ATO Supports Staff After Queensland Findings
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has reassured its investigations staff that it will support them in potentially high-profile or controversial prosecutions over tax fraud.
This comes after the Queensland Supreme Court criticized the ATO in the case of The King vs Julie Clarke, where Justice Paul Smith stayed a prosecution due to an ATO officer's misconduct in gathering evidence.
The decision by Justice Smith publicly identifies several ATO officers.
The case, which dates back to 2019, involved a therapeutics entrepreneur allegedly inflating research costs.
- The ATO's fraud squad has been told to improve its practices.
- The Queensland Supreme Court's findings highlight problems in the decade-long prosecution.
Author's summary: ATO faces criticism over investigative misconduct.