LAW3025 2,000 words: The policy foundations of Australia’s tax system

Assessment Task: Australia’s Corporate Tax Reform and Multinational Tax Avoidance
Unit Name: Taxation Law and Policy
Unit Code: LAW3025
Word Limit: 2,000 words
Assignment Type: Individual Research Essay
Due Date: Week 12 – Friday, 7 November 2025 (11:59 p.m.)

Purpose:
This task measures the student’s capacity to evaluate Australian tax policy frameworks, identify deficiencies in existing law, and propose reform options consistent with principles of efficiency, equity, and simplicity. It assesses legal reasoning, research, and the ability to integrate statutory interpretation with public policy analysis.

Unit Learning Outcomes Assessed:

• Examine and critique the policy foundations of Australia’s tax system.

• Analyse legislative instruments and case law shaping direct and indirect taxation.

• Apply theories of tax fairness, neutrality, and administrative simplicity to evaluate reforms.

• Communicate evidence-based arguments using correct legal citation methods.

Assessment Description:

Prepare a research essay addressing the following topic:

Essay Topic:
Evaluate the effectiveness of Australia’s current corporate tax regime in addressing multinational tax avoidance and ensuring fairness in revenue collection. Discuss relevant domestic legislative measures, OECD initiatives such as BEPS (Base Erosion and Profit Shifting), and digital economy taxation frameworks. Provide at least one comparative example from another jurisdiction.

The essay must demonstrate comprehension of:

• Income Tax Assessment Acts 1936 and 1997;

• Treasury Laws Amendment (Making Multinationals Pay Their Fair Share) Act 2024;

• OECD/G20 BEPS Pillar One and Pillar Two proposals;

• Relevant ATO rulings, case law, and reform papers.

Support your analysis with empirical evidence, judicial reasoning, and policy literature. Structure the essay with clear argumentation and academic referencing (Harvard or AGLC).

Submission Requirements:

• Submit electronically via Turnitin.

• Include a title page, word count, and reference list.

• Apply Harvard referencing consistently.

• Use at least five scholarly and legislative sources.

• Late submissions incur academic penalties per faculty policy.

Marking Criteria:

Suggested Learning Materials / Resources (2019–2025)

1. Pinto, D. & Cooper, G. (2023). Australian International Taxation. Thomson Reuters.

2. Owens, J. & Fensby, A. (2024). Global Minimum Tax and the Future of BEPS. Australian Tax Forum, 39(1), 45–78.

3. Tran-Nam, B. (2020). Tax Policy Design for the Digital Economy. eJournal of Tax Research, 18(2), 210–232.

4. Brauner, Y. (2021). The New International Tax Regime: OECD BEPS and Its Implementation. Intertax, 49(7–8), 620–635.

5. Devereux, M.P. & Vella, J. (2019). Implications of Digitalisation for International Corporate Tax Reform. British Tax Review, 3(2), 137–168.