Under the banner of Project Wickenby, Australian and international agencies on Monday
conducted operations across three countries to attack abusive tax evasion schemes
linked to Vanuatu.
The Australian Federal Police have arrested one promoter in Western Australia,
and several other people will be summonsed to appear in court shortly. Search
warrants were executed in Sydney, Vanuatu and New Zealand on 28th April as part
of the operations.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is also conducting 80 audits examining
allegedly false tax deductions exceeding AUD90mn (USD84mn).
Commenting on the anti-evasion operations, Australian Treasurer Wayne Swann stated that:
"People who avoid tax through the use of abusive tax haven schemes place
an unfair burden on the vast majority of the Australian community who do the
right thing."
"Anyone involved in these schemes is encouraged to come forward voluntarily
and cooperate with the authorities. People who contact the Tax Office before
they are contacted may have access to reduced penalties."
The ATO, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Crime Commission
were assisted in the investigation by various international agencies, including
the Vanuatu Police Force, New Zealand Police and New Zealand Inland Revenue
Department.
In addition to the Treasurer's department, a number of Australian government
ministers' agencies were also involved in the joint operations, including those of: Robert
McClelland, Attorney-General; Stephen Smith, Minister for Foreign Affairs; Chris
Bowen, Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer
Affairs; Bob Debus, Minister for Home Affairs; Senator Nick Sherry, Minister
for Superannuation and Corporate Law; Duncan Kerr, Parliamentary Secretary for
Pacific Island Affairs; and Bob McMullan, Parliamentary Secretary for International
Development Assistance.
Senator Sherry is due to meet Greg Tanzer, Secretary-General of IOSCO, next week to
discuss increasing the transparency of financial transactions in Vanuatu.
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