Blogs

Superannuation

Liz Westover Superannuation Blog

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11 May 2012 @ 4:06 | Liz Westover

Federal Budget: real costs for consumers

There were no great surprises on the superannuation front in this week’s Federal Budget announcement. We already knew about t...

Tab 2

27 Apr 2012 @ 3:38 | Liz Westover

A super side of the Federal Budget

With the federal government’s 2012-13 Budget announcement coming up on Tuesday 8 May, rumblings have started about whether su...

Tab 3

19 Apr 2012 @ 2:06 | Liz Westover

Interview on Switzer - DIY super

On Tuesday evening, Peter Switzer from Sky Business News interviewed me about self-managed super funds and superannuation in ...

Tab 4

3 Apr 2012 @ 4:54 | Liz Westover

Latest statistics on Excess Contributions Tax

The latest statistics on Excess Contributions Tax (ECT) were released this weekend by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).Yo...

Tab 5

6 Mar 2012 @ 11:33 | Liz Westover

A focus on improving SMSF audits

In last week’s superannuation bulletin, the Institute reported on some of its preliminary findings coming out of quality revi...

Taxing issues

Yasser El-Ansary blog

Tab 1

21 May 2012 @ 2:30 | Yasser El-Ansary

Tax admin and tax policy – two peas in a pod

'Good tax administration is almost as important as good tax policy' – a strong message delivered by Shadow Treasurer Joe Hock...

Tab 2

30 Apr 2012 @ 3:35 | Yasser El-Ansary

Federal Budget: the cost of a surplus

We’re once again gearing up for the Federal Budget announcements next week by Treasurer Wayne Swan. With this in mind, I’ve b...

Tab 3

23 Jan 2012 @ 12:18 | Yasser El-Ansary

A fresh start for tax in 2012

Welcome to 2012, and welcome back to my blog for another year.By any measure, 2011 was tough. But, believe it or not, indicat...

Tab 4

5 Dec 2011 @ 12:05 | Yasser El-Ansary

Tax policy in 2011 and beyond

It’s hard to believe, but only a few short weeks stand between us and the end of a highly eventful 2011 in the tax policy wor...

Tab 5

28 Nov 2011 @ 2:26 | Yasser El-Ansary

Retrospectively taxing

You’ve heard me discuss recently the problems with the federal government bringing in new tax policies with a retrospective c...

Number one in numbers

Blogs

Tab 1

20 Apr 2012 @ 5:37 | Kerry Hicks

Showcasing best practice NFP reporting

It was incredibly inspiring hearing the journeys of the winners of the PwC Transparency Awards held in Sydney this week.Prese...

Tab 2

4 Apr 2012 @ 3:46 | Kerry Hicks

Your comments and participation count

On occasion we hear from members the misconception that the Australian view and opinion are of no relevance now that reportin...

Tab 3

8 Mar 2012 @ 12:35 | Kerry Hicks

IFRS – where are the benefits?

Recent media reports and member comments on complexity and increasing disclosures have questioned the benefit of Australia ad...

Tab 4

1 Feb 2012 @ 11:42 | Kerry Hicks

More consultation needed on NFP sector reform

Late last month the Institute lodged its submissions to Treasury on the exposure draft to establish the Australian Charities ...

Tab 5

15 Dec 2011 @ 4:57 | Kerry Hicks

Treasury seeks fast feedback on NFP legislation

The not-for-profit (NFP) charity sector is going to need to put its skates on to respond in an appropriate and informed manne...

Sustainability

Geraldine Magarey blog

Tab 1

30 Apr 2012 @ 6:10 | Geraldine Magarey

Unleashing your inner Lady Gaga

Former Chairman of the New Zealand Securities Commission, Jane Diplock, at the recent Australian Global Reporting Initiative ...

Tab 2

29 Feb 2012 @ 1:05 | Geraldine Magarey

Developing a sustainability strategy? Don’t forget your employees

One of the often over-looked areas when a company is preparing its sustainability strategy is the importance of building a su...

Tab 3

8 Feb 2012 @ 11:01 | Geraldine Magarey

Wake up CFOs you need to care about integrated reporting

The case for integrated reporting is being increasingly documented. Market heavyweights are coming out stronger than ever on ...

Tab 4

24 Jan 2012 @ 10:29 | Geraldine Magarey

The year of the farmer

2012 is the Australian Year of the Farmer. As many of you know, our farmers make a significant contribution to the Australian...

Tab 5

4 Jan 2012 @ 9:21 | Geraldine Magarey

The Economic Invisibility of Nature

Last month I attended the Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability 2011 Forum in London, with over 200 representatives from the...

On balance

Paul Meredith's Blog

Tab 1

21 May 2012 @ 12:43 | Paul Meredith

Value and be damned – a cautionary tale

CAs in public practice have long been advised to familiarise themselves with the details of their professional indemnity insu...

Tab 2

17 May 2012 @ 10:21 | Paul Meredith

Employee restraint successfully enforced

An accounting firm has been successful in enforcing a restraint of trade clause against a former employee, allowing it to rec...

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21 Apr 2012 @ 7:07 | Paul Meredith

Confidentiality must be maintained when computer contractors are used

The computer systems of accountancy practices contain significant amounts of personal data identifying clients, usually inclu...

Tab 4

11 Apr 2012 @ 1:58 | Paul Meredith

Tax agent's arguments for insurance exemption rejected

A recent Administrative Appeals Tribunal decision affirmed the Tax Practitioners Board’s rejection of a tax agent’s request f...

Tab 5

25 Mar 2012 @ 10:14 | Paul Meredith

Registered as a tax agent? Now, no fees = no CPP

In a change to Institute regulations, members who are registered as tax and BAS agents but do not provide these services to t...

Education blogs

James Guthrie Blog

Tab 1

30 Apr 2012 @ 5:36 | James Guthrie

Lower entry scores – What does this mean for the profession?

Many universities have recently moved to lower its entry scores and increase admissions as part of their productivity agenda....

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3 Apr 2012 @ 5:51 | James Guthrie

How can accounting education embrace sustainability?

The ‘trans-disciplinary nature’ of the accounting profession, was one of the reoccurring themes discussed during the forum we...

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29 Feb 2012 @ 11:12 | James Guthrie

How can accounting academics keep pace with change?

How do we teach students today so they feel equipped for the future? How will the role of universities and academics change t...

Tab 4

30 Jan 2012 @ 11:52 | James Guthrie

Where will the next accounting graduate come from?

The Australian’s recent story on TAFEs to offer postgrad degrees, demonstrates how more education pathways are starting to em...

Tab 5

19 Dec 2011 @ 10:57 | James Guthrie

Time to address underfunding in accounting education

As I've highlighted over the past year or more, accounting is one discipline that continues to be at a crossroads in the high...

Audit blog

Andrew Stringer CA

Tab 1

23 Feb 2012 @ 4:55 | Andrew Stringer

What are the key issues affecting SMPs in Australia?

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) recently issued the results of its latest survey on the key issues affecti...

Tab 2

15 Dec 2011 @ 6:43 | Andrew Stringer

Can EU reforms drive audit quality?

The European Commission (EC) recently released major proposals to change the way audit firms operate and conduct their work i...