Origin and timing of CGT document

Question

Senator CHANDLER: I want to ask questions about the document, Secretary, that you provided to the committee, as per my letter, entitled CGT impacts on investment and international comparisons. I note that we will have some technical questions about what's in this document, but we'll leave those for later today when revenue comes on. The Treasurer circulated this six-page document to the media and said that it was to deal with misleading claims being made about the government's CGT changes and what the Prime Minister has referred to as a scare campaign about those changes. As you would know, once we became aware of this document existing, we wrote to you asking for it to be tabled. Secretary, who requested that this document be produced? Ms Wilkinson: As is completely normal practice after reforms are announced by government, Treasury has continued to provide support to the office to provide- Senator CHANDLER: To the Treasurer's office? Ms Wilkinson: To the Treasurer's office. Senator CHANDLER: So the Treasurer's office requested this document be created? Ms Wilkinson: There are a range of discussions that we've had with the Treasurer's office since budget night, and we have continued to provide them with advice on questions that are coming up through the broader debate. Senator CHANDLER: So they specifically asked for this document to be produced in relation to questions? Ms Wilkinson: I'd have to take that on notice. I certainly remember having discussions with the teams about drawing together all of the answers to some of these questions. I can't say whether originally I requested some of this information or whether it was requested at senior levels within Revenue Group. After reforms are announced, in my experience, there are lots of different questions that always come up, and it's just completely normal practice to continue to build up materials which help unpack, understand and explain changes. Senator CHANDLER: Okay. This document isn't dated. Can you tell me, Secretary, when it was prepared and when it was provided to the Treasurer's office. Ms Wilkinson: I don't have that with me, but I'm very happy to take that on notice. ... Senator CHANDLER: When were you made aware, Secretary, that this advice that you had produced would be sent to journalists? Ms Wilkinson: I think I was made aware on the day that it was provided to journalists, but it might have been earlier, the day before or something. Again, I'm happy to take that on notice.