Division Description Changes — Bills — Tax Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) Bill 2015; in Committee — 3rd Dec 2015

All changes made to the description and title of this division.

View division | Edit description

Change	Division
senate vote 2015-12-03#6 Edited by mackay staff on 2015-12-24 12:52:52	Title Description The majority voted against a very controversial [amendment](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr5549_amend_7a7e611b-e7b6-436e-94ab-21ecc4e7105a%22;rec=0) introduced by NSW Labor Senator [Sam Dastyari](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/sam_dastyari). ### What was the amendment? The amendment insisted that Australian companies with a total annual income of $100 million or more should have to report certain tax information so it becomes public. That information includes the company's [ABN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Business_Number), its total annual income, its taxable income and its tax payable. The Coalition Governmnet opposed this amendment and said the threshold should be $200 million. ### Why was it so controversial? Even though the Greens Party earlier agreed with the Labor Party that the threshold should be $100 million, they made an agreement to vote with the Coalition Government and reject this amendment. They did this because they thought it was better than nothing. Read [ABC News](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-03/coalition-and-greens-strike-deal-on-multi-national-tax-avoidance/6997328) for more information. The Labor Party were not pleased. ### Some choice insults from Labor to the Greens "Sell-out rats!" said Senator [Stephen Conroy](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/stephen_conroy). "Sell-out Greens." agreed Senator [Sue Lines](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/wa/sue_lines). "Spineless!" continued Senator Conroy. "Sell-outs!" repeated Senator Lines. "Absolute bunch of amateurs." contributed Senator [Doug Cameron](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/doug_cameron). Through it all, Greens Senator [Richard Di Natale](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/richard_di_natale) kept trying to explain why the Greens were voting against the amendment (and therefore voting with the Coalition Government) - here is a [taste of his explanation](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-12-03.188.20). Meanwhile, the Chairman warned the angry interrupting senators that: > "I can at this point advise senators that I have cancelled my flight tonight. So I am in no hurry to finish this, but we will finish this with the Senate having some order." Read the whole argument [after 6:53 pm](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2015-12-03.146.2). ### What does the bill do? The [bill](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5549) strengthens the laws against [tax avoidance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_avoidance) for certain companies. For example, it introduces anti-avoidance measures to deal with multinational companies with an annual global income of more than $A1 billion that use schemes to avoid having to pay tax in Australia or at least reduce that tax to a minimum. The [bill](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5549) strengthens the laws against [tax avoidance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_avoidance) for certain companies. For example, it introduces anti-avoidance measures to deal with [multinational companies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multinational_corporation) with an annual global income of more than $A1 billion that use schemes to avoid having to pay tax in Australia or at least reduce that tax to a minimum. ~~To learn more about the bill, see the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1516a/16bd045).~~ To learn more about the bill, see the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1516a/16bd045).
senate vote 2015-12-03#6 Edited by mackay staff on 2015-12-24 12:51:46	Title Description The majority voted against a very controversial [amendment](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr5549_amend_7a7e611b-e7b6-436e-94ab-21ecc4e7105a%22;rec=0) introduced by NSW Labor Senator [Sam Dastyari](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/sam_dastyari). ### What was the amendment? The amendment insisted that Australian companies with a total annual income of $100 million or more should have to report certain tax information so it becomes public. That information includes the company's [ABN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Business_Number), its total annual income, its taxable income and its tax payable. The Coalition Governmnet opposed this amendment and said the threshold should be $200 million. ### Why was it so controversial? Even though the Greens Party earlier agreed with the Labor Party that the threshold should be $100 million, they made an agreement to vote with the Coalition Government and reject this amendment. They did this because they thought it was better than nothing. Read [ABC News](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-03/coalition-and-greens-strike-deal-on-multi-national-tax-avoidance/6997328) for more information. The Labor Party were not pleased. ### Some choice insults from Labor to the Greens "Sell-out rats!" said Senator [Stephen Conroy](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/stephen_conroy). "Sell-out Greens." agreed Senator [Sue Lines](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/wa/sue_lines). "Spineless!" continued Senator Conroy. "Sell-outs!" repeated Senator Lines. "Absolute bunch of amateurs." contributed Senator [Doug Cameron](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/doug_cameron). Through it all, Greens Senator [Richard Di Natale](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/richard_di_natale) kept trying to explain why the Greens were voting against the amendment (and therefore voting with the Coalition Government) - here is a [taste of his explanation](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-12-03.188.20). Meanwhile, the Chairman warned the angry interrupting senators that: > "I can at this point advise senators that I have cancelled my flight tonight. So I am in no hurry to finish this, but we will finish this with the Senate having some order." Read the whole argument [after 6:53 pm](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2015-12-03.146.2). ### What does the bill do? The [bill](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5549) strengthens the laws against [tax avoidance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_avoidance) for certain multinational entities. It introduces anti-avoidance measures to deal with companies with annual global income of more than $A1 billion that use schemes to avoid having a taxable presence in Australia. The [bill](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5549) strengthens the laws against [tax avoidance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_avoidance) for certain companies. For example, it introduces anti-avoidance measures to deal with multinational companies with an annual global income of more than $A1 billion that use schemes to avoid having to pay tax in Australia or at least reduce that tax to a minimum. ~~To learn more about the bill, see the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1516a/16bd045).~~ To learn more about the bill, see the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1516a/16bd045).
senate vote 2015-12-03#6 Edited by mackay staff on 2015-12-24 12:31:32	Title Description The majority voted against a very controversial [amendment](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr5549_amend_7a7e611b-e7b6-436e-94ab-21ecc4e7105a%22;rec=0) introduced by NSW Labor Senator [Sam Dastyari](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/sam_dastyari). ### What was the amendment? The amendment insisted that Australian companies with a total annual income of $100 million or more should have to report certain tax information so it becomes public. That information includes the company's [ABN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Business_Number), its total annual income, its taxable income and its tax payable. The Coalition Governmnet opposed this amendment and said the threshold should be $200 million. ### Why was it so controversial? Even though the Greens Party agreed with the Labor Party earlier that the threshold should be $100 million, they agreed to vote with the Coalition Government and reject this amendment. They did this because they thought it was better for Australian companies earning $200 million or over to have to make their tax information public than have no such requirement at all (which is what the Coalition Government were threatening). Read [ABC News](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-03/coalition-and-greens-strike-deal-on-multi-national-tax-avoidance/6997328) for more information. Even though the Greens Party earlier agreed with the Labor Party that the threshold should be $100 million, they made an agreement to vote with the Coalition Government and reject this amendment. They did this because they thought it was better than nothing. Read [ABC News](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-03/coalition-and-greens-strike-deal-on-multi-national-tax-avoidance/6997328) for more information. The Labor Party were not pleased. ### Some choice insults from Labor to the Greens "Sell-out rats!" said Senator [Stephen Conroy](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/stephen_conroy). "Sell-out Greens." agreed Senator [Sue Lines](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/wa/sue_lines). "Spineless!" continued Senator Conroy. "Sell-outs!" repeated Senator Lines. "Absolute bunch of amateurs." contributed Senator [Doug Cameron](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/doug_cameron). Through it all, Greens Senator [Richard Di Natale](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/richard_di_natale) kept trying to explain why the Greens were voting against the amendment (and therefore voting with the Coalition Government) - here is a [taste of his explanation](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-12-03.188.20). Meanwhile, the Chairman warned the angry interrupting senators that: > "I can at this point advise senators that I have cancelled my flight tonight. So I am in no hurry to finish this, but we will finish this with the Senate having some order." Read the whole argument [after 6:53 pm](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2015-12-03.146.2). ### What does the bill do? The [bill](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5549) strengthens the laws against [tax avoidance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_avoidance) for certain multinational entities. It introduces anti-avoidance measures to deal with companies with annual global income of more than $A1 billion that use schemes to avoid having a taxable presence in Australia. To learn more about the bill, see the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1516a/16bd045).
senate vote 2015-12-03#6 Edited by mackay staff on 2015-12-24 12:28:16	Title Description The majority voted against a very controversial [amendment](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr5549_amend_7a7e611b-e7b6-436e-94ab-21ecc4e7105a%22;rec=0) introduced by NSW Labor Senator [Sam Dastyari](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/sam_dastyari). ### What was the amendment? The amendment insisted that Australian companies with a total annual income equal $100 million or more should have to report certain tax information so it becomes public. That information includes the company's [ABN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Business_Number), its total annual income, its taxable income and its tax payable. The amendment insisted that Australian companies with a total annual income of $100 million or more should have to report certain tax information so it becomes public. That information includes the company's [ABN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Business_Number), its total annual income, its taxable income and its tax payable. The Coalition Governmnet opposed this amendment and said the threshold should be $200 million. ### Why was it so controversial? Even though the Greens Party agreed with the Labor Party earlier that the threshold should be $100 million, they agreed to vote with the Coalition Government and reject this amendment. They did this because they thought it was better for Australian companies earning $200 million or over to have to make their tax information public than have no such requirement at all (which is what the Coalition Government were threatening). Read [ABC News](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-03/coalition-and-greens-strike-deal-on-multi-national-tax-avoidance/6997328) for more information. The Labor Party were not pleased. ### Some choice insults from Labor to the Greens "Sell-out rats!" said Senator [Stephen Conroy](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/stephen_conroy). "Sell-out Greens." agreed Senator [Sue Lines](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/wa/sue_lines). "Spineless!" continued Senator Conroy. "Sell-outs!" repeated Senator Lines. "Absolute bunch of amateurs." contributed Senator [Doug Cameron](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/doug_cameron). Through it all, Greens Senator [Richard Di Natale](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/richard_di_natale) kept trying to explain why the Greens were voting against the amendment (and therefore voting with the Coalition Government) - here is a [taste of his explanation](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-12-03.188.20). Meanwhile, the Chairman warned the angry interrupting senators that: > "I can at this point advise senators that I have cancelled my flight tonight. So I am in no hurry to finish this, but we will finish this with the Senate having some order." Read the whole argument [after 6:53 pm](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2015-12-03.146.2). ### What does the bill do? The [bill](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5549) strengthens the laws against [tax avoidance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_avoidance) for certain multinational entities. It introduces anti-avoidance measures to deal with companies with annual global income of more than $A1 billion that use schemes to avoid having a taxable presence in Australia. To learn more about the bill, see the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1516a/16bd045).
senate vote 2015-12-03#6 Edited by mackay staff on 2015-12-24 12:26:28	Title Description The majority voted against a very controversial [amendment](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr5549_amend_7a7e611b-e7b6-436e-94ab-21ecc4e7105a%22;rec=0) introduced by NSW Labor Senator [Sam Dastyari](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/sam_dastyari). ### What was the amendment? The amendment insisted that Australian companies with a total annual income equal $100 million or more should have to report certain tax information so it becomes public. That information includes the company's ABM, its total annual income, its taxable income and its tax payable. The amendment insisted that Australian companies with a total annual income equal $100 million or more should have to report certain tax information so it becomes public. That information includes the company's [ABN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Business_Number), its total annual income, its taxable income and its tax payable. The Coalition Governmnet opposed this amendment and said the threshold should be $200 million. ### Why was it so controversial? Even though the Greens Party agreed with the Labor Party earlier that the threshold should be $100 million, they agreed to vote with the Coalition Government and reject this amendment. They did this because they thought it was better for Australian companies earning $200 million or over to have to make their tax information public than have no such requirement at all (which is what the Coalition Government were threatening). Read [ABC News](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-03/coalition-and-greens-strike-deal-on-multi-national-tax-avoidance/6997328) for more information. The Labor Party were not pleased. ### Some choice insults from Labor to the Greens "Sell-out rats!" said Senator [Stephen Conroy](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/stephen_conroy). "Sell-out Greens." agreed Senator [Sue Lines](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/wa/sue_lines). "Spineless!" continued Senator Conroy. "Sell-outs!" repeated Senator Lines. "Absolute bunch of amateurs." contributed Senator [Doug Cameron](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/doug_cameron). Through it all, Greens Senator [Richard Di Natale](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/richard_di_natale) kept trying to explain why the Greens were voting against the amendment (and therefore voting with the Coalition Government) - here is a [taste of his explanation](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-12-03.188.20). Meanwhile, the Chairman warned the angry interrupting senators that: > "I can at this point advise senators that I have cancelled my flight tonight. So I am in no hurry to finish this, but we will finish this with the Senate having some order." Read the whole argument [after 6:53 pm](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2015-12-03.146.2). ### What does the bill do? The [bill](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5549) strengthens the laws against [tax avoidance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_avoidance) for certain multinational entities. It introduces anti-avoidance measures to deal with companies with annual global income of more than $A1 billion that use schemes to avoid having a taxable presence in Australia. To learn more about the bill, see the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1516a/16bd045).
senate vote 2015-12-03#6 Edited by mackay staff on 2015-12-24 12:12:01	Title Description The majority voted against a very controversial [amendment](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr5549_amend_7a7e611b-e7b6-436e-94ab-21ecc4e7105a%22;rec=0) introduced by NSW Senator [Sam Dastyari](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/sam_dastyari). The majority voted against a very controversial [amendment](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr5549_amend_7a7e611b-e7b6-436e-94ab-21ecc4e7105a%22;rec=0) introduced by NSW Labor Senator [Sam Dastyari](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/sam_dastyari). ### What was the amendment? The amendment insisted that Australian companies with a total annual income equal $100 million or more should have to report certain tax information so it becomes public. That information includes the company's ABM, its total annual income, its taxable income and its tax payable. The Coalition Governmnet opposed this amendment and said the threshold should be $200 million. ### Why was it so controversial? Even though the Greens Party agreed with the Labor Party earlier that the threshold should be $100 million, they agreed to vote with the Coalition Government and reject this amendment. They did this because they thought it was better for Australian companies earning $200 million or over to have to make their tax information public than have no such requirement at all (which is what the Coalition Government were threatening). Read [ABC News](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-03/coalition-and-greens-strike-deal-on-multi-national-tax-avoidance/6997328) for more information. The Labor Party were not pleased. ### Some choice insults from Labor to the Greens "Sell-out rats!" said Senator [Stephen Conroy](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/stephen_conroy). "Sell-out Greens." agreed Senator [Sue Lines](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/wa/sue_lines). "Spineless!" continued Senator Conroy. "Sell-outs!" repeated Senator Lines. "Absolute bunch of amateurs." contributed Senator [Doug Cameron](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/doug_cameron). Through it all, Greens Senator [Richard Di Natale](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/richard_di_natale) kept trying to explain why the Greens were voting against the amendment (and therefore voting with the Coalition Government) - here is a [taste of his explanation](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-12-03.188.20). Meanwhile, the Chairman warned the angry interrupting senators that: > "I can at this point advise senators that I have cancelled my flight tonight. So I am in no hurry to finish this, but we will finish this with the Senate having some order." Read the whole argument [after 6:53 pm](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2015-12-03.146.2). ### What does the bill do? The [bill](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5549) strengthens the laws against [tax avoidance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_avoidance) for certain multinational entities. It introduces anti-avoidance measures to deal with companies with annual global income of more than $A1 billion that use schemes to avoid having a taxable presence in Australia. To learn more about the bill, see the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1516a/16bd045).
senate vote 2015-12-03#6 Edited by mackay staff on 2015-12-24 12:01:57	Title Description The majority voted against a very controversial [amendment](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr5549_amend_7a7e611b-e7b6-436e-94ab-21ecc4e7105a%22;rec=0) introduced by NSW Senator [Sam Dastyari](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/sam_dastyari). ### What was the amendment? The amendment insisted that Australian companies with a total annual income equal $100 million or more should have to report certain tax information so it becomes public. That information includes the company's ABM, its total annual income, its taxable income and its tax payable. The Coalition Governmnet opposed this amendment and said the threshold should be $200 million. ### Why was it so controversial? Even though the Greens Party agreed with the Labor Party earlier that the threshold should be $100 million, they agreed to vote with the Coalition Government and reject this amendment. They did this because they thought it was better for Australian companies earning $200 million or over to have to make their tax information public than have no such requirement at all (which is what the Coalition Government were threatening). Read [ABC News](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-03/coalition-and-greens-strike-deal-on-multi-national-tax-avoidance/6997328) for more information. The Labor Party were not pleased. ### Some choice insults from Labor to the Greens "Sell-out rats!" said Senator [Stephen Conroy](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/stephen_conroy). "Sell-out Greens." agreed Senator [Sue Lines](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/wa/sue_lines). "Spineless!" continued Senator Conroy. "Sell-outs!" repeated Senator Lines. "Absolute bunch of amateurs." contributed Senator [Doug Cameron](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/doug_cameron). ... and so it continued. All the while, Greens Senator [Richard Di Natale](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/richard_di_natale) attempted to explain why the Greens were voting against the amendment (and therefore voting with the Coalition Government) - here is a [taste of his explanation](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-12-03.188.20). Through it all, Greens Senator [Richard Di Natale](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/richard_di_natale) kept trying to explain why the Greens were voting against the amendment (and therefore voting with the Coalition Government) - here is a [taste of his explanation](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-12-03.188.20). Meanwhile, the Chairman warned the angry interrupting senators that: > "I can at this point advise senators that I have cancelled my flight tonight. So I am in no hurry to finish this, but we will finish this with the Senate having some order." Read the whole argument [after 6:53 pm](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2015-12-03.146.2). ### What does the bill do? The [bill](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5549) strengthens the laws against [tax avoidance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_avoidance) for certain multinational entities. It introduces anti-avoidance measures to deal with companies with annual global income of more than $A1 billion that use schemes to avoid having a taxable presence in Australia. ~~To learn more about the bill, see the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1516a/16bd045).~~ To learn more about the bill, see the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1516a/16bd045).
senate vote 2015-12-03#6 Edited by mackay staff on 2015-12-24 11:58:34	Title Bills — Tax Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) Bill 2015; in Committee Tax Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) Bill 2015 - in Committee - Tax information of companies earning over $100m Description ~~<p class="speaker">Sam Dastyari</p>~~ ~~<p>I move:</p>~~ ~~<p class="italic">At the end of the motion, add:</p>~~ The majority voted against a very controversial [amendment](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr5549_amend_7a7e611b-e7b6-436e-94ab-21ecc4e7105a%22;rec=0) introduced by NSW Senator [Sam Dastyari](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/sam_dastyari). ### What was the amendment? The amendment insisted that Australian companies with a total annual income equal $100 million or more should have to report certain tax information so it becomes public. That information includes the company's ABM, its total annual income, its taxable income and its tax payable. The Coalition Governmnet opposed this amendment and said the threshold should be $200 million. ### Why was it so controversial? Even though the Greens Party agreed with the Labor Party earlier that the threshold should be $100 million, they agreed to vote with the Coalition Government and reject this amendment. They did this because they thought it was better for Australian companies earning $200 million or over to have to make their tax information public than have no such requirement at all (which is what the Coalition Government were threatening). Read [ABC News](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-03/coalition-and-greens-strike-deal-on-multi-national-tax-avoidance/6997328) for more information. The Labor Party were not pleased. ### Some choice insults from Labor to the Greens *"Sell-out rats!" said Senator [Stephen Conroy](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/stephen_conroy).* *"Sell-out Greens." agreed Senator [Sue Lines](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/wa/sue_lines).* *"Spineless!" continued Senator Conroy.* *"Sell-outs!" repeated Senator Lines.* *"Absolute bunch of amateurs." contributed Senator [Doug Cameron](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/doug_cameron).* ... and so it continued. All the while, Greens Senator [Richard Di Natale](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/richard_di_natale) attempted to explain why the Greens were voting against the amendment (and therefore voting with the Coalition Government) - here is a [taste of his explanation](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-12-03.188.20). Meanwhile, the Chairman warned the angry interrupting senators that: *> "I can at this point advise senators that I have cancelled my flight tonight. So I am in no hurry to finish this, but we will finish this with the Senate having some order."* Read the whole argument [after 6:53 pm](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2015-12-03.146.2). ### What does the bill do? The [bill](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5549) strengthens the laws against [tax avoidance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_avoidance) for certain multinational entities. It introduces anti-avoidance measures to deal with companies with annual global income of more than $A1 billion that use schemes to avoid having a taxable presence in Australia. To learn more about the bill, see the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1516a/16bd045). ~~<p class="italic">'but agrees to the amendment circulated in the name of Senator Dastyari on sheet 7831, which replaces amendment (3) with which the House has disagreed.'</p>~~ ~~<p>Again, a lot of these points have been debated and covered quite extensively.</p>~~ ~~<p class="speaker">Stephen Conroy</p>~~ ~~<p>Sell-out rats.</p>~~ ~~<p class="speaker">Sam Dastyari</p>~~ ~~<p>I think the key phrase 'sell-out rats' has been used a few times already tonight.</p>~~ ~~<p class="speaker">Sue Lines</p>~~ ~~<p>Sell-out Greens.</p>~~ ~~<p class="speaker">Sam Dastyari</p>~~ ~~<p>And 'sell-out Greens'. So, in the interest of moving forward with legislation, I do not believe we need to articulate the point that has already been made extensively.</p>~~ ~~<p class="speaker">Sue Lines</p>~~ ~~<p>But you could.</p>~~ ~~<p class="speaker">Sam Dastyari</p>~~ <p>I could, and perhaps I will. But let's just be very, very clear about what this is. This amendment insists on the $100 million threshold. That is what the proposal that we are about to vote on is. So the question here is: will we insist on the amendment that had already been moved to this legislation, which was supported by a majority of this Senate, or will we not support an amendment that already had majority support?</p> ~~<p class="speaker">Stephen Conroy</p>~~ ~~<p>The Greens voted for it.</p>~~ ~~<p class="speaker">Sam Dastyari</p>~~ <p>The Greens voted for it. So we will now find out whether they will go against the amendment that they already voted for that set $100 million as the threshold. So that there is no confusion at all: there is an amendment and it has already been passed. The Greens have voted for it already. The amendment I am moving will insist on that amendment. So let's just see how they choose to vote on it.</p> ~~<p class="speaker">Mathias Cormann</p>~~ <p>The government does not support the amendment proposed by the Labor opposition. The government is committed to tax transparency, but the government will not go so far as to reveal taxpayer information for private companies under such low thresholds as Labor is proposing. The government is already taking action. We are implementing the G20 OECD base erosion and profit-shifting recommendations on country-by-country reporting and harmful tax practices to address multinational tax avoidance and the common reporting standard for the automatic exchange of financial account information to address taxpayer offshore tax evasion.</p> <p>The government has also asked the Board of Taxation to work with business to develop a voluntary code for greater disclosure by companies of their tax information. The board is expected to finalise the code in early 2016. The government has also maintained the Australian Taxation Office's corporation tax transparency publication. The exclusion of certain private companies below a reasonable threshold has no impact on the comprehensive powers of the Commissioner of Taxation to require companies to produce any information that is relevant to making an assessment of their tax liability. It also has no impact on the amount of tax paid by these companies under the law. The proposed public disclosure of taxpayer information will continue to apply to multinational enterprises operating in Australia and to Australian public companies.</p> ~~<p class="speaker">Richard Di Natale</p>~~ <p>Most of these issues have been very well ventilated throughout the day. I would just say that, if this amendment is supported, we get nothing. What the Labor Party is saying again is that if this amendment is supported companies like Transfield, private Australian companies, will not—</p> ~~<p class="speaker">Opposition Senators</p>~~ ~~<p>Opposition senators interjecting—</p>~~ ~~<p>The CHAIRMAN: Order! Resume your seat, Senator Di Natale.</p>~~ ~~<p class="speaker">Sue Lines</p>~~ ~~<p>Absolute Greens sell-out.</p>~~ ~~<p class="speaker">Sam Dastyari</p>~~ ~~<p>You've taken it hook, line and sinker.</p>~~ ~~<p class="speaker">Stephen Conroy</p>~~ ~~<p>Spineless!</p>~~ ~~<p class="speaker">Sue Lines</p>~~ ~~<p>Sell-outs!</p>~~ ~~<p class="speaker">Doug Cameron</p>~~ ~~<p>Absolute bunch of amateurs.</p>~~ ~~<p class="speaker">Stephen Conroy</p>~~ ~~<p>Oh, he has sat down. He is sulking.</p>~~ ~~<p>The CHAIRMAN: No, I sat the senator down.</p>~~ ~~<p class="speaker">Doug Cameron</p>~~ ~~<p>Just an absolute bunch of amateurs. Just give in.</p>~~ ~~<p>The CHAIRMAN: When the Senate comes to order, I will ask the senator to stand. Senator Di Natale.</p>~~ ~~<p class="speaker">Richard Di Natale</p>~~ ~~<p>The issue here is that, by supporting this amendment, we lose everything. We walk away from the Senate today and companies—</p>~~ ~~<p>Opposition senators interjecting—</p>~~ ~~<p class="speaker">Doug Cameron</p>~~ ~~<p>You have lost any sort of credibility. That is what you have lost. Bloody sell-out merchant.</p>~~ ~~<p>The CHAIRMAN: Senator Di Natale, just resume your seat.</p>~~ ~~<p>Opposition senators interjecting—</p>~~ ~~<p>The CHAIRMAN: Senator Di Natale.</p>~~ ~~<p class="speaker">Richard Di Natale</p>~~ <p>As I have tried to say on three or four consecutive occasions, by supporting this amendment we get nothing. Companies like News Limited will continue to be able to engage in their tax avoidance and it will not be published.</p> ~~<p class="speaker">Stephen Conroy</p>~~ ~~<p>Stop making it up. Have a bit of spine.</p>~~ ~~<p class="speaker">Richard Di Natale</p>~~ ~~<p>Companies like Transfield—</p>~~ ~~<p>Opposition senators interjecting—</p>~~ <p>The CHAIRMAN: Order! Senator Di Natale, just resume your seat. I can at this point advise senators that I have cancelled my flight tonight. So I am in no hurry to finish this, but we will finish this with the Senate having some order. Senator Di Natale, you have the call.</p> <p>By supporting this amendment, companies like Transfield will not have to declare the amount of tax that they pay. Companies like Ingham chicken, the largest donor on the grandfathered list to the ALP and the Liberal Party—so one of the Labor Party's donors—will not have to disclose the amount of tax that they pay. That is what happens if we support this amendment. What we have is an opportunity to continue—</p> ~~<p>Opposition senators interjecting—</p>~~ ~~<p>The CHAIRMAN: Just resume your seat, Senator Di Natale.</p>~~ ~~<p class="speaker">Stephen Conroy</p>~~ ~~<p>He sat down before. He is sulking.</p>~~ ~~<p>The CHAIRMAN: No; I had indicated to the senator that I wanted him to resume his seat.</p>~~ ~~<p>No; he sat down before you said that.</p>~~ ~~<p>The CHAIRMAN: Yes, before I said it but I had indicated to the senator to resume his seat. Senator Di Natale.</p>~~ ~~<p class="speaker">Richard Di Natale</p>~~ <p>As I said, companies like News Limited, Pfizer and Pratt Holdings—another big donor to the Australian Labor Party—will all get off scot-free. We will get nothing. Ultimately, this is a question of whether you get 90 per cent of something or 100 per cent of nothing. What the Labor Party is saying right now is that they would prefer to have 100 per cent of nothing. They would prefer to have an issue to grandstand with in the lead-up to the next election. It is critical it is passed today because from 1 January next year we will get country-by-country reporting. That would not happen if this legislation were not passed today, and that is why it is so critical.</p> ~~<p>Opposition senators interjecting—</p>~~ <p>Ultimately, we believe that it is important to get some action on multinational tax avoidance rather than standing on the sidelines and grandstanding—that is the issue here. You have a choice. In this place you can grandstand from the sidelines or you can roll your sleeves up and actually get action on multinational tax avoidance, so that is what we have decided to do.</p> ~~<p>Opposition senators interjecting—</p>~~ <p>Ultimately, we have decided that in the interests of ensuring that we get those huge multinationals, those private companies—who currently do not have any requirements: none, zero, zip, nada, zilch—to declare the amount of tax that they pay, we believe that it is critical to pass this bill tonight. The Labor Party is saying, 'We don't want to do that. We don't want legislation on multinational tax avoidance. We don't want it. We want to stand here and grandstand and have the House decide to reject this legislation to give the coalition an opportunity to say, "Hang on, the Senate can't agree. You've given us an out."' We are not going to give them an out.</p> <p>What we are going to do is support legislation that ensures that those big companies pay their fair share, and that is what we are doing right now. We are ensuring that, by rejecting this amendment, which was rejected already by the lower House—</p> ~~<p>Opposition senators interjecting—</p>~~ <p>Which means that nothing happens and that we do not get any legislation—nothing, zero! It is a choice: do you grandstand or do you take some action in this area. We think action is important, so we are rolling our sleeves up and we are ensuring that we get legislation tonight, and the passage of this amendment would sink that legislation.</p> ~~<p></p>~~ ~~<p>The CHAIRMAN: The question is that Senator Dastyari's amendment on sheet 7831, which replaces amendment (3) with which the House has disagreed, be agreed to.</p>~~

Change

Division

senate vote 2015-12-03#6

Edited by mackay staff

on 2015-12-24 12:52:52

Title

Description

The majority voted against a very controversial [amendment](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr5549_amend_7a7e611b-e7b6-436e-94ab-21ecc4e7105a%22;rec=0) introduced by NSW Labor Senator [Sam Dastyari](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/sam_dastyari).
### What was the amendment?
The amendment insisted that Australian companies with a total annual income of $100 million or more should have to report certain tax information so it becomes public. That information includes the company's [ABN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Business_Number), its total annual income, its taxable income and its tax payable.
The Coalition Governmnet opposed this amendment and said the threshold should be $200 million.
### Why was it so controversial?
Even though the Greens Party earlier agreed with the Labor Party that the threshold should be $100 million, they made an agreement to vote with the Coalition Government and reject this amendment. They did this because they thought it was better than nothing. Read [ABC News](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-03/coalition-and-greens-strike-deal-on-multi-national-tax-avoidance/6997328) for more information.
The Labor Party were not pleased.
### Some choice insults from Labor to the Greens
"*Sell-out rats!*" said Senator [Stephen Conroy](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/stephen_conroy).
"*Sell-out Greens.*" agreed Senator [Sue Lines](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/wa/sue_lines).
"*Spineless!*" continued Senator Conroy.
"*Sell-outs!*" repeated Senator Lines.
"*Absolute bunch of amateurs.*" contributed Senator [Doug Cameron](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/doug_cameron).
Through it all, Greens Senator [Richard Di Natale](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/richard_di_natale) kept trying to explain why the Greens were voting against the amendment (and therefore voting with the Coalition Government) - here is a [taste of his explanation](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-12-03.188.20).
Meanwhile, the Chairman warned the angry interrupting senators that:
> "*I can at this point advise senators that I have cancelled my flight tonight. So I am in no hurry to finish this, but we will finish this with the Senate having some order.*"
Read the whole argument [after 6:53 pm](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2015-12-03.146.2).
### What does the bill do?
The [bill](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5549) strengthens the laws against [tax avoidance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_avoidance) for certain companies. For example, it introduces anti-avoidance measures to deal with multinational companies with an annual global income of more than $A1 billion that use schemes to avoid having to pay tax in Australia or at least reduce that tax to a minimum.
The [bill](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5549) strengthens the laws against [tax avoidance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_avoidance) for certain companies. For example, it introduces anti-avoidance measures to deal with [multinational companies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multinational_corporation) with an annual global income of more than $A1 billion that use schemes to avoid having to pay tax in Australia or at least reduce that tax to a minimum.
~~To learn more about the bill, see the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1516a/16bd045).~~
To learn more about the bill, see the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1516a/16bd045).

senate vote 2015-12-03#6

Edited by mackay staff

on 2015-12-24 12:51:46

Title

Description

The majority voted against a very controversial [amendment](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr5549_amend_7a7e611b-e7b6-436e-94ab-21ecc4e7105a%22;rec=0) introduced by NSW Labor Senator [Sam Dastyari](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/sam_dastyari).
### What was the amendment?
The amendment insisted that Australian companies with a total annual income of $100 million or more should have to report certain tax information so it becomes public. That information includes the company's [ABN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Business_Number), its total annual income, its taxable income and its tax payable.
The Coalition Governmnet opposed this amendment and said the threshold should be $200 million.
### Why was it so controversial?
Even though the Greens Party earlier agreed with the Labor Party that the threshold should be $100 million, they made an agreement to vote with the Coalition Government and reject this amendment. They did this because they thought it was better than nothing. Read [ABC News](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-03/coalition-and-greens-strike-deal-on-multi-national-tax-avoidance/6997328) for more information.
The Labor Party were not pleased.
### Some choice insults from Labor to the Greens
"*Sell-out rats!*" said Senator [Stephen Conroy](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/stephen_conroy).
"*Sell-out Greens.*" agreed Senator [Sue Lines](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/wa/sue_lines).
"*Spineless!*" continued Senator Conroy.
"*Sell-outs!*" repeated Senator Lines.
"*Absolute bunch of amateurs.*" contributed Senator [Doug Cameron](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/doug_cameron).
Through it all, Greens Senator [Richard Di Natale](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/richard_di_natale) kept trying to explain why the Greens were voting against the amendment (and therefore voting with the Coalition Government) - here is a [taste of his explanation](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-12-03.188.20).
Meanwhile, the Chairman warned the angry interrupting senators that:
> "*I can at this point advise senators that I have cancelled my flight tonight. So I am in no hurry to finish this, but we will finish this with the Senate having some order.*"
Read the whole argument [after 6:53 pm](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2015-12-03.146.2).
### What does the bill do?
The [bill](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5549) strengthens the laws against [tax avoidance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_avoidance) for certain multinational entities. It introduces anti-avoidance measures to deal with companies with annual global income of more than $A1 billion that use schemes to avoid having a taxable presence in Australia.
The [bill](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5549) strengthens the laws against [tax avoidance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_avoidance) for certain companies. For example, it introduces anti-avoidance measures to deal with multinational companies with an annual global income of more than $A1 billion that use schemes to avoid having to pay tax in Australia or at least reduce that tax to a minimum.
~~To learn more about the bill, see the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1516a/16bd045).~~
To learn more about the bill, see the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1516a/16bd045).

senate vote 2015-12-03#6

Edited by mackay staff

on 2015-12-24 12:31:32

Title

Description

The majority voted against a very controversial [amendment](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr5549_amend_7a7e611b-e7b6-436e-94ab-21ecc4e7105a%22;rec=0) introduced by NSW Labor Senator [Sam Dastyari](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/sam_dastyari).
### What was the amendment?
The amendment insisted that Australian companies with a total annual income of $100 million or more should have to report certain tax information so it becomes public. That information includes the company's [ABN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Business_Number), its total annual income, its taxable income and its tax payable.
The Coalition Governmnet opposed this amendment and said the threshold should be $200 million.
### Why was it so controversial?
Even though the Greens Party agreed with the Labor Party earlier that the threshold should be $100 million, they agreed to vote with the Coalition Government and reject this amendment. They did this because they thought it was better for Australian companies earning $200 million or over to have to make their tax information public than have no such requirement at all (which is what the Coalition Government were threatening). Read [ABC News](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-03/coalition-and-greens-strike-deal-on-multi-national-tax-avoidance/6997328) for more information.
Even though the Greens Party earlier agreed with the Labor Party that the threshold should be $100 million, they made an agreement to vote with the Coalition Government and reject this amendment. They did this because they thought it was better than nothing. Read [ABC News](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-03/coalition-and-greens-strike-deal-on-multi-national-tax-avoidance/6997328) for more information.
The Labor Party were not pleased.
### Some choice insults from Labor to the Greens
"*Sell-out rats!*" said Senator [Stephen Conroy](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/stephen_conroy).
"*Sell-out Greens.*" agreed Senator [Sue Lines](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/wa/sue_lines).
"*Spineless!*" continued Senator Conroy.
"*Sell-outs!*" repeated Senator Lines.
"*Absolute bunch of amateurs.*" contributed Senator [Doug Cameron](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/doug_cameron).
Through it all, Greens Senator [Richard Di Natale](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/richard_di_natale) kept trying to explain why the Greens were voting against the amendment (and therefore voting with the Coalition Government) - here is a [taste of his explanation](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-12-03.188.20).
Meanwhile, the Chairman warned the angry interrupting senators that:
> "*I can at this point advise senators that I have cancelled my flight tonight. So I am in no hurry to finish this, but we will finish this with the Senate having some order.*"
Read the whole argument [after 6:53 pm](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2015-12-03.146.2).
### What does the bill do?
The [bill](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5549) strengthens the laws against [tax avoidance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_avoidance) for certain multinational entities. It introduces anti-avoidance measures to deal with companies with annual global income of more than $A1 billion that use schemes to avoid having a taxable presence in Australia.
To learn more about the bill, see the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1516a/16bd045).

senate vote 2015-12-03#6

Edited by mackay staff

on 2015-12-24 12:28:16

Title

Description

The majority voted against a very controversial [amendment](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr5549_amend_7a7e611b-e7b6-436e-94ab-21ecc4e7105a%22;rec=0) introduced by NSW Labor Senator [Sam Dastyari](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/sam_dastyari).
### What was the amendment?
The amendment insisted that Australian companies with a total annual income equal $100 million or more should have to report certain tax information so it becomes public. That information includes the company's [ABN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Business_Number), its total annual income, its taxable income and its tax payable.
The amendment insisted that Australian companies with a total annual income of $100 million or more should have to report certain tax information so it becomes public. That information includes the company's [ABN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Business_Number), its total annual income, its taxable income and its tax payable.
The Coalition Governmnet opposed this amendment and said the threshold should be $200 million.
### Why was it so controversial?
Even though the Greens Party agreed with the Labor Party earlier that the threshold should be $100 million, they agreed to vote with the Coalition Government and reject this amendment. They did this because they thought it was better for Australian companies earning $200 million or over to have to make their tax information public than have no such requirement at all (which is what the Coalition Government were threatening). Read [ABC News](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-03/coalition-and-greens-strike-deal-on-multi-national-tax-avoidance/6997328) for more information.
The Labor Party were not pleased.
### Some choice insults from Labor to the Greens
"*Sell-out rats!*" said Senator [Stephen Conroy](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/stephen_conroy).
"*Sell-out Greens.*" agreed Senator [Sue Lines](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/wa/sue_lines).
"*Spineless!*" continued Senator Conroy.
"*Sell-outs!*" repeated Senator Lines.
"*Absolute bunch of amateurs.*" contributed Senator [Doug Cameron](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/doug_cameron).
Through it all, Greens Senator [Richard Di Natale](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/richard_di_natale) kept trying to explain why the Greens were voting against the amendment (and therefore voting with the Coalition Government) - here is a [taste of his explanation](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-12-03.188.20).
Meanwhile, the Chairman warned the angry interrupting senators that:
> "*I can at this point advise senators that I have cancelled my flight tonight. So I am in no hurry to finish this, but we will finish this with the Senate having some order.*"
Read the whole argument [after 6:53 pm](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2015-12-03.146.2).
### What does the bill do?
The [bill](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5549) strengthens the laws against [tax avoidance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_avoidance) for certain multinational entities. It introduces anti-avoidance measures to deal with companies with annual global income of more than $A1 billion that use schemes to avoid having a taxable presence in Australia.
To learn more about the bill, see the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1516a/16bd045).

senate vote 2015-12-03#6

Edited by mackay staff

on 2015-12-24 12:26:28

Title

Description

The majority voted against a very controversial [amendment](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr5549_amend_7a7e611b-e7b6-436e-94ab-21ecc4e7105a%22;rec=0) introduced by NSW Labor Senator [Sam Dastyari](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/sam_dastyari).
### What was the amendment?
The amendment insisted that Australian companies with a total annual income equal $100 million or more should have to report certain tax information so it becomes public. That information includes the company's ABM, its total annual income, its taxable income and its tax payable.
The amendment insisted that Australian companies with a total annual income equal $100 million or more should have to report certain tax information so it becomes public. That information includes the company's [ABN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Business_Number), its total annual income, its taxable income and its tax payable.
The Coalition Governmnet opposed this amendment and said the threshold should be $200 million.
### Why was it so controversial?
Even though the Greens Party agreed with the Labor Party earlier that the threshold should be $100 million, they agreed to vote with the Coalition Government and reject this amendment. They did this because they thought it was better for Australian companies earning $200 million or over to have to make their tax information public than have no such requirement at all (which is what the Coalition Government were threatening). Read [ABC News](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-03/coalition-and-greens-strike-deal-on-multi-national-tax-avoidance/6997328) for more information.
The Labor Party were not pleased.
### Some choice insults from Labor to the Greens
"*Sell-out rats!*" said Senator [Stephen Conroy](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/stephen_conroy).
"*Sell-out Greens.*" agreed Senator [Sue Lines](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/wa/sue_lines).
"*Spineless!*" continued Senator Conroy.
"*Sell-outs!*" repeated Senator Lines.
"*Absolute bunch of amateurs.*" contributed Senator [Doug Cameron](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/doug_cameron).
Through it all, Greens Senator [Richard Di Natale](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/richard_di_natale) kept trying to explain why the Greens were voting against the amendment (and therefore voting with the Coalition Government) - here is a [taste of his explanation](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-12-03.188.20).
Meanwhile, the Chairman warned the angry interrupting senators that:
> "*I can at this point advise senators that I have cancelled my flight tonight. So I am in no hurry to finish this, but we will finish this with the Senate having some order.*"
Read the whole argument [after 6:53 pm](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2015-12-03.146.2).
### What does the bill do?
The [bill](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5549) strengthens the laws against [tax avoidance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_avoidance) for certain multinational entities. It introduces anti-avoidance measures to deal with companies with annual global income of more than $A1 billion that use schemes to avoid having a taxable presence in Australia.
To learn more about the bill, see the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1516a/16bd045).

senate vote 2015-12-03#6

Edited by mackay staff

on 2015-12-24 12:12:01

Title

Description

The majority voted against a very controversial [amendment](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr5549_amend_7a7e611b-e7b6-436e-94ab-21ecc4e7105a%22;rec=0) introduced by NSW Senator [Sam Dastyari](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/sam_dastyari).
The majority voted against a very controversial [amendment](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr5549_amend_7a7e611b-e7b6-436e-94ab-21ecc4e7105a%22;rec=0) introduced by NSW Labor Senator [Sam Dastyari](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/sam_dastyari).
### What was the amendment?
The amendment insisted that Australian companies with a total annual income equal $100 million or more should have to report certain tax information so it becomes public. That information includes the company's ABM, its total annual income, its taxable income and its tax payable.
The Coalition Governmnet opposed this amendment and said the threshold should be $200 million.
### Why was it so controversial?
Even though the Greens Party agreed with the Labor Party earlier that the threshold should be $100 million, they agreed to vote with the Coalition Government and reject this amendment. They did this because they thought it was better for Australian companies earning $200 million or over to have to make their tax information public than have no such requirement at all (which is what the Coalition Government were threatening). Read [ABC News](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-03/coalition-and-greens-strike-deal-on-multi-national-tax-avoidance/6997328) for more information.
The Labor Party were not pleased.
### Some choice insults from Labor to the Greens
"*Sell-out rats!*" said Senator [Stephen Conroy](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/stephen_conroy).
"*Sell-out Greens.*" agreed Senator [Sue Lines](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/wa/sue_lines).
"*Spineless!*" continued Senator Conroy.
"*Sell-outs!*" repeated Senator Lines.
"*Absolute bunch of amateurs.*" contributed Senator [Doug Cameron](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/doug_cameron).
Through it all, Greens Senator [Richard Di Natale](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/richard_di_natale) kept trying to explain why the Greens were voting against the amendment (and therefore voting with the Coalition Government) - here is a [taste of his explanation](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-12-03.188.20).
Meanwhile, the Chairman warned the angry interrupting senators that:
> "*I can at this point advise senators that I have cancelled my flight tonight. So I am in no hurry to finish this, but we will finish this with the Senate having some order.*"
Read the whole argument [after 6:53 pm](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2015-12-03.146.2).
### What does the bill do?
The [bill](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5549) strengthens the laws against [tax avoidance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_avoidance) for certain multinational entities. It introduces anti-avoidance measures to deal with companies with annual global income of more than $A1 billion that use schemes to avoid having a taxable presence in Australia.
To learn more about the bill, see the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1516a/16bd045).

senate vote 2015-12-03#6

Edited by mackay staff

on 2015-12-24 12:01:57

Title

Description

The majority voted against a very controversial [amendment](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr5549_amend_7a7e611b-e7b6-436e-94ab-21ecc4e7105a%22;rec=0) introduced by NSW Senator [Sam Dastyari](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/sam_dastyari).
### What was the amendment?
The amendment insisted that Australian companies with a total annual income equal $100 million or more should have to report certain tax information so it becomes public. That information includes the company's ABM, its total annual income, its taxable income and its tax payable.
The Coalition Governmnet opposed this amendment and said the threshold should be $200 million.
### Why was it so controversial?
Even though the Greens Party agreed with the Labor Party earlier that the threshold should be $100 million, they agreed to vote with the Coalition Government and reject this amendment. They did this because they thought it was better for Australian companies earning $200 million or over to have to make their tax information public than have no such requirement at all (which is what the Coalition Government were threatening). Read [ABC News](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-03/coalition-and-greens-strike-deal-on-multi-national-tax-avoidance/6997328) for more information.
The Labor Party were not pleased.
### Some choice insults from Labor to the Greens
"*Sell-out rats!*" said Senator [Stephen Conroy](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/stephen_conroy).
"*Sell-out Greens.*" agreed Senator [Sue Lines](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/wa/sue_lines).
"*Spineless!*" continued Senator Conroy.
"*Sell-outs!*" repeated Senator Lines.
"*Absolute bunch of amateurs.*" contributed Senator [Doug Cameron](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/doug_cameron).
... and so it continued. All the while, Greens Senator [Richard Di Natale](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/richard_di_natale) attempted to explain why the Greens were voting against the amendment (and therefore voting with the Coalition Government) - here is a [taste of his explanation](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-12-03.188.20).
Through it all, Greens Senator [Richard Di Natale](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/richard_di_natale) kept trying to explain why the Greens were voting against the amendment (and therefore voting with the Coalition Government) - here is a [taste of his explanation](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-12-03.188.20).
Meanwhile, the Chairman warned the angry interrupting senators that:
> "*I can at this point advise senators that I have cancelled my flight tonight. So I am in no hurry to finish this, but we will finish this with the Senate having some order.*"
Read the whole argument [after 6:53 pm](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2015-12-03.146.2).
### What does the bill do?
The [bill](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5549) strengthens the laws against [tax avoidance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_avoidance) for certain multinational entities. It introduces anti-avoidance measures to deal with companies with annual global income of more than $A1 billion that use schemes to avoid having a taxable presence in Australia.
~~To learn more about the bill, see the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1516a/16bd045).~~
To learn more about the bill, see the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1516a/16bd045).

senate vote 2015-12-03#6

Edited by mackay staff

on 2015-12-24 11:58:34

Title

Bills — Tax Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) Bill 2015; in Committee
Tax Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) Bill 2015 - in Committee - Tax information of companies earning over $100m

Description

~~Sam Dastyari~~
~~I move:~~
~~At the end of the motion, add:~~
The majority voted against a very controversial [amendment](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr5549_amend_7a7e611b-e7b6-436e-94ab-21ecc4e7105a%22;rec=0) introduced by NSW Senator [Sam Dastyari](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/sam_dastyari).
### What was the amendment?
The amendment insisted that Australian companies with a total annual income equal $100 million or more should have to report certain tax information so it becomes public. That information includes the company's ABM, its total annual income, its taxable income and its tax payable.
The Coalition Governmnet opposed this amendment and said the threshold should be $200 million.
### Why was it so controversial?
Even though the Greens Party agreed with the Labor Party earlier that the threshold should be $100 million, they agreed to vote with the Coalition Government and reject this amendment. They did this because they thought it was better for Australian companies earning $200 million or over to have to make their tax information public than have no such requirement at all (which is what the Coalition Government were threatening). Read [ABC News](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-03/coalition-and-greens-strike-deal-on-multi-national-tax-avoidance/6997328) for more information.
The Labor Party were not pleased.
### Some choice insults from Labor to the Greens
"*Sell-out rats!*" said Senator [Stephen Conroy](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/stephen_conroy).
"*Sell-out Greens.*" agreed Senator [Sue Lines](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/wa/sue_lines).
"*Spineless!*" continued Senator Conroy.
"*Sell-outs!*" repeated Senator Lines.
"*Absolute bunch of amateurs.*" contributed Senator [Doug Cameron](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/nsw/doug_cameron).
... and so it continued. All the while, Greens Senator [Richard Di Natale](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/richard_di_natale) attempted to explain why the Greens were voting against the amendment (and therefore voting with the Coalition Government) - here is a [taste of his explanation](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2015-12-03.188.20).
Meanwhile, the Chairman warned the angry interrupting senators that:
> "*I can at this point advise senators that I have cancelled my flight tonight. So I am in no hurry to finish this, but we will finish this with the Senate having some order.*"
Read the whole argument [after 6:53 pm](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2015-12-03.146.2).
### What does the bill do?
The [bill](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5549) strengthens the laws against [tax avoidance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_avoidance) for certain multinational entities. It introduces anti-avoidance measures to deal with companies with annual global income of more than $A1 billion that use schemes to avoid having a taxable presence in Australia.
To learn more about the bill, see the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1516a/16bd045).
~~'but agrees to the amendment circulated in the name of Senator Dastyari on sheet 7831, which replaces amendment (3) with which the House has disagreed.'~~
~~Again, a lot of these points have been debated and covered quite extensively.~~
~~Stephen Conroy~~
~~Sell-out rats.~~
~~Sam Dastyari~~
~~I think the key phrase 'sell-out rats' has been used a few times already tonight.~~
~~Sue Lines~~
~~Sell-out Greens.~~
~~Sam Dastyari~~
~~And 'sell-out Greens'. So, in the interest of moving forward with legislation, I do not believe we need to articulate the point that has already been made extensively.~~
~~Sue Lines~~
~~But you could.~~
~~Sam Dastyari~~
I could, and perhaps I will. But let's just be very, very clear about what this is. This amendment insists on the $100 million threshold. That is what the proposal that we are about to vote on is. So the question here is: will we insist on the amendment that had already been moved to this legislation, which was supported by a majority of this Senate, or will we not support an amendment that already had majority support?
~~Stephen Conroy~~
~~The Greens voted for it.~~
~~Sam Dastyari~~
The Greens voted for it. So we will now find out whether they will go against the amendment that they already voted for that set $100 million as the threshold. So that there is no confusion at all: there is an amendment and it has already been passed. The Greens have voted for it already. The amendment I am moving will insist on that amendment. So let's just see how they choose to vote on it.
~~Mathias Cormann~~
The government does not support the amendment proposed by the Labor opposition. The government is committed to tax transparency, but the government will not go so far as to reveal taxpayer information for private companies under such low thresholds as Labor is proposing. The government is already taking action. We are implementing the G20 OECD base erosion and profit-shifting recommendations on country-by-country reporting and harmful tax practices to address multinational tax avoidance and the common reporting standard for the automatic exchange of financial account information to address taxpayer offshore tax evasion.
The government has also asked the Board of Taxation to work with business to develop a voluntary code for greater disclosure by companies of their tax information. The board is expected to finalise the code in early 2016. The government has also maintained the Australian Taxation Office's corporation tax transparency publication. The exclusion of certain private companies below a reasonable threshold has no impact on the comprehensive powers of the Commissioner of Taxation to require companies to produce any information that is relevant to making an assessment of their tax liability. It also has no impact on the amount of tax paid by these companies under the law. The proposed public disclosure of taxpayer information will continue to apply to multinational enterprises operating in Australia and to Australian public companies.
~~Richard Di Natale~~
Most of these issues have been very well ventilated throughout the day. I would just say that, if this amendment is supported, we get nothing. What the Labor Party is saying again is that if this amendment is supported companies like Transfield, private Australian companies, will not—
~~Opposition Senators~~
~~Opposition senators interjecting—~~
~~The CHAIRMAN: Order! Resume your seat, Senator Di Natale.~~
~~Sue Lines~~
~~Absolute Greens sell-out.~~
~~Sam Dastyari~~
~~You've taken it hook, line and sinker.~~
~~Stephen Conroy~~
~~Spineless!~~
~~Sue Lines~~
~~Sell-outs!~~
~~Doug Cameron~~
~~Absolute bunch of amateurs.~~
~~Stephen Conroy~~
~~Oh, he has sat down. He is sulking.~~
~~The CHAIRMAN: No, I sat the senator down.~~
~~Doug Cameron~~
~~Just an absolute bunch of amateurs. Just give in.~~
~~The CHAIRMAN: When the Senate comes to order, I will ask the senator to stand. Senator Di Natale.~~
~~Richard Di Natale~~
~~The issue here is that, by supporting this amendment, we lose everything. We walk away from the Senate today and companies—~~
~~Opposition senators interjecting—~~
~~Doug Cameron~~
~~You have lost any sort of credibility. That is what you have lost. Bloody sell-out merchant.~~
~~The CHAIRMAN: Senator Di Natale, just resume your seat.~~
~~Opposition senators interjecting—~~
~~The CHAIRMAN: Senator Di Natale.~~
~~Richard Di Natale~~
As I have tried to say on three or four consecutive occasions, by supporting this amendment we get nothing. Companies like News Limited will continue to be able to engage in their tax avoidance and it will not be published.
~~Stephen Conroy~~
~~Stop making it up. Have a bit of spine.~~
~~Richard Di Natale~~
~~Companies like Transfield—~~
~~Opposition senators interjecting—~~
The CHAIRMAN: Order! Senator Di Natale, just resume your seat. I can at this point advise senators that I have cancelled my flight tonight. So I am in no hurry to finish this, but we will finish this with the Senate having some order. Senator Di Natale, you have the call.
By supporting this amendment, companies like Transfield will not have to declare the amount of tax that they pay. Companies like Ingham chicken, the largest donor on the grandfathered list to the ALP and the Liberal Party—so one of the Labor Party's donors—will not have to disclose the amount of tax that they pay. That is what happens if we support this amendment. What we have is an opportunity to continue—
~~Opposition senators interjecting—~~
~~The CHAIRMAN: Just resume your seat, Senator Di Natale.~~
~~Stephen Conroy~~
~~He sat down before. He is sulking.~~
~~The CHAIRMAN: No; I had indicated to the senator that I wanted him to resume his seat.~~
~~No; he sat down before you said that.~~
~~The CHAIRMAN: Yes, before I said it but I had indicated to the senator to resume his seat. Senator Di Natale.~~
~~Richard Di Natale~~
As I said, companies like News Limited, Pfizer and Pratt Holdings—another big donor to the Australian Labor Party—will all get off scot-free. We will get nothing. Ultimately, this is a question of whether you get 90 per cent of something or 100 per cent of nothing. What the Labor Party is saying right now is that they would prefer to have 100 per cent of nothing. They would prefer to have an issue to grandstand with in the lead-up to the next election. It is critical it is passed today because from 1 January next year we will get country-by-country reporting. That would not happen if this legislation were not passed today, and that is why it is so critical.
~~Opposition senators interjecting—~~
Ultimately, we believe that it is important to get some action on multinational tax avoidance rather than standing on the sidelines and grandstanding—that is the issue here. You have a choice. In this place you can grandstand from the sidelines or you can roll your sleeves up and actually get action on multinational tax avoidance, so that is what we have decided to do.
~~Opposition senators interjecting—~~
Ultimately, we have decided that in the interests of ensuring that we get those huge multinationals, those private companies—who currently do not have any requirements: none, zero, zip, nada, zilch—to declare the amount of tax that they pay, we believe that it is critical to pass this bill tonight. The Labor Party is saying, 'We don't want to do that. We don't want legislation on multinational tax avoidance. We don't want it. We want to stand here and grandstand and have the House decide to reject this legislation to give the coalition an opportunity to say, "Hang on, the Senate can't agree. You've given us an out."' We are not going to give them an out.
What we are going to do is support legislation that ensures that those big companies pay their fair share, and that is what we are doing right now. We are ensuring that, by rejecting this amendment, which was rejected already by the lower House—
~~Opposition senators interjecting—~~
Which means that nothing happens and that we do not get any legislation—nothing, zero! It is a choice: do you grandstand or do you take some action in this area. We think action is important, so we are rolling our sleeves up and we are ensuring that we get legislation tonight, and the passage of this amendment would sink that legislation.
~~~~
~~The CHAIRMAN: The question is that Senator Dastyari's amendment on sheet 7831, which replaces amendment (3) with which the House has disagreed, be agreed to.~~