Royal Commissions into ATO, Centrelink and CSA sought

11th July, 2018

Whilst our office continues to be inundated with complaints and concerns about the operation, practices and treatment of Australians by Government agencies, namely the Australian Taxation Office, Centrelink, the Child Support Agency and Family Law system, Philip understands when his fellow Australians feel angry, disrespected and frustrated with what's been occurring.

It's time to change and for Australians to come first and most importantly, for Australians to be treated with the courtesy, dignity and respect they deserve. Urgent investigations are required, and due to the very good work of the Royal Commissions (Child Abuse and Financial Services) Philip again calls for the establishment of three Royal Commissions (with broad Terms of Reference) to investigate:

    - Australian Taxation Office
        - As already reported in the joint Four Corners-Fairfax investigation, serious errors are occurring that often results in huge financial penalties to the taxpayers involved. Further with what has been reported to Philip personally, and by insolvency practitioners and those within charities and support organisations is that there's an increased need for scrutiny of the ATO. The ATO requires a change of culture, which must be led from the top, and most importantly the ATO must deal with all Australians fairly, equally and without bias and must consider all aspects of the taxpayers and their circumstances. The ATO must ensure global organisations and businesses pay their fair share of tax and furthermore, any Royal Commission must also investigate ATO Deputy Commissioner Michael Cranston, who was charged with abusing his position as a public official in the $165m tax fraud involving his son Adam and daughter Lauren who were investigated and charged as part of Operation Elbrus.

    - Centrelink
        - Customer service within Centrelink has become problematic whereby the ABC reported that more than 33 million calls were unanswered in a nine month period until March 2018 see: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-02/centrelink-wait-times-jump-as-millions-of-calls-go-unanswered/9502050. Reports to our office, including from Centrelink staff themselves is that Centrelink is a department in chaos, is seriously understaffed and whilst there is a push towards online services, older Australians feel disillusioned and left behind. Philips advised people are rejected at service centres and pushed to use online services, even to make a claim. If you manage to get through on the phone, then waiting times vary from 30 minutes to sometimes hours, notwithstanding the number of disconnections whilst progressing through the cue, only to have to call back and then try again. Centrelink must, as a department be responsive to all Australians needs.

    - Child Support Agency and Family Law
        - As already discussed http://www.philipcouper.com.au/news/article/index.php?articleID=30 whilst meeting many families, parents and children, Philip hears repeatedly the problems with Child Support and the breakdown of the family unit, including the lack of involvement of one parent, the extended family or the children's grandparents. With a child support system focused too much on enforcement, the complaints concerning the Child Support Agency are many and varied, and include doing things at times that are even contrary to Court orders (our office received another serious case in the last few weeks). This sometimes leaves Australians destitute, often affecting new families or relationships and the times come for a full investigation. With decisions that seem to change from one case to another, and a system designed to penalise rather than support, it's no wonder Australians are angry and demanding change and fairness, and not the pain and misery that's currently being experienced by many, including children. Most importantly, the loss of Australians via suicide and the pain this causes families is immense and must stop. Our children are our future and only by holding a Royal Commission will we get to the bottom of the issues within this department. At the very least, the department needs an urgent change in culture which can only start from the top, and the Child Support Registrar Bill Volkers must be immediately removed as he has lost the confidence of the Australian people.

Australians matter, and it's time to ensure that government services are affective and meet the needs of all Australians. It's also time to investigate to enable Australians to once again have confidence in their government, its department's, and in their ability to support and help Australians when required.

This is Philips promise to Australia, and he calls on all politicians, political parties and the Australian media to support this position, and likewise support your fellow Australian's.

Philip Couper

-ENDS-

We're Australian and we look after one another - It's time for change Australia and together we can do it.

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