It follows revelations earlier this year the board hadderegistered as a tax agent a former PricewaterhouseCoopers tax partner,Peter Collins,who was participating in confidential consultation with the federal Treasury to improve tax laws but was found to have made unauthorised disclosures of the information to partners and staff of PwC.
Collins was a member of a regular consultation panel created by Treasury and the Board of Taxation to provide confidential advice to the government on matters that included its measures to combat international tax avoidance.
PwC was ordered to ensure appropriate training is provided on a six-monthly basis to relevant partners and staff on complying with the code of professional conduct and PwC’s policies on conflicts of interest.
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The revelations prompted anger from the government,both at the breach of confidentiality and the extent ofpenalties available to the tax board.
Chalmers said the legislation this week was based on the findings of an independent review of the tax board that reported to the former government in 2019.
The laws to be introduced to parliament this week will put in place five recommendations that the former government had failed to act on.