ATO Reassures Staff After Queensland Findings of Investigative Misconduct
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has sought to reassure its investigations staff after a decade-long prosecution was criticized by the Queensland Supreme Court.
The court's findings, handed down in the case of The King vs Julie Clarke, identified misconduct by an ATO officer in gathering evidence, leading to a stay of prosecution.
Justice Paul Smith stayed a prosecution mounted by the ATO dating back to 2019 on the basis that an ATO officer engaged in misconduct in the gathering of evidence in the matter.
The decision publicly identifies several ATO officers, although their names have not been released as the ATO may still appeal the matter.
The ATO's fraud squad has been criticized, with the agency seeking to reassure staff that it supports them in high-profile or controversial prosecutions.
- The Queensland Supreme Court handed down a decision criticizing the ATO's handling of a prosecution.
- The ATO has reassured its investigations staff that it supports them.
Author's summary: ATO faces criticism over investigative misconduct.