevent the abuse of trusts for tax planning purposes.

  8. General Interest Charge Amnesty for Trusts (1:12:12)

    The ATO details a General Interest Charge (GIC) amnesty for taxpayers who self-assess historical trust mistakes, allowing for an 80% remission of charges until June next year.

  9. Trust Legislation and Small Business Compliance (1:16:40)

    The committee discusses the impact of proposed trust legislation on small businesses and the ATO's commitment to providing guidance to prevent administrative errors.

  10. PwC Tax Leaks and Michael O'Neil Complaint (1:23:31)

    Senator Pocock questions the ATO regarding a complaint letter from former TPB CEO Michael O'Neil concerning the PwC tax leaks scandal and APS code of conduct adherence.

  11. Referral of Michael O'Neil Complaint Letter (1:23:31)

    Senator Pocock questions the ATO Commissioner regarding a complaint letter from the former TPB CEO concerning the PWC tax leaks investigation.

  12. Allegations of Misleading Parliamentary Evidence (1:29:51)

    Examination of allegations that false or misleading information was provided in response to parliamentary questions on notice regarding the TPB.

  13. ATO Leadership and Small Business Understanding (1:36:06)

    Senator Price questions the Commissioner on his executive team's experience with small business and discusses executive remuneration.

  14. Impact of Credit Card Surcharge Ban (1:43:22)

    Discussion on the timeline and consultation process regarding the ban on credit card surcharges and its impact on ATO operations.

  15. Allegations of ATO Legal Misconduct (1:47:42)

    Senator Roberts raises concerns about ATO conduct in the King v Clark and Jiang cases, alleging oppression and administration of justice issues.

  16. Superannuation Archives and Director Penalties (1:54:23)

    Inquiry into the use of legacy superannuation archives and the lawfulness of director penalty notices and debt waivers.

  17. Charity Status and ACNC Governance Standards (1:59:15)

    Discussion on the revocation of Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status for charities and compliance with ACNC governance standards.

  18. Environmental Defenders Office Court Ordered Penalty (2:08:47)

    Inquiry into the $9 million penalty against the Environmental Defenders Office and its implications for charity registration.

  19. Transparency in Tax Practitioners Board Investigations (2:10:00)

    Senator Pocock questions the Tax Practitioners Board on the transparency of internal investigator accounts in Senate responses.

  20. Conflict Management in KPMG Investigation Recusal (2:15:34)

    Examination of potential conflicts of interest regarding Mr. de Cure's prior employment at KPMG and his recusal.

  21. Characterisation of KPMG Whistleblower as Disgruntled (2:21:20)

    Debate over the appropriateness of labeling a KPMG whistleblower as "disgruntled" during regulatory board discussions.

  22. Cost of Living Pressures on Charities (2:26:23)

    The ACNC reports on how inflation and rising operational costs are forcing some charities to close or merge.

  23. Self Assessment Income Tax Exemption Reform (2:30:06)

    Discussion on the ATO's integrity measure for non-profit tax exemptions and the resulting surge in ACNC registrations.

  24. Bullying Allegations and KPMG Investigation Status (2:38:03)

    Updates on bullying complaints within the ATO and the current status of investigations into KPMG's conduct.

  25. Allegations Regarding Former Commissioner Chris Jordan (2:44:43)

    The Commissioner addresses media reports regarding the tax affairs of former Commissioner Chris Jordan, dismissing the claims as unsubstantiated and designed to smear his reputation.

  26. AI and Automated Decision-Making at ATO (2:46:26)

    Officials explain the ATO's use of AI, data matching, and automated decision-making, emphasizing that human review is required for any decision adversely affecting a taxpayer.

  27. Productivity Commission on Stagnant Economic Growth (2:52:53)

    The Productivity Commission discusses stagnant productivity levels, the relationship between labor hours and output, and negative contributions from the mining and construction sectors.

  28. Impact of Mandatory Climate Reporting Compliance (2:57:57)

    Discussion on the compliance burden of mandatory climate reporting, specifically Scope 3 emissions, and the Productivity Commission's ongoing review into non-financial corporate reporting.

  29. AOFM Debt Issuance and Market Performance (3:15:00)

    The Australian Office of Financial Management (AOFM) provides an update on debt securities issuance, market liquidity, and the implementation of recommendations from an independent review.

  30. Australian Government Bond Yields and Inflation (3:18:35)

    Examination of high Australian bond yields relative to global peers, interest payment projections, and market expectations for future Reserve Bank monetary policy tightening.

  31. Gas Market Reporting and Production Costs (3:27:52)

    ACCC update on gas market reporting, production cost estimates, and the transition of responsibilities to the AER.

  32. Airline Pricing and Regional Route Competition (3:31:52)

    Examination of airline pricing on regional routes, specifically Mount Isa, and concerns regarding dynamic pricing.

  33. Insurance Monitoring and Cravable Brands Investigation (3:38:26)

    Status of the Cravable Brands investigation and the conclusion of the cyclone reinsurance pool monitoring.

  34. Alleged Anti-Competitive Behavior by Woolworths (3:42:54)

    Inquiry into alleged anti-competitive behavior by Woolworths employees at a Taylor Road IGA store.

  35. Housing Australia Chair Appointment and Conflicts (3:51:07)

    Appointment process for the new Housing Australia chair and management of perceived conflicts of interest.

  36. Housing Australia Future Fund Delivery Targets (4:01:50)

    Acting CEO Sarah Amos provides updates on social and affordable home completions and clarifies the distinction between contracting and completion targets for the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF).

  37. Staffing and Public Affairs Department Functions (4:08:06)

    Examination of Housing Australia's staffing levels, focusing on the ten-person Public Affairs and Government Relations team and their role in managing ministerial business and media communications.

  38. Status of the National Urban Policy Forum (4:10:23)

    Senators question the inactivity of the Urban Policy Forum, noting that memberships have expired and debating whether the body effectively still exists to advise on urban policy implementation.

  39. Budget Outcomes and ANAO Performance Audit (4:20:39)

    Discussion of a $1.1 billion budget variance and the findings of an ANAO report regarding the ratio of new builds to purchased homes under the Housing Australia Future Fund.

  40. Home Guarantee Scheme and Negative Equity (4:25:35)

    Debate over the performance of the 5% deposit scheme, addressing RBA simulations of negative equity, the eligibility of permanent residents, and income levels of participants.

  41. City Partnerships and Planning Data Dashboards (4:36:34)

    Inquiry into the status of promised city partnerships and the development of planning and land use dashboards expected to be operational by the end of 2026.