DOCSLIB.ORG

NTER) in Encouraging Competitive Neutrality

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
NTER) in Encouraging Competitive Neutrality School of Business Law and Taxation The Effectiveness of the National Tax Equivalent Regime (NTER) in Encouraging Competitive Neutrality Josephine Doueihi This thesis is presented for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy of Curtin University February 2019 0 0 Abstract The Hilmer report (1993) sought to recommend a consistent national approach to encourage greater competition in the Australian economy. One of the ways it sought to do this was to remove any competitive advantages government-owned businesses might have by way of any tax advantages. 1 These competitive advantages needed to be removed in order to achieve competitive neutrality - a market whereby all firms compete on a level playing field and are subject to the same rules and regulations regardless of their ownership. This aim to achieve competitive neutrality between public and private businesses paved the way for the formation of the National Tax Equivalent Regime (NTER). The National Tax Equivalent Regime (NTER) is an administrative inter- governmental arrangement under which, for competitive neutrality purposes, the Federal income tax laws are notionally applied to listed governmental business entities owned by the State and Territories as if they were subject to those laws. The resulting NTER tax is a liability owed and paid by these entities directly to their owner State and Territory Governments – it does not form part of the actual Federal income tax base as it would for privately owned companies. Apart from some specific modifications, NTER entities are treated in the same way as their federal counterparts. For example, an NTER entity is required to lodge income tax returns, make quarterly or monthly PAYG instalment payments, is subject to audit or other compliance assurance activities by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), has the ability to seek private rulings, and is subject to interest and penalty charges in the same manner applicable to privately owned organisations. 2 The follow up to the Hilmer Report, the Competition Policy Review Final Report (“The Harper Review”), was released on 31 March 2015. Competitive neutrality formed one of the critical competition topics covered in this report. The NTER was mentioned in several of the submissions but none called for a sizeable sweeping reform of the system currently in place, nor was it suggested in any of the recommendations of the Final Report. It does not appear that the findings or recommendations of the Competition Policy Review will have any impact on the 1 Department of Treasury and Finance (Vic), Guide to National Competition Policy , (n.d.) 3. 2 Australian Taxation Office, Manual for the National Tax Equivalent Regime (Version 10), (2016) 6. 1 structure or administration of the NTER. The recommendations relating to competitive neutrality included: • Recommendation 15: a review of competitive neutrality policies by the proposed Australian Council for Competition Policy; • Recommendation 16: greater transparency and effectiveness surrounding the competitive neutrality complaints process; and • A requirement for annual reports to include a statement on compliance with competitive neutrality principles. 3 The objective of this research is to determine whether the National Tax Equivalent Regime achieved its goal of encouraging competitive neutrality. Key findings The key findings of the research were that, while the NTER did contribute to its goal of encouraging competitive neutrality, there were a number of areas, both within the tax law and within the regime, which resulted in both advantages and disadvantages when the private and public sector were compared. The NTER entities had a number of advantages and disadvantages over their privately-owned counterparts. A comparison of tax paid between NTER entities and their privately-owned counterparts found that NTER entities typically paid more tax. In addition, compared to their privately-owned counterparts, the NTER entities studied had higher liabilities compared to total equity, paid a higher rate of interest (when interest paid was compared to total borrowings), paid more dividends, and had a lower ratio of expenses to each dollar earned. A case study considered the effect of the removal of the NTER, and instead increasing the amount of dividend paid to Treasury. It was found that doing so would increase the return on assets, net profit margin and earnings per share ratios increased on average 32.65% for those companies studied, with the majority increasing in the vicinity of 40 - 43%. If compared to a privately-owned entity, this advantage would be material. 3 Commonwealth of Australia, Competition Policy Review Final Report , (2015) 50-51. 2 Further, a comparison of the tax allowance provided by the price regulator to the tax paid was studied to determine whether the tax allowance would be a suitable and more efficient substitute for the NTER. It was found that the tax allowance would not be an adequate substitute for a tax equivalent regime. The comparison of the tax allowance to the tax paid has been the subject of a review by the Australian Energy Regulator, which was concluded in December 2018. 3 Acknowledgements This was a very long road but we got there in the end. There are a lot of people to thank. Firstly, I need to thank Curtin University for taking on a topic that nobody wanted! To all my supervisors, past and present, thank you. Helen Hodgson and Dale Pinto, this would not have been possible without you. Helen, thank you for your endless patience, guidance and direction. Thank you for always making time to go through my work, even if that meant to you were looking at my work on planes, after long hours spent in conferences, and on weekends. There is no thank you big enough. Also, a big thank you to Carmela Briguglio for the mammoth task of editing a PhD thesis in tax law during the Christmas/New Year period when most people were enjoying the holidays. I also need to give my thanks to Sally Joseph for your friendship, advice and guidance. A big, huge thank you to Greg McLennan for always being (somewhat) willing to talk through ideas and theories when you wanted nothing more than to drink your coffee in peace. I always knew that if I could defend an idea against your critical mind then I was onto a winner. To my family, who tolerated years of cancellations, unreturned calls and text messages, and only every now and then threatened to disown me in an attempt to have me re-join society. Thank you. I’ll name you all: Jamilla, Juliet, Joanne, Boutros, Georgette and Boulos. (No, Georgette, you can’t have royalties). And to the babies, Anthony, Joshua and Antonio, who made life fun. And also, to my adopted siblings, Andy, Karin and Sandra; and to Uncle Max and Auntie Hasna, and Josephine, Youssef and Eva for never taking my silence and absence personally and teaching me the true meaning of family. I also need to acknowledge the work crew who, for the better part of a decade, heard little more than cancer and PhD talk from me. To my bosses, Nick Nittes, Chris Johnston, and George Boulous; and Jim Mitchell and Kevin Jones, and Aloisie Krasny thank you for tolerating me. And to Victor Camilleri, thank you for being the logical, calming influence to my crazy, disorganised existence. 4 Thank you to Peter Maher for giving me the idea of having this topic for my PhD, and for filling in the history and gaps of the NTER when I had questions; and Will Dolan for filling in the gaps of the electricity industry during privatisation. Thank you also to Ben Stonehouse and Richard Boo of the AER. Also, a big thank you to all my friends who put up with years of absence, especially Cameron Joyce, Ned Banda and Jomana Watfa. And a special mention to Joanne Laoulach who always comes back into my life with calm, gentle advice whenever I need to make some big decisions. Joanne, you were a godsend in many difficult times. Mum, this one’s for you. Rest in peace. 5 Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................... 1 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. 4 Acronyms .............................................................................................................. 12 1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 13 1.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................13 1.2 Objectives .................................................................................................13 1.3 Background ..............................................................................................14 1.3.1 The National Competition Policy and competitive neutrality.............. 14 1.3.2 Alternative tools available to achieve competitive neutrality .............. 17 1.3.3 The National Tax Equivalent Regime (NTER) ................................... 18 1.3.4 The need for tax neutrality ................................................................. 19 1.3.5 Other considerations .......................................................................... 21 1.4 Significance ..............................................................................................24 1.5 Research methods .....................................................................................25 1.6 Chapter outline .........................................................................................26
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Rifle Club Movement and Australian Defence 1860-1941
    The Rifle Club Movement and Australian Defence 1860-1941 Andrew Kilsby A thesis in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of New South Wales School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences February 2014 Abstract This thesis examines the rifle club movement and its relationship with Australian defence to 1941. It looks at the origins and evolution of the rifle clubs and associations within the context of defence developments. It analyses their leadership, structure, levels of Government and Defence support, motivations and activities, focusing on the peak bodies. The primary question addressed is: why the rifle club movement, despite its strong association with military rifle shooting, failed to realise its potential as an active military reserve, leading it to be by-passed by the military as an effective force in two world wars? In the 19th century, what became known as the rifle club movement evolved alongside defence developments in the Australian colonies. Rifle associations were formed to support the Volunteers and later Militia forces, with the first ‘national’ rifle association formed in 1888. Defence authorities came to see rifle clubs, especially the popular civilian rifle clubs, as a cheap defence asset, and demanded more control in return for ammunition grants, free rail travel and use of rifle ranges. At the same time, civilian rifle clubs grew in influence within their associations and their members resisted military control. An essential contradiction developed. The military wanted rifle clubs to conduct shooting ‘under service conditions’, which included drill; the rifle clubs preferred their traditional target shooting for money prizes.
    [Show full text]
  • Additional Estimates 2010-11
    Dinner on the occasion of the First Meeting of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament Kirribilli House, Kirribilli, Sydney Sunday, 19 October 2008 Host Mr Francois Heisbourg The Honourable Kevin Rudd MP Commissioner (France) Prime Minister Chairman of the International Institute for Strategic Studies and Geneva Centre for Official Party Security Policy, Special Adviser at the The Honourable Gareth Evans AO QC Foundation pour la Recherche Strategique Co-Chair International Commission on Nuclear Non- General (Ret'd) Jehangir Karamat proliferation and Disarmament Commissioner (Pakistan) and President of the International Crisis Director, Spearhead Research Group Mrs Nilofar Karamat Ms Yoriko Kawaguchi General ((Ret'd) Klaus Naumann Co-Chair Commissioner (Germany) International Commission on Nuclear Non- Member of the International Advisory Board proliferation and Disarmament and member of the World Security Network Foundation of the House of Councillors and Chair of the Liberal Democratic Party Research Dr William Perry Commission on the Environment Commissioner (United States) Professor of Stanford University School of Mr Ali Alatas Engineering and Institute of International Commissioner (Indonesia) Studies Adviser and Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Indonesia Ambassador Wang Yingfan Mrs Junisa Alatas Commissioner (China) Formerly China's Vice Foreign Minister Dr Alexei Arbatov (1995-2000), China's Ambassador and Commissioner (Russia) Permanent Representative to the United Scholar-in-residence
    [Show full text]
  • Ttl(' Australian Nat/O!La! Uniuer.Rlly
    Ttl(' Australian Nat/o!la! Uniuer.rlly The Library c;p() Box 4, Canberra, ACT 2601 Telegrams & cables NATUNIV Canberra Telex AA 62694 NATUNI reference Telephone 062-49 5m USE OF THESES This microfiche is supplied for purposes of private study and research only. Passages from the thesis may not be copied or closely paraphrased without the written consent of the author. J .A. LYONS~ A Political Biogro\phy by Philip R. Hart This thesis was submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Australian National University December 1967 ' i 'l i ,[ :1 J 11 ,f li This statement is to certify that the contents of this thesis are my own original work. Philip R. Hart iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page PREF.ACE iv L!ST OF ABBREVIATIONS ix SYNOPSIS x Chapter 1 TASMANIA 1 Chapter' 2 THE SPLIT 54 Chapter .'.3 LEADER _OF THE OPPOSITION 100 Chapte:t' 4 LYONS AND EXTRA-PARLIAMENTARY FORCES 143 Chapte:t' 5 LYONS AS POLITICIAN 189 l l Chapter 6 LYONS AND POLICY 235 Chapter 7 THE FINAL YEAR ' 284 Ihi 'l '! APPENDIX Colnntonwealth Ministries, 1929-1939 .'.317 SELECT B!BLIOGRAPHY 329 iv PREFACE Entering federal politics after a political career in Tasmania that had been notable for his record tenure of party leadership and his respected achievements as Premier, Joseph Aloysius Lyons became one of the most significant participants in the Depression crisis, led one of the three great desertions from the Labour Party, participated in the preliminaries for the Second World War, and died in office only two weeks short of W.M.
    [Show full text]
  • New Lease Accounting Standard and Impact on Report Gross and Net Debt
    BOARD OF TREASURERS MEDIA RELEASE Friday, 21 December 2018 INFORMATION PAPER NEW LEASE ACCOUNTING STANDARD AND ITS IMPACT ON THE REPORTING OF GROSS AND NET DEBT FROM 2019-20 The Board of Treasurers of Australia’s States and Territories today released an Information Paper outlining the implications for the reporting of gross and net debt levels following the application of Australian Accounting Standard AASB 16: Leases, which will come into effect for financial reporting in Australia for all reporting periods from 1 January 2019. The new standard, which impacts the financial statements of both public and private sector reporting entities, is expected to be reflected in the 2019-20 Budgets of the Australian States and Territories and will result in a material increase in the reported level of gross and net debt for each jurisdiction. Importantly, while an increase in reported debt levels will be apparent under the new standard, there will be no change in the economic or legal circumstances of the States and Territories as a result of applying AASB 16. On transition to the new standard there will be a significant increase to jurisdictions’ forecasts of assets and liabilities in Budget projections, but the Paper explains that the effect of the change on gross and net debt is largely one of timing, with no change to cash payments expected as a result of this accounting re-measurement. Reflecting this, the credit rating agencies, while continuing to make their own independent assessments, may ‘look through’ the impact of AASB 16 for credit rating purposes. The standard increases transparency of lease arrangements by reducing off-balance sheet reporting and bringing consistency to the measurement of lease obligations.
    [Show full text]
  • Productivity Commission Inquiry Into Horizontal Fiscal Equalisation Commonwealth Government Response
    Productivity Commission Inquiry into Horizontal Fiscal Equalisation Commonwealth Government Response Department of Treasury and Finance Analysis October 2018 CONTENTS Background 1 Commonwealth Government’s Proposal 2 Treasury Analysis of Proposal 3 Recommendation to Equalise to the Second Highest State 3 The PC’s “Consensus” Relativity Forecasts 3 Variability in Relativities 4 Alternative Scenario Analysis 5 Other Recommendations 7 Summary of Proposal 9 Outcome of Council of Federal Financial Relations meeting 10 Attachments 11 Attachment 1 - Summary of Commonwealth’s Proposal 11 Attachment 2 - Other Recommendations 12 Background On 30 April 2017, the Commonwealth Government Treasurer requested that the Productivity Commission (PC) undertake an inquiry into Australia’s system of Horizontal Fiscal Equalisation (HFE), which underpins the distribution of GST revenue to the States and Territories (States). Throughout the inquiry, the Tasmanian Government made a number of submissions supporting the current HFE system, arguing that the PC’s alternatives would redirect GST funding to the strongest States and reduce the GST funding to the other States. This would, over time, reduce equity between the States. The Tasmanian Government considered that the PC had not been able to demonstrate that HFE had been detrimental to national productivity, efficiency and growth, and that its conclusions on these issues were predicated on assertions, not evidence. Copies of the Tasmanian Government submissions are available at https://www.treasury.tas.gov.au/gst-distribution-to-tasmania/publications. The Treasurer of Tasmania, the Hon Peter Gutwein MP’s presentation to the Productivity Commission’s public hearings held in Hobart on 1 December 2017, is also available from the Tasmanian Treasury website.
    [Show full text]
  • Joseph Lyons: the Tasmanian Treasurer
    Joseph Lyons: the Tasmanian treasurer John Hawkins1 ‘Honest Joe’ Lyons (far left in the picture below), was premier of Tasmania before moving to federal parliament and serving as an acting treasurer for Labor during the Great Depression. He clashed with Theodore and others and left the party. He then became a conservative treasurer and prime minister as the Australian economy gradually emerged from the depression. He was known for his consensual but orthodox approach. Source: National Library of Australia. 1 The author formerly worked in the Domestic Economy Division, the Australian Treasury. The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Australian Treasury. 85 Joseph Lyons: the Tasmanian treasurer Introduction Joseph Aloysius Lyons was the only treasurer (and prime minister) from Tasmania. As the Tasmanian minister for education in his thirties, Lyons fell in love with Enid Burnell, a teenage trainee teacher. They married in 1915 when she was seventeen and he was thirty-five.2 The marriage remained a love match all their lives.3 Indeed, until recently the only published biography of Lyons was called ‘a political love story’; White (1987). After Lyons’ death Enid was herself elected to the federal parliament and became the first female cabinet member. They had eleven children (another baby died), pictured on the previous page. Lyons was amiable and popular, a ‘kindly, compassionate man’.4 ‘Everyone liked Joe Lyons’ when he was first a federal minister.5 His resemblance to a cheerful koala was a cartoonist’s delight. His typist recalled ‘a pretty shrewd judge of people … extraordinarily tolerant’ but, as befitted a former teacher, with a ‘horror of split infinitives’.6 A pacifist who abhorred violence, he opposed capital punishment.7 He not only opposed conscription, but did not take place in wartime recruitment (so it is perhaps fortunate that he did not face leadership during a world war).
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report
    TT-Line Company Pty Ltd Annual Report 2017/18 Company Vision TT-Line Company Pty Ltd (TT-Line) aims to deliver an unparalleled and unique sea transport service across Bass Strait. Company Mission A commercially sustainable ferry service built on a reputation for excellence in safety, reliability and exceptional passenger and freight services. Business Objectives TT-Line will manage and facilitate the operation of a shipping service to and from Tasmania in a manner that is consistent with sound commercial practice. TT-Line will endeavour to do this through the provision of passenger and freight services on the Devonport to Melbourne Bass Strait route and through the operation of the Edgewater Hotel in Devonport. Table of Contents Report from the Chairman ........................................................................................................................ 4 Report from the Chief Executive Officer ................................................................................................ 6 Spirit People ........................................................................................................................................ 8 Community Support .......................................................................................................................... 9 Brand ................................................................................................................................................. .10 Retail and Hospitality ......................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report 2016
    ANNUAL REPORT | 1 CONTENTS OUR BUSINESS 04 THE YEAR AT A GLANCE 06 CHAIR'S REVIEW 08 CEO'S REPORT 10 AURORA ENERGY STATEMENT OF CORPORATE INTENT 12 OUR CUSTOMERS 16 COMMUNITY 26 PEOPLE 28 EXCELLENCE 30 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT 32 SHAREHOLDER GUIDELINES 42 THE DIRECTORS' REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 44 OUR BUSINESS AURORA ENERGY is a Tasmanian-owned and operated energy retailer with a OUR PURPOSE: core focus on its customers and To proactively deliver generating value for its Shareholders practical energy choices and the Tasmanian community. for all Tasmanians. OPERATING LOCATIONS: HOBART & LAUNCESTON + 29 + 15 NPS Target Average NPS 278,321 Call data: Aurora Energy’s Grade of Service Residential, small & large business customers improved two per cent in 2015-16, with an as at 30 June 2016. average of 74 per cent and our Net Promoter Score (NPS) reached an average of +29, nearly double our annual target of +15. Aurora Energy’s workforce comprises 170 employees of which 61 per cent is female. Aurora Energy’s functions include customer The average age of the Aurora Energy workforce service centres, customer operations, billing and is 38 years. market services, and business support. 4 | ANNUAL REPORT 278,321 CAITLIN Customer Experience Advisor ANNUAL REPORT | 5 THE YEAR AT A GLANCE Aurora Energy’s focus in 2015-16 was to strengthen the business in preparation for an increasingly competitive landscape in the Tasmanian retail energy market. To achieve this objective, Aurora Energy undertook a number of key initiatives in 2015-16, which saw increased customer service and productivity outcomes against a backdrop of reduced operating costs.
    [Show full text]
  • Board of Treasurers
    BOARD OF TREASURERS TRS19D3019 The Hon Josh Frydenberg Treasurer Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600 ^v Dear Tr&srSurer NATIONAL HEALTH REFORM - OPTIONS FOR A FORWARD WORK PROGRAM I am writing on behalf of the Board of Treasurers (the Board) to request the Commonwealth Government's commitment to progress a number of important productivity enhancing national health reforms. The Board recognises that improving the efficiency and effectiveness of Australia's health system has substantial scope to increase the wetlbeing of Australians and their ability to work and participate in society. The Board has a shared interest in the health system, given its fiscal significance and the impact of better health outcomes on the broader economy. The Board is concerned that while the draft National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA) includes a range of proposed areas of reform, the agreement does not set out specific deliverables, implementation timeframes or funding mechanisms to drive development and delivery of these reforms. The Board considers that the NHRA should be amended to include clear accountability and timelines for the six reform areas that best suit local needs and support local health systems. Accordingly, at the Board meeting on 22 November, the Board agreed to seek the Commonwealth's commitment to the following reforms. To strengthen current NHRA and provide greater emphasis to key reforms, the Board requests that the NHRA includes: • Establishment of a Prevention Investment Fund from 1 July 2020 with an initial Commonwealth funding commitment of $200 million per annum for five years with the potential for state partnering. • Introduction of flexibility to convert Activity Based Funding to alternative arrangements that provide the most appropriate care, including through out-of-hospital services.
    [Show full text]
  • House of Assembly Wednesday 19 September 2018
    Wednesday 19 September 2018 The Speaker, Ms Hickey, took the Chair at 10 a.m., acknowledged the Traditional People, and read Prayers. RECOGNITION OF VISITORS Madam SPEAKER - Honourable members, it is my great pleasure to welcome the Sergeant- at-Arms, the Chief Librarian and research officers from the Parliament of Samoa who the parliament is hosting this week through the United Nations development program as part of our parliament's twinning relationship with the Parliament of Samoa. Aloha and welcome to our parliament. Members - Hear, hear. Madam SPEAKER - We also welcome Miendetta Primary School grades 4, 5 and 6 to the Chamber. Members - Hear, hear. QUESTIONS Royal Hobart Hospital - Patient Accommodation Ms WHITE question to MINISTER FOR HEALTH, Mr FERGUSON [10.07 a.m.] You have so chronically underfunded the health and hospital system that your latest plan to address the crisis you have created is to put patients at the Royal Hobart Hospital in store rooms and alcoves and give them hand bells. How can you justify this plan and how can this be acceptable in any modern health and hospital system? ANSWER Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. Yes, we saw her coming. This is a desperate attempt to run yet another medi-scare campaign against the Tasmanian people. The Leader of the Opposition could not have misrepresented what our local clinicians have circulated for consultation more than she just did. It is appalling that you attack our doctors and nurses for seeking to implement solutions in our hospital. I will begin immediately by debunking the notion that the Government is chronically underfunding health.
    [Show full text]
  • 2019 Economic and Political Overview in Hobart
    2019 Economic and Political Overview in Hobart Keynote speaker: The Hon. Peter Gutwein, Treasurer of Tasmania Monday 25 February 2019, 11.45am to 2.00pm Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart www.ceda.com.au agenda 11.45am Registrations 12.10pm Welcome and Introduction Michael Camilleri State Director Victoria & Tasmania, CEDA 12.15pm Opening address Michael Blythe Chief Economist and Managing Director, Economics, Commonwealth Bank of Australia 12.30pm Moderated discussion and Q&A Michael Blythe Chief Economist and Managing Director, Economics, Commonwealth Bank of Australia Moderated by Michael Camilleri State Director Victoria & Tasmania, CEDA 12.40pm Lunch 1.10pm Introduction Michael Camilleri State Director Victoria & Tasmania, CEDA 1.15pm Keynote address The Hon. Peter Gutwein Treasurer of Tasmania 1.30pm Moderatied discussion and Q&A The Hon. Peter Gutwein Treasurer of Tasmania Moderated by Michael Camilleri State Director Victoria & Tasmania, CEDA 2.00pm Close . keynote speaker The Hon. Peter Gutwein Treasurer of Tasmania Raised at Nunamara near Launceston and educated at Myrtle Park Primary School, Queechy High School and Deakin University, Peter Gutwein is a proud and passionate Tasmanian. Peter, his wife Amanda and children Millie and Finn live in the Tamar Valley. The family still maintain strong connections to Bridport and North East Tasmania. Peter’s background is in the Financial Planning Industry. He enjoyed a successful career in financial services working in senior management positions both in Australia and in Europe. He holds qualifications in Business Administration and Financial Planning and also spent two years as an Adviser to a senior Federal coalition cabinet Minister during the 1990s. Peter was first elected to the Tasmanian Parliament in 2002 and has continuously represented the electorate of Bass in Northern Tasmania since then.
    [Show full text]
  • Public Accounts and Estimates Committee
    VERIFIED VERSION PUBLIC ACCOUNTS AND ESTIMATES COMMITTEE Inquiry into Budget Estimates 2015–16 Melbourne — 22 May 2015 Members Mr Danny Pearson — Chair Ms Sue Pennicuik Mr David Morris — Deputy Chair Ms Harriet Shing Dr Rachel Carling-Jenkins Mr Tim Smith Mr Steve Dimopoulos Ms Vicki Ward Mr Danny O’Brien Staff Executive officer: Ms Valerie Cheong Witnesses Mr Luke Donnellan, Minister for Ports, Mr Richard Bolt, Secretary, Ms Sue Eddy, Lead Deputy Secretary, Financial Management and Technology Services Group, Mr Gary Liddle, Lead Deputy Secretary, Transport Group, and Ms Vicky Hudson, Executive Director, Ports and Network Integration, Transport Group, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources. 22 May 2015 Public Accounts and Estimates Committee -- Ports 1 The CHAIR — I declare open the public hearings for the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee inquiry into the 2015–16 budget estimates. All mobile telephones should now be turned to silent. I would like to welcome the Minister for Ports, the Honourable Luke Donnellan, MP; Mr Richard Bolt, Secretary of the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources; Ms Sue Eddy, Lead Deputy Secretary, Financial Management and Technology Services Group; Mr Gary Liddle, Lead Deputy Secretary, Transport Group; Ms Vicky Hudson, Executive Director, Ports and Network Integration, Transport Group; and Mr Nick Easy, Chief Executive Officer, Port of Melbourne, who is a potential witness in the gallery. All evidence is taken by this committee under the provisions of the Parliamentary Committees Act, attracts parliamentary privilege and is protected from judicial review. Any comments made outside the hearing, including on social media, are not afforded such privilege.
    [Show full text]