CPA Australia ceo Geoff Rankin FCPA reports on activities carried out on behalf of members.
I have written to the Australian federal government, opposition and minor parties to promote CPA Australia's policy positions across a diverse range of subject matter. With the input of our policy centres of excellence, sector committees and general membership, we have identified a range of priority issues and developed a series of policy statements to articulate our positions on each.
In the case of issues such as the draft tax agents' services code, anti-money laundering, and directors' duties and sanctions in corporate law, we have responded to the government's invitations to comment on proposed initiatives or changes.
Our top two priorities for action - emissions trading and the skills shortage - reflect the broad and vital role that the accounting profession plays in the changing business and public arenas.
Following the report of the prime ministerial task group on Emissions trading, it is expected that Australia will introduce a full-scale emissions trading scheme by 201011.
Although the detail of that scheme will not be available for some time, CPA Australia has urged the Australian Accounting Standards Board and the Auditing and Assurance Board to give high priority to developing the necessary accounting and auditing standards. We have also offered a suggested approach.
The gap between the supply of domestic accounting graduates and employer demand in Australia is a major concern to the profession. CPA Australia has written to the government calling for discussion about further increasing the number of Commonwealth supported accounting places. We are also partnering with employers and recruitment firms to address recruitment and retention challenges.
I encourage you to acquaint yourselves with our policy statements.
Federal
I met with the federal treasurer Peter Costello to discuss issues that impact the accounting profession and to seek his views on the government's agenda if it wins office for a fifth term.
As a member of the Australian Services Roundtable we were represented at a recent series of meetings to discuss with key ministers, shadow ministers and senior parliamentary staffers matters relevant to the international competitiveness of Australia's services industries.
A broad agenda covered such matters as policy and regulatory environment for services, trade and industry development for the sector, skills shortage, higher education, innovation and research, regulatory burdens and trade negotiations.
Audit and assurance
The then president, deputy president and I attended a symposium in Canberra where the findings of a research project Keeping capital markets efficient: A national strategy on the future of audit were discussed.
The research, undertaken by the Australian national centre for audit and assurance research, aims to shed light on the nature, extent and regulation of audit services in Australia. Outcomes are expected to assist in the formulation of future strategies for the profession.
Reference: November 2007, volume 77:10, p. 15
