BKK Partners

SMH: Leaders jostle in the race to rock bottom

admin — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:08:59 +0000

It is hard to decide whose idea was worse. First there was Kevin Rudd, who announced he wants 30 per cent of the states’ GST so he can “fix” the hospital system

SMH: The boom time and the bottom line

admin — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:51:01 +0000

Australia is in the midst of the greatest mining boom since the Gold Rush. This time it is black gold – coal – and rust – coloured iron ore. more

SMH: It’s not just the tax that’s wrong, but the process

admin — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 00:06:56 +0000

Kevin Rudd needs to get out from under his 40 per cent tax on the mining industry. He can’t just repeat sloans about how fair it is – he’s lost that argument more

SMH: If it’s tax reform that you want, try the GST

admin — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:55:47 +0000

Next week marks the 10th anniversary of the GST. Along with income and company tax, the GST now anchors the Australian taxation system. more

SMH: The best price signaller in the land

admin — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:46:45 +0000

Now that both sides of politics have decided to crack down on the evil practice of price signalling we might as well ask who does it and why more

The Land: Arab farm investment push

admin — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:40:16 +0000

Former Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, is leading a push to get Arabs to invest in Australian farmland as part of a long term food security strategy got oil-rich Gulf States more

The Age: Peter Costello’s award is all in the family

admin — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 05:04:01 +0000

Here is one stat you won’t know about Australia’s longest-serving federal treasurer, Peter Costello, who receives the top award in the Australia Day honours, the companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia more

Statement on the retirement of Dr Ken Henry AC

admin — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 23:53:06 +0000

It was my privilege to recommend Ken Henry for appointment as Secretary of The Treasury in 2001 and to recommend his reappointment in 2006.

Ken was a devoted public servant who served both sides of politics. He was committed to good policy, in particular market oriented mechanisms to ensure competitive outcomes in labour and product markets. He showed a great patience in Senate Estimates Committees and had a wry sense of humour.

When the Coalition decided (yet again) it would attempt to introduce a broad based consumption tax in 1997 Ken Henry was appointed to Chair the Interdepartmental Committee to design it. Ken had been instrumental in working for the Keating Government against the Coalition’s GST Proposal at the 1993 Election. I knew that, like all sensible people, he did not personally believe in that cause. He knew that despite populist opposition Australia needed to grasp the nettle and introduce a broad based Goods and Services Tax. It was a sense of black humour to put the man who had designed the attacks the last time around to design the defences this time around.

The effort involved in introducing the GST and abolishing other indirect taxes, changing income taxes, family allowances and company taxes was mammoth. Ken showed an incredible dedication to the task. He bravely fought for a pure version with a broad base. We were successful (just) in receiving endorsement for this at the 1998 Election. Unfortunately populist opposition prevented our policy being passed in a pure form through the Senate. Nonetheless the achievement was considerable and Ken Henry deserves enormous credit for his efforts.

Ken had focussed on taxation from the days of the 1985 taxation policy of the Hawke/Keating Government. As much as any other public servant he has contributed to development and advances in this area.

In more recent days there was quite a bit of criticism of the role adopted by Dr Henry under the Rudd Government in particular. This should be no reflection on him. The Government was all too keen to push him into the political arena when it lacked the confidence or the conviction to make policy and defend it itself.

Tanya and I add our personal congratulations to a fine public servant for a job well done. We wish him, and Naomi, success in their next stage of life.

I have had a close association with Dr Martin Parkinson, particularly in the area of International Financial arrangements. He did a sterling job in coordinating the G20 when Australia was Chair in 2006. I have a very high regard for his abilities and I wish him well.

Aston Resources -

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 05:16:35 +0000

Aston Resources – Adviser to the Company on Initial Public Offering

Financial Adviser
Initial Public Offering
A$400m
August 2010

The Australian: Hawke in Gulf trade push

admin — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 18:09:51 +0000

More investors from the Middle East are expected to target the Australian mining and agricultural sectors following the first business trade mission to the region earlier this month more