SENATOR CHRIS KETTER

CHAIR, SENATE ECONOMICS REFERENCES COMMITTEE

SENATOR FOR QUEENSLAND

SENATOR MCALLISTER

SENATOR FOR NSW

NEW QUESTIONS TO ANSWER ON CORPORATE TAX

ExxonMobil must answer to new allegations claiming it is engaging in tax avoidance and aggressive tax minimisation practices.

Parliament, this week, granted the Senate Economics References Committee an extension on the Corporate Tax Avoidance Inquiry to 30 May 2018.

Chair of the Committee, Labor Senator Chris Ketter, said the committee would write to Exxon and other stakeholders inviting supplementary submissions and would consider if future hearings should be organised.

“The Turnbull Government has tolerated tax avoidance for far too long.

“In times of record gas prices in Australia, reports that Exxon is not paying corporate tax here are particularly troubling and we need to get to the bottom of these allegations,” said Senator Ketter.

When corporations don’t pay tax, the burden falls to ordinary Australians. 

“We pay the price in higher income taxes and through less government funding for health, education and infrastructure.”

Senator Jenny McAllister added, “If true, reports that Exxon can simultaneously report a total $18 billion of revenue, whilst paying no corporate tax sound implausible.

“It is even more concerning that this might be happening at the same time as the company attempts to slash the wages and conditions of the workers who do the work that allow them to record such healthy returns.”

THURSDAY, 7 DECEMBER 2017

MEDIA CONTACT:             KATIE LLOYD - 0405 794 080 (SENATOR KETTER)

                                          KATE LEE – 0466776160 (SENATOR MCALLISTER)