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Perth compliance operation nets three illegal workers

noirlucifer — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 04:03:47 +0000

Arrangements are being made today for the removal of three long-term visa overstayers from Australia, after they were detained in a Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) compliance operation.

The two women and one man from Malaysia were living in a house in the northern Perth suburb of Ballajura. They told DIAC compliance officers they were working in Australia despite not having work rights or valid visas.

A departmental spokesman said the three were taken to the Perth Immigration Detention Centre on the evening of August 13, where they’ll be held pending their removal from Australia.

“It’s another case where we thank members of the public for providing information through our dob-in line,” the spokesman said.

“This outcome should serve as a warning to anybody contemplating working illegally in Australia that the department will find them, detain them and send them back to their home country.”

A fourth person interviewed at the house by compliance officers had a valid working holiday maker visa.

Anyone with information about possible illegal workers may call the department’s reporting line on 1800 009 623.

ATO second commissioner big winner in Tax Institute awards

noirlucifer — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:01:52 +0000

ATO second commissioner big winner in Tax Institute awards Friday, 20 March 2015 | Staff Reporter View Comments

The Tax Institute has announced the winners of its annual Tax Adviser of the Year awards at a ceremony on the Gold Coast last night.

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ATO second commissioner Andrew Mills was named Chartered Tax Adviser of the Year while the Corporate Tax Adviser of the Year award went to KPMG tax director Minh Dao.

Peter Bobbin from Argyle Lawyers was named winner of the SME Tax Adviser of the Year and Sarah Goodman, a senior consultant at KPMG, won the Emerging Tax Star Award.

Noel Rowland chief executive officer of The Tax Institute congratulated all four winners on their achievements.

“These awards celebrate excellence in tax and this year’s recipients represent worthy and talented professionals who are performing at the highest level,” he said.

“It was difficult for the judges to select just four winners from the incredibly strong field of entrants this year which is a testament to the profession as a whole.

“The high calibre of the applications across all categories is a testament to the strength of the tax profession in Australia. With such dedicated and talented individuals working across all levels of the profession, I am confident the profession has a promising future,” Mr Rowland said.

In a statement, the Tax Institute said Mr Mills was recognised for his dedication and passion for the profession, including spending 20 years with Greenwoods & Freehills where he was a director.

“The judges also recognised his contribution to the tax community through his lecturing for The Tax Institute and University of Sydney,” the statement read.

Ms Dao impressed the judges with her “passion and thirst” for continuous growth as well as her more than 14 years’ experience at KPMG.

“Minh is dedicated to extending her knowledge and expertise and was recently seconded to KPMG London to work as a global tax adviser. Her work with a wide variety of clients across domestic and international tax issues is positioning Ms Dao as a leader in the field.”

With more than 30 years’ experience, Mr Bobbins has enviable knowledge across superannuation, taxation, estate planning and business succession, the institute said. The judges admired his involvement with The Tax Institute’s committees and contribution to education programs through his mentoring and teaching of other tax professionals in different firms.

Finally, according to the statement, Ms Goodman was recognised for her high ethical standards and commitment and passion to learning and development.

“Sarah has a high level of tax technical ability, demonstrated through advising on over 25 M&A transactions [and] earning her the respect of her colleagues in the process. The judges refer to Sarah as an inspiration to the next generation of tax professionals and pin her as a future leader.”

Australian dollar below 77 US cents as greenback bounces

noirlucifer — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 13:35:16 +0000

THE Australian dollar is one US cent weaker as traders pile back into the greenback.

At 0700 AEDT on Friday, the Australian dollar was worth 76.28 US cents, down from 77.30 US cents, on Thursday.

The greenback was heavily sold on Thursday, giving the Australian dollar its biggest one-day rise in almost two years to levels above 78 US cents, after the US Federal Reserve signalled it was in no hurry to raise rates.

But the Australian dollar’s surge began to be unwind on Thursday night, with no data to support the abrupt recovery in the US dollar, Westpac senior market strategist Imre Speizer said.

“It’s not a rational response,” he said.

“I’ll put it down as the puzzling recovery of the reaction and I wouldn’t rule out that the US dollar still may come under downward pressure.” While the Fed’s Federal Open Market Committee removed the word “patient” from its statement, the central bank’s chair Janet Yellen said that didn’t mean policymakers would be impatient when it came to move on the funds rate.

Still, Mr Speizer said, the greenback recovered as traders took the view that US rates would still rise.

“There was a sudden awareness that: `Gee, rate hikes are coming, it’s just a question of timing’,” he said.

CURRENCY SNAPSHOT AT 0700 AEDT ON FRIDAY

One Australian dollar buys:

* 76.28 US cents, from 77.30 cents on Thursday

* 92.26 Japanese yen, from 93.16 yen

* 71.67 euro cents, from 71.76 euro cents

* 103.25 New Zealand cents, from 103.59 NZ cents

* 51.81 British pence, from 51.89 pence

(*Closes taken at 1700 AEDT previous local session) Source: IRESS