Tax Ombudsman to review Indigenous ATO access

Australia’s Tax Ombudsman has launched a national review to gather First Nations perspectives on dealing with the Australian Tax Office, inviting input through community yarning sessions, an online survey and submissions over the next three months.

The Tax Ombudsman, Ruth Owen — the independent watchdog of the ATO and the wider tax system — has released terms of reference setting out the scope and significance of what she described as the first review of its kind. The terms were informed by meetings with Aboriginal community organisations and peak bodies.

Key Points

National review and consultation

To support the consultation process, the Ombudsman has engaged Jindawayni, a 100 per cent Aboriginal-owned business managed by Kokatha woman, Amy Rust. The effort is designed to collect first-hand experiences from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander taxpayers and businesses, and to identify practical improvements for the ATO.

“The reality is the tax system wasn’t designed with our people’s cultures or lived realities in mind,”

— Amy Rust, Manager, Jindawayni

Ms Rust said practical barriers, particularly in remote communities, often make engagement difficult. She pointed to assumptions embedded in digital tools. There are benefits in tools like MyGov, she noted, but those benefits are limited when people share phones with family.

Ms Owen said the consultation is intended to ensure all taxpayers understand how the tax system operates, what is required of them, and how they can benefit from it. She has encouraged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander taxpayers to contribute from metropolitan, regional and remote locations.

People can take part by attending a community yarning session, completing the online survey or making a submission. A full list of sessions, the review’s terms of reference and the survey are available online.

Barriers and access concerns

Through the consultation process, the Tax Ombudsman heard accounts of the challenges First Nations people encounter when engaging with the tax system. Feedback pointed to gaps in targeted and culturally appropriate education and engagement, which can leave the system feeling unfamiliar and intimidating.

“We heard that a lack of targeted and appropriately designed education and engagement has meant the tax system can often feel alien, confusing and at times frightening for First Nations people,”

— Ruth Owen, Tax Ombudsman

Owen said it is vital to hear directly from those affected in order to identify what is working and what is not. She added that the review will explore the practical improvements that can be recommended to the ATO to better support First Nations taxpayers, businesses and their representatives.

The review’s community yarning sessions will run across metropolitan, regional and remote locations over the next three months.

As one of the largest Commonwealth government departments, Ms Owen said the ATO is expected to adapt its operations to meet the needs of all Australians, including First Nations people. She linked this objective to the Closing the Gap National Agreement Priority Reform 3 — transforming Government organisations.

She said the review aimed to identify what is effective and where improvements are required, with a focus on practical recommendations. She emphasised that direct input from taxpayers, businesses and representatives would guide the review’s findings.

For more information: https://taxombudsman.gov.au/reviews_reports/review-ato-engagement-with-first-nations-taxpayers/