Presentation Topic: GST and tax issues - Tax workshop (2)

ABSTRACT:

The current tax arrangements for indigenous artists expire on June 30, 2002. To this time the ATO has failed to act on any of the matters contained in those arrangements and the issue is set to become contentious once again leading up to the expiry date. This paper will discuss:

1. A brief history of the issue as it has unfolded since about May 2000.
2. The reasons in law why indigenous artists represent a special case as opposed to indigenous artists elsewhere.
3. Some explanation of issues as they relate to artists not living in remote areas.
4. The case against the ATO.
5. Exposition on current arrangements.
6 The way forward, particularly:
a. measures that might be needed to bring the ATO back to the issue b. preparing for and handling proposed tax summits c representation of a wider range of interests on the current steering committee.
7. Tax and citizenship.
8. A paradigm shift for community art centres.

BIONOTE:

John Oster - an independent consultant focussing on economic development for community art centres represented Kimberley art centres and worked in conjunction with Desart and ANKAAA in negotiating current tax arrangements with ATO . John has a background in Arts Management. 1997 -1999 Art Coordinator at Warlayirti Artists, Balgo. Since then has been engaged by the WA Office of Aboriginal Economic Development to represent Kimberley artists in the tax issue.