Pittwater Life March 2017 Issue

market share. An interesting
common thread with all of
these reported wages rorts is
that in large part they affected
workers on specific types of
visas, such as holiday work
visas and student visas.
In terms of fixing this, from
what I can see certain types of
visa holders who are looking
to work are required to apply
for a tax file number via a
specific ATO web site. The ATO
therefore knows who these visa
holders are, and where they are
working, as they lodge tax file
number declaration forms with
their employers.
The tax office that I have
dealt with for the best part of
30 years takes great interest
in activities that are not only
illegal but activities that are
also popular.
If it is the case that some
large Australian businesses
are relying on exploitation of
a class of workers to maintain
their competitive position it
should not fall to the media to
expose this activity if the ATO
through relatively simple data
matching can show clusters of
workers with similar attributes
concentrated under an
employer or an industry. A few
payroll audits and prosecutions
in the big end of town should
get the jungle drums beating.
And I’ll venture to guess the
States may even kick the tin as
they would stand to recover
lost workers compensation
premiums and payroll tax.
Brian Hrnjak B Bus CPA (FPS) is a Director of GHR Accounting
Group Pty Ltd, Certified Practising Accountants. Offices at:
Suite 12, Ground Floor, 20 Bungan Street Mona Vale NSW 2103
and Shop 8, 9 – 15 Central Ave Manly NSW 2095,
Telephone: 02 9979-4300, Webs: www.ghr.com.au and
www.altre.com.au Email: brian@ghr.com.au
These comments are of a general nature only and are not
intended as a substitute for professional advice.
Business Life
MARCH 2017 49