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AFP raid home of tax office whistleblower over ABC investigation AFP raid home of tax office whistleblower over ABC investigation
(7 months later)
The Australian federal police raided the home of a debt collector for the Australian Taxation Office who is a key whistleblower in a joint Fairfax/Four Corners investigation into the extensive powers of the tax office.The Australian federal police raided the home of a debt collector for the Australian Taxation Office who is a key whistleblower in a joint Fairfax/Four Corners investigation into the extensive powers of the tax office.
The raid came just days ahead of the broadcast on the ABC of the program, Mongrel Bunch of Bastards, which is set to air on Monday 9 April.The raid came just days ahead of the broadcast on the ABC of the program, Mongrel Bunch of Bastards, which is set to air on Monday 9 April.
Tax office employee Richard Boyle, who has worked at the ATO since 2005 but is now suspended, told the ABC that his Adelaide home was raised on Wednesday morning by three officers from the AFP and an ATO investigator.Tax office employee Richard Boyle, who has worked at the ATO since 2005 but is now suspended, told the ABC that his Adelaide home was raised on Wednesday morning by three officers from the AFP and an ATO investigator.
“This is an astonishing use of public resources, to investigate someone who has passionately and with every fibre of my being tried to assist taxpayers in meeting their tax obligations and to enforce taxpayers who are ripping the country off by not paying their fair share of tax,” Boyle told reporter Adele Ferguson.“This is an astonishing use of public resources, to investigate someone who has passionately and with every fibre of my being tried to assist taxpayers in meeting their tax obligations and to enforce taxpayers who are ripping the country off by not paying their fair share of tax,” Boyle told reporter Adele Ferguson.
“They’ve spent the past couple of hours going through our drawers, going through our personal belongings and documents,” he said.“They’ve spent the past couple of hours going through our drawers, going through our personal belongings and documents,” he said.
The tax office said the search warrant for the Adelaide rental unit was issued because they believed Boyle had accessed information he shouldn’t have.The tax office said the search warrant for the Adelaide rental unit was issued because they believed Boyle had accessed information he shouldn’t have.
“The commissioner is committed to doing everything possible to secure taxpayer information, and will pursue cases where taxpayer confidentiality has been compromised,” the ATO said in a statement.“The commissioner is committed to doing everything possible to secure taxpayer information, and will pursue cases where taxpayer confidentiality has been compromised,” the ATO said in a statement.
“We comply with the Privacy Act 1988, and the secrecy provisions in the Taxation Administration Act 1953. These provisions protect information about all taxpayers, whether they are individuals or other kinds of taxpayers such as companies.“We comply with the Privacy Act 1988, and the secrecy provisions in the Taxation Administration Act 1953. These provisions protect information about all taxpayers, whether they are individuals or other kinds of taxpayers such as companies.
According to the ABC the warrant specifically refers to Four Corners and Ferguson, and alleges that Boyle had illegally taken either originals or copies of taxpayer information, photos of ATO computer screens or emails.According to the ABC the warrant specifically refers to Four Corners and Ferguson, and alleges that Boyle had illegally taken either originals or copies of taxpayer information, photos of ATO computer screens or emails.
Boyle, who has been suspended without pay, said he was horrified by the implication he had committed a crime by speaking to the media.Boyle, who has been suspended without pay, said he was horrified by the implication he had committed a crime by speaking to the media.
But the ATO said protecting confidentiality was “critical for the integrity of Australia’s tax and super systems”.But the ATO said protecting confidentiality was “critical for the integrity of Australia’s tax and super systems”.
Publicity material for Four Corners said the program will examine how the ATO uses its extensive powers to investigate ordinary Australian taxpayers and whether it is acting fairly and ethically.Publicity material for Four Corners said the program will examine how the ATO uses its extensive powers to investigate ordinary Australian taxpayers and whether it is acting fairly and ethically.
“While there’s strong public support for a crackdown on major multinational corporations to force them to pay their fair share, there is growing concern that the tax office is targeting people a long way from the big end of town,” ABC TV said in a statement.“While there’s strong public support for a crackdown on major multinational corporations to force them to pay their fair share, there is growing concern that the tax office is targeting people a long way from the big end of town,” ABC TV said in a statement.
TaxTax
Australian federal policeAustralian federal police
Australian mediaAustralian media
Australian Broadcasting CorporationAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
Fairfax MediaFairfax Media
AdelaideAdelaide
Privacy
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